International human resource management Assignment

International human resource management - Assignment Example An organization’s management should clearly state the job description and design before embarking on recruitment. Each job should have various requirements or essentials. These inherent requirements are the responsibilities and chores that should be undertaken to get the job done. These requirements stipulate achievement of the result rather than how to achieve them (Banfield & Kay, 2008, p. 124). The changing business world has made the world operate like a small village. The world is indeed a small global village where managers and other workers are required to work in different countries. This has brought about international business managers. Arguably, escalating globalisation has brought about widening of the functions of an international business manager. Their obligations not only cover a particular region but also other foreign regions (Bauernberger, 2007, p. 67). For this reasons, international managers need to embrace and adapt quickly to different cultures. These in ternational managers have experienced short terms in different countries due to the short lived foreign projects and assignments. Recruitment and selection Recruitment process of any organization is often the first contact an individual has with the organization; bearing in mind that all participants are already or might also become customers of the organization (Arthur, 2006, p. 102). A successful recruitment is dependent upon finding the right people with the necessary skills, expertise and knowledge to deliver organizational objectives and the ability to make a positive contribution to the values and aims of the organization. The selection process should only be based on the ability of the individual to do the job, ability to make a contribution to the organization’s effectiveness and potential for development (Compton & Nankervis, 2007, p. 145). It is imperative to be fully aware of equal opportunities legislation and to understand how discrimination can occur both direct ly and indirectly in the recruitment process. Managers need to ensure that their recruitment and selection processes are valid and nondiscriminatory (Cornelius, 2001, p. 34). The primary purpose of the recruitment and selection process is to achieve one desired end: appointing the right person to the right job. This is a critical task for any manager, and one that is difficult when there is a shortage of the needed skills and experience in the labour market (Dale, 2004, p. 87). Authors and scholars have argued that appointment decisions are the most significant decisions of a manager. This is because they affect the manager’s ability to achieve targets, the quality of services or products delivered to the customer and the well-being of the whole company team (Denerley & Plumbley, 1968, p. 107). For organizations to survive, let alone flourish in the future, increasingly their perspective must be global. It has been argued that global skills and perspectives cannot be viewed a s a specialty or segment of business but should be an integral part of an enterprise. A key question concerns, what the successful business organization will look like in the near future and what competencies and qualities will be needed by managers and executives to run an international organization (Lonner & Berry, 1988, p. 143). Effective global managers see the need to manage cultural

Parents Attitudes Toward Learning Through Play in the Foundation Stage Essay

Parents Attitudes Toward Learning Through Play in the Foundation Stage - Essay Example The researcher is an advocate of children and their best interests which is why she decided to pursue a topic that is close to her heart. In her experience with children, she has discovered how play can be an effective tool in learning new concepts. Knowing that a child’s family is a great influence on their learning and development, the researcher also found it interesting to explore how parents regard play and if they view play similarly to how the children’s teachers in the foundation stage do. Developments in education point to the benefits of collaboration between the home environment and the school in the facilitation of children’s growth, learning and development. Wood argues that the Government endorses literacy and numeracy strategies that make use of play especially in the early years and the fact that parents are expected to take part in their children’s learning may press parents to seriously consider the advantages and disadvantages of play. H owever, Wiltshire claims that parents question what the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) has to offer their children as it is heavily play based. Research reveals that parents recognise the value of play but are sometimes confused about its function in children’s learning. If the parents’ view is that play is merely for entertainment and social purposes, then it is doubtful that parents will become fully involved as partners in their children’s education.   The specific objectives of this research are as follows: 1. To research related literature in order to define play 2. To identify the types of play used in the foundation stage 3. To establish why play is important for children’s development. 4. To use primary research to explore parents’ beliefs and attitudes regarding play as a way of learning in the foundation stage. 5. To identify whether support children’s development is at the foundation stage by providing play activities at home 1.4 Rationale of the Study This research aims to explore how parents truly regard play and if they do believe that it is beneficial for supporting their children’s development in the foundation stage. This information would be helpful for practitioners so that they know how to engage parents’ cooperation and support in schools. It is believed that parents are important collaborators in their children’s learning since they can provide the resources and exper iences to help them learn at home and extend the learning that takes place in school. In partnership with teachers, parents can help enhance the curriculum in ways that engage children’s interest, so it becomes meaningful and fun for them. Play is one way that makes this possible. Parents are seen as partners in their children’s education, so it is worthwhile to study how they view their role as parents of young children who constantly engage in play as a form of enjoyment. According to Nutbrown (1999), first introductions of play for most children are in a ‘home-based pedagogy of play’.  

Macroeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Macroeconomics - Essay Example They are growing fast which leads to the proposition that they will soon catch up with the western nations. The economic growth of India and China is bound to take the world in storm, making it easier to utilize their structural reforms and economic growth to structure a new model for the world to adopt. For the better part of the twentieth century, the west knew that the only way of gaining any advantage over them is by creating a platform that the rest of the world could only copy. Any country that copied the western prescriptions would prosper and stabilize, yet this obscured way of thinking did not hold any ground when the world needed to rise above the recessions that came thereafter (Levi 115). The western model seen as the most important part of civilization in the past was nothing more than a mere wish for the rest of the world. It was slowly fading away and new giant economies arose to fill in the gap and present new ideologies that work for the betterment of the society as a whole. The west was no longer an important force in the world economy based on their achievements. New economies were making them seem as if the past years were all inconsequential in meeting their immediate goals (Levi 116). India and China have set a mark that many countries see as the next determinant of what to expect in the economic world. These two countries are some of the largest economies in the world today, and China already surpassed the US as the largest economy in the world. India, on the other hand, is a great competitor for the ever-growing Chinese economy, and economists argue that it is going to beat China in the race to the top of the largest growing economy in the world (Levi 117). The one thing that will make it easier to rise to the top for the countries across the world to make it to the top of the growing economies is the amount of time they place in

FIN 370 Week 3 Learning Team Assignment Essay Example for Free

FIN 370 Week 3 Learning Team Assignment Essay Learning Team: Current Market Conditions Competitive Analysis This paper will give a short history and descriptions of Apple’s I Pad minicomputer. It will also give factors that affect demand, supply, and equilibrium prices in the market. Issues that Apple faces that affect its competitiveness will also be addressed. Lastly, this paper will identify the long term profitability of the iPad including, price elasticity of demand, technological innovation, and cost structure. Steven Jobs and Steven Wozniak were friends in high school, which shared like interested in electronics. They designed what would become the Apple and on April 1, 1976, Apple Computer was born. This is an American based company located in California. Apple specializes in design advancing, and the sales electronics, computer software, and computers. Apple is accredited for some of the most popular products of the modern world of technology such as: iPod, iPhone, iPad, and iTunes. Apple has expanded its retail stores to fourteen countries worldwide with 408 retail store not to mention their online stores, Apple Store and iTunes. Apple’s value as of March 2013 is $415 million, and it is the largest most publicly traded companies. The iPad is a tablet designed minicomputer that was released in 2010 by Apple. This device has equipped with Wi-Fi and has a multi- touch screen. There are five different versions of this particular tablet. Each has the capability to play music, record videos, a camera function, browsing the web, e-mailing. Games, GPS navigation system, and social networking can also be downloaded to the device. A market is as a collection of consumers and retailers of a specific merchandise or service. Demand is the actual volume that consumers are prepared and able to obtain. Quantity necessitated is the demand at a specific amount and is symbolized as the demand curve. The supply of a product is the quantity that manufacturers are prepared an d capable to convey to the market the sale of  the product. The market can be analyzed by matching the supply and demand curve. Equilibrium is the connection of supply and demand curves. The equilibrium amount is the amount where the number demanded matches the number supplied. A change in price does not necessarily mean that the demand will change. It is more likely for the quantity demanded will affect the price. If the price is changed the curve will move along the demand curve. When the price is reduced the quantity demand will be increased. When the IPad was released, it was the only product in that market at that time. Therefore, at that time it absolutely controlled the tablet division. Some corporations tried to contend with Apple, but recognized their position just could not compete. The competition combated Apple by creating smaller tablet that is an unfamiliar place for Apple. This creation worked and caused Apple to lose sales. The competitors rapidly established their place in the market. Price elasticity of demand is an issue th at our organization, Apple faces that affects our competitiveness and long-term profitability with regards to the iPad. â€Å"Price elasticity of demand and supply tells us exactly how quantity responds to a change in price. As elasticity increases, quantity responds more to price changes. Demand or supply is elastic, if the percentage change in quantity is greater than the percentage change in price†(University Of Phoenix, 2010, pp. 154-157). After reviewing data, specifically targeted to the three types of iPads; their pricing, capabilities and memory storage, it was determined that if the price of the iPads increased; then the consumers may not purchase them (What Is An Apple Ipad’s Elasticity Of Demand?, 2012). The price elasticity of demand tells us that although apple is very technological innovative, but as it relates to price elasticity of demand; the quantity does not matter (all the changes, modifications, additions, advancements, etc.) consumers will still purchase the cheaper iPad (cost efficient) Apple should not invest in making more iPads. Consumer(s) can’t readily identify / understand the importance /significance of having more capabilities, memory, storage, etc. The consumer(s) would ultimately shop for and purchase the iPad that’s more conducive to their needs. Although apple has is very technological innovative, but as it relates to price elasticity of demand; the quantity does not matter (all the changes, modifications, additions, advancements, etc.) consumers will still purchase the cheaper iPad (cost efficient)  Technological innovation is an opportunity for our organization, (Apple) to face that affects our competitiveness and long-term profitability with regards to the iPad. Through technological innovation our organization will be able to make improvements to something that already exists; such as the Apple iPad. Is the improvement to something that already exists. Technological innovation will always have a huge impact on Apple Corporation. As it directly relates to the iPad, with the technological innovation, we are able to re-invest and re-invent the iPad. As with any product of this magnitude, the cost will increase, more features will be added, more storage, more variability, etc. As long as we are innovative and have a willingness to be creative we will consistently bring new items to the market that will steady intrigue the consumers and adapts to their technological needs. â€Å"Cost Structure (TC = FC + VC) is the costs of production, the identification of how costs associated with the production of a good or service are distributed throughout the process The cost structure consists of fixed costs, variable costs and total cost â€Å" (University Of Phoenix, 2010, pp. 283-285). According to Internal Factors: Costs (n.d.), When analyzing cost, the marketer will consider all costs needed to get the product to market including those associated with production, marketing, distribution and company administration (e.g., office expense). These costs can be divided into two main categories: fixed costs and variable costs†. Fixed costs are costs that are spent and cannot be recovered (rent, credit interest, maintenance costs, security and administrative expenses, often salary). The major factors affecting fixed costs are (1) Changes in business organization, (2) Changes in technology applied, (3) Sale of manufacturing equipment and (3) Decisions to undertake advertising activities, etc. Variable costs are costs that vary with production. Factors affecting variable costs, including productivity and others that change the supply of and demand for labor (internal factors), (1) Involve costs of items that are either components of the product (parts/packaging), (2) Directly associated with creating the product (electricity to run an assembly line), (3) Coupons and (4) Variable costs, especially for tangible products tend to decline as more units are produced. This is due to the producing company’s ability to pu rchase product components for lower prices since component suppliers often provide  discounted pricing for large quantity purchases (). Total cost the sum of all costs of inputs used by a firm in production TC = FC + VC Apple is one of the world’s most admired brands. Every year, as rumors about Apple’s products start to emerge web sites begin to speculate which suppliers are likely to win Apple’s business. Getting a contract from Apple can lift a company’s value by millions of dollars. On October 22 Apple released a variety of new hardware and software. Apple’s new iPad is clearly focusing on improving the iPad product profit margin, while also maintaining it strong market share. One of the ways Apple can maximize their profit is by reducing the price of the original iPad mini. Another recommendation that can maximize the profit for Apple is to also make radical improvements to the full-size iPad and the mini. Apple has four products in the iPad lineup. While Apple decided to keep the price of the iPad 2 at $399 Apple dropped the price of the IPad mini to $299. The newest iPad, the new full-size iPad Air is thinner and lighter than the previous full-size iPads and much more powerful. The new iPad Air will sell at $499, while the second new iPad tablet the iPad mini with Retina display will sale for $399. By Apple dropping the price on the iPad mini this move should help A pple maintain market share with it strong competition. Strong competitors like Google and Amazon have recently dropped the prices on their popular tablets. Android tablets such as Google and the Kindle Fire have been gaining on Apple over the past year with the lower prices and higher performance. The Kindle Fire HD sold for $139, this alone affected Apple’s revenue. The price decrease put Apple’s base iPad mini closer to the price of Google and Amazon’s top of the line tablets. Apple chose to drop the price of the original iPad mini tablets to maximize their profits with the competition. Overall by dropping the price, this will draw more individuals to the Apple iPad mini and increase Apple’s marginal revenues and profitability. This will keep Apple’s market share in competition with Google and Amazon without sacrificing too much profitability. Although, there are several competitors in this market; such as The Kindle Fire, The Windows Tablet, Galaxy Table, etc. none are able to uphold the standards that the iPad will carry. With all of our advancements in technology, research, investments, etc. we continue to be in high demand. If our corporation continues to be technological innovative and productive; then we will continue to grow and  c onsistently re-invent. We will be more profitable, growing and will remain cost efficient; when it comes to manufacturing and producing the iPad. Based on the current market conditions, our competitive market analysis concluded that the Apple iPad will be an extremely productive and very successful. References: Duhigg, C., Barboza, D. (2012, January 25). In, China, Human Cost Are Built Into an IPad, p. The iEconomy. Internal Factors: Costs . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.knowthis.com/pricing-decisions/internal- factors-costs Reisinger, D. (2013, October 22). IPad 2 Survives iPad Air, Still cost $399. CNET, p. . University Of Phoenix. (2010). Economics, Eight Edition. Retrieved from University Of Phoenix, ECO365 website. What is an Apple iPad’s Elasticity of Demand?. (2012). Retrieved from http://applecoeconomics.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/what-is-an-apple-ipads-elasticity-of-demand-9/

Getting The Most From Our Education :: essays research papers

Getting The Most From Our Education My goodness Captain, you ask some hard questions! I think some of the responsibility could fall into the family's lap. Are people helping their kids with their homework? Are we checking to see if there is anything we can do to help? Are we praising thier accomplishments, and encouraging them, instead of critizing. Do we still check to see who their friends are? These were some of the things my parents did. As with most parents they made mistakes, as did I, but they did their best. And I did my best to make amends to them when I drifted. I think, I know I could have done better in school, I'm not sure if my study habits would change today. (one of the reasons I'm alittle reluctant to go back to college) But the values I learned young seem to be the ones that stick. And I feel the worst when I fall short of keeping them. That doesn't mean that the new values I'm learning aren't just as important, it just seems like it takes longer for me to incorperate them in my daily life. But, just like everything else, it takes alot of practise to get things right. Maybe we do need to do more to create civic pride, do have something that people can say, "I'm involved with this". For me everytime I check out and explore something new I always learn something. And whenever I reach out and help someone, I fell good. It was great to see the students of General Brown help out in the community with the Thanksgiving dinner for the seniors (I know there was another school that helped out too, I forgot who, if someone else remembers, please jump in and add their thanks to the list). If we want our kids to be less self-centered, we have to show them the example. If they don't follow, it won't be from lack of exposure. This is a transient world nowadays. The kids that grow up and get educated here

Utilitarianism or God, do we have to choose? Essay -- essays research

Utilitarianism or God, do we have to choose? During many years that question is being formulated and many scholars had a very difficult time to decide if it was possible to follow God’s will and the principle of utility maximization. The principle of utility maximization was a theory created by John Stuart Mill and presented in his book Utilitarianism (1863). Societies throughout the years have argued that those theories are hard to combine, since Utilitarianism seeks for self-development and God’s teachings seek for community growth. This paper will start with a context on actuality of society, then it will try to clarify what is the Bible view of Utilitarianism by explaining the principle of Utilitarianism, what society has to change to avoid to forget God’s principles and only base their behavior on Mill’s theory, how society should accept both theories and combine them into one in order to create a better society. An important part of this discussion is based on understanding what is happening with society nowadays. Societies all around the world are becoming more and more individualists, what is causing problems that can affect the whole world, problems such as terrorists attacks, war or even in a lower but maybe more important scale hunger. This is basically happening because every single member of every society is only looking after themselves instead of the group, they are only trying to progress individually, but most of these individuals forget that to really achieve the top you need help, and that help comes from other individuals. The following part of the paper will try to clarify the biblical view of Mill’s theory, the Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism has always been seen as an opposite theory from God’s teachings. That is not absolutely correct. Jesus gave us the major example of understanding Mill’s principle by dying on the cross. Of course it is simple to say that Jesus died for every human being and that is a proof of community spirit instead of individualism, however Jesus showed that He was following actually not His will but God’s will, what is showed on the passage before Jesus is captured by the roman soldiers: â€Å"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt† (Matthew 26:39). What Jesus was showing is that every single human has the principle of utilitarianism inside themselve... ...s Consulted †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rose, John T., â€Å"Utility Versus Self-Sacrificing Love† Christian Scholar’s Review Fall 2004 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leightner, Jonathan, â€Å"‘Not my Will†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢:Further Thoughts on Utility Versus Self-Sacrificing Love† Christian Scholar’s Review Fall 2004 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NRSV Bible †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"FAO unveils global anti-hunger program† http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2002/5500-en.html †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mill, John Stuart, Utilitarianism, Hackett Publishing Company Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1979, Original Publication, 1861 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Harcourt, Edward, â€Å"Mill’s ‘Sanctions’, Internalization and the Self† European Journal of Philosophy; Oct98, Vol. 6 Issue 3, p318, 17p †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kant Immanuel, Grounding For The Metaphysics Of Morals, Third Edition, Hackett Publishing Company Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1993, Original Publication, 1785 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Smart, and Bernard Williams. Utilitarianism: For and Against. Trowbridge: Redwood Burn, 1973 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lewis, C.S., â€Å"Mere Christianity† Harper Collins Edition 2001

Alberto Ginastera

Alberto Ginastera was an Argentinean music composer born in 1916 to an Italian mother and Catalian father in Buenos Aires and died in 1983. He is a legendary classical music composer in the Latin America whose artistic skills cannot be matched with that of other artists of his time.He is known for setting up a dance and music conservatory at Buenos Aires and forming an organization, the International Society for Contemporary music where he became its secretary general. He is also credited for his ability to integrate current music composing techniques into the old Argentinean folk music. This research paper is going to specifically focus on the life of Ginastera and will in-depth discuss about his career achievements and why he is popular.Ginastera developed his interest in music at quite a tender age and achieved much while he was still a child for example, he entered the conservatory when he was twelve but this was not without some influence from other artists such as Schoenberg, B artok and Stravinsky (Sadie 231).He made significant artistic work that was capable of making him a winner of various awards such as the Argentine School Song Award, three municipal prizes, National Fund for the Arts Annual Award, Bicentennial Cinzano Award and the three municipal prizes. He composed all genres of music be it operas, orchestra, violin concerto, piano work, choir works among others something that made him a true representative of Argentinean musical nationalism.In 1941, Ginastera was able to secure himself a job in Buenos Aires at the National Conservatory and the Liceo Militar. In 1942 he received funds to go to the United States from Guggenheim fellowship but his plan was impeded by the Second World War but nevertheless, he was able to produce a lot of great works like the Twelve American Preludes which was played in 1944 and another one which was a dedication to all those who perished in the fight for freedom called Elegiac Symphony that was played in 1944 (Way, J oseph).In 1945, he entered into politics and together with other Argentine intellectuals signed a manifesto aimed at protecting human rights and democratic principles but because of his involvement in anti fascism politics, he was fired as the conservatory’s director in 1952.After Peron regime was overthrown in 1955, he was reinstated as the director but resigned in 1958 to become a director of the Catholic University’s Facultad de Ciencias y Artes Musicale something that helped him to revisit the United States where he performed his second quartet in 1958 (Sadie 228)One of his works to come to the public domain was known as the score for the ballet Panambi which was conducted by Juan Jose Castro and was a five movement orchestral suite that was first introduced in Buenos Aires on 27th November 1937. The second widely recognized and an award prize winning (Association Wagneriana) piece of work was the ballet with choreography produced in 1940s (Sadie 228).In this piece of work, Ginastera tried to harmonize his primitive rhythm with modern technology something that skyrocketed his prominence long before he would graduate but the one that gave him an international recognition was the first Quartet which was played in Frankfurt’s International Society for Contemporary Music and the 1958’s outstanding work as a German critic termed it entitled the Second String Quartet that was performed in Washington DC by Juilliard Quartet (Sadie 227-229).According to Elena Dabul, he classified his classical music into three categories that were determined by the use of the music he composed. The three categories were; Objective nationalism which was a period between 1934 and 1948 where he dealt with music concerning Argentinean cultures and produced works like the 1941’s wheat dance, the land workers and ballet Estancia which was all about Cattle ranch’s life. In making Estancia dances, Gisele Ben-Dor preferred the second thoughts expre ssed in Ginastera’s Panambi suites to Andrei Borejko’s Largo Label.Her performances were different fro that of other artiste as they would last a minute longer. The other category was Subjective nationalism which started from 1948 to1958 where he detached himself from traditional popular elements and took no revolutionary moves or position. It is during this period that he produced his masterpiece, the first String Quartet where he would use rhythms to create folk-like songs.The third and last category is the Neo-expressionism that is from 1958 all the way to1983 where he performed works like the second String Quartet which was done in 1958, the 1961’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, operas, Don Rodrigo and Bomarzo operas of 1967 (Compositores and Interpretes).Ginastera in an interview in 1962 referred himself as a slow composer because he would take quite some time to think about his music before he would compose it, a period he referred to as gestation and t he one according to him the moment which was the most trying is when it came to translate the intellectual ideas into something tangible which he likened to a child birth. Unfortunately, not all music that he composed was released to the public for example the Duke of Bormazo because of its provocative nature was banned.The Argentinean president banned the opera on grounds that it portrayed sexual obsession however, the opera was reproduced in 1968 in New York. Contrary to the expectations of many, the same work would make him an international figure for example the opera Bormarzo (Sadie 229).Alberto Ginastera an Argentinean music composer was a prominent figure in his days and was able to make music with a difference something that made him to be known internationally. He composed music of all genres thereby becoming a representative of Argentinean music nationalism. Though his music moved with times, not all of his recordings were made public as some were considered extreme and un fit for the public. Some of his work of art includes the Bomarzo operas, the Piano concertos and the First and the second string quartet.Works cited:Elena Dabul. Alberto Ginastero. Accessed at   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://members.tripod.com/~ostinato/ginas.htmlCompositores and Interpretes. Alberto Ginastero. 2004. Accessed from http://www.ciweb.com.ar/Ginastera/index2.phpSadie, Stanley Ed. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 7th Edition,    Macmillan Publishers Limited.1980.Way, Joseph. Alberto Ginastero (1916-1983). Sierra Chamber Society Program Notes. 2000. Available at http://www.fuguemasters.com/ginaster.html