A Reflective Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Reflective Paper - Essay Example This calls for the strategic intervention of the human resource manager or the HR. the HR has many duties which include recruitment of the workforce, human resource development, benefits and compensation, safety and health and enhancing better employee and labor relations. These factors are instrumental to the success of the organization and the approach that is taken by the HR to achieve this largely defines the success of the organization in achieving its objectives. To achieve these HR functions and responsibility and ensuring a culture of performance in the organization, the HR has to adopt an operation excellence approach that ensures making of benchmarks in the global market today. Schuler & Jackson (2007) define operation excellence as a set of strategic results that an organization aims to achieve over specific time, as demonstrated by factors such as strategic improvement in all the areas of concern, sustained improvement in all departments of an organization and laying down strategies to achieve high benchmark results. These are the essential driving forces behind a globalised approach in HR functions. Human resource recruitment, planning and selection One of the most important functions of the HR is to recruit, and critically plan on human resource that would be entrusted with the task of ensuring the success of meeting objectives in the organization. Largely, the recruited employees and staff have a large impact towards the performance of the organization in meeting its objectives. According to Brumfitt et al (2001), the complexity and extensive recruitment criteria that is involved in workforce recruitment has led many companies to hire consultancy firms in recruiting its workforce. In the current highly competitive market, this approach by the HR might not offer a competitive workforce, and it is the role of the HR to ensure that employees are recruited as per extensive criteria that rhymes with the philosophy of the organization. Johnston and Joh nston a leader in pharmaceuticals has such criteria that portray leadership in employee recruitment. The criteria involve more than 60 guidelines that guide the recruitment process and is highly integrated and linked with the philosophy of the company (Beiske, 2003). Such recruitment criteria would ensure that the process has a good fit and is well integrated to the values of the individual and the culture of the organization. The resulting workforce would lead to a culture of performance excellence. The use of assessment centers where prospective employees are critically evaluated over a short time has also proven to be instrumental in the recruitment process. Human resources development Human resources development ensures that employees are occasionally trained to meet the expected performance of a globalised market as well as improving their performance skills. It is the role of HR to plan, manage and implement occasional training of the workforce to ensure sustainable and consis tent performance of the workforce. According to Saiyadin (2009) GlaxoSmithKline a giant pharmaceutical has some of the best global human resource development strategies. The company uses assessment centers where each employee has to undergo assessment after a certain time to compare their skills with the required skills to perform the expected duties. The center reveals areas of weaknesses and

Personal Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personal Narrative - Essay Example It was first weekend after I had come of age when I could right ask my father to give me driving lesson. My parents were really enjoying my impatience and quite shamelessly made me do all the things like washing dishes and cleaning the car. But nothing could faze me and woke up early to take my first driving lesson! When I sat on the driving seat, there was no holding back my happiness and I was grinning widely. My father indicated all the controls and cautioned me especially regarding the accelerator and break. It was trusted old Beetle that I had got accustomed to watching my parents drive so various controls were easy to understand. I turned the key and started the motor. Wow! The thrill of holding the steering wheel and letting go the break was just divine. It was on first gear and though slow, I was independently handling the car. My father took me on a long drive which had lots of curves and by-lanes. I was not allowed to change gears till after I had become accustomed to the b reak and accelerator which father had made me use frequently on the track that was still isolated. Putting the car on second gear had given me huge confidence because I could speed up the car a little more. After about an hour of practice lesson, we headed back. The first driving lesson was memorable because my father was proud of the way, I had managed my driving.

The Four IT Business Management Domains Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Four IT Business Management Domains - Essay Example In each of the four categories highlighted, the CIOs have an integral role to play with regard to the facilitation of the overall scheme of improvement. It is high time to ensure that the budget determination techniques are stretched beyond the conventional mode of using Spread sheets and data tables. This through the incorporation of the advanced softwares and databases must be integrated into a more comprehensive and vibrant network which will allow for a robust handling of the overall budget constraints and resources. The next variable is that of the large scaled collaboration with the other networks. This will facilitate better means of communication and cooperation and in turn best outcomes extraction. At present the system of business alignment demand considerable improvements in terms of the tools and techniques used along with the broader means of communication system establishment within. Addressing the risk factor and defining the quality as a overall new concept are two other factors that are part of the overall revamp

Personal Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Personal Narrative - Essay Example It was first weekend after I had come of age when I could right ask my father to give me driving lesson. My parents were really enjoying my impatience and quite shamelessly made me do all the things like washing dishes and cleaning the car. But nothing could faze me and woke up early to take my first driving lesson! When I sat on the driving seat, there was no holding back my happiness and I was grinning widely. My father indicated all the controls and cautioned me especially regarding the accelerator and break. It was trusted old Beetle that I had got accustomed to watching my parents drive so various controls were easy to understand. I turned the key and started the motor. Wow! The thrill of holding the steering wheel and letting go the break was just divine. It was on first gear and though slow, I was independently handling the car. My father took me on a long drive which had lots of curves and by-lanes. I was not allowed to change gears till after I had become accustomed to the b reak and accelerator which father had made me use frequently on the track that was still isolated. Putting the car on second gear had given me huge confidence because I could speed up the car a little more. After about an hour of practice lesson, we headed back. The first driving lesson was memorable because my father was proud of the way, I had managed my driving.

The importance of Early Childhood professions Essay

The importance of Early Childhood professions - Essay Example Century-old studies of psychologists and researchers and theorists like Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget, served as catalysts to the evolution of professions that specifically cater to the needs of infants, toddlers and young children. In addition to the rise in the demand of professionals in childhood settings, there have been trainings and programs that were designed to meet the needs of such professionals in order to perform their jobs well. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is one of the organizations that cater to the needs of individuals seeking to be in an early childhood profession. It has seen the necessity of training children as early as infancy and has gathered people with a passion to reach out to parents and children. Its main objectives are to facilitate professional development of individuals working for and with young children of zero to eight years and to improve public understanding and support for high quality early ch ildhood programs (naeyc.org, 1993). For this reason, there arose a number of programs that were improved as the years passed, to adjust to the changing needs of families and children. Whether the programs offered were established by private or government entities, the main goal had been to provide quality assured services to both parents and children in the crucial learning stages of the children. Child care, a job understandably from the name itself, involves a professional in the care of children. This job often requires a full day schedule that is synchronized with the parents’ working schedules to enable them to do their own jobs. Facility licensures are given to child care centers, provided by state departments of human services as the regulating body. Following the requirements, centers should prepare their staff and qualify them through trainings on how to handle clients. However, since child care takes just common sense to perform one’s job, the trainings are n ot strictly implemented. Rather, applicants with no previous experience are hired and learn important lessons as they work from day to day. Nevertheless, institutions should have the initiative to hire trained staff or train their own employees to further the quality of their services. This will not only satisfy clients but will also make a lasting impression that could make the institution last. Ellen Frede emphasized the result of studies that have found that staff members with more formal schooling or specialized training are more attentive and nurturing in their behavior toward children (1995), which is sought by most parents. In the case of family child care homes, registration as required by law should be followed (naeyc.org). Child caregivers basically attend to he basic needs of the children. For instance, they should feed and let them rest at the right time. Bathing and clothing the children can also be a part of their duties and responsibilities when the circumstances dema nd so. During waking hours, it is the responsibility of the child care provider to ensure the child’s security especially during play. Another profession to look at in this particular setting is the early childhood education (ECE). It is assumed to promote children’s social and educational development. This program is not like the child care program which requires a full d

Curriculum Planning History Essay Example for Free

Curriculum Planning History Essay Introduction Curriculum Planning History has several historical or political occurrences that have mostly influenced current curriculum design through various teaching styles and patterns. Educational communities shape and mold our society and society in turn impacts the curriculum. Majority of all stakeholders speak openly concerning their views today in hopes to persuade legislatures and school officials about decisions going forth or changing within school systems. In the last 10 years some of the most dramatically changes within curriculum in the schools has resulted due to the increasing number of US youth in school, the diversity of the US population, traditional classroom setting activities, increase in pre-kindergarten students beginning school, the likelihood of diminishing smaller schools, minimizing teacher/pupil ratios at a slow pace, technological future: and the future becoming technology, and who is left to teach becomes a critical question. The ELL laws and SIOP have impacted our educational communities’ curriculum development in both negative and positive ways. For example, some of the benefits of SIOP for non-ELL teachers are dramatic increase awareness in professional-development programs on how to teach English-language learners as a plus in the implementation of the law. Nevertheless, the No Child Left Behind Act could be thought of as a disadvantage more than a benefit to English-language learners, this belief is one of the few researchers who have studied the impact that the law has had on instruction. I personally believe in the NCLB Act and I was very much an advocate for the Act when it initially became effective. Also we must acknowledge the â€Å"gifted education† movement and how it identifies with the initial curriculum development both negatively and positively from its first implementations of similar development and specifications. Most Influential Historical/Political Occurrences The melting pot approach has interested educators in the integration of diversity. The melting pot approach was adopted in the 60s and 70s, soon quickly becoming known nationwide in the United States at the same time interacting with similar subjects of various cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Metaphoric speaking contents of the potpeople of different cultures, languages and religions are combined so as to lose their distinct identities resulting in a final product that is quite interesting but nothing like the normal consistency at start. Resulting in more multicultural, multiethnic and multi-religious societies it is important that curriculum understands and reflect these changes. As stated by Ornstein and Hunkins (1998), â€Å"the complexion of our students is changing from one colour to various shades of colour and this adding of colour and cultural diversity will continue into the foreseeable future† (p.146). As we continue to research our influential historical and political occurrences we take notice of the world changing into a global village. Society becoming even more diverse as people brings new values and new languages to assist in establishing a new way of life. Then there is the salad bowl approach where diversity is personified individually but all uniquely at the same time. In other words, take for instance the makeup of a salad where all ingredients (diverse backgrounds) maintain their own specific flavors. The salad bowl approach is better representation than the melting pot approach. It is politically correct to assume that Cultural diversity of pluralism demonstrates how most societal beliefs are made up of several voices and various races. This outline allows groups to show good manners and appreciation of each other; coexisting and interacting without issues. Society members usually more committed than not in participating and sharing the lead of power and decision making as history proves with this approach. ELL Laws and SIOP Impact Educators specializing in teaching English-language learners tend to be uncertain about the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Although, most have expressed that the 10-year-old plus law has shown concern for the handling of test results resulting from the criteria spelled out within the NCLB Act. It is evident that the challenges these students face has prompted an  increase in professional development, specifically for mainstream teachers. While acknowledging the ELL Laws are not clear about the instruction being more positive or negative overall. As English-learners’ test scores fall short many believe it is wrong to penalize schools. In addition to reviewing the ELL laws we must address the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol, or SIOP, defined as a model for teaching English and academic content simultaneously. For example, clearly written objectives content, clearly written language objectives, key vocabulary emphasized, various technique concepts usage to stress clarity, and providing many consistent opportunities for interactive teacher/student dialogue encouraging elaborated responses are some examples. For example, SIOP allows a teacher to implement various hands on teaching and training aids that can only assist in teaching the average ELL students at a more rapid pace. â€Å"Gifted Education† Movement Impact The â€Å"Gifted Education† curriculum has impacted education for at least twenty-five years or more with various issues. Therefore implementing and identifying key trends including values and substantial material for the elite, technological subject matter, aspects of creative interactive lesson plans for the academically skilled persons within core subject areas. It is obvious Passow’s flattering article on secondary programming was designed for the gifted student that was justifiably leveled between mental and influential areas. Passow’s model provided answers on creating a guide for tracking implementations and improvements that called for concerns about accepting one’s own beliefs and assisting others who you might not agree with. It was also centered morally and ethically with developmental stages in reality and emphasis on critical thinking and resolving problems, a stress on the liberal arts, and customized choices. Surely, Passow and VanTassel-Baska are advocates for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Mentorships, internships, and independent study are all examples of why there is a need for more customized interactions. Conclusion Curriculum Planning History occurrences are dictated by the outcome of present and past societal decisions that have outweighed educational models  and theories across the nation in various educational communities. Curriculum Planning prepares students from past experiences to embrace the now and willingly reaches out and take on the future. In other words, a curriculum needs to address the wants and needs of everyone desiring to resolve social conditions locally, nationally and globally (McNeil, 1995). In the United States the number of school-age students will grow from more than 60 million in 2012 to possibly 80 million in 2050. However, it is extremely critical not to ignore or deny the possibilities the trends reveal. Therefore, we can hope â€Å"Trends† will best serve as a starting point where educators and facilities professionals come together to â€Å"think outside of the box,† to ask â€Å"what if,† to wonder â€Å"why can’t we,† and to â€Å"consider the unconsidered.† Flashing back on Chen, 20110, stating how open discussions of the potential impact of the trends on public education and its school structures will surely emerge new and exciting ideas. Undoubtedly, the roles of all stakeholders will be affected by a changing future. In conclusion, it has been proven that educators and educational specialists do continue to shape diverse futures. As an old favorite African proverb of mine reminds us; Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today. A Collaborative Curriculum is created and necessary based on the circumstances and beliefs during that period of time. The collaboration is reflective of various political ideologies, societal predictions, divine beliefs and wisdom conceptions at a particular point in time. While there is great advancements in information and communication technology, administrators, teachers and students are expressing and gathering views globally. It has been seen in other school systems and majority of all stakeholders would like to see these practices in their own educational community. References: Ornstein, A. and Hunkins, F. Curriculum: Foundations, principle and issues. (1998). Boston, MA: Allyn Bacon. Chapter 5: Social foundations of curriculum. Passow, A. H. (1986). Curriculum for the gifted and talented at the secondary level. Gifted Child Quarterly, 30, 186-191. [See Vol. 4, p. 103.] Stevenson, K. R., (September 2010). Educational Trends Shaping School Planning, Design, Construction, Funding, and Operation., National Clearing House For Educational Facilities www.files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED539457.pdf Topic 3: Social Foundations of Curriculum peoplelearn.homestead.com/beduc/module_3.social.history.doc VanTassel-Baska, J., Zuo, L., Avery, L. D., Little, C. A. (2002). A curriculum study of gifted-student learning in the language arts. Gifted Child Quarterly, 46(1), 30-44. [See Vol. 5.] VanTassel-Baska, J., (2003). Introduction to Curriculum for Gifted and Talented Students: A 25-Year Retrospective and Prospective. The College of William and Mary.

Sport and Identity Formation

Sport and Identity Formation Sport and Identity: Essay Proposal How Does Rugby Union Shape And Reflect Identity In Northern Ireland? Despite the increased interest and understanding of identity, the concept itself remains something of an enigma (Fearon, 1991, cited in Hooti Mahmoudi, 2013). The meaning of identity as we now use it, is not well captured by dictionary definitions. Our present idea of identity is a recent social construct, and a rather complicated one. Even though everyone knows how to use the word properly in everyday discourse, it proves quite difficult to give a short and adequate summary statement that captures the range of its present meanings (Gleason, 1983, pp. 910-930). A short definition by Hogg and Abrams (1988) state that identity is peoples concepts of who they are, of what sort of people they are, and how they relate to others (p.2), and when a set of people who hold a common social identification are categorised together they form a social group. These groups of collective identities can be constructed around many forms and circumstances, for example, nationality, race, gender, sexuali ty, religion and many more. Woodward (1997) adds to this by suggesting that Identity marks the ways in which we are the same as others à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and the way in which we are different. Often identity is most clearly defined by difference (Woodward, 1997, pp. 1-2).   When analysing the definition, its clear that Hogg and Abrams as well as Woodward are only talking about people. Other authors (Elliott, 2007; Mead and Morris, 1934) suggest that objects and symbols can also be used to express and forge a sense of self. This further demonstrates the complexity of defining identity. Identity in the context of sport can unify and/or divide. It can show common ground or expose differences. Sport can be used as a tool to show how people see themselves and how others see them. It is a potential platform for the construction and display of identity (Maguire, Jarvie, Mansfield, Bradley, 2002). One example for the display of an identity through sport is national identity. If the concept of nations being an imagined community (Anderson, 2006) is accepted, then Bairner states that Sporting competition arguably provides the primary expression of imagined communities with the nation appearing more real in the domain of sport (Bairner, 2005, p. 105). It is around the subject of national identity that I will form my topic of research for the essay. I want to explore the ways in which Rugby Union helps to shape and reflect national identity in Northern Ireland, a county divided for many decades by two main ideologies. The first is the, mainly protestant, unionist ideology. P eople who follow this ideology believe that Northern Ireland, part of Great Britain, should continue some form of political union with Great Britain and thus, view themselves as British. The second, mainly catholic, nationalist ideology is opposed to such a union and favours a unified Ireland, and thus, view themselves as Irish'(Cronin,1999, p. 143-146). Then there are people who consider themselves as Northern Irish. They are either politically neutral or take on a mixture of beliefs from both sides of the community so I will have to consider this during the essay. I want to explore this looking solely at Rugby Union as it is unique and significant that the Irish national team compete as a united nation against Scotland, Wales and England and, as such, have a large nationalist following in Northern Ireland. In contrast, the Ulster Rugby Union side that also incorporates counties from both sides of the border has a large unionist following in Northern Ireland. The academic rationale for my choice of topic is that it is only in the last decade that a more heterogeneous approach to identity construction in this subject area generally has been acknowledged and followed (Hassan, 2002). There isnt a lot of research on how Rugby Union shapes and reflects identity in Northern Ireland but there are sections of research by other academics and authors which will be useful. The concepts of identity will allow me to explore this sectarian divide and understand how both sides of the community can use Rugby Union to display which side of the ideological line they stand on and/or if it can also be used as a tool to unite the conflicting sides of the community. The topic, with its deep historical and political complexity, will also allow me to further explain identity as a socio-logical concept that is ever changing, fluid and complicated. To do this I will use the Identity and Difference theory by Woodward (1997). The reason for this is that my topic will mainly focus on two main nationalities and ideologies. People with the same nationality and ideology share a sense of geographic space, beliefs, and history with other members of that community, whilst excluding those who do not belong. Difference is central to the shaping of many collective identities and is often used as an active form of social exclusion, particularly when political problems between groups occurs (Woodward, 1997). One could argue that for some people in Northern Ireland being Protestant, unionist or British can be defined as much by not being Catholic, nationalist, or Irish. Other forms of identity could also be explored in the final piece to further explain the topic. Looking at another form of identity could allow a better understanding or explanation of a range of things related to the topic, for example, social class to expand on the historical context. In terms of social interaction, the middle classes were more integrated than the working classes and the rise of the Irish middle class, in part a response to political developments in Northern Ireland, inevitably led to Catholics being socialised into rugby (Hassan, 2002). Other forms of identity include race, religion, sexuality, profession, age, gender and many more. With every form of identity that is explored, better understanding and a more in-depth knowledge can be attained. I will also have to read up on some relavant secondary research, particularly the books and studies of Cronin (1999), Woodward (1997) and Bairner (2005) in preparation for the final piece. References Anderson, B. O. R. (2006). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. New York: Verso Books. Bairner, A. (2005). Sport and the Irish: Histories, identities, issues. Dublin: University College Dublin Press. Cronin, M. G. (1999). Sport and nationalism in Ireland: Gaelic games, soccer and Irish identity since 1884. Dublin: Four Courts Press. Elliott, A. (2007). Concepts of the self. Cambridge: Polity Press. Gleason, P. (1983). Identifying identity: A semantic history. The Journal of American History, 69(4), 910. doi:10.2307/1901196 Harris, J., Parker, A. (Eds.). (2009). Sport and social identities. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. Hassan, D. (2002). A people apart: Soccer, identity and Irish Nationalists in Northern Ireland. Soccer Society, 3(3), 65-83. doi:10.1080/714004886 Hogg, M. A., Abrams, D. (1988). Social identifications: A social psychology of intergroup relations and group processes. New York: Routledge. Hooti, N., Mahmoudi, Y. (2013). Identity Discordianism under the trepidation and duplicity of human essence: A trenchant investigation on Luigi Pirandellos war. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 3(7), . doi:10.4304/tpls.3.7.1209-1213 Maguire, J. A., Jarvie, G., Mansfield, L., Bradley, J. (2002). Sport worlds: A sociological perspective. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers. Mead, G. H. H., Morris, C. W. (1934). Mind, self, and society; from the standpoint of a social behaviorist (17th ed.). Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago press. Woodward, K. (1997). Identity and difference. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage in association with the Open University.