Employee Benefits at HealthCo

HealthCo is a nonprofit health care provider operating with 36 clinics in an open system within a functional organization. The clinics include rehabilitation units, therapy facilities, hospice and geriatric units, and other highly specialized centers. HealthCo operates with approximately 6,700 employees in the eastern United States. In line with the industry, HealthCo employs a larger number of women than men in the areas of nursing and patient care. HealthCo held a senior staff meeting to address current issues and the coming year’s strategic initiatives. Attending the Senior Staff meeting were the CEO, Dr.  Palmer, Senior Officer Pat, Senior Officer Francis, and Senior Officer Mercer. During the meeting CEO, Dr. Palmer addressed a Human Resources report indicating that HealthCo’s turnover is 1. 5 times the industry standard. Dr. Palmer belief is that while HealthCo is competitive with salary, the benefits offered the employees is an area needing improvement. Dr. Palmer request that a team of four to six volunteers begin working on a plan for HealthCo becoming a top company in terms of work-life benefits. Question #1: How would you conduct a diagnosis of the situation at HealthCo? In order to effectively diagnosis the situation according to â€Å"entering and contracting are the initial steps in the OD process† (Cumming and Worley, 2009, P. 75). These steps are important to establish the relationship between the Organizational Development practitioner and the organization. This relationship defines the parameters for all remaining phases of the organizational development process such as: diagnosing the organization, planning and implementing, evaluating and institutionalizing the planned change. Identify the presenting problem Identifying the presenting problem is the perceived issue by the client, based on a preliminary inquiry. It is what appears to be going on. It is generally recognizable by the solution that is often, but not always suggested. After we identify the presenting problem, we can begin to clarify the organizational issue in order to better understand the context and nature of the presenting problem. Be sure to identify the presenting problem prior to proceeding to clarifying the organizational issue. Remember that the presenting problem often has an implied or stated solution. Clarifying the organizational issue It is often discovered that the presenting problem is accurate. However, a thorough diagnosis is required to support the diagnosis. The presenting problem is only enough information in order for the Organizational Development practitioner to say we need to take a look at the issue. This can be tricky though, because the client's mind might be made up in terms of the need for a training program and the Organizational Development practitioner knows that the presenting problem may just be an indication of a deeper issue within the organization. Therefore, additional data will need to be collected in order to understand the real issue. Cummings and Worley caution that many times the presenting problem can possibly be only a symptom of the real issue (2009, p. 76). The collection of this additional data will support the Organizational Development practitioner’s statement of the problem and solution in the attempt of approaching and choosing my relevant client. Determining the Relevant Client The process of determining the relevant client involves selecting the individuals within the organization who can directly impact the change issues. The relevant client will include the person who can authorize the use of appropriate resources for this project. At the same time, culturally, within the organization, these top level people have been historically unable to implement successful change. The next step is to identify the individuals involved in the making the change process to be successful. This should include leadership from all departments affected by these changes as well as representation from all locations. Effective identification of the presenting problem, clarifying the organizational issue, and correct selection of the relevant client will enable the Organizational Development practitioner to diagnose the organization. Diagnosing Organizations Diagnosing is the process by which the Organizational Development practitioner begins to understand how the organization is functioning. This information is required to design the change intervention. The diagnosis process will enable the Organizational Development practitioner and the members of the organization to jointly determine the issues to be addressed, the method by which the collection and analysis of the data will take place. An effective diagnosis will help to develop the relationship between all parties whereas together they can work toward the development of the necessary actions steps. The process begins with deciding which level of analysis to apply, organization, group, or individual level. Diagnosis can occur at all levels of analysis, or it can occur at only one level. Each level has inputs, design components, and outputs. Inputs are what organizations have to work with, general environment, industry, organization design, group design, and personal characteristics. Design components are the key components within the organization that enable the organization to take the inputs and change them into outputs, services or a product. There are six components at the organizational level, technology, structure, culture, measurement systems, human resources systems, and strategy. Group level design components include goal clarity, team functioning, group norms, group composition, and finally task structure. There are five design components within the individual level system. Each individual of analysis will take the inputs and work within the organizations design components structure to turn inputs into the desired outputs. Within the organizational level system outputs include organization effectiveness. This effectiveness includes performance, productivity, and stakeholder satisfaction. Group level systems affect team effectiveness, including quality of work life, and performance of the group. The individual level system outputs include individual effectiveness, job satisfaction, performance, absenteeism, and personal development. The organizations effectiveness depends on the alignment among the different groups. To determine if the organizations alignment the Organizational Development practitioner collects and analyzes data to answers two questions, does the organization’s strategic orientation fit with the inputs, and do the design components fit with each other. Collecting and Analyzing Diagnostic Information The Organizational Development practitioner will play a very active role in the collection of data for diagnostic purposes. There are three important goals of data collection, obtaining valid information, rally support of the organizational members, and promotes a working relationship between the Organizational Development practitioner and the members of the organization. Method of Collection There are four techniques for gathering diagnostic data, questionnaires, interviews, observations, and unobtrusive measures. (Cummings and Worley, 2009) Each method holds major advantages and disadvantages. The most effective way to effectively collect data is through the questionnaire method. Questionnaires assess the more comprehensive characteristics of the organization. Technique for analyzing data Quantitative tool of research is a much more subjective form of research than qualitative research. Subjectivity allows the introduction of individual bias in the collection of the data. Qualitative research may be necessary when it is unclear what exactly is being looked for in a study. The researcher will then be required to determine what data is important and what isn’t. In qualitative research the use of content analysis and the force-field analysis data is collected from the use of interviews, observations and interview questions. The OD practitioner must then separate responses into two categories, the social aspect and the task aspect. In comparison, the quantitative research tool separates data so that they can be counted and modeled statistically. Tools used such as scattergrams, mean standard deviations, frequency distributions, and difference tests are intended to minimize any bias. Quantitative research then collects information like a machine. The result of quantitative research is a collection of numbers, which can be subjected to statistical analysis in the formation of a result. Quantitative research knows exactly what it’s looking for before the research begins. In qualitative research the focus of the study becomes apparent as time progresses. Feeding Back Diagnostic Information Feeding back diagnostic information according to Cummings and Worley is perhaps the most important step in the diagnosis process (2009). The effectiveness of feedback data rests on the results of the data presented evoking a sense of action in the organization and its members. There is more information normally gathered than is required, therefore, the OD practitioner must properly analyze the data and present only the meaningful data. Presenting more data than required could cause the organizational members to feel overwhelmed and cause resistance of change and a lack of motivation for change. Determining the content of the feedback can be described using nine properties (Cummings and Worley, 2009). The members of the organization are receptive to the data feedback when they find it meaningful. The inclusion of the managers and employees in the collection of the data can increase the data relevance. The feedback must be understandable and descriptive. The use of graphs and charts in presenting statistical data affords ease in the understanding of the complicated data. Detailed illustrations help employees get a good feel for the information. The data must be accurate and verifiable in order to guide the positive action of the organizational members. This can be accomplished if the content of the data feedback can be verified by the members of the organization as fitting into the organizations attitude and culture. The data feedback content must be timely, limited and significant. The feedback should take place as soon as possible from the time of the data gathering. Timely feedback will ensure motivation by the members of the organization to examine the data and thereby invoke change. The data must be limited to a realistic amount for the individuals to process. Data overload causes individuals to become overwhelmed, leading to feelings of failure. The data collected and presented must be significant to what the organizational members perceives as the problem. This helps the individuals direct their energies toward realistic change. Because data feedback can be vague, it is important to have a comparison that is understandable by the members. The use of comparisons whenever possible can help to provide the members with examples of how the data fits into their own group as well as the entire organization. The final property of the feedback content is the ability to present the data as to invoke the sense that the data is only a starting point. It should be presented as to guide the members into further and more in depth discussions of the issues presented. Designing an Intervention Effective interventions must meet three major criteria: â€Å"(1) the extent to which it fits the needs of the organization; (2) the degree to which it is based on causal knowledge of intended outcomes; and (3) the extent to which it transfers change management competence to organization members† (Cummings and Worley, 2009 p. 51). The extent to which it fits the needs of the organization states that the organization will provide valid information on the organization’s functions. This function allows that the organization is willing to participate in an accurate diagnosis of the organization that reflects fairly on what the members of the organization perceive as their concerns and issues. The organization will allow members the opportunity to make free and informed choices. All members are involved in the decisions for change and how that change will affect them. Finally, the organization gain members’ internal commitment to their choices. Members accept ownership of the selected intervention and will take on the responsibility of the implementation of the change. Knowledge of outcomes is the second criteria for effective intervention. Since the purpose of an effective intervention is to produce a specific result, effective interventions are based on the valid knowledge that the intended result can actually be produced. Without that there would be no scientific basis to design an intervention. An explanation of the knowledge of outcomes criteria in the insurance industry can be explained by role of the underwriting department. Insurance companies are in the business of paying claims. However, it is the responsibility of the underwriters to accept or reject possible risks. An intervention attempted in the underwriting department to eliminate all losses would result in a failure in the criteria of knowledge of outcomes. There is no valid knowledge that could support this intervention. Extent to which it enhances the organizations capacity to manage change is the hird criteria of an effective intervention. The final criteria would expect that during the process of planning, implementing and intervention stages, the organizational members alone will have gained all necessary skills to carry out the planned change. Cummings and Worley state, â€Å"Competence in change management is essential in today’s environment, where technological, social, economic, and political changes are rapid and persistent† (Cummings and Worley, 2009 p. 152). There are two contingencies used in the design of effective interventions. Both contingencies must be considered in designing an effective intervention. The first is contingencies related to the change situation. This would include four major areas of concentration, readiness for change, the capability to change, cultural context, and capabilities of the change agent. The issues of this contingency is the focus of the change situation, which includes the OD practitioner. There are four key issues in the contingencies related to the target of change. The four key issues to be examined are strategic issues, technological and structural issues, human resource issues, and human process issues. Strategic issues are the most critical issues faced by today’s organizations. The strategic issues facing any organization is deciding what function the organization will serve, what product or services to produce, and what market to produce or service for. Three other strategic issues include the ability of the organization to decide how to gain competitive advantage and how to relate to the environment. The final strategic issue is deciding what values will guide the organizational function. Technological and structural issues encompass the division of departments, coordination of the departments, delivery of the product or service, and the task of coordinating the people with the tasks. The concentration in these issues is considered to be activities related to the organizational design, employee involvement and work design. The strategic and technological and structural issues of the target of change contingency deals with the mechanics of the organization, while the human resource issues and human process issues are designed to deal with more of the humanistic side of issues. Human resources issues are understood to include the attracting competent staff, planning and development of employee careers, and setting the goals and rewards for the employees. The concentration in these issues is considered to be human resources management intervention. This concentration should not be confused with human process issues. Human process issues are concentrated on the social processing occurring within the organizational members, including the development of process for areas of how to communicate, solve problems, make decisions, interact and lead. The intervention designed in the area of human process issues includes such techniques as team building and conflict resolution. It is important to note that organizational issues are interrelated, decisions on the strategic issues will affect the structural issues, and therefor decisions must be decided as to their relationship to one another. Cummings and Worley state; â€Å"intervention design must create change methods appropriate to the organizational issues identified in the diagnosis† (Cummings and Worley, 2009 p. 154). Evaluating and Institutionalizing Change The final two activities in effective change management is managing the transition and sustaining momentum. During the managing transition the change agents responsibilities include, activity planning, commitment planning, and the change management structures. A successful transition depends on the change agent’s ability to develop a schedule or timeline of specific times, activities and events, articulating the blending of changes tasks, and finally linking the change tasks to the organizations goals and priorities. The change agent will need to ensure that the activity plan is adaptable to change as feedback warrants, be cost effective and receives top-management. Commitment planning on the part of the change agent involves gaining the identifying and gaining the support and commitment from key individuals. In order to accelerate the transition a change agent will need to develop change management structures, and learning processes. Within the final stage of change the change agent must sustaining momentum so that they are carried out to completion. During this stage the change agent must providing resources for the change process through additional financial and human resources, creating a support system for the change agents thorough networks of close individuals to the change agents who offer emotional support and serve as a sounding board. The change agent must develop new competencies and skills through programs such as on-the-job counseling and coaching or traditional training programs. One effective way to sustain momentum is reinforcing new behaviors to implement the change. This is accomplished by giving formal rewards for the desired behaviors. Finally the last role the change agent must play is staying the course. There will be factors the discourage managers or organizations; it is the role of the change agent to instill patience and trust in the diagnosis and intervention work. Question #2: Based on the information provided in the scenarios and the case, what is your own diagnosis of the situation? Summary of the Data Within the industry, HealthCo offers its employees a competitive salary. However, the turnover rate is 1. 5 times the industry standard. In the attempt to improve the organizations competitive advantage, CEO, Dr. Palmer commissioned a survey of the female employees in the area of work-life issues. The survey ranked the top eight desired benefits, of those eight desired benefits HealthCo does not offer three and has only minimal benefits in the remainder. The current management and leadership staff within HealthCo is confrontational with the idea of the administering any additional work-life benefits in fear of additional issues with department workloads, which often exceed the day-to-day capacity of the staff. Another issue HealthCo faces is the laboratory services department being staffed 24/7, and is called upon to perform services at any time. Diagnosis There appears to be a breakdown within specific design components at the organizational level. While technology, structure, culture, measurement systems, and strategy appear to be effective, the human resources systems appear to lack the required skills and knowledge to implement change. There appears to be a systems fit issue between the organizational level structure and the group level quality of work-life and performance, as well as the individual level structure in terms of individual effectiveness. Intervention The direction of the intervention will fall into the area of Human Process Interventions. The specific interventions to be considered: a) Management and Leadership Development intervention. HealthCo current management staff displays objection to a work-life benefits strategy. This is due to the lack of knowledge of and the lack of skills required in implementing the change. The benefit of the intervention would include the development of the required knowledge and skills for the implementation of the necessary changes. b) Career Planning and Development. The diagnostic data points to a lack of importance in the value of the work-life benefits for the female employees within HealthCo. A new set of benefits could be identified and then implemented. A work-life balance intervention could identified and then implement a new work-life benefits package. Question #3: What do you see as the key issues in HealthCo becoming a top company in terms of work-life benefits? Based on data collected HealthCo faces one key issue in achieving the stated goal of CEO, Dr. Palmer, â€Å"become a top company in terms of work-life benefits†. Regardless of what change is made to the current benefits program, HealthCo’s current management and leadership are not sufficiently prepared to implement the change. With the implementation of a management and leadership development intervention HealthCo’s management will have developed the skills and knowledge to implement new organizational strategies.

Equality of the Sexes: Elizabethan Era and Now

Equality of the Sexes: The Elizabethan Era and Now Equal rights have always been a major issue and dispute. Analysing the role of women in the Elizabethan Era, through Shakespeare’s representation in Romeo and Juliet, and comparing them to the role of women in the 21st century, will help to demonstrate that equality of the sexes has been achieved, and come a long way in the past 400 years. Three ways in which equality of the sexes has been achieved is the role of a married, and unmarried woman, and roles of women in society.Married women’s roles have changed significantly since the late 1500s. A dowry has been abolished when women get married. Their sole purpose of being has changed and is no longer to just provide and raise children and complete household tasks. They can now get a job and have rights in marriage and families much the same as men. In marriage, women had to have a child every two years, as childbearing was considered an honour even though it was potentia lly life threatening.Also in the late 1500s, women had to instantly obey their husbands and any other males in the family, and their punishment for not obeying was being beaten into submission. An example of this in Romeo and Juliet is when Juliet refuses to marry Paris, and Capulet calls her a â€Å"disobedient wretch† for not following (Act III, Sc. V, 160). In the 21st century, men can no longer legally chastise their wives and are not always considered the head of the marriage as they were in Shakespeare’s time.In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare has represented the roles of married women in the Elizabethan Era. In Act 1, Scene 1, Montague and Lady Montague arrive in the square where the fight is breaking out, Lady Montague tries to stop him, but has no control after attempting to hold him back, as she has no authority over him, he also demands that she give his sword to him in a very abrupt manner, â€Å"Give me my long sword, ho! † (Act I, Sc. I). Therefore, women’s roles in marriage have equalised over the past 400 years.The roles of unmarried women have also changed over the past four centuries. Unmarried women are now allowed to work, whereas the only alternative for unmarried women in Elizabethan times was domestic service, such as being a maid. Arranged marriages for unmarried women were very common in the Elizabethan period, as fathers wanted their daughters to marry somebody of a higher class to improve the family’s social status. Fathers liked to arrange a marriage as soon as sensibly possible, because unmarried women were looked upon with suspicion.In Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet arranges a deal with Paris about the marriage of Juliet when she was only 13. Capulet describes Juliet’s age, â€Å"†¦She hath not seen the change of fourteen years†¦ † (Act I, Sc. II, 9). Paris replies with, â€Å"Younger than she are happy mothers made,† (Act I, Sc. II, 12) which is representing the fact that women in the Elizabethan Era could be married and have children as young as 12. In a modern Western women’s world however, women no longer have arranged marriages and are allowed to choose their significant other.They are not looked upon with suspicion if they are unmarried, as it is very common in the 21st century, and women often don’t marry until around the age of 25 or older. In summary, an unmarried woman’s roles and rights have changed considerably since the Elizabethan period, and Shakespeare has conveyed an unmarried woman’s tradition through Romeo and Juliet. The roles of women in society have changed a sizeable amount since the late 1500s. In the Elizabethan period women had minor roles in society.They were raised to believe that they were inferior to men and that men were the leaders and women were the weaker sex. Shakespeare has represented women being the ‘weaker sex’ through a conversation between Gregory and Sampson, when Sampson states, â€Å"†¦ and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Act I, Sc. I, 20). Women were not allowed to go to school, but the wealthy were allowed to have private tutors, so they were highly educated, but the poorer families couldn’t get any education easily.They were not allowed to get jobs, and domestic service was their only choice. An example of this is the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. In the 21st century however, women have a very significant role in society, with many even being political leaders and in important professions, such as lawyers, doctors, teachers and scientists. They also have political and rights in society the same as men. Therefore, a woman’s role in society has changed and equalised over the past 400 years.Since the Elizabethan Era, an unmarried woman's role, women's roles in society and their roles in marriage have changed significantly. Equality of the sexes has been achieved and com e a long way over the past 400 years. It is clear that this is true, through analysing an Elizabethan woman’s role and their portrayal in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and comparing them to a 21st century woman’s rights and roles in marriage, society and being single or unmarried. Women’s rights have gradually equalised over the years, and someday, possibly, women will take over the world.

A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud by Carson McCuller

A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud by Carson McCuller Philosophy of the modernism and postmodernism period takes twists and turns at every chance it can. As the world begins to change at a speed previously unseen, people all over the world are confused and scared of what might come next. Though today writers have taken to the internet to show the world their ideas, writers during these periods expressed the emotions human beings felt through many different genres of literature. First a man must help those around him but then the philosophy shifts to a man must help himself to gain meaning in this life. As each man struggles to find a place for himself in the world, each man is also subject to the actions of others. So each man is a master of his own destiny but yet he is also a slave to the whims of others. This knowledge scares men, women and children all over the world. Yet human beings continue to find themselves among the fear. We all find meaning for ourselves yet sometimes questions arise after we find the meaning which defines o ur life. Some questions being: Is this the meaning I wasted my time on? Is this worth all the time I spent alone? In â€Å"A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud† by Carson McCullers these questions pop out to me after reading the tramp’s so called â€Å"science of love†. The tramp in the story had his heart broken by a woman so severely he believed he could never love again. While the philosophy of love today would suggest otherwise, the tramp wandered the country in isolation, searching for his lost love and searching for love itself. He believes he has discovered the science of love, his own personal philosophy he uses to define his life in the world. He never finds the woman he held to be so dear nor does he find another woman he loves as much as her even after he develops his â€Å"science of love†. The disillusionment the tramp faces after losing his first love tears down the natural beauty of what love really is. Natural not scientific I should say. Science can t ell many things and uncover many truths but one thing science has no power over is the ability we have to love freely. This I believe the tramp fails to understand. The tramp tried to fragment love. That’s like trying to tear Mount Everest apart with a rubber mallet. It can’t be done. Nor can you apply logic to love. You cannot apply logic to something that contradicts itself as much as love does. Yet the tramp did not realize this as he tried to break down love. The tramp tells the boy he speaks to â€Å"I meditated on love and reasoned it out†. All he reasoned out was how to believe he loved something or someone. He believed love was only one love. According to his â€Å"science† you could love a rock as easily and as deeply as you loved a woman or your child. This is not the case as most would agree. I myself have never loved my iPod or my car as much as I have loved my girlfriends or my family. The tramp failed to realize many things but chief among t hem was that love comes not from what others can give you to make you happy but rather love exists when your desire to make another happy match’s your own desire to make yourself happy. An inanimate object could never return the love that men chase, so this science of love is base on false beliefs.

Strengths and weaknesses on a few cultural theories Assignment

Strengths and weaknesses on a few cultural theories - Assignment Example The study aimed at finding out whether the frameworks can help managers. The study analyzed values in 47 countries with a desire to make conclusions on cultural inclinations. As a result, national differences became the basis for the organizational processes brought by managers. Greater sensitivity came to the aspect of culture in relation to decision making. However, these three frameworks have a positive and negative side that affects the perception of users (Smith, Peterson, Schwartz, 2012). This paper explains the strengths and weaknesses of Hofstede, Schwartz, and Trompenaars frameworks in relation to culture. The paper concludes that the Hofstede framework presents a logical scenario of conducting human resource research. Cultural theories shed light on the issues in a society that are valuable. Cultural theories have contributed to the field of consumer behavior and international marketing. This has become a reality by placing emphasis on the cultural inclinations of consumers and markets at large. Â  Hofstede, Schwartz, and Trompenaars denote some of the common cultural theories that help in understanding human and market behavior. Hofstede is one of the cultural theories that look at the dimensions of culture in individuals. This theory indicates that the culture of a society will have effects on the values it portrays. Furthermore, the theory tries to relate the values and behaviors of human beings in order to formulate logical conclusions. Hofstede can be used to explain differences that can be observed among different cultures (Minkov, 2007). This theory presents four dimensions to explain cultural values in society. Power distance is one dimension, and it explains the potency of a social hierarchy. Additionally, there is the dimension of individualism verses collectivism that explains the level of integrating individuals into groups. Furthermore, the third dimension, which is uncertainty avoidance, explains the extent that members of

For and Against Criminal Justice Management Essay

For and Against Criminal Justice Management - Essay Example For and Against Criminal Justice Management In any species, whether among humans or lesser developed genus like mammals, reptiles, birds, and even insects, communication is seen as an essential component for survival and growth. The subject of the group discussion is criminal justice management (overview). â€Å"In its broadest terms, criminal justice management is defined as the management, supervision, and overseeing of the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system covers a broad range of areas of justice. It includes police departments, federal agencies, state agencies, the courts, and correctional facilities† (Strayer University 2011) The successful discussion will be referred to as Discussion A, and the unsuccessful one as Discussion B. The writer of this paper was the leader in Discussion A while remaining a participant in the other one. Welcome and thank you for agreeing to participate in this discussion. You are all aware (in different ways) about increasing crime rates in the country. But instead of just punishing the criminals, it is felt that a management system be effectively implemented so that criminals have a chance to get back into the mainstream society and also to prevent individuals with criminal intent (for whatever reasons) not to indulge in such activities. Before moving on to the actual discussion, let me just outline the roles to be played by each member. The three golden rules are listen to the speaker without any bias, not to whisper or talk to the person sitting next to you (for example, conspiring), and when required speak out your mind sincerely and boldly (Bulatao, 1999, 4). There are other do’s and don’ts that need to be followed (Ganguly, 2002). and I shall be strict with these guidelines. Intervention will be necessary if the discussion turns hostile or goes outside the topic. Do not go on repeating what you have once already said and please be sure that you have some facts and figures to back up your points. Participation and reciprocation and important and last but not least, be polite enough to thank the listeners at the beginning and end of your opinions. Being loud and aggressive will not be tolerated, and do not interrupt a person while he is speaking. Irrelevant questions, being depreciative, and exhibiting of emotional outbursts is not a accepted norm in group discussions. If you find another speaker putting across views in a better way, do not get nervous- either accept them or put across lucid and valid arguments as the case may be. I apologize for this long introduction, but hope I have made my points clear? The group as a whole – Yes Leader- Shall we then begin, ladies and gentlemen? Who shall speak first, how about you Ms D? Ms D – Okay. I feel that there are not enough policemen to control crime, especially by immigrants and b lacks in the country. Mr B – I object to that comment. Do you have any figures or even reasons for such a statement? Mr A – No. I am just stating from the information from the media. (The group members begin to talk themselves regarding this matter) Leader – Ladies and gentlemen, please, we are moving away from the core issue of the discussion. You have already forgotten what I

Brand audit "Heineken" Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Brand audit "Heineken" - Essay Example The Global Heineken Manager Design & Concept once said that the new global long neck would reinforce the packaging, which applied the contemporary fancy can and embossed glasses. The Americans preferred short necks in order to differentiate the local beer from the imported one. The new bottle emphasizes on the visual identity on the cans and bottles. The visual identity was achieved by introducing sensory elements like embossments, indents that are strategically placed and tactile ink. The elements offer consumers aesthetic appealing and fun in the overall drinking experience. Specific packaging changes were done, with the brand elements including an elliptical curve originating from the Heineken’s logo. The refreshing green color is the Heineken’s trademark, which is enriched by the iconic star emblem that is red; the world has mostly recognized beer symbol. Heinekens commitment to improvement is evident from the new can design that was the first of its type to feature with tactile ink will be introduced all over the world. The latest glass has an embossed curve, which adds pleasant and better feeling when held. Heineken produces beer. In changing face of its beverage consumption, blurring its position among self-owned beverage labels and advertising restrictions. The company marketers decided to use the Heineken strong brand equity in expanding into neighboring markets and provided customers with other ways to interact with the company’s brand. Through a number of demonstrations, workshops and other activities, Cisco offered guidance and support on how Heineken could use technology to achieve this vision. The beer produced by Heineken is categorized into three groups; that is Heineken, Buckler and Subsidiary brands (Bergh & Behrer, 2010). Heineken lager beer is the primary product of the Heineken Group. It is over five percent pale lager, which was first manufactured in 1868. Forty brewers in thirty-nine countries around the

Language and nonverbal communication in a problem solving task Essay

Language and nonverbal communication in a problem solving task - Essay Example Communication is a two-way process. There are two roles in a communicative act, the speaker or the sender of the message and the receiver or the audience. Without the speaker, there is no one to pass on the message. Without a receiver, there is no one to accept the message. The speaker and the receiver then is the key element to a successful transmission of message. Verbal communication focuses on the use of the spoken language. Whether one is in a face-to-face dialogue or in a limited communication, spoken language is an essential in conveying the message. Speech is needed to communicate a message, especially in limited communication. Non-verbal communication is used to emphasize the message conveyed. It evokes images and translates the spoken message into pictures and descriptions. The process and method of communication affects not only the verbal part of the communicative act but also the non-verbal part (Bavelas, et.al. p. 22). The concept of the working memory, thus, is important in understanding how speech and gestures are used in communication. Humans have a working memory, by which it is described as the perception and the knowledge, whether stored or new knowledge, that our minds have the capacity to store (Logie, p.2). This offers a conceptualization of how language, speech and gestures are used in a communicative act. Whatever we have stored in our minds, that is what the speaker and the receiver processes in order to understand the message transmitted. Context plays a big part in communication as it determines how the message is to be understood and is understood by the communicators. In face-to-face interaction, a comprehensive communicative act by which both spoken language and gestures are simultaneously used in order to better convey the message. Bavelas and Chovil (p.164) suggests that communication processes should consider the concurrent use of both the audible and the visible

Choose 2 or three different web sites that a student might access for Essay

Choose 2 or three different web sites that a student might access for information for a paper such as wikipedia - Essay Example Wikipedia uses this amount to buy bandwidth and for some other purposes. Wikipedia is a user- driven website that has a large number of volunteers to add and edit the articles. The founder of Wikipedia Jimmy Wales calls himself a volunteer too and works for the Wikipedia without any profit. There are only fifty workers in the Wikipedia that manages all the funds that are donated by the users. Wikipedia appeals to ours emotion as the site has no advertisements and the written content is free from any types of ads in between or after or before the article.The founder of Wikipedia believes that the Advertisements doesn’t belong to the Wikipedia and there is no way advertising on the reference page. To engage the viewer, Wikipedia holds almost every type of information and any person of any age can access Wikipedia with the confidence that it will provide the desired information. Either you are a medical student or a commerce student, it provider information about any topic in a d escriptive way. As the site is not for profit site so everyone is attracted by the site and viewing such explained information on any of the topic makes Wikipedia a website that has the solution for any of the question. Anyone can edit or up his writing on a certain topic. Wikipedia checks it and holds the authority to keep it or reject it. Wikipedia always emphasizes on the positivity of the article but if it discusses some personality or some issue it tends to remain neutral and if does not supports the positive characteristics, it does not support the negative characteristics. On all the issues it always tends to be positive but if there are more editors which have a negative attribute for the issue, Wikipedia then stays with the history and with the referenced material. On all other topics Wikipedia depicts positive characteristics and provide a positive message. There is a discussion page for every article in which anyone can discuss about the topic. The discussion page is also reviewed for positive and negative messages that could be utilized for the perfection of the article. The discussion page is for all the users and anyone can comment on the article and anyone can read the other’s messages. Anyone who has the internet access can utilize the information provided by the Wikipedia and use it as the reference material. The site has no passwords or any restriction for any of the user. But in some cases the website has the authority to accept or reject the edited version of any of the article. Such cases include if someone is unable to provide certain references for the articles or there are some grammatical or verbal mistakes in the edited version of any article. Wikipedia is improving day by day. The support given to the Wikipedia by millions of its users help improve the website. Users edit the contents and cite the article accordingly. The edited material is reviewed by the Wikipedia authority and by millions of the users that check the edited content. If there is still something left then it is edited by other user and again reviewed by millions of users. In this way the article becomes a perfect article. Ezinearticle.com Ezinearticle.com is another site that can be accessed for the information. Ezinearticle.com has a number of authors that write article for the ezinearticle.com. The articles on the site are free and can be accessed from any part

Impact of a priority health issue on a population group and Case Study

Impact of a priority health issue on a population group and implication for the nurse - Case Study Example This paper discusses the impact of the issue on individuals, families and the population and its implications to the role of a nurse. People with mental health issues face a wide range of issues. To start with, they are at a higher risk for experiencing social problems, increased vulnerability to stigma and abuse, decreased quality of life, lower productivity, higher levels of poverty and more health issues. Access to education is highly compromised in case the mental disorder occurs early in an individual’s life it prevents them from successfully completing their education and careers (Commonwealth of Australia, 2008). It was found that individuals with mental issues are less likely to successfully go through their high school or tertiary education as compared to their counterparts without mental health issues. This negative cycle also contributes to high levels of homelessness among people with mental health issues. In fact, it is estimated that most of the Australian homeless population suffers from serious mental health issues. Furthermore, mental disorders result into decreased individual productivity owing to a decline in performance at work, unemployment and missed work. Mentally ill individuals do not have a source of income and this increases their risk to high levels of poverty. It has been observed that poverty and mental health issues relate in a negative cycle (Commonwealth of Australia, 2008). Poverty is seen as the risk factor for mental health issues. On the other hand, mental health issues contribute to stressors and a wide range of health issues. For instance, individuals that suffer from comorbid depression are less expected to stick to their medical treatment than other patients. Finally, individuals with mental health problems are more likely to suffer from discrimination based on their culture since immigrants are highly discriminated against by