Employee Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Employee Relationship - Essay Example Finally, the paper concludes stating that a sophisticated employee relation is necessary for efficient running of any firm. It is not feasible to discuss conceptual approaches to flexible working without reference to the work of Atkinson (1984), who developed the concept of "the flexible firm" in the recognition of changes which had taken place in the nature and composition of the workforce at that time. In the model of the "flexible firm" (see Figure overleaf), Atkinson propounded the concept of "core" versus "peripheral" workers. Core workers are a permanent component of a firm's workforce who deliver functional flexibility through their capacity to undertake a wide range of tasks. In contrast, peripheral workers provide a firm with numerical flexibility, with their numbers increasing or reducing with changing labour market conditions. The flexible firm approach involves a reorganisation of a firms' internal labour markets and their division into separate components, wherein workers' experiences and employer's expectations are increasingly differentiated (see Atkinson and Gregory 1986). Bryson (1999) argues that training/development and the involvement of employees are more likely to be directed at core workers, while 'peripheral' workers will be exposed more and more to 'raw' market forces. In times of recession, peripheral or non full-time workers are much more susceptible to lay-offs and redundancies. It is not insignificant that atypical workers, including those job-sharing, working part-time or on short-term contracts, are very clearly located on the periphery of the workforce under this approach. There is little doubt that the flexible firm model was influential in the development of employment policy in UK private and public sector organizations in recent years (see Lawton and Rose 1994). The extent to which this placement of atypical workers as peripheral workers truly reflects the reality of life in Irish organizations remains to be seen. There is certainly evidence to show that, in the Civil Service, opting for flexible, family friendly working arrangements, such as job-sharing, is perceived as unlikely to enhance longer-term career prospects (see Humphreys, Drew and Murphy 1999). However, what is clear is that, given the frequent gender differentiation between core and periphery workers, it is absolutely vital from both the equality and 'family-friendly' viewpoints that flexible working arrangements move in from the periphery to the core of organizational activity and thinking. - http://www.welfare.ie/publications/work_fam/chapter3.html INDIVIDUALISM AND COLLECTIVISM Individualism and collectivism are conflicting views of the nature of humans, society and the relationship between them. Individualism holds that the individual is the primary unit of reality and the ultimate standard of value. This view does not deny that societies exist or that people benefit from living in them, but it sees society as a collection of individuals, not something over and above them. Collectivism holds that the group---the nation, the community, the proletariat, the race, etc.---is the primary unit of reality and the ultimate standard of value. This view does not deny the reality of the individual. But ultimately, collectivism holds

Balanced Score Card Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Balanced Score Card - Essay Example According to various studies, the Balanced Score Card system affects strategy at the levels of finance, customer, internal, and growth. One advantage of this strategy is that it relies significantly on measurable outcomes that weigh against specific goals as spelt out in the organization’s specific mission and vision. According to a range of financial management literature, the application of the Balanced Score Card is manifest at the financial level of strategy (Punniyamoorthy, & Murali, 2008; Figge, Hahn, Schaltegger, & Wagner, 2002, p. 269). This is because, financial growth strategies are comparably easier to ascertain as compared to the other levels of strategy as customer growth and satisfaction. The universal characteristic of these strategies involve the active application of specific periods within certain financial goals are measured (Brown & McDonnell, 1995). The levels of success or failure are measured within the specified period in order to obtain the most accurate standards of measurement as spelt out within specific growth objectives and strategies. On this score, it becomes appropriate to consider the fact that time factor remains one of the most important considerations of the rate of growth. Financial Management In many organizations, the determination of growth using the Balanced Score Card method involves the determination of revenue growths and profits (Chavan, 2009). This usually entails the determination of the rate of growth in profits as understood together with certain financial measurable. The application of the strategy involves the determination of the strategic growth objectives and the outcome measures as the key determinants of growth within the strategy (Chavan, 2009). For instance, within a manufacturing company, strategic growth could involve the determination of various strategies for growth and other processes (Brown, & McDonnell, 1995). Some of the issues that relate to the development of strategy within the understanding of the Balanced Score Card relate to the need to adjust outcomes within definite operational paradigms. On this matter, it is necessary to consider the fact that the application of strategy remains an integral issue that applies within various factors an d strategies of growth. The determination of specific outcome measures assists in providing the management with specific indicators of telling whether the strategy relates well with the projected goals (Chavan, 2009). The assumption is that the end-result is significantly a factor of the strategy within, which it was achieved. The relationship between outcome and process depends on the manner in which the strategy relates with the financial objectives and the ability of the management to harness all the other aspects of the strategy towards the attainment of the same. The various processes that attach to strategy relate to other application specifics that combine to form some continuous link between the starting point of the strategy and the budgeted outcomes (Chavan, 2009). Critics of the Balanced Score Card strategy contend that other variables apart from the mechanics of the strategy could be involved in the achievement of the specific goals of the organization. Organization proc esses are subject to multiple internal and external factors, which affect the processes in different

Obama's Inauguration Ceremony Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Obama's Inauguration Ceremony - Essay Example That Lean And Hungry Look by Suzanne Britt’s is an essay written to compare the existing differences between individuals who are skinny to their fat counterparts. Britt is against skinny individuals in the society, and her essay deals them a tremendous blow making them look like losers in the society. She criticizes skinny individuals comparing their young age experience to failure in learning life’s expectations. In her essay, she applauds fat individuals in society. She notes that they are sincere compared to the skinny individuals. She deems that fat individuals are welcoming than skinny ones because they are capable of providing individuals with support when least expected. She applauds them for being realistic in life and always taking decisions that lead to their success (Warner & Hilliard, 2010). Britt’s essays talks her views regarding the skinny and fat individuals in the society. Though she might be harsh on her description of skinny individuals in the society, her works are used to explain the differences that exist amongst individuals in the society. Her works, when analyzed critically, give out a meaning to the different social classes brought about by different factors like race and politics (Warner & Hilliard, 2010). ... Contrary to Britt’s essay regarding skinny individuals, Obama emerges to be a triumphant candidate who is elected heartily by the citizens (Obama, 2006). Secondly, contrary to Britt’s essay regarding skinny individuals not being amenable, Obama was more than welcoming in his inauguration speech. He was warm in his speech when he promised to advocate for freedom of individuals within the country. Individuals who are not welcoming find that they make false promises to individuals, whereas in spite of Obama being skinny he makes promises and professes his love for the Americans on his way to the inauguration ceremony. He believes he has the powers to make America a new haven because the American citizens had bestowed him with the responsibility of being their leader. He is also depicted to be a neat person during his inauguration ceremony. This is contrary to Britt’s essay about tidiness of skinny individuals. He was neatly dressed in a fashionable way that left him to be the center of attraction to the searching eyes of the public and press. Obama’s schedule during and after the Philadelphia inauguration was loaded with schedules and appointments contrary to Britt’s essay that skinny individual do not have a loaded schedule (Obama, 2006). Contrary to Britt’s essay, the inauguration of Obama came as a surprise to individuals who did not take Obama as an eminent threat. Being a skinny person individuals expected Obama to fail for a number of reasons (Obama, 2006). His success is conflicting to Britt’s essay that does not depict him as a threat because of his skinny nature. The inauguration ceremony depicts that individuals who

Why Congress (USA) Should End Big Oil Tax Credits and Give That Money Essay

Why Congress (USA) Should End Big Oil Tax Credits and Give That Money to Green Energy Companies - Essay Example Oil and gas exploration and development (E&D) subsidy has been in existence since the early days of the income tax and is available to integrated and independent oil and gas companies. The Obama administration estimated that it could raise nearly $14 billion by repealing tax credit (Zengerle). In a protest, the American Petroleum Institute would launch new print and radio ads to â€Å"educate the consumers† (Snow). All these developments have spurred a nation-wide verbal war. But reality demands some incentives for the green energy industry in terms of reduced competition. The arguments in favor of â€Å"Green Energy† are clearly apprehensible on the medium to long term basis. The world’s primary demand for energy is expected to increase by one third by the year 2035. As the time goes on, the price mechanism of the energy market will be more focused on the development in the emerging economies. This will put the developed economies in an uncomfortable position as demand cut back on their behalf won’t have much effect on the prices of the energy. Today the US consumes nearly half of the total oil produced, but by 2035, nearly 30% of the consumption will shift to Asia backed by heavy use of automobiles. Also there is a â€Å"Peak oil† situation already in process. By 2020, the oil production from the Middle East and North Africa is expected to decline by 6 million barrel per day. Hence, for a long term policy formulation, preference should be given to the green energy sector. Another long-term concern is global warming. By 2035, the CO2 emission is expected to increase by 20%. ... Moreover, these are environment friendly and good for human health. The combined basket for green energy also contains green technology. The development and operation of green energy power systems are still in their growing phase. The focus of innovation is still centered on energy efficiency. A lot of industry practices have been standardized. So replacing the old inefficient power systems is no more a problem (Pembina Institute). The oil & gas industry has its own arguments as well. One of the most talked about argument is that rising taxes will not make the gasoline cheap; rather, it may push the price higher. Another argument is that, with the repeal, investment for deep water gas and oil production will be discouraged and this will result in more severe shortage of fuel in the long term. The oil & gas industry observers argue that there will be a possible loss of 50,000 jobs in the near future (Snow). The other major argument is that the exploration of oil & gas is a very capita l incentive and risky business. So, the repeal of tax credits will definitely hurt the small producers (Zengerle). There is no doubt that the repeal of tax credits will push the spot price higher, at least for the short term and it will hurt the common American people. Again, without the tax incentives, the exploration sector will not find much investment; hence, companies with heavy reliance on exploration business will definitely get hurt. It takes years of investments to make one single well productive. So, reduction in work force is a possible reality. Also there is no doubt that future-supply will decline substantially as present day exploration activities will decline; and oil still satisfies a major share of total energy needs and will remain in the dominating

Killology Essay Example for Free

Killology Essay Do violence in the media and interactive entertainment, such as video games and movies, influence children to have the will to kill? According to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, an expert on the psychology of killing, both play a big role in child murders. There are several methods to this madness by which people can actually motivate themselves to take another human life, such as, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, brutalization, and role models. These practices are used in the military to train soldiers to kill, just as the media is doing to our children. Monday, December 1st, 1997 began like any other day for the students of Heath High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Student Michael Carneal rode to school with his sister, carrying with him, what he claimed to be, an art project. As his fellow classmates gathered that morning in the lobby of the school, holding a prayer group, he fired eight rounds from a . 22 caliber pistol. Out of those eight rounds he landed five head shots and three upper torso shots, killing three teenagers. Not only did he land all eight shots, but the shots were so precise that elite military and law enforcement agencies were stunned by his expertise. The fact that he had never fired a real gun in his life was something that disturbed authorities even more. Nowhere in the records of military or law enforcement history could the â€Å"equivalent† achievement be found. So what was it that made this young man so violent and deadly at such a young age? (The shooting, 2010, para. 1) It’s one of the methods used by the military to train their soldiers called operant conditioning, a powerful procedure of stimulus-response training techniques that attempt to influence behavior by manipulating reinforcers. They learn to fire at realistic figures that pop up in the field. The stimulus is the target, and the response is, shooting to kill. This procedure is repeated over and over, hundreds of times, until their natural response when someone pops up on the battlefield is to kill. Research has suggested that violent video games played a big role in the choice Michael made that day. He was trained through operant conditioning just as the soldiers are, except his was through violent video games. Following the shooting there was a $130-million law suit filed against the video game manufacturers in that case. This case is said to be working its way through the appeals system of the courts. (Metcalf, Stubblefield, Ettinger, 2011, p. 152) Violent video games train our children to kill, glorify violence, desensitize them to suffering, and trivialize violence. Every time a child plays an interactive video game, he or she is learning the exact same conditioned reflex skills as a soldier or police officer in training. Kids are playing more and more violent video games that are rated for a mature audience. So, ask yourself this question; how do fourteen year old teenagers obtain video games that are rated â€Å"Mature? † Better yet, why are they allowed by their parents to play the evil, sadistic games? Parents should replace the violent video games with non-violent, stimulating, and educational games; those which enhance knowledge, creativity and imagination. The violent crime rate is at a phenomenally high level, not just in America, but worldwide. According to Interpol, the per capita assault rate increased nearly fivefold in Norway and Greece between the years of 1977 and 1993. In Mexico and Brazil, the numbers are skyrocketing, and in Japan juvenile crime went up by thirty percent in 1997 alone. (Metcalf, Stubblefield, Ettinger, 2011, p. 150). The virus of violent crime is occurring worldwide, and the explanation for it has to be some new factor that is occurring in all of these countries. There are many factors involved in the action of violent crime, and we must never downplay any of them. There is only one new variable present in each of these nations, and it is that media violence is now being presented as a viable entertainment option for children. Metcalf et al. , 2011, p. 150) Another method used by the Japanese, in World War II, which we also see done with the media, is classical conditioning. This technique is best remembered as Pavlovian conditioning, associating a stimulus with a response according to a specific reinforcement schedule, such as violence linked to pleasure. As Pavlov did with the dog, by associating the bell with food and eventually the dog could not hear the bell without salivating, the media does with the children. How often do we watch the news and learn of something good that has happened in the world? They are always focusing on all of the violence that is going on in the world. Our children see this as well, and they learn to associate death with pleasure. To better understand the role that violence and the media inherit, in the entertainment complex, plays in the increase of murders among the young and impressionable. We must first look at the methods by which killers can be made. Though such a difficult subject cannot be completely explained by these factors alone, it is important to note the contribution each one makes. Throughout the course of human history, it is thought that healthy members of most species have a natural resistance to killing their own kind. However, when human beings are overwhelmed with anger and fear, thought processes become primitive. We slam head-on into that hardwired resistance against killing. One of the methods that shift this natural resistance is what is commonly known as brutalization. Quite similar to a military boot camp, brutalization is a forced shift in values. The subject is made to conform to a new set of rules, abandoning all sense of individuality. They are trained relentlessly in a total immersion environment and the end result is a person who not only embraces the violence and the discipline, but accepts them as normal and an essential survival skill in a new and increasingly brutal world. (Metcalf et al. , 2011, p. 151) A very similar thing is happening to our children through violence in the media. At eighteen months old, a child can begin to understand and mimic what they see on television, and up until the ages of six or seven they are physically, developmentally, and psychologically unable to distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality. When they see an instance of rape, murder or degradation on the television or in the media, to them it is real. Some of them welcome the violence and accept it as a normal and vital survival skill in a cruel, new world. In nations, regions and cities where television is a constant source of entertainment, there is an immediate eruption of playground violence, and within fifteen years, there is a doubling of the murder rate, but why fifteen years? That’s how long it takes for a desensitized toddler to reach their â€Å"prime crime† years. Metcalf et al. , 2011, p. 151) By the time the brutalized toddlers have reached their teenage years, they have developed role models. Today, violence in the media is providing our children with role models. When the images of young killers are broadcast on television, they become role models. The media has every right and responsibility to tell the story, but they have no right to glorify the killers by presenting their images on television. (Grossman, 2000, p. ) The ultimate achievement for our children is to get their picture on television, and with such vulnerable, young minds they are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that. I say it is time for the world to stop televising such violence and let law enforcement deal with it. If they know who the killer is then why does it have to be broadcast for our children to see? I truly believe that the media is highly responsible for a lot of killings in this world, along with the violent video games, and I pray that one day there will be something done to stop it.

Types And Uses Of Coupling Devices Engineering Essay

Types And Uses Of Coupling Devices Engineering Essay A coupling is a device used to connect two shafts together at their ends for the purpose of transmitting power.In machinery, a device for providing a connection, readily broken and restored, between two adjacent rotating shafts.A coupling may provide either a rigid or a flexible connection; the flexibility may permit misalignment of the connected shafts or provide a torsionally flexible (yielding) connection, mitigating effects of shock Couplings do not normally allow disconnection of shafts during operation, though there do exist torque limiting couplings which can slip or disconnect when some torque limit is exceeded. A common type of rigid coupling consists of two mating radial flanges (disks) that are attached by key-driven hubs to the ends of the shafts and bolted together through the flanges. Alignment of the shafts is usually achieved by means of a short cylindrical projection (rabbet joint) on the face of one flange that fits snugly into a circular recess on the face of the other flange. The chain coupling consists of two hardened-steel sprockets, one on each shaft, with a nylon or metal roller chain wrapped around the closely aligned sprockets and connected at the ends. Clearances between the sprocket teeth and the chain allow for a small amount of shaft misalignment. For connecting shafts whose axes intersect but are inclined to one another at a larger angle than a flexible coupling can accommodate, universal joints are used. The most common of these is the Hooke, or Cardan, joint, which consists of two yokes attached to the shaft ends and a cross-shaped connecting member. Uses Shaft couplings are used in machinery for several purposes, the most common of which are the following. To provide for the connection of shafts of units that are manufactured separatelty such as a motor and generator and to provide for disconnection for repairs or alternations. To provide for misalignment of the shafts or to introduce mechanical flexibility. To reduce the transmission of shock loads from one shaft to another. To introduce protection against overloads. To alter the vibration characteristics of rotating units. Types of shaft couplings Drive couplings A coupling is used to connect two in-line shafts to allow one shaft (driver) to drive the second shaft(driven) at the same speed. A coupling can be rigid or, more normally, it can be flexible allowing relative radial, axial or angular movement of the two shafts. Unlike the clutch the coupling transmission is not designed to engage-disengage as a normal operation Coupling Type Coupling type Description Rigid Flange locked onto each shaft. One flange with recess and the other with matching spigot. Flanges bolted together to form rigid coupling with no tolerance for relative radial, angular or axial movement of the shafts. Muff Coupling Long cylindrical coupling bored and keyed to fit over both shafts. Split axially and clamped over both shafts with recessed bolts. Rigid coupling for transmitting high torques at high speeds Beam Coupling Single piece cylindrical coupling with a hole bored through its entire length. Each end bored to suite the relevant shaft. The helical slot is machined in the coupling in the central region. The reduces the coupling stiffness. The coupling is positive with some flexibility. Pin As rigid coupling but with no recess and spigot and the Bolts replaced by pins with rubber bushes. Design allows certain flexibility. Flexible Rubber disc As rigid coupling except that a thick rubber disc bonded between steel plates is located between the flanges. The plates are bolted to the adjacent coupling flanges. Spider Both half of the couplings have three shaped lugs . When the coupling halves are fitted together the lugs on one half fit inside the spaces between the lugs on the other side. A Rubber insert with six legs fits within the spaces between the lugs. The drive is by the lugs transmitting the torque through the rubber spider spacer This coupling is only used for low power drives. Bibby Coupling The outer flanges of the two half couplings are serrated. A spring fits into the serrations connecting the two halves. Chain Coupling Flanges replaced a sprocket on each shaft. The coupling is by a duplex chain wrapped over both adjacent cnoupling. Gear Coupling Both coupling halves have a raised rim machined as an external gear. The sleeve which couples the two shafts comprises two halves bolted together, each half having a machine internal gear. This coupling requires lubrication. The coupling is capable of high speeds and high power capacity. Metastream Coupling Coupling halves connected via stainless steel diaphragms. High speed high torque capability with good dynamic balance. Single coupling will accommodate angular and radial misalignment and fitted in pairs also allows lateral misalignment. Fluid Coupling Based on both coupling halves having vanes within a housing containing viscous fluid. The rotation is transmitted from one side to the other via the viscous fluid. the coupling provides a soft start. Universal Coupling Coupling which allows large angle between drive halves(20-30o). Generally based on a yoke mounted on each shaft . Between to yokes is mounted a trunnion cross. Needle bearings are used at the bearing points between the cross and the yokes. These type or units are used in pairs on carden shafts. Uses widely on rear wheel drive vehicle propshafts Universal Coupling- Uni-Joint Simplest type of coupling which allows large angle between drive halves. Each side of coupling includes protruding pins. The halves of the coupling are fastened in a pivotting assembly. At all angles up to about 40othe pins interlock with each other and rotation on one half forces the other half to rotate. Low power use only . Not smooth. Not reliable. Really only suitable for remote manual operations. Rigid coupling Rigid couplings are used when precise shaft alignment is required; shaft misalignment will affect the couplings performance as well as its life. Examples: Sleeve or muff coupling Clamp or split-muff or compression coupling Flange coupling Flexible coupling Flexible couplings are designed to transmit torque while permitting some radial and axial and angular misalignment. Flexible couplings can accommodate angular misalignment up to a few degrees and some parallel misalignment. Examples: Bushed pin type coupling Universal coupling Oldham coupling Bellows coupling à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ low backlash. Spider or jaw coupling à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ elastomeric inserts for flexibility, vibration reduction. Thompson coupling Resilient coupling Disc coupling Some applications like printing machines, roll forming machines, laminating machines, corrugated paper machines and paper making machines require an extreme and variable parallel offset. For these machines the coupling Schmidt-Kupplung is a solution. Torque limiting coupling Torque limiting couplings, or torque limiters, protect systems against overtorque conditions. Requirements of good shaft alignment / good coupling setup it should be easy to connect or disconnect the coupling. it should transmit the full power from one shaft to other without losses. it does allow some misalignment between the two adjacent shaft roation axis. it is the goal to minimise the remaining misalignment in running operation to maximise power transmission and to maximise machine runtime (coupling and bearing and sealings lifetime). it should have no projecting parts. it is recommended to use manufacturers alignment target values to set up the machine train to a defined non-zero alignment, due to the fact that later when the machine is at operation temperature the alignment condition is perfect Tools to measure shaft axis alignment condition it is possible to measure the alignment with dial gages or feeler gages using various mechanical setups. it is recommended to take care of bracket sag, parallaxe error while reading the values. it is very convenient to use laser shaft alignment technique to perform the alignment task within highest accuracy. it is required to align the machine better, the laser shaft alignment tool can help to show the required moves at the feet positions. Coupling maintenance and failure Coupling maintenance is generally a simple matter, requiring a regularly scheduled inspection of each coupling. It consists of: Performing visual inspections, checking for signs of wear or fatigue, and cleaning couplings regularly. Checking and changing lubricant regularly if the coupling is lubricated. This maintenance is required annually for most couplings and more frequently for couplings in adverse environments or in demanding operating conditions. Documenting the maintenance performed on each coupling, along with the date. Even with proper maintenance, however, couplings can fail. Underlying reasons for failure, other than maintenance, include: Improper installation Poor coupling selection Operation beyond design capabilities. The only way to improve coupling life is to understand what caused the failure and to correct it prior to installing a new coupling. Some external signs that indicate potential coupling failure include: Abnormal noise, such as screeching, squealing or chattering Excessive vibration or wobble Failed seals indicated by lubricant leakage or contamination. Checking the coupling balance Couplings are normally balanced at the factory prior to being shipped, but they occasionally go out of balance in operation. Balancing can be difficult and expensive, and is normally done only when operating tolerances are such that the effort and the expense are justified. The amount of coupling unbalance that can be tolerated by any system is dictated by the characteristics of the specific connected machines and can be determined by detailed analysis or experience.

Oil and world Economy Essay -- essays papers

Oil and world Economy Question: Examine the oil industry in relation to the world economy, utilising any economic theory / theories you think appropriate. One of the most important energy resources since human invested the machine is oil and its products. But as all resources scarce, oil is limited even more. Only few countries in the world have oil fields and produce oil for the rest. Therefore, in nowadays where factories, cars and oil-fired central heating increased significantly, oil has become a necessity for the society. People’s demands for oil and its products, fuel, gas and oil for central heating is unlimited, but supplier countries produce a fixed number of barrels of oil everyday so as to maintain a technical shortage and, of course, higher profits. These few countries are the oligopoly of the industry, have a market leader and there are barriers to the entry of new countries (Sloman 1997 : p.124). These countries are dominating the market of oil and created the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1960’s. OPEC is an intergovernmental organisation that offers stability and prosperity to the petroleum market. Membership is open to any country which is a great net exporter and which shares the same ideas of this organisation. OPEC has now 11 members and supplies more than the 40% of the worlds oil market. The price of oil over the last year has increased approximately over 100%, reaching the highest levels over the la...