Michael Porter. Procurement is Vital for Businesses

Introduction In an article titled, Competitive Advantage, which was published in 1985, Porter dismissed the role of procurement/purchasing and articulated that it played a supportive role in an organization. While that was the case then, the role of procurement in contemporary business environment has changed.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Michael Porter. Procurement is Vital for Businesses specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Indeed, Porter agrees with the assertion by saying that procurement process is one of the areas where companies can create value for the shareholders and the society. According to Porter Kramer (2011, p. 62), companies have possessed a narrow perspective of increasing the profitability of their organizations at the expense of the society. To rectify these imbalances, a myriad of companies have embarked on corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a way of taking care of the stakehold ers in the periphery. Porter Kramer (2011, p. 66) introduce the concept shared value within the value chain. Particularly, they point out that companies could create value through the procurement process where all stakeholders stand to benefit. This paper seeks to agree with Porter’s assertion that procurement is vital for businesses and is one of the pillars for improved performance. Procurement: Pillar in the Success of a Project Previously, procurement served a diminutive function in an organization. Although it used to be a common aspect of many companies, it entailed simple buying of common goods and raw materials especially those that the production department recommended. Chadwick Rojogopal (1995, p. 234) explain that the procurement skills were still in their bookkeeping stages and were applicable in all operations of organizations.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, after the manager received a list of requisitions, his or her main role entailed looking out whether the information presented was accurate and sufficient to allow the purchasing process to begin. Ideally, many companies had pre-established their respective suppliers and agreed on prices. However, these terms would be renegotiable to allow for further bargains in prices and the dates of delivery. In large organizations, buyers were so much engrossed in making numerous purchasing orders and bargaining for supplies of virtually all organizational departments (Dobler 1994, p. 45). To that end, purchasing department was perceived to belong to skilled and dexterous employees due to the high number of orders, complexities in delivery dates and resolving misunderstandings and queries. However, these activities did not allow an organization the required time to strategize on the most efficient way to procure goods and supplies. Porter Kramer (2011, p. 71) say that different firms across the world have begun to perceive procurement as major driver of success. Despite previous failure to notice the importance of the process, many firms have begun to source for supplies in competitive areas. Countless companies have become global organizations. As such, they have begun to shift and change their procurement processes to suit their new stature. Companies have also recognized that locating their activities and operations in areas perceived to have low wages for workers is not enough for a company that seeks to create shared value.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Michael Porter. Procurement is Vital for Businesses specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To this end, companies have embarked on synergized procurement process where different units work together in the process of procurement. Synergy does not only apply to the internal environment of a company but also to the external environment (Farmer 1997, p. 87). This implies that similar companies at the global market environment will synergize their procurement operations to derive value for all stakeholders. Companies are realizing that synergizing operations has costs that challenge the achievement of their objectives and plans. Hence, organizations have appreciated ‘time to market’ and efficiency strategies that require procurement function of an organization to play a focal role. This was contrary to the initial strategies by organization that entailed expanding their operations with the hope of increasing their profits and revenues. Synergy in procurement and dynamic nature of organizations have both worked together to increase the role of purchasing within an organization (Farmer 1997, p. 97). Further, it is important to mention that procurement is an avenue for value creation in an organization. Porter Kramer (2011, p. 72) argue that procurement should be a strategic tool tha t an organization uses to increase the well-being of all stakeholders. This is contrary to the previously held notion that an organization can improve the wellness of a community in which it operates only through CSR. Shared value means that every member or stakeholder of a company should derive benefit from the company (Day 2002, p. 84). For instance, construction companies aiming to increase their presence in a new market should seek to increase the efficiency of their suppliers to stand a chance of success.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Day (2002, p. 84) asserts that this may be possible through providing financial incentives for the suppliers to increase their productivity through acquisition of new technology to produce construction materials in demand. Simultaneously, the suppliers’ capability increases in terms of volumes produced and efficiency in production. In addition, strategic procurement process allows a company to create value by identifying areas for potential savings. This is possible by increasing the importance of innovation-driven models when purchasing and procuring supplies in order to review their structures of costs (Lamming 2002, p. 17). For instance, companies have begun to adopt procurement models that turn conventional fixed costs into variable costs. Although procurement does not influence all costs that an organization incurs, Chadwick Rojogopal (1995, p. 234) say that procurement influences over 75 percent of total costs incurred by a company. To that end, it is apparent that whe n companies evaluate their disposable resources, procurement function of a company can support it in attaining critical efficiency improvement (Chadwick Rojogopal 1995, p. 124). To achieve this, it is important to look into the major purchase levers of price and volumes that the company intends to purchase. Due to synergy in procurement process, the support of other companies is important to allow the procurement function to evaluate and bargain the prices with the suppliers across the market in search of the most competitive prices (Turner 2003, p. 108). On the other hand, volumes that a company intends to purchase can influence the negotiating power of the procurement function of an organization. To that end, it is noticeable that the role of procurement has changed immensely overtime. As such, strategic procurement is an important function of an organization as well as a driver of success. Another factor that could have led Porter’s change of perception of procurement is the increase in appreciation of change in business environment. Today, procurement has taken many dimensions. Particularly, Porter was oblivious of the importance of strategic procurement. It involves the application of the right sourcing strategies for all units involved in the process of procurement (Kraljic 1983, p. 112). Contrary to the initial short-term focus of expanding and focusing on profit maximization, companies are adopting long-term strategies such as strategic procurement (Gardiner 2005, p. 27). The rationale is that the process also involves buy-in from all the units of an organization and increased negotiating and analytical skills of the human resource. Strategic procurement addresses the question of the best and most feasible outsourcing strategy that could lead to increased efficiency for an organization. Although there is no specific strategy that is right for all companies and organizations, strategic procurement promises to provide the purchaser a wide array o f approaches when choosing the correct sourcing strategy. Besides, the process considers the organization’s strategy and the financial importance of the goods to be sourced (Turner 2003, p. 123). Strategic procurement facilitates the company to comprehend the market conditions faced by suppliers of the specific goods. Therefore, the process of purchasing has become an integral component of strategic plans that an organization and it contributes importantly to the success of the company. Turner (2003, p. 45) asserts that companies have continued to integrate procurement internally with other functions. Although internal integration of units has been overlooked, companies are finding it important to integrate their units, as is the case with suppliers and customers. Integration is a necessity in order for the organization to benefit from information sharing. In addition to gaining from decisions of procurement, an organization will also benefit from effectiveness from other uni ts that attempt to meet their cost saving objectives. At this level, Gardiner (2005, p. 37) says that procurement has begun to serve the role of increasing the commitment level of senior management team by demonstrating its importance in the organization and aligning its strategies to the organization’s objectives. This continued appreciation of procurement as an important driver of success has led to the expansion of procurement department into analyzing other drivers of expenses within an organization. This implies that procurement has become a critical function of an organization in examining costs of such functions as sales and administration (Kraljic 1983, p. 111). To illustrate the changes that procurement has undergone to become a major factor in the success or failure of an organization, it is important to look into various aspects of an organization. Kraljic (1983, p. 112) points out that procurement functions have expanded their remit into the management of risk and business propensity in the supply chain. This is particularly important due to the increase of companies operating in the global market. Besides, procurement functions of different companies have comprehended the complexities that emanate from the volatility of supply chain (Arjan 2010, p. 93). For instance, due to the constant fluctuations of exchange rates across the world, procurement departments have constantly been able to understand the financial market and maximize on them. Instead of the potential costs that an organization would stand to incur when purchasing using a poorly performing currency, the procurement’s comprehension of the dynamics will facilitate the maximization of profits. Porter Kramer (2011, pp. 67-85) articulate that organizations have enabled their procurement functions to evolve and be able to manage risks such as disruptions in supply and shortages that may pose challenges to the suppliers. Further, organizations have continued to forge strong an d meaningful relationships with their suppliers. This implies that relationships between procurement and suppliers has changed and evolved overtime contrary to the perception held by Porter. Organizations are working together with their respective suppliers implying that they have adopted collaborative approaches. This allows companies to share risk and returns in addition to increasing the level of innovation between them. The collaborative approach between the procurement function of an organization and the suppliers is important in the sense that it allows the sustainability of the company (Lamming 2002, p. 19). This is in the way the two actors initiate environmentally friendly solutions especially in packaging in addition to ensuring that the global supply chain is typical of favorable conditions for workers. All these changes in the procurement function have contributed significantly to the adoption of high-end outsourcing and sourcing strategies in an organization. To that en d, it is imperative to assert that the changes that have taken place since Porter’s claim regarding procurement have made him to rethink his stand on procurement process. In the contemporary world, procurement has changed its role and increased focus on devising ways that companies are able to manage their inputs (Gardiner 2005, p. 40). This is in the way an organization transforms the inputs into products. As aforementioned, the role of procurement has changed over the last few decades. This implies that the department of procurement in every organization has continued to take in increased roles and responsibilities. This leads to increased value of the organization as well as improved skills required to operate the procurement function (Arjan 2010, p. 102). Indeed, trained and skilled employees within the department have shifted their focus to development and implementation of initiatives that lead to increased creation of value for all stakeholders. This is in addition to ensuring that the company’s objectives and targets are met in terms of increasing sustainability of the organization and acquiring new technology. Despite the increasing demands in the procurement function of an organization, Arjan (2010, p. 105) articulates that there exists apparent disparities in the demand and supply of such personnel. To this end, companies have recognized the need to retain their employees within the procurement department for consistency and efficiency. Besides, companies have invested heavily in ‘on job’ trainings that seek to develop the skills of newly acquired talent in order to augment their productivity and performance. Essentially, companies have increased their ability to attract and retain talented and skilled professionals who are able to uptake many roles within the organization. Considering the amount of resources that contemporary organizations are putting in procurement, it is obvious that the roles of procurement have increa sed. This is in the way they drive an organization into success. Conclusion In summary, Porter’s perception that procurement was until 1985 a supportive function of an organization has changed. The rationale is that organizations across the world have evolved overtime and continued to place emphasis on procurement. At the outset, many companies have changed and evolved into global enterprises that require them to change their procurement processes to suit their stature. Companies have also understood some volatility aspects of the supply chain especially regarding the fluctuations in exchange rates. Additionally, it is important to mention that integration of internal business units, establishment of strong relationships with suppliers and retention of procurement professionals have typified the modern business organizations. The companies have also appreciated the importance of value creation as opposed to CSRs. The roles of procurement have increased due to the apparent evo lution of companies. Indeed, it has become a driver of success according to Porter Kramer (2011, p. 70). References Arjan,W 2010, Purchasing Supply Chain Management, Analysis, Strategy, Planning and practice, Cengage Learning, Boston. Chadwick, T Rajagopal, S 1995, Strategic Supply Management, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford, UK. Day, M 2002, Handbook of Purchasing Management, Gower, Aldershot, UK. Dobler, D 1994, ‘Letter from America: A new venture aptly timed’, European Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, vol. 1 no. 1, pp. 82-123. Farmer, D 1997, ‘Purchasing myopia – revisited’, European Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, vol. 3 no. 1, pp. 35-231. Gardiner, P 2005, Project Management – A Strategic Planning Approach, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, UK. Kraljic, P 1983, ‘Purchasing must become supply management’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 61 no. 1, pp. 109-117. Lamming, R 2002, Purchasing and organizationa l design, Gower Publishers, Aldershot, England. Porter, E. Kramer, R 2011, ‘Big Idea: Creating Share Value’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 1 no. 1, pp. 62-77. Turner, J 2003, Contracting for Project Management, Gower, Aldershot UK. This research paper on Michael Porter. Procurement is Vital for Businesses was written and submitted by user Kristen W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Questions to Ask When Writing an Essay. EssaySupply.com

Questions to Ask When Writing an Essay Questions to Ask When Writing an Essay Most teachers do not make use of a very important aspect of writing essays and papers. And that aspect is that the student should ask him/herself questions as a pre-writing preparation. Asking these questions will ultimately result in a better piece of writing. So, here are questions you should ask yourself as you get ready to write any essay or paper. Topic You may have a general topic area but within that topic area, you will need to select a smaller sub-topic for your essay or paper. Here is what you need to ask yourself: What sub-topic will interest me the most? Check through your text and lecture notes for topic ideas, and pick one in which you have good interest. Writing an essay or paper on a topic you don’t like is like getting a root canal – painful, very painful! Is there enough information on the topic to fulfill the length requirement? If you need an 8-page paper on the Civil War, the Battle of Antietam will probably not cut it. Before you finalize your topic, check out what’s available for resource information. Thesis Statement Every essay or paper has to have a thesis statement. So, here is what you need to ask as you formulate that statement: Why is it important for the reader to know this? What is the main point I am trying to make? What is my opinion about this topics? Resources There may be a large number of potential resources to use, but they are not all created equal. By the time you are in college, you can dump the idea of using encyclopedias of any kind. They are not appropriate for the type of research expected of you. So, here are your questions? Is the author of this book or journal article considered an expert on this topic? Can I find and use primary resources on this topic? If I have to use only secondary resources, are these the most current and relevant? Choose your resources wisely – your professor will expect them to be of high quality. Organizing Your Information Before you make an outline for writing, ask yourself the following: Should the information or data be organized sequentially? In what order should the points I make be given? Most important to least important, or the other way around? After the Rough Draft is Finished You know you are not going to turn in the first draft of whatever you write. You have to review it and fix your errors – structural and grammatical. So, as you read through that draft, ask yourself the following: Do I have a logical flow of the points I am making? Do I have good transitional sentences between paragraphs and, for longer works, sections? Have I varied the length of my sentences? Does my introduction begin with something that will capture the reader’s attention right away? Have I stated my thesis in the introduction and made it very clear? Have I used spell and grammar checkers to catch errors? Asking the right questions gets you to a â€Å"better place† in your writing and, ultimately a better grade. If you have any concerns about your topic, resources, or the quality of your writing, send it over to some good  custom writing services like for a full review and edit. It will be returned to you polished and ready to go!

Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Argument - Essay Example Although many prefer to practice premarital cohabitation, some sectors who are conservative within the society view premarital cohabitation as abominable. This is because of the consequences it brings. To them cohabitation causes confusion among younger generations and other people. They find the value of marriage and marriage certificate for granted. Marriage becomes a matter of ceremony without importance because they do not exactly know what constitutes marriage. However, some people find marriage as not the sole criterion of confusion among younger groups when considering the relationship of couples. In fact, youth who comes from a family whose parents are married but quarrel most of the time are more confused. Younger generations who understand the goal of premarital cohabitation may find it not confusing and may consider it a better option of marriage. This idea is supported in the article of Budinski & Trovato (72) where they made it clear that cohabitation is a viable alterna tive for marriage especially to those who do not have the confidence in entering a long term marriage just yet. They further stated that when couples cohabit, components of marriage are present like sharing of home, sexual intimacy, childbearing, and economic resources. With this, the couple may live like husband and wife just the same where they can enjoy playing their role as partners and parents. Individuals of any age who understand this purpose may consider premarital cohabitation as a springboard to marriage. Thus this does not post confusion. People who are against living together before marriage or premarital cohabitation claim that entering such situation may result in habitually changing their partners and are observed to be having difficulty finding a lifelong partner. This practice gives a belief that repeated cohabitation would be a predictor for future marriage failures as a result of weeding out process. Through selection, the person may change partner every now and t hen. However, observation shows that cohabiters and non cohabiters experience divorce at almost the same rate. In the study of Bruderl and company (1), they explained that it is not the cohabitation that increases the chance of couple’s separation but rather mismatches of some psychological traits. Once the mismatch traits are detected, it is likely that the person is going to weed out those incompatible traits resulting in an improved experience which makes the next relationship a success. This is evident among couples who were recently questioned in their answers that they are improving their chances of success in their marital relationship with their experience thus the prevalence of separation or divorce is reduced in the subsequent relationship. A large number of people especially Muslims believe that the practice of premarital cohabitation is better because it ensures stronger compatibility and commitment of couples. To be compatible needs adjustment to each other. Perh aps the way couples do this would be to live together. Couples have to be close together to really observe the way each lives. Doing this could help couples find out if they could bear each other without too much tension, quarrels and other problems. If they find out that they are comfortable with each other’s lifestyle, then they may consider marriage. However, if they are not, then it would be easy for them to just break apart because of the absence of legal paper works and commitment. Taxes would be easier to handle

Questions Chapter 5 & Chapter 6 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Questions Chapter 5 & Chapter 6 - Assignment Example The companies would adopt globalization strategies when seeking to strengthen their position in the global market by increasing their market share and brand awareness. The process of a firm going global begins with export-import activity, then minimal change in operation or management, then direct overseas investment to be followed by the most involved phase of substantially increasing foreign investment. Therefore, companies globalize so as to benefit from technologies and industries from abroad. These reasons have been categorized as proactive or reactive or both by Pearce and Robinson (2012). Proactive reasons for globalization are the reasons that a company initiates and later on followed by other players in the industry. These reasons include search for additional resources, economies of scale, power and prestige, synergy, attraction by incentives, need for new and expanded markets, protection of home market and to exploit firm-specific advantages. On the other hand, companies c ould be driven by reactive reasons to globalize where a trend set by a competitor would be adopted. The reactive reasons for firms going global include trade barriers, international customer demand, international competition, chance and regulation. In spite of both reasons being practiced in the modern business environment, proactive reasons have been noted to yield more beneficial long-term returns. ... As such, plans to be adopted by the overseas markets would be developed at the home office using procedures and polices similar to those employed in the domestic market. Such firms would therefore have an international division or export department. When the culture of the country where strategy would be implemented dominates the decision making process, a polycentric orientation would be said to have applied. The domineering philosophy would be that the local techniques and personnel would be best suited to deal with the local market. Therefore, each subsidiary established in the overseas markets would operate independently with its own strategies. Thirdly, a regiocentric orientation perceives each region as a different market. It applies where the parent company attempts to blend its predispositions together with those of the region where the strategy would be implemented so as to reach a region-sensitive compromise. Objectives would be negotiated between the headquarters and the r egional headquarters and also between this regional headquarters and its subsidiaries. Finally, a geocentric orientation would adopt an approach of global systems in the process of decision making with the aim of achieving global integration. This perception of the entire world as one market enhances the development of standardized strategies that would project a uniform image for the products of the company and the company itself. 7.) Explain the control problems that are faced by global firms. One of the major problems facing global firms would be the fact that the adopted financial policies aim at furthering the goals and objectives of the

Burn out of social workers in the work place Essay Example for Free

Burn out of social workers in the work place Essay Social workers are people committed to better the lives of others and this is done through varying capacities. Some work with families, children as well as in school while others work in the medical field especially those dealing with mental health. They assist people to amicably deal with domestic conflicts, disabilities, challenging health conditions, economic problems that precipitate housing problems, unemployment as well as issues like drug and substance abuse. (www. bls. gov). Their role in policy making can also not be underscored given their efforts in conducting research and making relevant recommendations as to the best or appropriate strategies. Social workers are also quite influential in the adoption processes as well as single parent assistance. Medical and public health social workers are committed to offering psychological support to people with life threatening conditions for instance HIV Aids and Alzheimer’s disease patients. Social workers can also work in local authorities as well as in government. In pursuit of making the lives of others worth the while, social workers in their respective fields are faced by many challenges. (www. bls. gov). They have to be in constant movement from their offices to where their clients are located and back to their offices where clerical work is done. Most often than not they experience burn outs while in their work a condition that affects their productivity levels. The focus of this paper is to explain why burn out occurs among the social workers, it will illustrate how it occurs, its effects on the organization and thereafter suggest that appropriate solutions to resolve it. The term ‘burn out’ is used to refer to the process or state of mental exhaustion that has a high impact on one’s productivity. In the book Handbook of human factors and ergonomics in health care and patient safety, Carayon presents some signs and symptoms of burn outs in the work place. Burn outs leads to anxiety and lack of zeal. It causes depression and mental exhaustion, poor concentration and memory as well as increased instances of absenteeism and general poor productivity. (Carayon P, 2006). Burn outs are not good for any profession in any organization. They cause a negative impact on interpersonal communication among the various employees in an organization would definitely have a bad effect on the company’s output. (Azar T, 2000). Burn outs increases people irritability and minor issues are magnified and this can be a source of conflicts among the various employees. The overall effects of burn outs are transferred from the individuals affected to the organization as a whole. Organization risk registering high dissatisfaction levels, increased job turn over as well as low morale. In Carayon’s book burn out is defined as ‘the persistent negative work related state of mind that is characterized by exhaustion which is accompanied by distress, a sense of reduced effectiveness and the development of dysfunctional attitudes and behaviors at work’. (Carayon P, 2006). This psychological problem develops gradually and may initially be unnoticed. It arises from the contrast between one’s objectives or intentions and the reality at the job. In most cases burn outs are caused by the adherence of inappropriate or rather inadequate stress coping mechanisms. Prolonged job stress leads to burn outs among the employees in question. Burn outs lead to decreased motivation and creates anti work attitudes. (Carayon P, 2006). Social workers in the various fields experience burn outs while in their work places. This occurs when the organizations they work for fail to meet their high goals and expectations. They feel dissatisfied with their work and this dissatisfaction leads to feeling of disappointment and grief. (Soderfeldt M and Soderfeldt B, 2003). According to a 2006 research it was clear that most social workers are not contented with their work. A high percentage reported high levels of job dissatisfaction and were ready to leave their various organizations. According to them, the value of the work they did was not equivalent to the pay they received. (The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2006). Social workers suffering from burn outs may feel detached with their clients and this will definitely affect their productivity levels. (Takeda F et al, 2005). Although different people will react differently to burn outs some could isolate themselves and have poor eating and sleeping habits. Others may find solace in alcohol or smoking all of which has a negative effect on their health. The relationship between the social workers experiencing burn outs and their clients as well as with fellow workmates is negatively affected by burn out as it triggers anger. (Lewandowski A, 2003). Organizations suffer economically whenever social workers leave due to the burn out problems. They incur the costs of hiring new employees and training them to be effective. This is made worse by the fact that they have the constraint of scarce resources. Organizations or agencies that fail to address the issues presented by their employees in this context the social workers are more likely to register higher incidences of job turnover which translates to increased costs. (Lewandowski A, 2003). A major cause of the increased instances of burn outs among the social workers is attributed to lack or failure by some agencies to involve them in the decision making processes. The lack of autonomy and the increased bureaucratization in their work place makes them feel alienated or isolated. (Lundy C, 2003). The problems to be handled by social workers become difficult by the day and this demands that the organizations adjust with the changing times if amicable solutions are to be arrived at. In her book, Social work and social justice, Lundy explains that social workers have a challenging job. Financial constraint is a major set back hindering their efficiency or productivity. They have to undergo or rather face job related stress as they try to allocate the minimal resources to match the overwhelming demands. The structure of the social welfare delivery, the mandate of the agencies they work for as well as the needs of their clients also lead to increased stress which precipitates burn outs among the social workers. (Lundy C, 2003). Most social workers are in the job due to a call or vocation to help others and the failure to involve them in the decision making process hinders their effective performance. (Kreisher K, 2002). Great control of funding sources also has a negative effect on the level of satisfaction that social workers derive from their work. The reduced commitment by the government to boost the welfare sector has led to the reduction of funds which makes social work a very challenging profession. (Lewandowski A, 2003). Without the autonomy or involvement in the decision making process they are denied the chance to apply their findings or expertise to directly affect their practice. This hinders the effectiveness of various welfare programs and on not realizing their goals they are frustrated and feel helpless. The ineffectiveness of the sector that they work for may have a direct negative impact on the social workers. They may place themselves in the shoes of their clients who could be victims of abuse or violence and live in fear especially with the knowledge of how ineffective the system is. (Kreisher K, 2002). Given the emerging social and economic conditions, the involvement of social workers in the decision making process would be more of a necessity then a requirement. This would ensure that there is effective division of labor and the work load could be minimized. Workload has negative effects on the employees’ health. This can be backed by a 1999 survey by the Canadian Union of Public social workers which established that increased work load among the social workers in the development services in children aids societies had a negative impact on their well being. To a tune of 87% social workers in the various fields confessed that the increased work load had a negative on their health. (Kreisher K, 2002). Work overload precipitates burn outs. With minimal finances at their disposal, agencies or organizations dealing with welfare hire fewer people than would be required a condition that sees the social workers with a large work load at their disposal. The social workers job predisposes them to risks of physical and verbal abuse and threats at work all of which have negative implications on their mental, physical and social well being. It also has an effect on their job satisfaction levels. In the article ‘Burned out’ Kreisher Kristen argues that the poor pay given to social workers dealing with children and the youth, in the face of the tough economic times has a big role to play in boosting ‘burn outs’ among the social workers. Their job demands are increasing while their reward or pay is dwindling and this is a major disincentive for them. There is need for the welfare organizations to adjust the compensation rates to match the difficult economic times. (Kreisher K, 2002). As Lewandowski in Organizational factors contributing to worker frustration: The precursor to burnout notes disappointments among the social workers have also been aggravated by the fact that their roles or responsibilities have changed and are in contrast with their expectations. Instead of spending more time with their clients in the field they spend more time carrying out clerical work. (Lewandowski A, 2003). For the agencies or organizations accountability is of essence as they are under pressure from the financiers to show how their resources are spent. In other words the agencies are more concerned with the number of people served while the social workers are more concerned with the quality of services provided. The social workers pay is at times affected by gender bias where for instance women dealing with children are lowly paid. (Kreisher K, 2002). The burn out problem can be resolved if appropriate strategies are adopted to help the social workers face the challenges in their work effectively. Prevention of burn out can be handled both at an individual level as well as at an organizational level. Social workers can be advised to take well balanced diets, have enough sleep, talk with their workmates and share their challenges as well as create some time away from the stressful conditions. Social networks are vital as they enable one to connect with their friends and make the stress that they face easier to deal with. Identifying hobbies that would ease the work tension and pressure is also an effective way of reducing the effects of burn outs. Of mush significance is the role of organizations in resolving burn outs among the social workers. Organizations must adapt all inclusive strategies where social workers have a significant role in the decision making process. (Azar T, 2000). This makes them feel appreciated for the roles they play in the organizations. To enable social workers better manage the challenges attached to their work it is important that the social work curriculums be modified to train them on the appropriate ways to handle complex situations. Spending more time training would also ensure that they acquire immense knowledge on how to deal with real life situations. Mentorship programs would also suffice in resolving the problem of burn outs. Strong mentorship where older and experienced social workers share their experiences with younger and inexperienced social workers will provide them with adequate knowledge on how to deal with difficulties while in this job. It will reduce their job stress as they will understand that it is part of their job. Mentorship also provides them with relevant solutions to would be problems while in their jobs. Strong supervision is also vital in ensuring that work load problems that cause burn outs are effectively handled. (Kreisher K, 2002). An organization culture is also crucial in creating or reducing burn out in the work place. Positive cultures must be embraced by all means. Organizations with positive cultures go the extra mile to ensure employee retention. They make them feel that they are part of the organization and involve them in the decision making processes. They also provide financial incentives like paid vacations and health benefits. Team work is also embraced in such organizations and it ensures that job stress does not have adverse effects on the employees. Supportive co workers are essential in reducing job related stress. (Kreisher K, 2002). Organizations must also invest in making the work place safe such that the risks of being physically harmed are minimized. They can train the employees on how to deal amicably with incidences of violence. The effects of social workers burn outs on the individuals, clients and on the organizations are not desirable. The organizations must by all means ensure that employees are retained as increased job turn over sees them lose skilled, experienced and dedicated employees. They must therefore be committed to minimize the job stressors in the work environment to curb burn outs. References Azar T. 2000. Preventing burnout in professionals and paraprofessionals who work with child abuse and neglect cases: A cognitive behavioral approach to supervision. Psychotherapy in Practice, 56, 643-663. Colleen Lundy. 2003. Social Work and Social Justice: A Structural Approach to Practice. Broadview Press. Fumi Takeda. Naoko Ibaraki, Eise Yokoyama, Takeo Miyake and Takashi Ohida. 2005. The Relationship of Job Type to Burnout in Social Workers at Social Welfare Offices. Journal of Occupational Health Vol. 47 (2005), No. 2 119-125 Kristen Kreisher. 2002. Burned Out Childrens Voice Article, July/Aug 2002. Retrieved on 12 August 2008 from http://www. cwla. org/articles/cv0207burnedout. htm. Lewandowski A. 2003. Organizational factors contributing to worker frustration: The precursor to burnout. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 4, 175-185. Pascale Carayon. 2006. Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care and Patient Safety. Routledge Publishers. Soderfeldt M and Soderfeldt B. 2003. Burnout in social work. Social Work, 40, 638-647. Social Workers. Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Editions. Retrieved on 12 August 2008 from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos060. htm The Royal College of Psychiatrists. 2006. Mental health, burnout and job satisfaction among mental health social workers in England and Wales. The British Journal of Psychiatry (2006) 188: 75-80. doi: 10. 1192/bjp. 188. 1. 75.

Use of Storm Imagery in Villette and Frankenstein Essays -- comparison

  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Romantic and Victorian periods saw a flowering of imagery: for the Romantics, because it often proved the best way to express their vague philosophical yearnings and ideas; for the Victorians, because societal taboos all too often prevented discussion of topics unless they were "coded" in acceptable images. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Charlotte Brontkà ©'s Villette, despite springing from these two different periods of literature, share a type of symbol. In each "bildingsroman," storms provide a dominant textual metaphor for violent and confusing turning points in the main character's development. For Lucy Snowe, storms usher her along in her development from shy, frigid nursemaid to more open, self-sufficient school-mistress: though fearful and traumatic, the storms, and experiences, tend to mold and enhance her personality. But for Victor Frankenstein, storms punctuate his relationship with his horrid creation, and show his steady dissolution towards tragedy a nd attempted revenge.    Villette practically opens with a storm: after the initial exposition, Lucy tells of how "it was a wet night; the rain lashed the panes, and the wind sounded angry and restless" on the evening when Polly Home first arrived. This admittedly minor change in her life still presages, in its stormy accompaniment, the larger turning-points in her life that storms are to indicate. Indeed, Lucy's stay with Polly and the Brettons is immediately followed by her famous and unexplained "shipwreck" image that begins Chapter IV. Whether it represents forced incest or merely financial reversals and deaths in the family, it is this storm which produces much of the cool reserve and surfeit of reason that troubles Lucy through the rest of the novel.... ...xiles at Home: A Story of Literature in Nineteenth Century America. Lanham: University Press of America, Inc., 1984. Mellor, Anne K. Mary Shelley. Her Life, her Fiction, her Monsters. Methuen. New York, London, 1988. Shelley, Mary.   Frankenstein   New American Library edition, 1983. Patterson, Arthur Paul A.   Frankenstein Study. http://www.watershed.winnipeg.mb.ca/Frankenstein.html    You may wish to place the following quotes at the beginning of the paper for a stronger impact.   "These strange accents in the storm -- this restless, hopeless cry -- denote a coming state of the atmosphere unpropitious to life." (Brontà ©, p. 46) "This almost miraculous change of inclination and will was... the last effort made by the spirit of preservation to avert the storm that was even then hanging in the stars and ready to envelop me." (Shelley, p. 41)   

Ptlls assignment

Introduction In this assignment I will discuss the roles, responsibilities and relationships in lifelong learning as described in Ann Gravels' book, Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector. I use my experiences of teaching abroad to clarify how the various theories and aspects of teaching affected my own role in adult teaching. 1. Roles and Responsibilities in lifelong learning Role and responsibilities and Identifying and meeting needs (1. 3/1. ) Gravels (2012) states that the main role of a teacher Is to teach a subject In such way that all dents are actively involved during every session. By using clear language and terms that are understandable for all students, the teacher ensures the learning that takes place. Managing students from the beginning of the course to completion by monitoring progress, providing feedback and keeping accurate records Is the final part of the being a teacher. A teacher Is also responsible for keeping up to date with the latest developments and changes In their field.In order to be effective at teaching and learning, a teacher has to address all the phases of the teaching cycle (Gravels, 201 2:POP): In my own role as a language tutor at the Dutch Flemish Institute in Cairo, I was involved in all stages of this cycle. At the registration day for the course, students had to complete a registration form and have an interview. The application form could give an indication of potential literacy/learning issues, for example when students had someone else fill out the form, or had spelling problems.The interview was simultaneously a tool to check whether the English level of the students was sufficient as well as a way of finding out what motivated the student and discuss the application form and course. Step 1: Identifying needs) Before the start of the programmer, I would check all my teaching materials and go over the entire syllabus while using the evaluation of the former course to see if any adaptations to the lesson pl an needed to be made. For example replace exercises that did not work with others or skip all together, replace grammar explanations that did not explain well for others.A teacher needs to be up to date on the latest developments and changes in their subject field, and adapt the course accordingly. (Step 2: Planning Learning) Before the start of sessions I prepared the room, checked materials were resent and audio-visual equipment was working. During the sessions my lesson plan guided me through all the topics that needed to be covered. I made hand-outs that described the grammar In English for extra clarity with some extra exercises to try out, as the books were all In Dutch.By using a variety of teaching tools and techniques I tried to keep all students actively Involved throughout the sessions. (Step 3: Facilitating Learning) Mid semester I made my students do a test, which would count for half of the total of the written exam score. This test allowed the dents and me alike to ev aluate progress made so far and Identify problem areas. As a result I could discuss problem topics again and sometimes advise students on studying methods.At the end of the course there was a final written exam as well as out evaluation forms, which would be filled out anonymously to encourage students to speak their minds. These forms were taken by the Admit department, where they, combined with the results of the students and the teachers' own experiences, were used to evaluate the programmer. (Step 5: Quality assurance and evaluation) Another responsibility as a teacher is the record keeping. Records must be kept to satisfy the organization's needs, external quality assure but also to support the assessment of a student.A teacher can keep a closer track on progress made if records are kept up to date on a regular basis. Records must be kept accurate, factual, legible and up to date. But more importantly, records should be kept secure and confidential. Every organization in the UK that stores personal data must do so by the guidelines and rules set in The Data Protection Act (2003) Legislation, regulatory requirements and codes of practice (1 . 1) Similar to other professions and work sectors, the educational sector is bound by legislation, requirements and codes of practices.These can be generic, I. E. General to all teaching staff or specific, targeted to a specialist subject. A good example of generic legislation is the Education Act (2011) which covers a collection of laws relating to education. Other Acts address more specific parts of education, for example the Education and Skills Act (2008) is meant to increase participation in learning for young people and adults and providing second chances. Protection of Children Act (1998) was designed to protect children and vulnerable adults alike.Practically it means that everyone working with people in these groups will have to be checked and approved by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DB'S) which replace d the Criminal Records Bureau. Depending on the institution I would go teach at, I might have to undergo a check by the DB'S. The Children Act (2004)/ Every Child Matters, the 5 main outcomes of this Act are that Every Child should: – be healthy, -stay safe, – enjoy and achieve, -make a positive contribution, – achieve economic well-being. As a teacher I would have to ensure that these outcomes are incorporated in my interaction with the students.For example provide access to ranking water and healthy food. Or engage every student in group activities. According to the Freedom of Information Act (2000), teachers should provide access to the records that are kept on the students if the student requests access. For example, a student of mine was unhappy with the final grading at the end of a course, my records showed how the end grading was calculated and that no subjectivity was involved. The Code of Professional Practice (2008) by the Institute for Learning offer s a guideline for teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector based on 7 behaviors.Teachers should work in a manner that is in accordance with these behaviors so as to guarantee a profession standard. Teaching students about food handling, restaurant techniques or kitchen techniques, means the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system must be taught. This European system regulates the handling food and offers procedures to ensure the food is healthy to eat. It stipulates for example which temperature food should be stored at, and all stored food should be labeled with content, date of production and who produced it.When teaching Dutch, I must follow the latest grammar and spelling rules as set by ‘The Dutch Language Union'. Both of these would fall under the specific level. For the Data Protection Act see page, the Health and Safety Act see page 5 and the Equality Act Equality is about the rights of students to have access to, attend, and participate in their chosen learn ing experience (Gravels, 2012). Diversity, according to Gravels (2012), is about valuing and respecting the differences in students.The Equality Act (2010) is a consolidation of all harassment and anti-discrimination legislation into one Act that combines these two concepts. In order to abide by this Act, a teacher must himself and actively encourage all students to respect all others without regard for GE, disability, gender, race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, marriage and maternity/pregnancy. While teaching in Egypt I found that the women in the class needed encouragement to speak up, and I also had to ensure that both Islam and Christianity would make an equal appearance in pictures and explanations. A key consideration in the planning and preparation of any lesson , therefore, is that it should create learning opportunities which are accessible to all the students and which do not make any student feel excluded, directly or by implication' (Wallace, 001 : 47) T his includes ensuring all learning styles (VS..) will be used in each session, that students with learning problems like dyslexia or deafness will be accommodated and that materials and examples are chosen in a way that no student feels excluded. Professional Boundaries and Points of Referral (2. +2. 2+2. 3) A teacher should always behave in a professional manner and work within the boundaries of the responsibilities that come with the role. For example, keep a healthy distance between the student and the teacher both physically and virtually. Don't hand out private phone numbers or exchange social media details with the students. Students might need assistance with issues, some things the teacher can assist with but other issues are crossing the boundaries of a teacher's knowledge and responsibility.For example when a student came to me with problems with his visa, I was not able to help him but I did refer him to the person at the embassy who could help him. Another student had is sues with paying for the course; I referred him to the Administrator to discuss the possibility of a payment plan. Sometimes the teacher can help by referral to a colleague. One semester I had a student in my group who with in the first hour of the first session had shown that he ally was not a ‘beginner'.During the break I spoke with my colleague who taught the intermediate level and introduced the student to her. We all agreed it was in his best interest for him to leave my class and Join the other class. The next I made sure the Administration was aware of this change and that new books would be prepared before his next session. Whenever problems arose during a session, I would inform the Admit department about it and my actions, so they would be aware in case of a complaint.My fellow tutors and I shared extra course material we made, so all students would have the same experience no matter who their tutor was. When dealing with students, colleagues or external parties a te acher should always remain professional and aware of the standards of the institution you work for. A Safe Learning Environment and Appropriate Behavior & Respect (3. 1+3. 2) involves not only the venue and resources used, but also your attitude and the support you give to your students. † (Gravels, 2012:24) The way the room is set up can send a first signal on what students can expect.A class room setup suggests an autocratic, pedagogical (teacher centered), lecture style where as a horse shoe or a square setup suggests a more democratic, ontological (student centered) style of caching. Whatever style the teacher chooses there other aspects to consider as well, e. G. , ensuring that all students have a clear view of the teacher and the visual aids used but also light, temperature and fresh air can have an impact on a student's learning. The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) is a piece of legislation that covers occupational Health and Safety.Teachers and the institutions i n which they work are responsible for enforcement. In the classroom this means the teacher should explain what the procedures are for evacuation in case of emergency or warn against ripping or falling off chairs. The teacher should be active when seeing a potential hazard, not reactive. One way of promoting appropriate behavior and respect is by creating ground rules. Ground rules are boundaries, rules and conditions within which students can safely work and learn. Gravels, 2012:91) Some ground rules can and will be set autocratic by the teacher or institution; â€Å"no smoking†, â€Å"respect each other†, â€Å"no swearing†, fire regulations. Other ground rules can be set democratically, the students can make a list of rules they want to impose in the class room, e. G. , â€Å"if ate, do not disrupt†, â€Å"phones should be on silent†, and â€Å"offer each other help when needed†. The advantage of democratic rules is that students will be m ore engaged in enforcing these rules. The ground rules should at all times be clear and unambiguous.Ground rules can help when disturbances occur during a session, by reminding students what behavior was agreed upon. Appropriate behavior and respect can and should be encouraged by the teacher's behavior. Through body language, tone of voice, choice of words a teacher can show respect to students but also indicate a level of trust and confidence. This should make a teacher more approachable for students who might need some extra help and also encourage and motivate students to behave similarly through leading through example.A supportive teaching environment can be created by encouraging students to ask questions during the session or after, if it relates to more personal matters. Another way is to ensure that all learning styles are addressed in each session. Students should be aware of what they will learn, why they need to learn it and how they will learn. As a teacher I would try to include Flemings (2005) BARK method, by using visual, aural, read and write and kinesthesia elements in my session so that the information would be offered in a way that suited every student's needs.