How Does Obedience Affect The Working Relationship Between...

It has been over 40 years since Stanley Milgram s famous experiments on obedience. The topic of obedience has been explored for centuries and there continues to be more to learn. Why do people obey authority? Are some groups of people more prone to obey authority than others? Does the environment play a role in how far people go to obey orders? These questions were asked after the actions of Germany during World War II (Houghton 2009). The situationist perspective and bad barrel theory are basic theories of obedience. The situationist perspective claims that people will neglect their dispositions if placed in a powerful enough situation (Houghton 2009). The bad barrel theory, coined by Philip Zimbardo, says that if you put people in a bad situation, the situation can take over (Houghton 2009). Stanley Milgram s shock experiment and Philip Zimbardo s Stanford Prison Experiment are two popular experiments of obedience. How does obedience effect the working relationship between doctors and nurses? Is there a tipping point in which nurses refuse to carry out the doctor s orders? Is there a point where doctors refuse to work with nurses that question them? Does gender play a role in this working relationship? If so, how? Physicians know their professional status, but are aware that it is favorable for them to treat nurses with respect and acknowledge them as a valuable team member of the health team (Devine 1978). Nurses reported they felt that doctorsShow MoreRelatedMilgrams Research on Obedience811 Words   |  4 PagesMilgrams research on obedience: how and why it can help student nurses The report aims to: Describe the main aspects of Milgrams study on Obedience Explain why and how this research can be used to help prepare student nurses for working on hospital wards Contribute to the understanding of some of the challenges nurses may face in their working practices Background Stanley Milgram, a psychologist from Yale University, conducted a series of experiments on obedience to explain some of theRead MoreThe Changing Role of the Nurse2911 Words   |  12 PagesThe focus is the on the changing role of the nurse and why this has happened You have to chose an example from your own practice to describe and explain its relevance to practice boundaries between doctor and nurses , EXAMPLE BLOOD TAKING, SET IV BRANULLA You need to utilise relevant theories and concepts from the module, reference your work and include Malaysia code of conduct.You have to summarise the main issues and consider implications that the changing role has for your role, the professionRead MoreCollegiality: Attribute, Theory or Impossibility?3600 Words   |  15 PagesMerriam-Webster dictionary as the cooperative relationship of colleagues. Collegial relationships are those built upon respect between people (Curtin, 1995) and allow for the interchange and discussion of ideas from eac h member of a team (Williams, 1997). Among most professionals, acquiring and developing this characteristic assists in building many of the critical competencies of manager. Knowing how to build and strengthen collegial relationships improves teamwork, increases one self-managementRead MoreWhat Sets Us Apart And The Challenges I Go?2346 Words   |  10 Pagesor majorities. I will be explaining what sets us apart and the challenges I go through in terms of dating, mate selection, marriage, and sexuality. Also, in regards to raising children, extended family, gender roles, divorce, and lastly, how my ethnicity affects my family’s response to a stressing event. Dating For Filipinos, in terms of dating, it can be very traditional. A man who is serious about courting a girl would court her parents before they can even make it official. For instance, theRead Moredescribe how the body responds to stress4612 Words   |  19 Pagesï » ¿Describe how the body responds to stress (6 marks) Acute stress causes the arousal of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS comprises of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) which prepares the individual for ‘fight or flight’ and the parasympathetic branch, which returns the individual to their original state of relaxation. Part of the SNS response is the sympathetic adrenal system (SAM), this system along with the SNS is collectively called the sympathomedullary pathway. The SNS is activatedRead MorePhysical Restraint And Nursing Home Facilities5608 Words   |  23 Pagesbehavioral problems. The decrease of behavioral problems also occurred when an individual was released from being restrained. Castle and Mor, 1998 note that various literature describe that the use of physical restraint in nursing home facilities can vary between 4 to 68%. There are favorable mechanisms that are used when associated with physical restraint use in so that the residents and/or individuals not injured, and decrease the amount of elo ping behavior. Physical restraints devices run the gamut fromRead MoreAnalysis Of One Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest 3755 Words   |  16 PagesClerambault’s syndrome which habitually affects women. While Plath struggled with the â€Å"ardent feminist within her’’, she sought to â€Å"embrace the ideology of feminineness that had been indoctrinated into the women of her generation’’ leading to a â€Å"schizophrenic split within herself’’, a struggle not shared by McEwan and Kesey. Kesey described himself as ‘’comfortable with {his} identity and masculinity’’ as he understood he was too young to be a beatnik, and too old to be a hippie’’ and so hisRead MoreCommunication And Health And Social Care9509 Words   |  39 Pagesbased or of ideas that are suggested to explain a fact or event or, more generally, an opinion or explanation. (Cambridge Dictionary, 2014) In health and social care settings effective communication between professionals and patients is essential, as a result, it is imperative to understand theories of how people learn and develop in order to apply this to enhance communication. Theories of learning are 1) Classical conditioning (involuntary behavior) where learning is by association (Pavlov, 1927)Read Moreethical decision making16006 Words   |  65 Pageshealth nurses in each district were asked to select patients for the medication program. A terminally ill cancer patient who is in great pain begs the nurse for more medication than the physician has ordered. What should the nurse do? A man was diagnosed and treated for a venereal infection by his family nurse practitioner. He agreed that his wife should also be treated but he did not want her to know that he acquired the disease from a prostitute and infected her. He asked the nurse practitionerRead MoreThe Vogue Of The Lady3547 Words   |  15 Pageshad a large impact on American parents intent on training girls to be polished but congenial, obedient as daughters and future wives† among the community. While this study highlights data on Mary Lyon on a deeper context, their findings also discuses how the mere presence of economic necessity and religious zeal in the society significantly affected women’s academic development. In terms of the author’s evaluation, In the Company of Educated Women outlines a strong narrative on these dimensions and

Implementation of a Gym - 9012 Words

Project Management 2nd half-semester Spring 2011 Group Project Management Opening a Gym MSc in Management9th May 2011 | Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2 Motivations 2 2. Teamwork in Project Management 2 Challenges and responsibilities in Project Management Team 3 Internal and External Players - Project Governance 4 Organisations in Project Management 4 3. Project Environment 5 SWOT Analysis 6 4. The 7-S’s of Project Management 6 5. Work Breakdown Structure 8 6. Description of the Activities Necessary to Create the Project 8 Stage Model 9 7. Critical Path (CPM method) 12 Gantt Diagram 13 Activity on Node (AON) Representation 13 8. Analysis of Costs amp; Revenues of the Project 14 Estimative of the†¦show more content†¦These team roles are really important to create synchronisation among team members, allowing for the right balance in terms of work and â€Å"psychological health†. This is clearly related to the team lifecycle, which normally is constituted by five stages. The first one is the collection stage, in which the team has been recently formed and the individual behaviour is driven by the desire to be accepted by the others and by the willingness to avoid conflict and controversy. Hence, the team’s effectiveness is not too high at this point. The second one is the entrenchment stage, in which the team openly confront their ideas and perspectives, which generates some sort of conflict that needs to be solved (due to the fierce competition to impose different ideas for consideration). At this stage, the effectiveness of the team is hindered, being low. The third one is the resolution stage, in which the team solves the problems an d conflicts arose in the previous phase and define some norms that shape behaviour. At this point, the effectiveness of the team increases significantly. The fourth one is the synergy stage, in which the team becomes really synchronised, with all the members highly motivated and autonomous in performing the tasks. At this stage the team accomplishes the highest level of effectivenessShow MoreRelatedSwot1540 Words   |  7 PagesSWOT and Strategy Evaluation: Fitness Centers Industry Amberly Locke PHL/320 September 14, 2015 Carolyn Harrison It today’s society, â€Å"going to the gym† has become a normal phrase heard around the world; however, the fitness center industry is not exactly in the spot light of today’s media and headline news. So, that sparks the interest of what makes the fitness center industry succeed, what are their strengths. What about the fitness center industry in the future; are there weaknesses thatRead MoreSwot Analysis: the Fitness Center Industry Essay1569 Words   |  7 PagesSWOT Analysis: Fitness Centers Industry Courtney Albertson PHL/320 30 March 2015 Matthew Hazlett SWOT Analysis: Fitness Center Industry It today’s society, â€Å"going to the gym† has become a normal phrase heard around the world; however, the fitness center industry is not exactly in the spot light of today’s media and headline news. So, that sparks the interest of what makes the fitness center industry succeed, what are their strengths. What about the fitness center industry in the future;Read MoreCost Benefit Analysis Of Fit Life Gym1441 Words   |  6 Pages Cost Benefit Analysis of Fit Life Gym: Implementing a Daycare Center Arathi Elango, Briana Basilone, Cristina Rodriguez Mike Stafford HR Decision Making: Financial Decisions Professor Coffey ROI Project Due: 12/8/16 To: Senior Vice President of Human Resources The current goal and recommendation for our company Fit Life Gym, a physical enhancement and fitness center, is to obtain the necessary financial resources to provide our members with a safeRead MoreHow Effective Marketing, Financial and Human Resource Management Activities Could Be Expected to Contribute to Fitness Firsts Success.1496 Words   |  6 PagesFitness First is the largest gym, health and fitness group in the world with more than 1.5 million members and over 550 fitness clubs. (www.fitnessfirst.co.uk, 2009) The Chartered Institute of Marketing defines marketing as â€Å"†¦the management process which identifies, anticipates and supplies customer requirements efficiently and profitably. Ace (2001:2) The first part of this essay will focus on the ‘four P’s’ of the marketing mix in relation to implementations taken by Fitness First in theseRead MoreVr Queen Street : A New 4.5 Star Hotel Essay1457 Words   |  6 Pagesfacility is there for the parent who want to spend their time alone without children. LCD TV’S are available for the entertainment. You can call any time to Hotel Room Service if you have any problem. Bar is there for enjoying in late night. Tour Groups Gym-This enables the groups to work out for e.g.: having a Rugby Team to work out and this specifies them as to work out in with the industry and not outside. Porters-It is important to provide the Porter’s Service for the time when the groups stay in theRead MoreMarketing Mix Strategy For North Shore Gym1665 Words   |  7 PagesMarketing Mix Strategy Product North Shore gym is able to offer a wide variety of services that will contribute to a healthy lifestyle. If the gym is utilized to it’s maximum potential, customers will be able to recognize changes in their body, as well as their lifestyle, which will push them to continue making positive strides in their life. With our wide-range of classes, qualified personal trainers, dietary plans, state-of-the-art equipment, our members will have all the tools they need to succeedRead MoreEngagement Is The Process Of Building A Relationship With The Client Essay1264 Words   |  6 Pageswomen’s gym. She will see a personal trainer at the gym three days a week whenever she has free time. We formulated and signed a contract that outlined the intervention plan and terms of our relationship, including the date we plan to terminate our relationship. By signing this contract, she agrees to knowing the conditions of my services and carrying out the intervention plan we’ve set for her. We’ve agreed to see each other once a week for the next three months. Implementation Implementation is whenRead MoreAdaptive Physical Education Is Physical Education Which1359 Words   |  6 Pagesas appropriate for the person with a disability as it is for a person without a disability. It is an extremely useful class especially in the high school setting. Disabled children are able to do exercises they normally cannot do, experience full gym classes with non disabled students, and learn new and useful fundamental skills they will use for the rest of their lives. To teach a class like this the teacher needs to learn the FAIER model, lean different skills to teach disabled children and beRead MoreThe Current Remuneration And Performance Management Of The Customer Service / Sales Team At Majestic Health And Fitness Ltd1617 Words   |  7 Pages Of the 105 employees, 24 are in the role for customer service/sales of which eight are in part-time positions and the rest full-time. With a large corporate market base, Majestic Health and Fitness is considered and advert ises itself as a premium gym facility in both Wellington and Auckland. The aligned strategy of Majestic Health and Fitness is being a cost defender with management characteristics of a traditional, mechanistic method. As figure 1.1 shows, management is hierarchical and veryRead MoreTechnological Model Of The Technological Environment1092 Words   |  5 Pagesimplement systems that help solve human problems. These systems, as they relate to the fitness center, are far reaching and affect all aspects of gym design and operations, including equipment design, training aids, member experience and operational efficiency. On the technology dimension aspect, one of the most beneficial recent technological advances for gym members has been in the area of training aids, such as heart rate monitors/controls, MP3 players and downloadable workout routines, equipment

Beowulf A Medieval Plot Twist - 867 Words

OPry 1 OPry 4 Anita Kay O?Pry-Reynolds H. Zengos Eng 561 19 January 2016 Beowulf: A Medieval Plot Twist. Beowulf encapsulates all the requirements that modern readers have come to expect of a medieval hero. He is loyal, brave, pious, what stubborn while at the same time he displays traits that represent the anti-hero. He exemplifies both the hero and the anti-hero. Beowulf truly is something for everyone. The epic poem bearing the name of the erstwhile hero is the bellwether for epic poetry; it and Homer?s works are the standards that all epic poems are compared. The epic tale of the hero Beowulf differs for the generic formula taking the medieval audience and the modern reader in a different direction then the works that list each triumph in succession. Beowulf, while heavily pagan in its content is influenced by the new religion, early on the reader finds that Grendel is a descendant of Cain, the biblical committee of the first murder (Basewell and Howland Schotter). Beowulf is acting as a religious hero in not suffering a monster such as Grendel or his mother to survive. He is also acting as the stereotypical medieval hero slaying monsters and dragons to protect his people and others who are in distress (King). Judy King (2003), posits Beowulf is the traditional representation of the great hero, from the very beginning of the poem where he calls out to listen to the very end in his dramatic death (King 454). King writes Beowulf, differs from other traditional poems of

Audit Memo Free Essays

Audit Planning Memorandum for Database Environment Date| 02/04/2013| To| Audit Senior Management| School Board| Temple University| Prepared By| Shan Jiang| ————————————————- Background Types of RDBMS: MySQL 5. 0 – an open-source database used extensively in small or medium-sized web applications. One of the simplest databases to secure from hacking because of the small attack surface it exposes Number of DB servers: 3 Business units rely on the DBs: Sales and Distribution, Financial Services, Procurement, and Accounts Receivable. We will write a custom essay sample on Audit Memo or any similar topic only for you Order Now Organizational structure of the group who manages the DBs: Data Owner, system administrator, and database administrator. 1. 0 Internal Audit Objective and Scope 2. 1 Internal Audit Objective The objective of this review is to audit confidentiality, integrity, and availability of XYZ Company’s MySQL 5. 0 database environment. 2. 2 Internal Audit Scope and Approach The scope of this review includes an assessment of MySQL 5. 0 database environment. Specifically, this review will include: * Physical and administrative control Concurrent access controls * Change controls * Server configuration control * Database checkpoints * Schema Modifications * Redundancy elimination and relationship verification * Database restructuring * Data backup and disaster recovery plan 2. 3 Deliverables Audit deliverables will consist of the following: * Fieldwork documentation * Finding Issues * Audit draft report * Action plan and recommendation * Audit final report It is planned that the above deliv erables will be delivered to you by 02/07/2013 for your review and subsequent discussion. . 0 High-Level Work Program Policy and standards, data backup and procedures, levels of access controls for data, data encryption, confidentiality, integrity, availability of data elements, database checkpoints at junctures, database reorganization, database restructuring procedures and write report. 3. 0 General Information 4. 4 Internal Audit Team The internal audit team, with roles and responsibilities, includes the following people: * Lua Li: associate, audit database basic step and general controls. * Jia Meng: associate, audit database operating system security * Shan Jiang: associate, audit database accounts and permissions management * Zhou Zhou: senior associate, audit password strength and review database privileges * Chao Lang: senior associate, audit data encryption * Jia Yu: manager, verify database auditing and activity monitoring. 4. 5 Duration of Internal Audit The duration of this internal audit will be for one month commencing on 02/11/2013. 02/11/2013-02/15/2013 Planning 02/16/2013-02/20/2013 Fieldwork and documentation 2/21/2013-02/25/2013 Issue discovery and validation 02/26/2013-04/01/2013 Solution development 04/02/3013-04/07/2013 Report drafting and issuance 04/08/2013-04/11/2013 Final report and issue tracking It is anticipated that the fieldwork, working papers and drafting of deliverables will be completed by Internal Audit Team. 4. 6 Location of Internal Audit The location of the internal audit will be performed at XYZ Company. It is predicted that a site vi sit to XYZ Company will be conducted during the course of this review. 4. 7 Temple University Previous Audits Previous Audit Version: March 3, 2012 Previous Critical Findings: Developers have direct access to update production code without permission. Impact: It is fixed. The DBMS team implemented a baseline tool for protecting the production code. The ability to check new code into this tool will be limited to the DBA. The team also documented procedures requiring approval and testing prior to submitting new production code for check-in. 4. 8 Key Contacts Contact| Position| Department| E-mail| Contact No. | Jim Green| Database Administrator| IT| Sdhs11@xyz. com| 435-234-8899| Lucas Xiao| System Administrator| IT| Ass123@xyz. om| 123-324-3211| David Han| Database Developer| IT| Xcv344@xyz. com| 876-123-1234| Ryan Li| System Analyst| IT| Jki678@xyz. com| 542-345-0989| Billy Zhou| Manager| IT| Nhy654@xyz. com| 324-123-4321| 4. 0 High-Level Work Schedule Date| Task| Contact| 02/11/2013-02/15/2013| Verify policies and procedures about database version and available patches| David Han| 02/16/2013-02/20/2013| Determine baseline for ad equate security setting and permissions on the directory and registry keys. | Ryan Li| 02/21/2013-02/25/2013| Verify legitimate accounts creation and password management capabilities. Jim Green| 02/26/2013-02/28/2013| Confidentiality, integrity, availability and encryption of data| Lucas Xiao| 03/01/2013-03/03/2013| Database checkpoints at junctures| Ryan Li| 03/04/2013-03/05/2013| Database reorganization| Lucas Xiao| 03/06/2013-03/08/2013| Database restructuring procedures| Jim Green| 03/09/2013-03/11/2013| Ready to report| Billy Zhou| 5. 0 Key concerns of management. Operating system administrators gains easy access to MySQL Server. SQL Server DBA’s has local administrator privileges on Windows. Data breaches that compromise IP or personal privacy. 6. 0 Manager Sign-off Billy Zhou 02/07/2013 How to cite Audit Memo, Essay examples

Leonardo da Vinci in Milan according to Giorgione Essay Example For Students

Leonardo da Vinci in Milan according to Giorgione Essay The objective of this essay is to provide an explanation of Leonardo da Vincis life and work as an artist in context with his time spent in Milan. Following an initial introduction to Leonardos formative years in Florence (and his apprenticeship to the sculptor and painter Andrea del Verrocchio, 1435-88), I will attempt to explain the significance of his presence in Milan with detailed descriptions of his work there. Giorgio Vasari (1511-74) was also an artist and architect, but is perhaps better known for his book on the lives of well known painters, sculptors and architects (published 1550; from Cimbue to his autobiography which was included in a revised edition): Vasaris book offers his personal evaluation of the works of these artists, as well as discussions on the state of the arts. His easy, natural writing style helped to make his book one of the most enduring of art histories. His reflections on Leonardos life include insight specifically relating to his unusual character and the intellectual merit of his lifes work. Using this evidence I hope to provide valid observations on Leonardos significance as a father of the High Renaissance. Leonardo (who was christened Lionardo, the name to which Vasari refers) was born near the small town of Vinci on 15th April 1452. The town was situated in the Florentine province of Italy, where his father, Ser Piero was a notary. According to Vasari, Leonardo was somewhat of a child prodigy in his studies, but he showed little commitment to one single area, constantly finding new interests in other subjects: Thus in arithmetic, during the few months that he studied it, he made such progress that he frequently confounded his master by continually raising doubts and difficulties. He devoted some time to music Yet though he studied so many different things, he never neglected design and working in relief, those being the things which appealed to his fancy more than any other. Being very conscious of his sons talents, Ser Piero moved to Florence with Leonardo and his wife (not Leonardos mother, as he was illegitimate and never took his fathers name) to utilise them professionally. Being a friend of the artist and sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio (1435-88), Ser Piero convinced him to recruit Leonardo as an apprentice by the promise shown in his work. Verrocchio strongly encouraged da Vinci, and his admiration of his students talents convinced Verrocchio to allow Leonardo to participate in the creation of his own paintings and sculptures. According to Vasari, Leonardo was highly skilled in many fields of design, he prepared many architectural plans and elevations, and he was the first, though so young, to propose a navigable canal of the Arno River from Pisa to Florence. Vasari talks at length on the subject of Leonardos early drawing skills, delving with some depth into the aptitude of his draughtsmanship, often indicating that his works were executed like a master, which he became officially in 1478. Drawing may have been a craft in which he gleaned experience directly from Verrocchio, whos own biography by Vasari states: His drawings were) made with great patience and knowledge, among which are heads of women, with graceful manner and hair arrangements that, because of their exceeding beauty, Lionardo da Vinci always imitated. Although in 1472 he entered the San Luca guild of painters in Florence, which would indicate that he had attained a degree of professional independence, he remained with Andrea del Verrocchio until 1480. Of his earliest works, one that he painted as an assistant is the angel holding clothes, kneeling on the left of Verrocchios picture The Baptism of Christ (c. 1472-1475). Verrocchio, as indicated by Vasari, was so impressed by the implications of his pupils genius that would never afterwards touch colours, chagrined that a child should know more than he. Since Leonardos earliest large-scale work The Adoration of the Magi (begun 1481 unfinished), he had gained a reputation for leaving works incomplete, perhaps fittingly in the nature of this, his first commission an altarpiece for the chapel of the Palazzo Vecchio, the Florentine town hall, was never executed. Conveniently, Vasari attempts to provide an explanation for this force of habit: His knowledge of art, indeed, prevented him from finishing many things which he had begun, for he felt that his hand would be unable to realise the perfect creations of his imagination, as his mind formed such difficult, subtle and marvellous conceptions that his hands, skilful as they were, could never have expressed them. As to the truth of this statement, this is difficult to prove, but clarification could be seen in the great number and range of Leonardos studies and designs that never progressed further than the initial planning stages, due to his constant need to illustrate his new and innovative concepts. The Adoration of the Magi was an early illustration of Leonardos genius in technical innovation, even if it was unintentional. Despite the piece not being completed, the drawing and base painting serve to demonstrate the success of Leonardos technique of drawing straight onto the board without first having to demarcate outlines by using a collection of cartoons (preparatory sketches) as was the technique for painting in buon-fresco or in tempera. The cuban mile EssayThis provided an even greater sense of relief and a sculptural quality to paintings by using an exaggerated depiction of light and dark tones emphasising the shape of a form. I have chosen two works from this period, which by personal opinion, I consider to be the finest in his undertaking and most expressive of his paintings. The Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani (Lady with an Ermine) was painted around 1490 midway through his employment to Ludovico; indeed it is sometimes believed that the Lady was his mistress. This painting uses chiaroscuro to a great effect with modelling used around the side of the head, neck and upper chest and around the arms, clearly illustrating the depth of the figure. Notice how obscured the background is, thus making the use of sfumato impossible on the figure, except for where the torso of the ermine is cast in shadow by the Ladys hand and arm. Her clothing and jewellery appear very sophisticated and luxuriant incorporating crisp details in the fabric. The ermine itself, which was prized for its valuable fur, also acts as a designation of wealth. Dominican monks of the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery commissioned possibly the most notable painting by Leonardo in Milan, The Last Supper painted using an experimentary use of media from 1495-8. A great work in its magnitude, the composition has become the epitome of Last Supper paintings, despite its well-known fragility it still remains following attempts at restoration since 1726. It is constantly falling apart since Leonardo attempted to work in oil and tempera on plaster. Vasari wrote of the work: Lionardo has seized the moment when the Apostles are anxious to discover who would betray their Master. All their faces are expressive of love, fear, wrath or grief at not being able to grasp the meaning of Christ, in contrast to the obstinacy, hatred and treason of Judas, while the whole work, down to the smallest details, displays incredible diligence, even the texture of the tablecloth being clearly visible so that actual cambric would not look more real. Vasari also professes to Leonardos diligence in working on this project, although according to an eyewitness report from one Matteo Bandello (narrated in Novella, 1497) the artist would at times paint in the refectory from sunrise to darkness, never laying down the brush to eat or drink. Then, days would lapse in which Leonardo would not touch a brush but would either contemplate what he had painted or labour at the Corte Vecchia on the monumental clay model for the Sforza equestrian monument, and then, when the fancy took him he would take a brush and give a few touches to one of the figures; and then suddenly he would leave and go elsewhere. The painting itself has little evidence of its former glory left, although the use of both chiaroscuro and sfumato are still visible in the scenery and between the figures, and this grants the vision a certain elegance of form and composition. The arrangement of the apostle figures in groups of three is often commented upon due to the number acting as a recurring theme in the painting; often the number three was used to designate the importance of the Holy Trinity. The robes are very much in the tradition of scholarly togas; there is still even a suggestion of lurid colour still left in the cloth. It was soon after he had completed this work that Leonardo withdrew from Milan as the Duke had done to escape the French who had overrun the state, French archers also destroyed the clay equestrian colossus that Leonardo had made by using it for target practice. Leonardo only returned to Milan in 1506 under the guardianship of the ruling French governor, Charles dAmboise, and still only visited whilst undertaking commissions. Leonardos lack of popularity (in his own time, as a named artist) is surprising. He was a victim of the cultural marginality of the Milanese court as well as of his own commitment to technical and scientific projects rather than to literature, and the scarcity of works circulating under his name. To some extent this is largely true, but obviously becoming famous was not a great ambition of Leonardos. As is mentioned, there was a lack of works (paintings) that would have had a circulation around important circles: By 1503, Leonardo had forged a reputation for jilting his patrons with unfinished projects. This would surely have been the case, but what cant truly be answered is, did this make Leonardo responsible for his own lack of popularity? It never seemed to be that way to Vasari anyhow, who wrote with a very sympathetic style about Leonardo, making eloquent excuses where Leonardo could be found blameworthy. It is probably true to say that Leonardo was highly respected as a founding father of the high period of the renaissance, and all in all lead a comfortable life worthy of his standing.

Is HRM a worthwhile investment for an SME

Introduction Organizations’ management teams are increasingly appreciating the importance of human capital in an effort to improve their organizations’ competitive advantage (Kok 2003). This has led to an increment in the number of studies being conducted with regard to best practices of managing human resources.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is HRM a worthwhile investment for an SME specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There has also been increased recognition of the purpose of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the modern economies. This realization illustrates that, there is a point of convergence between human resource management and small medium enterprises. Human resource management [HRM] deals with management of a firm’s workforce (Kok 2003). It is composed of a set of different but interrelated processes, activities, and functions that are aimed at attracting, developing, and retain ing an organization’s workforce. Some of the activities undertaken in HRM include employee recruitment, selection and formulation of effective appraisal and compensation scheme. Through HRM, organizations can develop and retain talented and energetic workforces that can contribute towards attainment of the formulated organizational strategies, missions, goals and objectives (Transky Heneman 2006). Additionally, integration of HRM practices and policies can significantly contribute towards a firm improving its performance. However, integration of HRM in SMEs is relatively low (Cooper Burke 2011). Previous studies reveal that, most SMEs do not make optimal use of HRM practices in their operations (Bacon, Hoque 2005). Some of these studies assert that, most SMEs tend to operate in a more flexible and informal manner compared to large enterprises. For example, Kok (2003) is of the opinion that, a firm’s size is directly related with its incidence towards HRM practices s uch as training and planning. However, small firms are less likely to invest in training for their employees, performance appraisal, and recruitment practices probably due to limited capital and revenues. HRM in SMEs is mostly characterized by administrative tasks whereas the more strategic matters are not perceived with the weight that they deserve. A study conducted by Hendry and others in 1991 reveals that, SMEs perceive investing in HRM as an additional undertaking beyond the level that is necessary to sustain their operations; a luxury that can only be afforded if the firm makes substantial profits (Kok 2003). However, considering the environmental uncertainty facing firms today, it is paramount for SMEs to evaluate their operational practices in order to remain competitive and HRM optimization is slowly becoming indispensable.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In additio n to being characterized as being informal, management teams of SMEs are also considered to be less specialized compared to large enterprises. Employees of SMEs tend to perform different tasks compared to large enterprises, which means that the level of specialization is relatively low. This aspect is well illustrated by a qualitative study conducted by Berkley and Heneman in 1999. The study took into account a random test on 117 SMEs whose human resource base was less than 100 employees. Findings of the study showed that, 15 of the SMEs considered had a human resource management department (Kok 2003). There is growing evidence that HRM practices tend to be sophisticated especially for SMEs. On the basis of the above analysis, it is evident that there is a significant level of deficiency with regard to HRM in SMEs. This paper is aimed at critically evaluating whether it is worthwhile for SMEs invest in HRM. Analysis of the trend of HRM Previous studies conducted have shown that, dev elopment of an effective workforce and organizational culture is one of the ways through which organizations can develop their competitive advantage. Firm and employee culture are considered to be some of the most fundamental aspects in the success of SMES. An example of such culture includes operating in a social responsible manner (Mankelow 2008). As a result, it is quite unprofessional for SMEs to continue underutilizing their human capital (Cooper Burke 2011). HRM has over the past decade become one of the most crucial aspects that both small and large organizations have to consider. There are a number of reasons that have contributed to this shift. Some of these reasons are explained in the paper. Currently, the business environment is increasingly becoming knowledge based. This means that firms are considering knowledge as an important source of competitive advantage. This has arisen from the high rate of globalization that is being experienced today (Knowles, Diamantis El-M ourhabi 2004). As a result of globalization, most economies are eliminating trade barriers thus presenting a challenge to firms through increased competition (Tsui Lai 2009). Therefore, it is paramount for organizational management teams to consider ways of enhancing their organization’s performances (Cooper Burke 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Is HRM a worthwhile investment for an SME specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With the development of the education sector in different economies, the workforce is becoming more and more educated. There has also been considerable growth with regard to employees’ expectations on working environment and quality work. Additionally, staff shortages have made firms experience intense competition for human capital. As a result, SMEs are reconsidering on the best practices that they can retain their talented workforce (Cooper Burke 2011). The importance of HRM in both large and SMEs is also being enhanced by the demographic changes occurring within the labour market. One of the demographic changes being witnessed arises from the fact that the workforce is becoming aged. As a result, it has become essential for SMEs to consider incorporating performance incentives and training and development initiatives in order to maximize on their employees’ working capacity. Organizations are also experiencing a significant transformation with regard to clients and customer expectations. As a result of customers and clients becoming more knowledgeable, they are demanding effective, efficient and high quality services and products (Cooper Burke 2011). Analysis of the changes occurring within the business environment reveals that, it is critical for businesses to consider ways of improving their competitive advantage through integration of HRM practices in their management practices. Theoretical frameworks formulated to explain the importance of HRM in SMEs A number of theories have been advanced to explicate the relevance of SMEs investing in HRM. One of the theoretical explanations is universalistic in nature. The theory is based on HRM best practices (Cooper Burke 2011). Through integration of HRM best practices, SMEs can attain considerable improvement in their performance. One of the ways through which this can be attained is by incorporating the concept of employee training and development (Jolly 2003). Findings of a study conducted in 2002 on the perspective of employee development in SMEs revealed that, training and development is an indispensable component in a firm’s effort to attain the desired growth. This arises from the fact that training and development contributes towards increased productivity within an organization’s workforce. Increase in productivity arises from the fact that employees perceive a higher opportunity for growth within such an organization. Training and development also e nhances the employees’ level of motivation. Despite the benefits associated with training and development, some parties are of the view that training and development can result into increased employee turnover as a result of poaching (Jolly 2003). However, for training to be successful in SMEs, management teams should ensure that it is well imbedded within the firm’s workplace, informal and flexible. The theory also asserts that incorporation of HRM by SMEs would result in adoption of performance based pay. According to Longenecker (2006), it is paramount for SMEs to acknowledge the importance of formulating a compensation plan that will contribute towards attraction and retention of well-qualified personnel.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the ways through which SMEs can achieve this goal is through incorporation of HRM best practices. Some of the elements that they should consider when formulating the compensation plan include competitive salary and wage levels, and financial incentives that will improve employee productivity. One of the financial incentives that are most effective in SMEs includes sharing profits. This arises from the fact that it is possible for SMEs to assess individual performance (Longenecker 2006). The second theoretical framework is behavioural in nature. The theory asserts that human resource management practices and policies have a significant influence on employees’ behaviour, for example, through organizational commitment, employee creativity and work engagement. These aspects consequently affect productivity, profitability and performance (Cooper Burke 2011). The third theoretical framework is economic in nature. This arises from the fact that significant cost is incurred i n the process of adopting formal HR practices. According to Phillips (2005), acquisition and maintenance of a strong workforce is quite expensive. There are numerous cost categories that are involved in the development of a strong workforce. Some of these are related to recruitment, selection, indoctrination, initial training, formulation of competitive compensation and reward systems, socialization and exit costs. This can be a challenge especially to SMEs compared to large enterprises. How HRM is worthwhile investing by SMEs There are a number of reasons that illustrate why it is worthwhile for SMEs to invest in HRM. For example, through incorporation of effective training programs, SMES can be able to derive more value from their workforces. This arises from the fact that the business will be able to effectively address the most pertinent issues facing its operation. Investing in HRM can also improve the employees’ attitude towards work. One of the ways through which this change of attitude is attained is by integrating effective leadership measures (Cooper Burke 2011). Findings of a study conducted in the US on leadership training revealed that revenues of firms that incorporate leadership training grow with a margin of more than 25% compared to their training cost (Cooper Burke 2011). This well illustrates the fact that training can result in improvement of SMEs financial performance. Additionally, investing in HRM can significantly improve the performance of SMEs through improved employee engagement. There are a number of ways through which organizations can achieve this; some of these include ensuring that the employees have a comprehensive understanding of their performance expectations. Additionally, SMEs should ensure that employees have sufficient resources to support successful completion of tasks. By investing in HRM, SMEs can be able to contribute towards staff development, improve on employee input, in addition to compelling the employe es to be focused towards attainment of organizational goals and mission. Integration of HRM in SMEs can also contribute towards development of a strong workplace culture. Work within the modern economy is becoming more and more demanding (Ulrich 1997). For example, organizations are demanding more from their employees with few resources. There has also been a decline in employment security, which is making the employees to reconsider their commitment and contribution to their employers (Ulrich 1997). However, incorporation of HRM by SMEs can significantly improve their performance in a number of ways. For example, HRM contributes towards development of an enabling environment for employees to work in. One of the reasons why organizations are experiencing a challenge with regard to employee turnover relates to the current global economic changes. Employees are constantly faced with the challenge of ensuring that they provide for their families. To achieve this, employees are consider ing improving their competitive edge within the labour market. To achieve this, employees are considering going back to school. The employees work demands coupled with their desire to enhance their competitiveness in the labour market are leading to increased stress levels amongst the employees. This arises from the fact that the employees are not able to balance between work and life. Occurrence of such a phenomenon would have adverse effects on the employees productivity and hence the organization’s performance and competitive advantage (Williamson, Lewis Massey 2011). Some of the HR practices that organization management teams should consider in order to deal with this challenge include incorporation of work-life balance and stress management policies (Williamson, Lewis Massey 2011). Effective formulation and implementation of work-life balance can be beneficial to SMEs through achievement of a healthier and happier life for the employees. One of the ways through which m anagement teams of SMEs can achieve this formulation is by integrating effective HR policies; for example, flexible career options and working hours (Cooper Burke 2011). Integration of such strategies can significantly improve the employees level of satisfaction and hence their productivity. Considering the competitive nature of the labour market, it is paramount for SMEs to ensure that they acquire a strong workforce (Michalski 2011). This can only be attained by ensuring an effective employee recruitment process. However, most SMEs do not consider investing their time and money towards developing their human capital. As a result, they do not have a formal employee recruitment process. Recruitment of a strong workforce in SMEs is also hindered by the fact that they are not well connected in the labour market (Cooper Burke 2011). Additionally, most SMEs tend to suffer image problem amongst job seekers. To improve on their ability of recruiting a strong work workforce, it is paramo unt for SMEs to be concerned on becoming more legitimate. To deal with this challenge, it is crucial for SMEs to consider investing in a comprehensive recruitment process. Through recruitment, an organization can attract a wide range of workforce to select from. SMEs should consider several issues in order to attract high-quality job applicants. For example, they should invest in initiatives aimed at making their organizations recognizable amongst job applicants (Hartman Spiro 2005). SMEs should also invest in developing human resource policies such as those used by large enterprises. This can be attained by outsourcing HR consultants to aid in the formulation and implementation of the policies. Such investment in HRM would have significant influence in SMEs’ operational efficiency. The recruitment process is followed by selection of the most qualified staff which is a relatively complex process (Harney Dundon 2006). Due to time and financial constraints, most SMEs conduct reactive selection and recruitment process. Additionally, a substantial proportion of SMEs do not have sufficient understanding on the requirements of a position intended to be filled. However, to ensure that they develop a strong workforce, it is critical for SMEs to invest in HRM practices such as employee selection and recruitment. Upon acquiring a strong workforce, it is paramount for management teams of SMEs to consider on the most effective ways of motivating and retaining employees. This arises from the fact that underperforming employees can be a threat to the success of SMEs. HRM provides a solution on the best practices of employee motivation. These strategies range from monetary to non-monetary benefits. Some of the non-monetary benefits include recognition of employee performance and promotions. To deal with underperforming employees, SME managers should ensure that they maintain constant communication with such employees in order to indicate what the firm expects of the m. Currently, SMEs can achieve this more effectively and efficiently considering the growth in information communication technology; for example, by using emerging social communication networks such as Twitter and video conferencing. This means that SMEs should invest in the current technology. Maintaining communication within an organization can significantly contribute towards development of a strong bond between employees and the management team (Cooper Burke 2011). SMEs, which have incorporated HRM in their operation, are able to deal with changes occurring in the business environment. This capacity to handle change easily is made possible by the fact that HRM enables organizations to undertake comprehensive human resource planning. As a result, they are able to evaluate and anticipate their current and future human resource needs. Therefore, investing in HRM can enable SMEs to be proactive in dealing with environment changes rather than being reactive. Conclusion The above ana lysis makes it evident that, SMEs do not pay much emphasis on HRM compared to large organizations. For example, studies conducted reveal that only a few SMEs have a functional human resource department. This means that, human resource activities are conducted more informally. There are a number of reasons that explain this trend. Some of the reasons range from lack of knowledge on HRM by management teams of SMEs to the high cost involved in implementing HRM. However, changes occurring within the business environment such as globalization have increasingly made SMEs to reconsider the role of HRM in an effort to survive in the challenging business environment. Despite this, the above analysis underscores the importance of HRM in SMEs. For example, despite investing in HRM policies and practices being costly to SMEs with regard to financial and time requirements compared to large organizations, there are numerous benefits that SMEs can achieve. Incorporation of HRM practices can contri bute towards improvement of SMEs’ competitive advantage in a number of ways. For example, by investing in training and development, SMEs can improve the employees working efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, organizations that invest in training and development are more efficient with improving employee satisfaction. This arises from the fact that the employees develop a perception that the organization has an interest in their heart. This will consequently culminate in improvement of their productivity and hence their performance. Considering the dynamic nature of the business environment, it has become necessary for SMEs to shift their operations towards becoming knowledge-based to be competitive. This can only be achieved if SMEs undertake sufficient training and development. By investing in employee recruitment and selection, there is a high probability of SMEs developing a strong human resource base. The resultant effect is that the firm’s competitiveness w ill be enhanced. Additionally, if effectively formulated and implemented, investing in HRM practices and policies can result in the creation of an enabling working environment. This argument holds because HRM advocates for firms to incorporate strategies, which will contribute towards a high level of employee satisfaction. Some of these strategies relate to ensuring that the employees are well remunerated and their performance recognized by conducting sufficient performance appraisals. Investing in HRM increases the probability of SMEs to achieve their goals and objectives. One of the ways through which this scenario is made possible arises from the fact that HRM advocates for effective management of employees; for example, by integrating the concept of teamwork. Effective organizational leadership also plays a critical role with regard to enhancing cohesiveness in an organization. Considering the contribution of HRM towards organizational success, it is vital for SMEs to incorporat e the best HRM policies and practices, because as explicated in this paper, HRM is a worthwhile investment for SMEs. Reference List Bacon, N Hoque, K 2005, ‘HRM in the SME sector: valuable employees and coercive networks’, International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 16 no. 11, pp. 1976-1999. Cooper, C Burke, R 2011, Human resource management in small business: Achieving peak performance, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham. Harney, B Dundon, T 2006, ‘Capturing complexity: Developing an integrated approach to analyzing HRM in SMEs’, Human Resource Management Journal, vol. 16 no.1, pp. 48 – 73. Hartman, K Spiro, R 2005, Recapturing store image in customer-based store equity: A construct conceptualization, Indiana University, Indiana. Jolly, A 2003, Skills and Training Directory: A Complete Sourcebook of Best Practice and Training Providers, Kogan Page, London. Knowles, T, Diamantis, D El-Mourhabi, J 2004, The globalization of tourism and hospita lity, Thomson, London. Kok, J 2003, Human resource management within small and medium-sized enterprises, Rozenberg Publishers, Amsterdam. Longenecker, J 2006, Small business management: An entrepreneurial emphasis, Thomson, Ohio. Mankelow, G 2008, ‘Social responsibility paradox of small business human resource management,’ International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 19 no. 12, pp. 2171-2181. Michalski, A 2011, Human resource controlling in small and medium enterprises: Components and possible approaches, Berlin, GRIN Verlag. Phillips, J 2005, Investing in your company’s human capital: Strategies to avoid spending too little or too much, AMACOM, New York. Transky, J Heneman, R 2006, Human resource strategies for the high growth entrepreneurial firm, Information Age Publishing, Greenwich. Tsui, A Lai, K 2009, Professional practices of human resource management in Hong Kong: Linking HRM to organizational success, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong. Ulri ch, D 1997, Human resource champions: The next agenda for adding value and delivering results, Harvard Business School, Boston. Williamson, A, Lewis, K Massey, C 2011, Work-life balance in small business: The impact of firm and family milestone, Wellington, New Zealand Centre for SME Research. This essay on Is HRM a worthwhile investment for an SME was written and submitted by user Vivienne Hull to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

An investigation into the effect of chunking on recall Essays

An investigation into the effect of chunking on recall Essays An investigation into the effect of chunking on recall Essay An investigation into the effect of chunking on recall Essay I chose the experimental method because this brings advantages like I can control most of my variables but not all. Some controlled variables which I have are that each participant gets the same instructions, each person gets the same amount of time this is to keep the experiment as fair as possible.Some variables that I will not be able to control are things like the time of day I ask each person because I got to see when I have some spare time to do so, I will proberly not be able to make sure each person is under the same surroundings again due to time and this could affect my results because people mite not be at there best at a certain time of day. Participants My experiment is aimed at 16yr olds students of a mixed gender.They were selected through the opportunity sampling method because they were situated in the same room as my self and are all from the same college QE. Materials I used equipment such as a stopwatch to time each individual to make sure each one had the exact same time, I provided a pen and a sheet of paper for everyone who took part in my experiment. I chose my list of abbreviations by thinking of a topic like TV and than I thought about all the channels and there abbreviations but all had to be 3 letters each.Procedure The first thing I did after I had chosen what experiment I was going to do was think of a list abbreviations that had to be 3 letters each and altogether had to be 24 letters. I than made simple instructions for the participants to follow and printed it out. Later on I went into the canteen around 11am and asked people if they would take part in my experiment, I told them that they did not have to take part against there will and could withdraw at anytime during the experiment but also reassured them that all there information would be kept confidential.I gave each participant 1min to have a look at the letters, letter string or chunked list and than recorded the results on a rough sheet of paper. After I had gathered up all the info I started writing up my experiment. Discussion My results show that my prediction was correct and that more people remembered the letters from the chunked list than the letter string also that Millers theory was correct that if we chunk information and give them a meaning we are more likely to remember more than 7 things in our STM so my results agree with Millers theory.If I could make any modifications it would be that I would ask participants at the same time of day rather than at different times because this could affect the results because participants mite not be at there best at a certain time of day or mite jus be having a bad day altogether. Another thing I would change is that I would use only students who do not do psychology because people who do psychology mite now whats going on and may have already done the experiment before so this could affect the results if they know the theory behind the experiment.Criticism with my experiment is the location because the canteen was to noisy, I would like it be in a quite room were I could ask all the participants at the same time of day on the same day so it would be as fair as possible. If I was able to make these changes this may have affected my results because people may have remembered more letters in each situation and this may have even affected my hypothesis. Again the confounding variables were the noise, location, people may not have been at there best at that time of day and other general distractions occur in the canteen .Ethical issued were that I never forced anyone into participating and always gave them the option of withdrawing anytime during the experiment but also told them that all information would be kept confidential. Further work from this experiment is that I could use it to revise for final exams as it has lots of vital information. Results My results show that my prediction was correct and that chunking information increases capacity in your STM and also that Millers theory was correct