Recruitment And Selection Construction Business Commerce Essay

Recruitment And Selection Construction Business Commerce Essay Since the company is a construction business, there are two offices one is the on site office and the other one is the main office. The recruitment and selection process is majorly carried out for the main office. The different posts for which recruitment is carried out are for the different departments such as marketing, human resource, finance and functional departments. The company does not carry out recruitment process on a timely basis; it is conducted as and when an employee leaves the organization or when a new position is recognized in the organization. Recruitment and selection Recruitment is the premier major steps in the selection process in the Organizations. It has been explained as an activity directed to obtain appropriate human resources whose qualifications and skills match functions of the relevant posts in the Organization. Its importance cannot be over-emphasized and can also be best described as the heart of the organization. Recruitment and selection process starts when a vacancy becomes available in an organization. The major differences between recruitment and selection is highlighted below Recruitment Selection Is the process of searching the candidates for employment and inspiring them to apply for jobs in the organization It Involves the series of steps by which the candidates are screened for  choosing the most suitable persons for  vacant posts The basic purpose of recruitments is to create a talent pool of candidates to enable the selection of best candidates for the organization, by attracting more and more employees to apply in the organization. The basic purpose of selection process is to choose the right candidate to fill the various positions in the organization Recruitment is a positive process i.e. encouraging more and more employees to apply . Selection is a negative process as it involves rejection of the unsuitable candidates. Recruitment is concerned with tapping the sources of human resources Selection is concerned with selecting the most suitable candidate through various interviews and tests There is no contract of recruitment established in recruitment Selection results in a contract of  service between the employer and the selected employee. Recruitment and selection is a 10-step process. These steps are illustrated in the following table Companys process The human resource department of the company carries out the following process for recruiting and selecting new employees. Every time an employee holding high post decides to leave the firm, the director of the company with the help of human resource department sits down to analyze the structure of the organization and studies whether any change is required. Change could be in the form of clubbing different job responsibilities or whether it is necessary to recruit a new employee. If there is a change in the structure, the employees are informed about it during the weekly meetings. If there is no change to be made to the structure then the recruitment and selection process is carried out Job analysis After the vacancy is confirmed, the HR department reviews the job description and job specification and makes the necessary changes if required. The job description contains items such as Job specification- lists the human qualifications necessary to do the job like- The employers of Empire construction search for the following skills in the employees Analytical Time management Planning Decision-making Problem solving Information seeking The selection process is then based on the job description and job specification. The HR head decides the weightage that each criterion will have in the selection of the employee Advertisement Advertisement is done to get suitable candidates aware about the vacant post. The company finds it necessary to be as transparent as possible while displaying the job advertisement. Some of the details mentioned in the job advertisement are All positions must be advertised for a minimum of five working days. The company recruits employees both internally and externally; this depends on the vacant post. For internal recruitment the vacant posts are advertised only internally, where the job details are posted on the notice board and the post is spoken about in the meetings. However internal recruitment in the company is limited since the workforce in the company is trivial. External advertisement The Company advertises the vacant post externally by using the newspaper. Also the company lets various job centers aware of the post. In the world of technology the company also uses various online websites such as naukri.com and monster.com to post about the job and get suitable candidates. Application process Following the advertisements the interested candidates are asked to fill up an application form, which is provided to them via email or can be collected from the main office. An example of the application form is attached below. Along with the application form the candidates are required to submit their CV. After all the applications are received the Hr department of the company screens applications and short-lists the suitable candidates. The short listed candidates are then asked to come for an interview; this information is passed to the suitable candidates using emails and phone calls. The rejected candidates are also sent a mail stating that they have been rejected for the job applied for. Interview The company head and the Hr manager together interview the short-listed candidates. Some of The basic interview questions they ask the candidates are listed below. Why do you want this job? What do you know about this company? What makes you think you will fit in this organization? What are your key strengths? What are your main weaknesses? The interview question that they ask are situational based and is largely dependent on the post applied for. One good example that the Hr head provided the author with was in relation to an interview for the sales head. The interviewee was handed with the brochure of the companys new project and was asked to point out reasons why the sales might or not take place with respect to that brochure. Once the interview is done, the HR team sits down together to verify the credentials. The right to work evidence, birth certificate, passport, visa and other such documents are taken into consideration during the interview process. Soon after the credentials are verified the process of ranking the applicants starts. The company carries out this process using the independent approach. Each member of the selection committee pens down their views and ranks the applicants on the basis of the criterion. After which the selection committee comes to a consensus where the applicant with the most merit is selected to fill the vacant position. In case of a conflict the general Manager of the firm will take the decision. Selection process is followed by then deciding the commencing salary of the employee. Salary is decided based on the experience, qualifications and also the post applied for. Applicants are considered suitable are ranked in order of preference. The task of completing reference checking of the applicants is handed over to rather the selection committee or the directors nominee. Reference checks are important to understand the ability of the applicant to carry out his duties of position in accordance with the criterion. Reference checking is not carried out for the applicants who were interviewed. In fact it is only done for the applicant who ranked the highest. If at all there is hardly any difference between two or more applicant then their reference can also be considered. If the selection committee decides to approach the referees that have not been nominated by the applicant, then they ought to take permission from the applicant before doing so. Retention process Effective employee retention is a systematic effort by employers to create and foster an environment that encourages current employees to remain employed by having policies and practices in place that address their diverse needs. Retaining existing staff saves the employers time and money of recruiting, selecting and training new employees. Empire constructions use several ways to retain their existing employees, Mr T.s Vig the Director of the company said that retention of the key employees is necessary for the project success. The company always has exit interviews for employees who decide to leave their jobs; these interviews have revealed some reasons why people leave the job. Such as Better salary package elsewhere More Benefits elsewhere Too much workload The various measures taken by the company in order to retain its employees are as the follows The company believes in having a very open communication system where no employee feels alienated and all employees feel like an important part of the organization. Making work not only about work, the company environment is very friendly. They celebrate all festivals with a lot of enthusiasm in the company, this brings all the employees closer as a group. Also the employees are allotted with special bonuses during some festivals for example during Diwali the employees are given half a months extra salary. Pay in order to retain the employees the company keeps upgrading the employees salary as time passes. Benefits- Empire constructions provides their workers with some benefits such asà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨ à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Paid vacationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Paid holiday à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sick leave, Fringe benefits are discussed in detail later. Pension- The employees of Empire constructions are given a pension when retiring; this motivates them to stay longer in the organization. Motivational strategies used by the company are to mainly make the more efficient and they also help in retaining them, as motivated employees are happy employees. This aspect is explained in the later part of the assignment 1.2 Apply legal, regulatory and ethical considerations to the selection process Ethics is a set of principles to be followed that suggest what is right and what is wrong. No discrimination on any basis is one of the laws which has to be followed but it also an ethical responsibility of the employers and the management. Being in a construction business ethics plays a vital role since the business utilizes manpower like none other. With having unskilled labor the company needs to follow ethical practices in order to not harm anyone. Regulatory Once the final negotiations are done the following formalities are essential to convert the candidate into an employee.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reference Checks  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pre employment medical tests  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Documentation: Educational certificates and previous organizational records   The above-mentioned regulations are for only the main office staff. Legal There are several laws the company will have to follow and are mandatory Minimum age- according to Article 8 of Part II of the Indian law system Minimum Age initially specified was 16 years but was raised to 18 years in 1989. According to this law all the employees if the company should be over the age of 18. Empire construction does not recruit anyone who is below the age of 18. One of the eligibility criteria that the company follows is that the age of the candidate should be over 18. According to Indian contract act of 1872 all the employees are made to sign a contract at the start of their work. Minimum wages- The Indian law system specifies a minimum wage and all the employees should be paid more than that. Empire constructions for the skilled and unskilled labor obey this law and pay the employees accordingly. This act is more applicable for the unskilled workers working at the construction sites. Being in the construction business Empire construction has to follow The Building Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 This act looks was enacted for safety, health and welfare measures of construction workers. The Act contains provision for http://business.gov.in/legal_aspects/laws_specificindustries.php Amongst the other mentioned laws the company also has an obligation to follow The Equal Remuneration Act, 1973(for woman) and The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959. 2 High performance teams are truly seen as winning teams that invest much time and effort exploring, shaping and agreeing on a purpose that belongs to them, both collectively and individually. They are characterized by a greater sense of commitment to their growth and success. Evaluate how to build winning teams. Assess the benefits of team working A team is any group of people organized to work together interdependently and cooperatively to meet the needs of their customers by accomplishing a purpose and goals. Susan Heathfield Empire construction utilizes project teams. In the company several people of different functional groups come together and work on a project, this has many benefits for the organization some of them are listed below. Efficiency- Teamwork leads to higher efficiency, which will evidently is beneficial for Empire constructions. Teamwork in Empire construction aids in getting the projects undertaken in the most efficient manner. Morale- working in teams helps employees have higher morale and feel more comfortable and well adjusted in the organization. Higher employee morale helps in their retention. Information Preservation- working in teams, all information about activities are shared, hence protecting the company from loss of important work when someone leaves the company. Sharing information can cut down on time spent learning valuable information a former employee understood well. Innovationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨- Brainstorming for ideas and pooling in resources makes innovation likely for the company. In Empire constructions the project team sit together and analyze projects and brainstorm ideas and this usually leads to innovative ideas. Reduced Waste- à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨Team working reduces chances of duplication of efforts and streamline production. Unity- à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¨Working in teams fosters a sense of unity and this overall benefits the company by creating a work atmosphere enjoyed by the staff. Project teams are also vital for Empire construction since without it the success of projects would be challenging, each individual working independently on one common project would create a lot of chaos and duplication of work will be high. Demonstrate working in a team as a leader and member towards specific goals dealing with any conflict or difficult situation. Conflict is the perception of difference of interest among people (Thompson, 1998,p.4) Conflict management and problem solving skills are important for all leaders to possess. It is important to understand the reasons of conflicts . Most of the conflicts that happen in teams are due to the difference in ideas and the problems that arise are due to individuals but have an effect on the entire team. Stulberg (1987) identified traits common to all disagreements; He called them the Five-Ps of Conflict Management and these are shown below. Conflict management, source- Stulberg (1987) http://www.innovativeteambuilding.co.uk In empire construction for conflict management the team leader listens to all the people and then brainstorms and understands the conflict then comes up with a solution. The author would recommend the company to use Interest-Based Relational (IBR) Approach for conflict management. This approach respects individual differences and helps in people not becoming too embedded in a fix position. All the team members of the company would have to follow the following rules in using this approach. Make sure that good relationships are the first priority: During conflicts all the people involved should be courteous and calm, also should try to be constructive under pressure. Keep people and problems separate: During a conflict other personal issues should not be kept under consideration, this will help in dealing with real issues without damaging working relationships. Pay attention to the interests that are being presented: Listen carefully to the other person Listen first; talk second: To solve a problem effectively you have to understand where the other person is coming from before defending your own position. Set out the Facts: Before trying to argue or try to manage conflicts the leader should know all the facts about the conflict. Explore options together: Be open to the idea that a third position may exist, and that you can get to this idea jointly. Review the effectiveness of a team in achieving the goals. Effectiveness of teams refers to how efficient the team is while achieving their goals. For an effective team all employees should be more proactive and self-sufficient, hence employee empowerment can help improve team effectiveness. In empire constructions the effectiveness of team is vital to achieve the goals. Being a construction company they have deadlines to meet and their main goal is to complete projects within the time and budget and with good quality. To achieve their goals and targets Empire construction utilizes several ways to increase the effectiveness of project teams. The company sets clear goals in the start and these are clearly communicated to all the team members since to achieve the goals the goals and objectives should be clearly known by all the team members. The team leader to review the effectiveness of the team in achieving goals conducts regular project meetings. To have effective teams during the start of the project the project plan is created where all the team members are allotted with different responsibilities and roles. From the past trend of the company it can be seen that all their deadlines are mostly met and hence it can be said that the teams in Empire construction are efficient and effect The author feels that the company can make use of team building evaluation attached below to review the effectiveness of the teams. Team Building Evaluation Scale: 1= Strongly Disagree, 2= Disagree, 3= Agree, 4= Strongly Disagree http://www.janssensportsleadership.com/resources/free-championship-team-building-evaluation/ LEADERSHIP- Leadership means influencing people so that they will strive willingly towards the achievement of group goals A leader is a person who has the ability to get other people to do what they dont want to do and like it There are two types of leaders in every organization official leader and informal leader. An official leader is the one who has been established by the organization and has the right to delegate or give orders to co-workers in the firm. An unofficial leader is the one who has the natural ability to be a leader and has the ability to influence people. In empire constructions the Directors of the company are the official leaders. Since it is a construction company the roles are very distinguished. Responsibilities are not clubbed together and given to one employee it is widely distributed among the employees. There is an importance of a leader in every organization. In most cases, people will perform at about 60% of their potential with no leadership at all. Thus, an additional 40% can be realized if effective leadership is available There are several skills and attributes needed for leadership Skill/Attribute   Self-Awareness   An effective leader should be self-aware. Should know own strengths and weaknesses.   Self-Management   A leader should hold themselves responsible for every decision made   Relationship Building   An effective leader should be able to establish meaningful relationships.   Communication Skills   An effective leader should be able to engage in active listening and open dialogue while working in a group or team   Ethical Practices   A leader should have defined and established personal values   Team Development   An effective leader should actively contribute to the teams seasonal goals and objectives   Leading Change A leader should be able to implement changes for improvement and betterment of the organization.   Project and Program Effectiveness A leader should be able to organize, delegate, and evaluate the impact of a future project   Systems Thinking   A leader should possess critical thinking skills to understand and to deal with dissimilar environments. Motivate employees An effective leader should be able to motivate the employees to get work done from them. The table below highlights the skills and attributes needed for leadership. https://sites.google.com/site/karamartinsleadershipportfolio/home/11-skills-and-attributes Leadership in empire constructions The company has several leaders and they are primarily the directors of the company. All the three directors who are basically the leaders are self-aware and self managed. The leaders of the company are friendly with the staff and tend to inspire and motivate the staff. The directors take all the major decisions, which involve change, so it can be said that they lead change in the organization for the betterment. Difference between leadership and management Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing.- Warren Bennis. There are several differences between a leader and a manager. In empire construction the directors are the leaders whereas there are several managers such as project manager, marketing manager etc. Time- managers work for a particular time period of the day whereas being a leader is about being responsible 24 hours. Manager takes tactical decisions whereas a leader takes strategic decisions. The director being the leader takes strategic decisions such as which project to undertake and about future expansions, the tactical decisions such as how many brochures to print are taken by the managers. Roles and responsibilities-Leaders are responsible for a broader range of responsibilities that managers are. Mr. T.S Vig being the leader in empire constructions is responsible or the entire company whereas the managers in the company are responsible of only a certain tasks. Influence on others- Leaders inspire and motivate people, whereas managers being in authority instruct and order employees. Risk taking- managers follow predetermined rules and regulations of the company whereas a leader will challenge the status quo. In empire constructions the managers work on establishing tasks whereas the leader is rather radical in his thinking. Vision- A leader is a dealer in hope Napolean(1769-1821) A leader has a strong vision whereas managers lack that and abide by the company procedures. The table below highlights the skills and roles of managers and leaders. Management Leadership Do things right Do the right thing Doing whats right Knowing whats right Directing and controlling others Motivating and inspiring others Delegating tasks to subordinate Empowering followers Follow orders from senior executives Inspire others to follow a shared vision Conform to norms of the organization Create and foster a change culture Problem solvers Innovators Official position of responsibility within the organization Traits within people, irrespective of their rank Position Action Planning, directing, monitoring Strategic decision making Listened to by others Respected, appreciated, liked and trusted by others Achievement of objectives through compliance of others Achievement of objectives through acceptance and willingness of followers Analysis Decisiveness Learned skills Natural instincts Organization of staff Support and guidance for followers. Management and Empire construction At times the companies leaders play the role of managers for running the company effectively since it is a small business. This is not very desirable since leaders and managers portray different traits and strengths to meet the organizations objectives. However the company does have several managers responsible for varied tasks. Rajkumar Singh is the site manager for one of the projects and he manages the site office of that project. His job is to ensure that all the work at the project site is being conducted appropriately and meets the predetermined quality, time and budget. He being the manager instructs all the workers about the work to be done on the site. Leadership styles There are three unique leadership styles highlighted in the diagram below. Figure 11- leadership styles, Fieldwork- source of information; Paul hoang (2007).  business and management. australia: IBID press. 750 A specific leadership style cannot be determined for the organization because the style varies from leader to leader. Leadership style undertaken depends on the relationship between the leader and his sub-ordinates and also the leaders thinking about his subordinates. The organization makes use of situational leadership style, which means that the leaders and managers do not follow a particular approach towards leadership but make use of a mix of autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire leadership style. The owners of the firm who do not make decisions based on departments but make them considering the 360-degree approach adapt situational leadership. In the company Autocratic style is adapted when result or deadlines are supposed to be met in a short period of time. The marketing head adapts to this leadership style when it comes to putting up the advertisement hoardings and placing orders for standees. The staff is often seen de motivated because there is lack of input from their side. This de-motivation has been observed by the communication during the daily tea breaks when the employees get together to discuss general matters. The company undertakes democratic leadership style during various situations; in the meetings conducted the employees are consulted for problem solving and decision-making. This motivates them and makes them feel important for the organization. For small daily decisions such as how many more plain sheets for the printer should be ordered etc, laissez-faire leadership style is used within the organization. Leadership theories Contingency theory of leadership- this theory suggests that there is no one best way to manage or lead and organization since whats best in one situation is might not necessarily work in some other situation. The Fiedler Contingency Model states that there is no one best style of leadership. Instead, a leaders effectiveness is based on the situation. This is the result of two factors leadership style and situational favorableness (later called situational control) This theory applies to the chosen organization since the leadership style undertaken is situational based. Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory-This theory states that instead of using just one style, successful leaders should change their leadership styles based on the maturity of the people theyre leading and the details of the task. Using this theory, leaders should be able to place more or less emphasis on the task, and more or less emphasis on the relationships with the people theyre leading, depending on whats needed to get the job done successfully. According to Hersey and Blanchard, there are four main leadership styles based on the behavior of subordinates, these are illustrated below. http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_44.htm The Hersey Blanchard model is applicable to the chosen organization since not only the leadership style varies with the situation but it also varies with the staff. In any given situation not all employees are instructed equally for example when a deadline is to be met a rather autocratic style is adapted by the leaders however it is fairly difficult for the leaders to direct each employee so some of them who have high skills and willingness may not be directed as much with leadership style for them being delegating and not telling. Motivation Motivation is the The general desire or willingness of someone to do something. For a firm to be successful it is important for the employees to be motivated. Motivation can be either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is the motivation that the employees feel from within, self-motivated people. These people usually choose their interests and hobbies as their career. Extrinsic motivation is when employees need to be motivated through external factors like money or non-monetary ways. Managers in a firm can inspire their employees in different ways; money may not always be the key to the employees happiness. The managers of Empire construction use time and attention to motivate their employees. They motivate their employees financially and non-financially. It is important for the managers to understand which employee is motivated by which factor. The company makes this analysis during the interviews; Where the HR head takes the final interviews. The employees ask certain set of questions, which help the firm to understand which motivational factor is important to them. For eg- if they ask about the salary then money could be a criteria. Financial motivation- Salary- Salaries are payments made each month. The employees of Empire construction are paid monthly instead of yearly, this helps improve the cash flow of the company, and also it motivates the employees to work efficiently every month. Bonus- is when an extra or an unexpected increase in efficiency of the employee has contributed to the firm. This helps the company in two ways one that employee is motivated and second that it helps the company improve its overall performance. The chosen organization does make use of cash bonus to motivate the employees. Loyalty bonus is paid to the employees who have stayed with the company for a certain length of time. The company also gives the employees a Diwali bonus, which consists of a months salary. Pay rise- the salary of employees is increased with time in order to motivate them. Fringe benefits- All payments and benefits to an employee in addition to the salaries. Recommendations- If a customer comes through an

“My Financial Career” by Stephen Leacock Essay

Write an short essay on the story â€Å"My Financial Career†. State whether you think the narrator will succeed or not in his financial plan. Give proofs. The man in â€Å"My Financial Career† is too nervous and inexperienced to succeed in his financial plan at the bank. The people in the bank particularly the manager and the accountant do not help him because the man said everything about the bank rattled him in the first sentence of the story. He is not confident when trying something new. He acted vaguely when he decides to open a bank account. He emphasized a few times on requesting to see the manager â€Å"alone† in which he should not be doing this because it makes him very suspicious. The manager fetched an accountant to help him open the account. After depositing his fifty-six dollars, he wanted to draw six dollars with a cheque. However he was too nervous that he made a mistake to draw all of his money out he had deposited. The accountant gave him a chance to correct it as he says â€Å"What! Are you drawing it all out again?† However because of his pride, he pretended to do it on purpose. Not only the man himself is responsible for this failure, the people in the bank are also factors that made him fail. Firstly, the clerks in the bank are not enthusiastic enough. They are not willing to help him initiatively. Secondly, the accountant is lacking zeal and acting coolly to him in which was making him even more nervous. Lastly, the manager of the bank was impatient and spoke to the man abruptly after realizing that the man was not a rich person, it made him feel very embarrassed. In conclusion the man failed because the lack of care from the people in the bank and his shyness, pride. He would not have failed if he was more insistent on getting his job done ignoring his pride or if the people in the bank helped him warmly. This is a humorous story but the writer wrote the story based on real situations. He tells us that people in big banks only cares about money, normal people with little money are not very important to them. The writer thinks both rich and poor people should be treated equally by banks and other companies.

The Perfect Beauty in Petrarch´s Gli Ocohi Oi Ch´lo...

The Perfect Beauty A certain individual may establish beauty merely by what is viewed upon the naked eye, yet someone else can measure beauty by using more fundamental qualities, such as good morals and ideas, which lie beneath one’s surface. This is a topic of discussion that leaves many to ask the question, what is the true meaning of beauty? There are two prominent sonnets, which relate to the principles of true beauty; Petrarch’s â€Å"Gli Occhi Oi Ch’ Io Paralai† and â€Å"Sonnet 130† by William Shakespeare. These sonnets do nothing less, but use imagery to define the bountiful amount of beauty and how much love they possess for an individual. â€Å"Gli Occhi Oi Ch’ Io Paralai,† represents the true beauty love has by its use of excessive descriptions and tone. â€Å"Sonnet 130† proves that beauty is not measured by idealistic, regal measures, but rather proposes beauty is average and nothing out of the ordinary. For each sonnet effectively de scribes its interpretations on the joys of beauty and love. â€Å"Gli Occhi Di Ch’ Io Parlai† praises the artificial traits of beauty and love. Petrarch often put women on pedestals and describes them with hyperbolic language. His sonnet, â€Å"Gli Occhi Di Ch’ Io Parlai,† is no exception to his trend. The speaker starts off the sonnet by recounting the feeling he gets when around his love. The speaker says when their eyes meet his â€Å"passionate rapture rose† (1). He also illustrates her having â€Å"rays flashing from a smiling angels glance† (6), which he is for

Multiple Intelligences And The Variety Of Learning Styles

Most likely my classroom is going to consist of very diverse learners and this will definitely affect the dynamics of my classroom. Some of the challenges with a diverse classroom are the fact that there are so many different multiple intelligences, creating activities that appeal to all students is very difficult, and the fact that it may be hard to remember all of the accommodations for each student in the class who has an Individual Education Plan (IEP). There are many opportunities available for having a diverse classroom as well. For instance, it will allow me to have a wider variety of activities to help keep the students (and myself) engaged, the likelihood of having a boring classroom is diminished, and it gives me the opportunity to learn more about my students and to learn about new and different activities available that other teachers have shared. With this being said, there are many different activities I can use to appeal to the range of multiple intelligences and t he variety of learning styles. After researching some different activities, I found the following to have the most potential for me as an 8th grade teacher. First of all, I like the idea of using a questionnaire at the beginning of the school year where the students answer questions about themselves to determine their own learning styles, etc. I think it is important for students to know the best ways they learn so they can study in that fashion. Some students may just feel that they are onShow MoreRelatedMultiple Intelligence Theory and Learning Styles946 Words   |  4 PagesMultiple intelligence theory and learning styles According to my multiple intelligence learning profile, I am an equally strong kinesthetic, intrapersonal, and existential learner. This suggests I learn by doing, learn best working with others, and have a big picture orientation. I seek what works in practice rather than theory. In my view, the fact that I received the same score in all three areas is indicative of the similarity between these different types of intelligences. For example, existentialRead More Learning Theories and Implications for Educational Technology1626 Words   |  7 PagesLearning Theories and Implications for Educational Technology Abstract The theories of Vygotsky, Gardner, and Gagne present vary different models of learning. Vygotsky and Gardner see culture as an important factor in how a child learns, and see growth and development and individual thing. Gagne, however, focuses on a formal model of instruction, with the method used depending upon the content being taught. All three theories have a role to play in educational technology. Learning TheoriesRead MoreStandard Based Instructional Practices1329 Words   |  6 PagesInstructional practices for standards-based curriculum is more than knowing and understanding state and district standards; posting objectives, standards, or learning goals in the classroom; referencing standards in lesson plans; covering concepts or following a teacher’s manual claimed to follow state standards. Instead, it is about consistently and effectively developing lessons with activities designed to meet the needs of all students. Standards Based Curriculum The foundational reason supportingRead MoreEssay on Multiple Intelligences: Help or Hindrance to Learning949 Words   |  4 PagesMultiple Intelligences: Help or Hindrance to Learning Educators and parents have always wondered how students could learn more or learn more effectively. Would it matter if the information presented is on a white board or if breakfast were offered at school before classes begin, or if curriculums were designed to reach students in a variety of ways; would students learn more? What if students, whether children or adults, learned in different ways; what if a student had the capacity to learn mathRead More Choosing the Right Application of Multiple Intelligence Theory1700 Words   |  7 Pagesof these extreme methods have too specific of an approach. A combination of learning styles, or multiple intelligences, is required to teach successfully. The introduction of the multiple intelligence theory has positively benefitted teaching by encouraging educators to stimulate each student’s learning strength everyday; regardless of the traditional teaching methods more commonly used. The multiple intelligence theory was created by Howard Gardner, and has been summarized nicely by McCainRead MoreHoward Gardner s Theory Of Human Nature998 Words   |  4 Pagestheory of multiple intelligences. Gardner is well known for his theory of multiple intelligences. According to his theory people have multiple different ways of thinking and learning. He has identified eight different kinds of intelligence: Visual-spatial intelligence, linguistic-verbal intelligence, mathematical intelligence, kinesthetic intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, and naturalistic intelligence. Visual-spatial intelligence students likeRead MoreThe Theory Of Multiple Intelligences1489 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction In this investigation related to intelligence cognitive and learning as a style of individual differences, explanation the complex process of learning through of the intelligences. Howards Gardner developed the theory of multiple intelligences thirty years ago, explain the intelligence is the profile and each individual has different ways to learn, he affirm has seven intelligences differ in their thinking, feeling, and behavior. â€Å"No two people are alike, yet no two people are unlike†Read MoreEssay about Assessment Choices in the Classroom954 Words   |  4 Pagesmainly in the form of standardized testing. Currently the assessment practices that are used are traditional and non-authentic forms of assessment that reveal only if a student can recognize or recall what they have learned. In an effort to redefine learning in our schools, emphasis needs to be placed on authentic educational assessments and standardized testing to improve student performance. An assessment sh ould reflect real world applications of how knowledge and understanding are used. AssessmentsRead MoreThe Thinking Behind Interactive Notebooks1083 Words   |  5 Pagesadvance student learning. Brief Review of Literature A significant amount of research has been done in the areas of learning styles, numerous intelligences and methods for note taking. To date there has been little research connected to Interactive Notebooks; this study will concentrate on the theories that support the utilization of interactive notebooks. When teachers choose to use Interactive Notebooks in their class rooms, they must be aware of the students learning style to better serveRead MoreDiversity in the Classroom1546 Words   |  7 Pagesiverse learning profiles in the class roomDiverse Learning Profiles in the Classroom By Phillip Anton INTRODUCTION Teachers are faced with the challenge of students bringing with them, vastly different experiences, cultures, interests and abilities. These characteristics can have a great impact on how students learn. Teaching to such a diverse group requires teachers to be more flexible and place a greater emphasis on the individual. Through the aid of variety and choice, teachers can differentiate

Thematic Analysis Of Ray Bradbury s Fahrenheit 451

Thematic Analysis of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 depicts a dystopian society where books are burned to protect the people from a perceived threat of knowledge and the resulting problems an informed and thinking society would bring upon itself. Ignorance is bliss. The theme, fear of knowledge, can be seen throughout this book in the ways the characters Faber, Beatty, and Clarisse speak about, react to, and think about books. The character, Beatty, has the most to say about books, being a fire chief and a â€Å"custodian of peace of mind.† He says books are dangerous because they make people sad and uneasy, and that the only prevention of such feelings is entertainment and mindless distraction. â€Å"Why learn anything save pressing buttons, pushing switches, fitting nuts and bolts?† Beatty warns Montag of the one true villain to watch out for: the well-read man. â€Å"Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man? M e? I won’t stomach them for a minute.† He states, â€Å"We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought.† By this he means that knowledge found in books will make people unhappy, confused and scared. They will ask questions that have no easy answers. An unthinking, blissful society is easy to control, and Beatty wants everyone to know that he takes his job as a protector of society very seriously. â€Å"The important thing for you to remember, Montag, is we’re the Happiness Boys, the

Walgreens Analysis Free Essays

Walgreens Strategy Analysis Retailing: MKTG 3740 B April 7, 2013 I. History and Mission Statement Walgreens has grown from a small, neighborhood-oriented drug store to a trusted, national pharmacy. Founded in 1901 by Charles R. We will write a custom essay sample on Walgreens Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Walgreen, the company bloomed from a commitment made to perseverance. Walgreen came from Dixon, Illinois at the age of sixteen, working an unpleasant job at a drug store after he lost a portion of a finger that left him incapable of continuing a career in athletics. He left with an ambition of entrepreneurship as the flourishing city of Chicago welcomed him with the booming pharmacy business. Devoted to his goal, Walgreen worked his way through gaining experience and financial stability within the growing industry. His work experience through jobs with different pharmacies allowed Walgreen to analyze the strengths and weaknesses in their business operations. Focusing on the gaps in service and the needs by customers that were not being met, Walgreen had an opportunity to capitalize on the industry’s shortcomings by opening his own pharmacy. After earning enough money to put a down payment on a loan for the store that he was working in at the time from Isaac Blood, Walgreen finally owned a store in a great location just south side of Chicago in a prosperous area. He renovated the space, employed a colleague, broadened the selection of products offered, and priced at a fair rate to improve efficiency. One of the differentiating strategies that Walgreen implemented was through utilizing his development of the â€Å"two-minute† drill. This service allowed a local customer to call Walgreen’s store, request an item, and have it delivered by one of Walgreen’s handymen within two minutes of the customer calling. The good reputation of his service spread quickly among the community. The next chapter in Walgreens store innovation and competitive edge was his idea to sell hot food items during the winter, cooked by his wife, Myrtle Walgreen. The trend of that time for many businesses was to have a soda fountain that served cold drinks and milkshakes, which Walgreen also served during the hot summer months. His approach to customer service carried through to winter months with the hot food serving, while his competitors failed to keep up with what would eventually become an essential part of drug store business. Walgreen’s store was growing at a strong pace. By 1929, he had 525 operating stores, 633 in 1975, and hit one thousand open stores in 1984. Today, Walgreens opens around 425 new stores, on average, each year. Through the company’s mission statement, Walgreens strives to be the most trusted and innovative pharmacy with health and wellness solutions and serve consumers across the U. S. Walgreen set out to help people get well and stay well. With constant innovations in technology and customer satisfaction, the company is expected to continue to soar. II. Key events that shaped the company Over the past century, there have been economic conditions, changes in demographics, technological advancements, and competitive pressures that Walgreens has had to face and overcome. The first major event that shaped the company was the featuring of the soda fountain in the store in 1909, which lead to the introduction of the malted milkshake that became an American icon. Although a minor triumph at the time, the milkshake attributed to the growth of the company overall. The next event to affect the company hit hard. The Great Depression was a difficult time for most businesses and many were dying out and closing. Walgreens, though vulnerable itself, was able to push through this time by implementing the value of marketing. Through smart advertising and innovations in customer service, Walgreens not only survived the depression but also was able to help by employing workers and added to its testament of always being able to adapt to the changing times. After the death of Charles Walgreen in 1939, his son took over the president position in the company. Fast-forwarding to the next significant even in 1950, when Walgreens opened its first small, self-service store. This event is representative of the innovation and move toward the future that Walgreens will continue to see. A jump to 1975 is a marker of importance as the company reached $1 billion in net sales. In 1999, Walgreens. com opened, offering a convenient shopping experience for its customers online. Today, them most influential growth strategy Walgreens has implemented is the partnership with Alliance Boots to form the world’s first pharmacy-led enterprise. The two brands coming together will position Walgreens for growth in the long-term by transforming Walgreens drug stores into a community, daily living destination while expanding across new avenues of markets and reinventing cost structures. III. Key Financial Data The financial highlights from the income statement of Walgreens Co. n 2012 include a net sales figure of $71,633 million; a decrease of 0. 8% from the previous year. Net sales combined with a cost of sales of $51,291 million lead to a gross profit of $20,342 million; again, down from the previous year by 0. 7%. A net earnings comparison shows a 21. 6 % decrease from $2,714 million in 2011 to $2,127 in 2012. Some in-store sales figures help explain some declines with a prescription sales decrease of 3. 1% and front-end sales increase of 3. 6%. These key financial figures represent a trend in diminishing profits for Walgreens in prescription drugs for the past fiscal year, but a growth in front-end sales, which is an indicator of pharmacy-related issues. IV. The drug store industry analysis As an industry that has been around since the late 19th century, the drug store is comprised of staples and pharmaceuticals retailing. History of the industry recalls the first drug store being opened in 1823 and strictly worked with pharmaceuticals under the first registered pharmacist. As the tores became more popular and customers’ needs grew for different products, the industry transitioned into including staple items. Today, the average retail products include (but not limited to): prescriptions, food, cosmetics, toiletries, and tobacco products, but dominate in the pharmaceutical department that holds the highest profit. Chain drug stores currently possess the greatest market share in the industry when compared to independen t stores and the majority are incorporated at 76% of all drug store firms. Among the top three company chains are CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. This segment within the industry is highly competitive with demand growing. V. The future of drug stores With demographics changing, especially within the U. S. , the future of drug stores is expected to transform their product offerings. A shift to concentration on prescription drugs sales, as the general public grows older, will be responsible for a decline in products that are no longer demanded as staple items (ex. beauty aids and fragrances). A growing trend seen in the current market is self-diagnosis and self-treatment along with the addition of generic drug sales. Customers are being offered a generic drug alternative for a lower price and are becoming more inclined to self-treating without the help of a pharmacist. Another movement towards the future includes implementing advancements in technology. Many stores currently use self-serve checkouts and photo printing booths. Advancements in electronic prescription filling and ordering refills online are playing a big role in development. Therefore, a broader depth of target market research and differentiation in product offering based on research results may be beneficial to the survival and growth of the drug store industry. VI. SWOT analysis of Walgreens Strengths and weaknesses Walgreens, as mentioned before, is one of the leading examples of success within the drug store industry. A continuous need for improvement and adaptation to the changing market keeps Walgreens alert and attentive, in step with customer wants, which serves as one of its major strengths. The past 3 decades for Walgreens have been those of growth and exceeding competitive sales. The use of technology incorporated in Walgreens store operations allows the company to receive and analyze real-time sales data and customer interaction. Systems such as the POS (Point of Sale) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) generate up-to-date information on impact of certain store displays on sales and record marketing data needed to maximize profits. In order to serve customers more effectively, Walgreens offers convenient services online, such as photo printing and prescription call-ins. The implementation of technology as a tool for tracking data and servicing is another strength of the company. Walgreens offers a loyalty program to its customers to further improve on customer satisfaction. The reward program, called Balance Rewards, is a point-based system that gives discounts and coupons to customers whenever they use the loyalty card and earn points. Many ways to earn points include filling prescriptions, purchasing certain items in-store and online, using the mobile app to purchase items, and a Steps with Balance Rewards that tracks when the customer is living a healthy lifestyle. The customer can redeem his or her rewards for more coupons and discounts on future purchases. While the success of Walgreens is prevalent, weaknesses within the company prevent Walgreens from reaching perfection. A major weakness and concern for the company is opening too many stores. This may seem strange, considering the growth in demand for more stores is perceived as a positive characteristic, but cannibalizing their own market at the growing pace could lead to a mass reduction in sales and revenue by stealing customers from their current top selling stores. As Walgreens is always adapting to its market and looking for new opportunities, an important factor to look into would be limiting how many new stores they are opening and evaluating their product portfolio. Threats and opportunities Threats are inherent in any business. Competition would not be possible without external threats. The biggest threat to Walgreens is the rise in grocery store and supermarket discounters. Before, drug stores competed against other drug stores and pharmacies in a highly competitive market. Now, stores like Target and Kroger are offering prescription drug services and are able to do so at a discounted rate. Since these stores carry a much larger assortment of products and more SKUs than a typical drug store, they operate at lower costs and charge a cheaper price. The current economic state poses a threat to businesses everywhere. Within the drug industry, the cut from Medicaid in 2007, by $3. 6 billion, impacted many pharmacies and affected the sales of generic drugs in the U. S. Today, uncertainty around the long-term viability of the Affordable Care Act is threatening the insurance industry, or at least the affordability of coverage. Currently, about half of the states in the U. S. are refusing to participate in the new insurance exchange program, which is driving insurance rates up drastically. Moving away from the challenges of business, opportunities also present themselves within the industry. One opportunity that Walgreens may be looking into is how to market more towards the generation it has been growing with: the baby boomers. This market is the general population that is now getting older and has the most experience with Walgreens. As this generation ages, their needs change and require different products. More prescriptions for aging health issues need to be filled and less beauty supplies are being purchased, for example. The opportunity to transition and focus on this particular market could benefit Walgreens’s sales. Further prospects for Walgreens includes going global. International business opportunities offer drug stores an entire new market, which if executed correctly, can be a major growth possibility. It’s easy to oversaturate a market when operated domestically, as is the case is for Walgreens in the U. S. , so expanding past our borders to different nations may be a prospective move for the company. If there was only one opportunity Walgreens should take on, it would be most important to increase the sales of non-prescription items. Although marketing towards the older generation and profiting from more prescription fills is demanded, incorporating the sales of items that people will buy, as a related product to their main purchases, will boost profit. VII. Competitor’s strengths and weaknesses Walgreens’s biggest competitor is CVS (Convenience, Value, and Service). CVS Caremark is the largest, most profitable drug store/ retailer in the U. S. Strengths CVS Caremark operates under three different retailing segments: the CVS pharmacy, Caremark pharmacy services, and its MinuteClinic. Under these three segments, CVS is able to offer its customers lower prices, loyalty programs, cover over two thousand healthcare plans, and operate a walk-in clinic service. Through their services, CVS is able to hold the strongest market share at almost 20% of the prescription drug market. It also has one of the largest loyalty programs for customers; more than 500 million customers who use the loyalty card through the Extra Care program. CVS has made substantial investments in technology and incorporating it into their programs. The company’s strengths have lead them to push a revenue of over $100 billion and net income of $4 billion. Weaknesses The only complaints to come from a customer’s point of view at CVS is that the store consistency varies occasionally, meaning one CVS store may be too different in product offering than another CVS store, which confuses some customers. The employee turnover rate is also higher than ideal for a large company operating many stores, meaning focus should include keeping employees happy with more benefits. VIII. Key competition comparison Similarities Both Walgreens and CVS have loyalty programs that they use to reward customers and offer valuable customer data. Using a customer rewards program to offer coupons and discounts builds loyalty to that company’s brand and image. This incentive strategy has worked well for both companies. However, they differ in the way each one works. At CVS, when a customer purchases multiple items in one transaction, the reward points/ coupons are split amongst the items within the one transaction. The customer receives more incentive with each purchase whereas at Walgreens, the reward is based on the number of transactions only. A customer can purchase the same number of items in each store, but receive more reward points/ coupons at CVS. Differences When compared to CVS, Walgreens carries more of a â€Å"mom and pop† store reputation, which benefits their image. The company’s stores are all linked, making it easier for customers to get prescriptions filled at any Walgreen store, which is an advantage over CVS. Walgreens also offers prescription labels and in-store advertising in other languages and is open 24 hours in many locations across the U. S. , another incentive that CVS does not offer. These distinctive traits represent Walgreens’s commitment to pleasing its customer and fulfilling needs. CVS is differentiated from Walgreens through store layout and product offering. CVS stores are known to be larger and customer more customer-friendly in space and appearance than Walgreens. CVS has also brought in more net revenue, over $100 billion as compared to Walgreens at $75 billion, leading by about $25 billion. As mentioned earlier, Walgreens has seen a diminishing performance, financially, while CVS is rising. IX. Recommendations The first recommendation for Walgreens to move towards better sales and profits in the future would be to capitalize on the baby boomer generation. As explained before, this would require readjusting the marketing platform to appeal to more prescription sales and aging health products. This strategy has potential for short-term and long-term growth. The second recommendation would be to become aware of cannibalizing its own market. This strategy would lessen the investments in real estate space being made currently. Instead of opening more and more new stores each year, the company should focus on evaluating and expanding the current services in each existing store. Innovations in store layouts and product differentiation in the existing stores may help individual store sales and not oversaturate the market with too much of the same thing. The final recommendation for Walgreens is to enhance its customer service through the convenience factor. Developing more online services will help also help the aging generation as it becomes more difficult for them to get in a car and drive to a brick-and-mortar store. This kind of innovation is what customers like to see in businesses and the company will be benefiting from the multichannel strategy. X. References CVS Caremark |. (n. d. ). CVS Caremark |. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from http://info. cvscaremark. com/ Page Through Our Past: Page 4 | Our History | Walgreens. (n. d. ). Welcome to Walgreens – Your Home for Prescriptions, Photos and Health Information. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from http://www. walgreens. com/marketing/about/history/hist4. jsp How to cite Walgreens Analysis, Papers

Burger King Warrior Princess free essay sample

Prompt: Describe a significant interest or experience that has special meaning for you. As a face in a crowd or a name on a page, I am no one special. To the naked eye, I am average. I was born to a mother and father, I eat food often, and I wear sock on my feet just like most everyone else. But deep within me, from the caverns of my past, I do have a secret: I am a warrior princess straight from the tunnels of Burger King. As a youngster, I thrived on my imagination. Some days I was Marry Poppins singing in the rain while other days I was a Power Ranger staring face to face with the forces of evil. But of all the characters I morphed into, I most genuinely become a warrior princess. You see, every few weeks, my mother drove me to Burger King where my fellow princesses were waiting for me. Together, we crossed the bouncy bridge to enter the dark tunnels into the adventures that lied within. We crawled on our hands and feet through the static charged tubes and hurried to collect the magic keys to save the distressed princess. When the blue ball (holding Princess Kayla c aptive) was in sight, we scurried to unlock the invisible door- mission accomplished. Princesses Carrie, Megan, and I rejoiced in our success. Though I am far from my times of crawling through the dangers of Burger King, I will forever be a warrior princess. My adventures have been altered since then, however, and now 2 consist of more mature quests. Just the other day, as a coach, I led a group of four year olds across treacherous gymnastics mats to the safety of the nearest trampoline. Though this may have caused worry lines, it instilled in me an appreciation and responsibility of an adult that I would never understand otherwise. Away from the work environment, my adventures can present themselves in my schoolwork. I constantly have to navigate through the rough waters of anatomy, pre-calculus, and government. This task, however, is one that I will never take for granted because of the knowledge I know I will obtain by the end of my journey. Along with my academic adventures, I a lso learn about language and cross culture ministry as a warrior princes. I strive to honor my King by carrying out His will by serving the less fortunate in Appalachia, Romania, Mexico, and New Orleans. God has always been faithful, but I have been closest with Him on mission trips such as these. I will always remember the gypsy children in Romania and the slightly wet kisses they left on my cheek, for they are forever left there. Yes, the kiss washed off, but the memory of the childrens unconditional love for me will never fade. These countries may be nothing more than colors on a map to some, but to me, they are tokens of heaven that I will forever carry in my pocket. As a warrior princess, I cherish every experience that presents itself to me and I am genuinely ecstatic to face the new ones that will inevitably come in the years ahead. I do face my own real-life Burger King adventures every day. To some, these experiences may seem trivial, but they have embellished my average li fe into an epic escapade. Each tiny experience in my life is pieced together to create the exact warrior princess that I can proudly say I am today.