The Poisoning of Our Ozone essays

The Poisoning of Our Ozone essays The poisoning of the Earths ozone layer is increasingly attracting worldwide concern for the global environment and the health effects of life on the Planet Earth. There is not just one particular cause for the ozones depletion; the accumulation of different pollutants into our ozone layer has all added up and equaled a worldwide problem. There is not just one effect from the poisoning of the ozone, but instead multiple ramifications from diseases to death. The damage to the ozone is increasing with every second; moreover, there are many ways we can help reduce the problem Ozone is a pale blue gaseous form of oxygen, in chemical form it is also known as O3. Ozone can be beneficial or harmful depending on its location in the Earths atmosphere. If the ozone is located in the troposphere (which extends from the surface of the Earth up to approxiametly10 miles) it is a harmful pollutant and a major component in smog and other environmental health problems. Such tropospheric ozone can damage plastic, rubber, plant and animal tissue. Ozone located approximately 10-25 miles above the Earths surface, in a part of the Earths atmosphere called the stratosphere is very beneficial. The ozone is a major factor that makes life possible on Earth. About 90% of the planets ozone is in the ozone layer. Ozone in this layer shields and filters out the Earth from 95-99 percent the suns ultraviolet radiation. A low level of ozone does not protect or prevent the ultraviolet rays from reaching the surface of the Earth, therefore, overexposing life on Earth causing many diseases. The depletion of the ozone is caused by many factors, but the one cause that will be elaborated on in the next paragraph is the main reason our ozone is continuously being poisoned. The major cause in the depletion of the Earths ozone layer is because of the release of chlorof...

Depression in Older Adults

Depression in Older Adults Abstract This paper examines depression amongst the old adult population in the world with specific references to the United States of America. It gives a background on what depression is and discusses situation under which it develops in older adult population.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Depression in Older Adults specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Besides, it examines depression in older adult population in relation to such factors as gender where females are found to be more prone to depression than their male counterparts, it also considers sexual orientations in which it discusses how lesbians and gays are more likely to have stress than heterosexuals and it finally compares how race and culture play a role in depression amongst the elderly in society. With respect to homosexuality, the paper examines the various ways through which older adult population get discriminated by the members of the society who are anti-homosexuality and institutions that do not recognize both lesbianism and gay as a form of lifestyle that should be accepted as in existence. Introduction Depression is a condition that mostly affects the cognition of a human being. It means different thing to different people; it can be symptomatic as when an individual says he or she is feeling depressed, it also be a sign as when someone observes that another person is depressed or at the same time it can be a disorder that is clinically diagnosed. When a clinical diagnosis of depression is done, it implies a disorder which has a significant length of time and having particularly observable signs and symptoms, that significantly interferes with an individual’s functioning or that causes great personal distress or both (Jefferson 10). But one may ask â€Å"What are the causes of depression?† depression has varied causes amongst the whole of the human race regardless of age or gender. It is almost always caused b y a combination of factors. Such factors are inheritance or genetic predisposition, developmental factors such as early loss of parents, cognitive factors such as intense grief reaction and stress such as coping with unemployment and or physical illnesses; these two combine to result into a common pathway for inducement of depression. Research has indicated that each individual has a pattern of genetic, developmental, environmental, social, personality and physiological factors that coalesce to permit or protect against depression at any point in time.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The understanding and modification of the contributions of these factors is the ultimate goal of the clinicians who engage in the treatment of depression. This paper examines depressions in older adults. It will deal with how depression occurs in older adult population; besides, it will also di scuss the main causes of depression in older adulthood and how it affects them (Jefferson 10). Depression in Older Adults Depression is the most common mental disorder found amongst older adults in the parts of the world, but it should not be seen as part of the aging process; in fact a good number of older adults . It is one of the most disabling conditions among the older adult population. In the United States alone it is approximated that over six million adults aged 65 and above experience clinical depression; the adult population represents about 15% of the adult population above 65 years of age in the United States. Prevalence estimates in older adults range from 5% in community samples to about 20% in nursing home residents and close to 30% of the older adults witnessed in primary care setting. Research has also indicated that approximately 50% of the adults who are admitted in hospitals experience clinical depression (Williams 59). It is important to note that depression in older adults is caused by varied numerous factors and may be different from the causative factors leading to depression in the younger people. In addition to the biological etiology of depression in the older adults, there are vividly cognitively contributing factors. The adult’s life events and the interpretation and response to event contribute to the risk of developing depression. The predominant life events that place older adults at risks for depression as well as contribute to the experience by older adults and receptiveness to treatment for depression are medical illnesses, bereavement or death of a son, daughter or any other significant other, disability, impaired social support and or trauma. These factors do not necessarily exclusively lead to depression, but may combine with other factors in a chain of events ultimately leading to depression in older adults. Research findings have indicated that the risk factors combined with behavioral, psychodynamic and negative thoughts surrounding the events of life seem to have substantial contribution to depression that comes in late life periods. For example, older adults may have an perception about their lives that no matter what they attempt to achieve, negative things continue to happen and perpetually continue to experience losses in their lives hence they assume a hopelessness position. It has also been found out through research that older adults may not easily adapt to the physical changes they are experiencing as a result of aging and hence may have some unrealistic expectation and have a feeling or perception of that they are likely to continue in failure as an adult.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Depression in Older Adults specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Majority of older adults fall into one or more at-risk groups for depression. Nonetheless, many are not aware of their symptoms of depression and hence do not make a requ est or seek evaluation. Besides, research indicates that many older adults have resistance towards seeking medical attention due to stigma labeled against mental illnesses. According to several research activities that have been conducted, it has been found that black older adults are more likely to suffer depression as compared to their white counterparts (Bernal 403). Besides, other research also indicate that races with the majority of low income earners like blacks, Hispanics are more vulnerable to issues of depression than the white counterparts. Given racial and ethnic discriminations, it is important to state that races that are subject or victims of racial discrimination are more likely to suffer depression; the older elders may resign into perception where they feel inferior to the perceived superior whites and hence cause them hopelessness and depression, especially when they see their loved ones or fellow race members being discriminated against. Taking the case for Weste rn and other developed nations where slavery was practiced, it is crucial recognize that those who come from races that experienced slavery are highly likely to experience depression than those within former slave masters. Some of the depression symptoms appearing some adults may be traces of depression during childhood with which the adult might have lived to his or her old age; this is coupled by inferiority complex. Meanwhile, ethnicity has also been found to have effects on depression amongst the older adult population (Bernal 327). Gender also plays a significant role in depression. There are a number of research that have been done on how gender influence experience of depression. The research findings have been compiled from data collected in most countries of the world. According to the findings, women have higher chances of experiencing depression than men. Even though it is not clear what really accounts for this, but researchers acknowledge the contribution of several fac tors which entails impact of estrogen on stress hormones, the common victimization of women through rape and domestic violence and cortisol (Fredà ©n 163).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Other research findings reveal that both men and women share depression to a certain proportion; however, what also contributes to the difference is the fact that both men and women express their depression in gender specific ways. According to available literature, men are known to mask their depression through various forms like excessive drinking. This implies that the differentiation of the rate of depression between men and women is just done by way of illusion (Fredà ©n 167). Many studies have been conducted within cultures and also cross-culture with the aim of identifying symptoms of depression in both men and women. It is argued that women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed of major depression. Even though this difference is great, it is because older women are mostly likely to seek professional assistance as compared to their men counterparts; the implication here is that even though men may suffer equal measure of depression as women, they are less likely to seek the services of a profession to help them handle their depression. Culturally, in some regions of the world, men are encultured not to express their sadness, stress or depression in public; in fact, men who do so are mostly likely to be considered as having feminine behavior, so they choose to endure depression within them. On the side, women share their grief with friends and expose publicly their depression; this makes it easy to notice. Moreover, men who suffer from depression are associated with mental illness and as has been discussed earlier, feminine (Fredà ©n 167). Other research has also attempted to link the rate of depression with sexual orientation. Even though older adults are highly likely to have low sexual performance, their sexual orientation has been found to play a significant role in contributing to their depression statuses. Research indicates that lesbians are more depressed than their heterosexual counterparts. Moreover, even though much study have not been done, older adult population is very common with lesbians. In fact, this may be accounted for by the fact that it cannot be expected that when gays and lesbians get old, they should switch their sexual orientation to heterosexuals. There are a number of older lesbians and gays and this part of the aging population suffer a lot of stigma from anti-lesbians and anti-gays. It is therefore not unusual to here of depressed and isolated older adults in the society. Due to stigma associated with lesbianism and gay sexual orientation, many of the lesbian and gay older adults suffer depression as not so many people want to identify with them (Melillo, et al 10). Since the older adults are almost entirely dependent on others for livelihood and medical care, the lesbians and gays suffer from lack of concern, especially from the healthcare departments as they do not recognize the existence of lesbians and they are unresponsive to the fact that being lesbian and gay is also a form of lifestyle t hat should not be used as a point of individual discrimination. Due to this, old adults who are heterosexuals are the ones who have greatly benefited from healthcare plans in most countries, particularly in the United States of America. The implication of this is that the lesbians and gays are left out in terms of medical care plans and hence are subjected to depression as they ponder about their heath and how to get medical services (Melillo, et al 10). One fact is than most lesbian and gay partners live together, but when it comes to old age, one partner is not legally allowed to participate in healthcare decisions of another partner and this even include being barred from funeral arrangement in cases of death of one of the partner. This also subjects them to depression which may aggravate due to poor adjustment to aging situations. Again gays and lesbians are greatly concerned about their housing; they always wish to live in communities that dominated by homosexuals or at least a community in which people recognize existence and the needs of lesbians and gays. The problem is that these groups of people tend be isolated and may further be far removed from children and the young people who are feared by the society may get influenced by these lesbians and gays. Contrarily, heterosexual older adults are not likely to suffer any depression arising from any of these factors. Instead, they are well recognized by the society and may not suffer much depression as their homosexual counterparts. The fact that is that homosexuality is the universally accepted sexual orientation in the world and hence forms a larger society than the lesbian and gay community. The heterosexuals are mostly likely to get consolations from groups like Christians groups which make them cope easily with depression (Melillo, et al 23). Conclusion Depression is a condition that mostly affects the cognition of a human being. It means different thing to different people; it can be symptomatic as when an individual says he or she is feeling depressed, it also be a sign as when someone observes that another person is depressed or at the same time it can be a disorder that is clinically diagnosed. Research has indicated that each individual has a pattern of genetic, developmental, environmental, social, personality and physiological factors that coalesce to permit or protect against depression at any point in time. Depression is one of the most disabling conditions among the older adult population in the world today. Depression in older adults is caused by varied numerous factors and may be different from the causative factors leading to depression in the younger people. In addition to the biological etiology of depression in the older adults, there are vividly cognitively contributing factors. Research has found that race plays a significant role depression amongst older adults; black older adults are more likely to suffer depression as compared to their white counterparts. Given racial and ethnic discriminations, it is important to state that races that are subject or victims of racial discrimination are more likely to suffer depression; the older elders may resign into perception where they feel inferior to the perceived superior whites and hence cause them hopelessness and depression, especially when they see their loved ones or fellow race members being discriminated against. Gender also plays a significant role in depression. According to the findings, women have higher chances of experiencing depression than men (Fredà ©n 167). Even though it is not clear what really accounts for this, but researchers acknowledge the contribution of several factors which entails impact of estrogen on stress hormones, the common victimization of women through rape and domestic violence and cortisol. Other research has also attempted to link the rate of depression with sexual orientation. Even though older adults are highly likely to have low sexual performance, t heir sexual orientation has been found to play a significant role in contributing to their depression statuses. Research indicates that lesbians are more depressed than their heterosexual counterparts (Melillo, et al 23). Conversely, heterosexual older adults are likely to get assistances from the general members of the society as they do not engage in what the members of the society may describe as anti-social. Due to this, they are less likely to suffer depression as compared to their lesbian and gay counterparts. Bernal, Guillermo. Handbook of racial and ethnic minority psychology. New York: SAGE, 2003. Fredà ©n, Lars. Psychosocial aspects of depression: no way out? New York: Wiley, 1982. Jefferson, James. Depression and its treatment. New York: American Psychiatric Pub, 1992. Melillo, Karen et al. Geropsychiatric and mental health nursing. New Jersey: ones Bartlett Learning, 2005. Williams, Arthur. Depression research in nursing: global perspectives. New York: Springer Publis hing Company, 2005.

Legal Foundation for Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Legal Foundation for Business - Essay Example This is because Part B creates a major background that can be used for the discussion of the application of the precedence from the Donghue V Stevenson case. Facts of the Case On the 26th of August, Mrs. May Donoghue, a Scottish widow went to a cafe with her friend and made some orders. Donoghue's friend ordered something else and Donoghue ordered a ginger beer. Donoghue's friend paid for the order. The cafe owner served Donoghue with the ginger beer which she poured from an opaque bottle to Donoghue's cup2. There was normal ginger beer in the cup and Donoghue drank it. However, when Donoghue's friend poured some more of the ginger beer, a decomposed snail came afloat. Donoghue fell ill form the sight of it and complained of abdominal pain. She was admitted to hospital a few days later and was diagnosed of gastroenteritis and shock3. Donoghue's friend took the details of the manufacturer of the ginger beer which led to Stevenson, the manufacturer. This led to a case against Stevenson in court. A case was filed against Stevenson and hearings begun in May 1929. Arguments in the Court Case In the case, Donoghue tried to get Stevenson to take responsibility for her sickness resulting from drinking the contaminated ginger beer and the emotional shock that came with it. Her argument was that Stevenson should have gone the extra mile to prevent injuries. However, Stevenson argued that since Donoghue was not the one who paid for the beer, there was no contract between Donoghue and himself. Also, there was no proof that Stevenson was negligent in delivering the ginger beer to the Donoghue. The court at the local level could not uphold Donoghue's case. Donoghue appealed to the Inner House in Scotland but the case could not be ruled in her favour. Donoghue went on and filed a gase in the House of Lords as a pauper in 19314. The House of Lords The House of Lords began to hear the case in 1932. The House of Lords had to decide between whether to hold Stevenson responsible f or the sickness and emotional pain that Donoghue suffered or not. It was clear that there was some kind of unfair injuries had been suffered by Donoghue. And it was also obvious that the injury was directly attributable to the decomposed snail in a ginger beer supplied by Stevenson. However, the fundamental laws could not directly link Stevenson to the issue because: 1. There was no contract between Donoghue and Stevenson since Donoghue did not pay for the ginger beer. 2. There was no evidence that Stevenson was negligent. There could be a chain of possibilities that could include other third parties who could potentially be responsible for the issue. The House of Lords, being the highest adjudicating body with some law making powers at that time had to decide on how to deal with the problem. They could set a precedence. However, such a precedence had to be sensitive to the broader society since it could be reapplied to other cases in the future. Thus, the five judges of the case sa t on the facts and took a decision. The submissions of the different judges were as follows: Lord Thankerton He identified that there was no contract between Donoghue and Stevenson and clearly, there was no duty of care between the parties. However, he conceded that a manufacturer brings himself a voluntary obligation of not harming a consumer. This obligation was to be upheld in order that a consumer can rely upon the diligence of the manufacturer without issues. This means that he identified

An Analysis of Mrs. Sirleaf's Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

An Analysis of Mrs. Sirleaf's Speech - Essay Example Pathos influences the addresses to through eliciting emotions. The speakers and audiences do this through a careful use of language. The speakers or the authors use their personal stories to paint a good picture of their speech. This illuminates the truth and legitimacy of the conversation in hand. Logos involves use of reasoning to back up one’s ideas or claims. The speaker or the author gives sufficient reasons that explain a subject matter. Logos incorporates both inductive and deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning examines a specific representative of facts and then the speaker draws general conclusions from them. However, in deductive reasoning, the speaker starts with general implications of a fact then narrows down to specifics (Metcalfe 3). The well use of the three rhetorical appeals describes the effectiveness of a speaker or an author. This paper will analyze Mrs. Sir Leaf’s Speech which she delivered in the graduation ceremony in Harvard University in Jun e 17th 2011. The dialogue had some political connotations because this is the period when there was an imminent election in Liberia. The paper will endeavor to seek whether the speech uses the Ethos, Pathos, and Logos sufficiently to persuade the audience. The paper is organized into three sections. The first paragraphs will examine the use of Ethos in the speech. The middle section looks at the application of pathos in the conversation in hand. The last section will describe the employment of logos in Mrs. Sirleaf’s speech. Ethos in speech ensures that audience is attentive, listening, and ready to speaker’s coaxing ideas. Ethos is about the audience perception of the speaker. This entails trustworthiness, reputation, association, and authority of the presenter. In Sirleaf’s speech, the speaker presents herself as a likeable character in several parts. Ellen opening remarks of the speech draw the attention of the audience that she is an honorable person. This c reates an impression of respected person in the minds of the listeners. The audience is set to capture the conversation and they can associate with her. Therefore, it means that the addressee will have a keen interest of the ideas that Mrs. Sirleaf puts across. Ellen gives the precedence of the events that culminated to her current position. Her interest to lead Liberia stems from the conference she attended as a subordinate employee in the Liberian Department of Treasury. National Planning Council and advisors from Harvard sponsored the conference. The core agenda of the symposium was to forge development projects in Liberia. In this meeting, the politician expresses displeasure about the unlovable status of things in her country. She points out that direct attack on the Liberian authority plunged her into a political mess (Yifeng). This paints a picture of a bold and patriotic lady who has the interest of her country at heart. In this way, the speaker persuades the audience to kee p a firm grip of the speech as it unfolds. Audience is enthusiastic to get the flow of events that culminates in her political achievements. The speech acknowledges the leadership program at Harvard University that shaped her. The poise she got from this university makes her make another attempt to challenge the Liberian authority ever the long and expanding gap between the poor and the rich. The result of her activities was an expulsion from her country.

Costa Rica Essay Example for Free

Costa Rica Essay Costa Rica is a very beautiful country and very independent. Costa Rica gained its independence from the Spanish in 1821 but still was mooched off of by Agustin de Iturbide in his Mexican Empire. Easter in Costa Rica is known as Semana Santa. On July 25th they have Guanacaste day, which is the celebration of the annexation of Guanacaste to Costa Rica in 1824. August 2nd they have Virgen de Los Angeles Day. Which celebrates the Patron saint of Costa Rica. This is one of the most important religious celebrations. On September 15th they celebrate Independence Day in Costa Rica. On October 12th they celebrate Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day). Lastly on December 25th they celebrate Christmas Day, which are Family-oriented celebrations. Costa Rica’s flag has tons of symbolism involved stating with the colors. The white stripe represents peace and honesty, the blue stripe represents vigilance, truth and loyalty while the red stripe represent hardiness, bravery, and strength. The emblem on the flag contains the volcanoes and their coat of arms. Costa Rica’s number one economic resource is coffee and bananas. Costa Ricans live just like we do in the U. S. A. Costa Rica and the United States of America get along quite well. Of course there has been a few bump in the road but nothing bad enough to make us hostile. We are good friends because we help each other out by buying each others products and such. Costa Rica and its relations with other countries are exquisite right now. They have been apart of the international community and have been neutral to most countries for quite some time. Of course it may be hostile to a few countries but everyone seems to have enemies. This country is said to be very beautiful so if I had the time I would gladly visit it and spend a few days on the beach. Things are cheap there and I can be cheap so it would work out great. This country is a very beautiful country that makes its money off of very natural things and I think that is very good. I think the people are nice and the amount of festivals and holidays they have is very cool.

The Physical Atmosphere in Faulkner’s Dry September :: Faulkner’s Dry September Essays

The Physical Atmosphere in Faulkner’s Dry September An anonymous patron in the barbershop at the beginning of â€Å"Dry September† makes one of the key statements in the short story: â€Å"It’s this durn weather. . . It’s enough to make a man do anything† (170). The patron sees the heat and drought as having possibly driven a black man to attack or offend a white woman. The idea that the weather has an effect on the townspeople is echoed at the end of the story when McLendon’s wife says, â€Å"I couldn’t sleep. . .The heat; something† (182). In both examples, the climactic conditions and external environment are seen as affecting the town dwellers’ behavior. The physical atmosphere, however, seems to be more a reflection of the emotional atmosphere of the townspeople than the cause of their agitation, as the barbershop patron would have us believe. In particular, the dust that pervades the story can be seen as a reflection of the dried-up, monotonous, and lonely existence of Minn ie Cooper. She lives with two old women, her sick mother and her â€Å"sallow, unflagging† aunt, and Minnie’s days are typically filled with nothing more than eating, napping, and going to shops in town to meet with other women haggling over prices for the fun of it (173). Minnie does not even have genuine friendships to enliven her â€Å"idle and empty† or dry and dusty days (175). Instead of establishing a female camaraderie between characters, Faulkner portrays relations between women as marked by tension and dissimulation; â€Å"one of those bitter inexplicable (to the man mind) amicable enmities which occur between women† (156, Absalom, Absalom!). As Minnie’s presumed friends during girlhood become women, they take pleasure in the fact that Minnie’s transition to womanhood marks the end of her days as a social butterfly; Faulkner calls it the pleasure of â€Å"retaliation† (174). The neighbors she visits on Christmas, women â€Å"friendsâ⠂¬  most likely, revel in the opportunity to tell her of how well her former love-interest is doing without her in Memphis, â€Å"watching with bright, secret eyes her haggard bright face† (175). When Minnie is having a fit of uncontrollable laughter at the end, the women she is with act solicitous and kind, smoothing her hair and saying â€Å"poor girl† to her, but this is shown to be dissimulation—they smooth her hair, not to comfort her, but to look for signs of graying, and between the expressions of compassion spoken in Minnie’s hearing, they speculate furtively over the veracity of her claim (182).

Shakespeare – Do you Agree?

Shakespeare Is considered to have made more contributions to the English language more than any other source. He used 17 677 words of which he created 1 700 words. Assignation Amazement Bloody Bump Critic Eventful Generous Invulnerable Laughable Majestic Road Spark Submerge Suspicious Once more into the breach Break the Ice Clothes make the man Every dog will have his day Fair play Heart of gold Mind's eye The course of true love never did run smooth Wear one's heart on one's sleeve Do You Agree?Has human nature remained the same? What 20th century situations and problems could not be presented in Shakespeare? I believe there are many reasons to believe that Shakespeare is still relevant today, UT that doesn't necessary mean that human nature has remained the same. Today, we are much more accepting of one another than back in the Elizabethan Era. When one does one not socially acceptable in public, we do not banish them or send them to their death.If one does not please us, we do thr ough away their hopes and dreams, and end their career. What we do do is care for one another and give them respect. Sure, our nature for feeling emotions and how they might make us react have remained the same, but that is a natural aspect of being human; we have motions and emotions take effect on us, though how we deal with those emotions and how we treat the others that influence us have changed.There are many 20th century situations and problems that could not be presented in Shakespeare, but not so much as a situation, but how the situation flows out and takes place. We have a more modern way of dealing with conflicts, rather than sending one another to their death. We use our technology and knowledge and our modern laws. I believe that humans are still the same, but in a very different way.

Recruitment, Selection, Performance Appraisal Essay

Recruitment Finding the right people for the job is one challenge all managers and organizations share. While managers may have the ability to redesign or adjust jobs to fit the available people, the usual challenge is the reverse. Thus, a first important step in the recruitment, selection, and placement process is undertaking a job analysis. This helps ensure you know what the employee must know and do (job requirements) and under what circumstances. There are several common mistakes one can make in the recruitment phase, including: †¢Restricting the pool of qualified candidates by using a poor search strategy and/or approach. An example is exclusive reliance on either internal or external recruitment no matter the position or available candidates. Another is failing to include a good array of sources to ensure a strong â€Å"talent pool.† †¢Writing a position description that does not match the job. This happens most frequently when there has been no careful analysis of the job and/or when there is no second level review of the analysis to help ensure accuracy. †¢Writing position postings/advertisements that are overly broad or are inappropriately restrictive. An example is when everything in a posting is â€Å"preferred† or everything is â€Å"required.† For those who are hiring managers the issue of whether to recruit/promote from within (internal recruiting) will likely be a familiar one. There are numerous advantages, including development of â€Å"career ladders† that help with employee retention. Simply put, a career ladder is one that plans and enables advancement up the levels of an organization. Internal recruiting can also help organizations preserve and protect critical knowledge, values, and practices. Transitions can be smoother, with less negative impact on productivity. Look more:  recruitment and selection process essay One thing organizations can and should do when wishing to leverage internal talent is to inventory the knowledge, skills, experiences, interests, and abilities of their employees. When the organization has the needed financial and technology resources, these can captured electronically in a knowledge management or human resource information system (HRIS). Performance appraisals, when done well, can also prove rich and useful sources of information about employee  interests and potential. An exclusive reliance on internal recruiting has its potential disadvantages. One is that there may be no one in the organization who has the knowledge and skills for either new initiatives or those where there is no room for downtime or training. Another is that it may be difficult for the organization to refresh its talent pool and learn by recruiting those with diverse knowledge, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. Selection Selecting the best candidate for a position is both a critical management function and one that can be difficult. It is useful to begin by recognizing that there is no failsafe method of ensuring the right choice is made. Mistakes happen regularly and the consequences for all parties can be enormous. As Bohlander & Snell (2009, p. 254) report the average cost of a mismatch has been estimated at anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 for intermediate and senior positions. This is just the financial cost and does not consider the frequent emotional and even physical distress bad hiring decisions can have on the candidate, other employees, an organization and manager’s reputation, and beyond. As discussed in the section above, an important first step is to conduct a careful job analysis that provides as much information about what knowledge, skills, abilities, experiences, preferences, etc. will lead to success. Ensuring a good match between important organizational and candidate values is also a critical and sometimes forgotten factor. To illustrate this point, it is useful to envisage a candidate who is seeking an improved quality and balance in his/her personal life walking into an organization with â€Å"Whatever it takes!† posted strategically on the potential supervisor’s door. Cascio (2010) offers a good summary and discussion of the importance of ensuring reliability and validity of the information obtained during the selection and staffing process (see Chapter 7). The goal is to work to ensure sound and consistent judgments/results no matter the people, time, and/or tools used in the selection process. The risk in failing to attend to these concerns is not only a poor selection decision but also a possible legal challenge. You will find the overview on staffing and selection methods (Cascio, Chapter 7) and tools interesting and useful when preparing your week 5 assignm ent. Those who work for small firms might be surprised by the  array of tools and tests in current use. Some, like graphology (Cascio, p. 247), are not generally accepted by U.S. academic experts and others present sufficient problems (eg., polygraphs) they are either not used widely or are not viewed as reliable sources of information (eg., reference checks). Interviews remain an important selection method, with those that use a structured process viewed as most effective and appropriate. Those wanting a smile during your research and writing process should read the â€Å"Top Five Biggest Mistakes Candidates Make During Job Interviews.† And, of course, everyone will want to be sure to avoid illegal questions when conducting employment interviews. This resource serves as a useful reminder of what to avoid: http://employment.findlaw.com/employment/employment-employee-hiring/employment-employee-hiring-overview.html Employee Performance Appraisal Just these words can send a shiver down many if not most people’s spines! Even in modern organizations with well trained and resourced managers, it is safe to say that a large percentage do not like this part of their job and/or feel they do it poorly (on this, see Cascio citing Grensing-Pophal (2001) and Sandberg (2007)). One sad thing about this is that assessment and feedback are so important for improved performance and, ultimately, for creating a workplace where people want to be. Another is that so much is known about what to do and to avoid but this information does not seem to have found its way in a systematic or consumable format into the hands of practicing managers. Cascio provides a summary of what is known from the study of this subject and you can find much more in professional and scholarly management journals in the UMUC electronic databases. Of the numerous things to remember when evaluating the performance of an employee, three are critically important: â₠¬ ¢Evaluate only what is required to do the job †¢Ensure the employee has a written copy of expectations and standards at the beginning of the period when performance will be reviewed †¢Use observable and measurable standards – rely on evidence-based assessment AND maintain records (document †¦ document †¦ document!) (Bohlander & Snell, 2010, p.  369). Time is a frequent enemy of effective performance appraisals. There never seems to be enough of it to plan, prepare, meet, review, write, discuss, and follow up. Thus, it is common to cut corners. An example is waiting until the end of an evaluation cycle to discuss performance for the entire year. Sometimes that discussion never even happens and the entire process is handled as a paper/e-mail transaction. Imagine the message this sends to employees about their relative importance to the organization! Yet most of us who have been managers have probably both had this done to us and do it to others. Also often related to time shortages, managers and employees find themselves at the end of a review cycle with no concrete documentation to support their views. The potential for reliance on recent or certain events is great in such circumstances and this can result in unfair and/or inequitable reviews. Avoiding behavior is also quite common. Surprises are the consequence. Conflict, whether direct or indirect, is likely. A recommended standard is that there should be no surprises in a performance review discussion or document. Sometimes, this happens when those being evaluated are not good listeners but in many more cases, managers have not invested the time needed to plan for and then communicate expectations or provide timely feedback. Depending upon the method and process used, concerns about ensuring fairness and equity can occur and can serve as constraints on a good evaluation process and outcome. Imposed rating quotas and caps can cause this to happen, especially when they are either not known or are announced at the end of an evaluation period. As you systematically and critically analyze your performance assessment systems this week, you will find it useful to review carefully the information Cascio and other sources you find provide, being sure to objectively consider both strengths and possible limitations of the available alternatives. As you will see, there are no prescribed rules about who should be involved in the evaluation process and there is no single method that works for all organizations. People often think a 360-degree appraisal is optimal. If the organization and people are well prepared such a system can be great. If not, it can be, and often has been, a disaster. Speaking of which, there are numerous sources of potential error when conducting an appraisal. Cascio discusses some of them (halo error, contrast error, recency error) (pp. 356 – 357). If you have worked for a while in  different organizations it is quite likely you will have observed some of these in practice. They are both common and often difficult to avoid. Training, increased awareness, and self-management are important in avoiding and/or limiting the possible negative consequences of these rating errors. As Cascio writes, performance appraisal systems MUST have these characteristics: relevance, sensitivity, and reliability and SHOULD also be acceptable and practical (p. 335). A review of this discussion is strongly recommended. In my experience many systems fail on all counts. People are evaluated on factors not directly relevant to their success or that of the organization. It is difficult to differentiate between and among employees using the system and as a result everyone gets rated about the same. Different raters evaluating the same person and behavior arrive at different conclusions and the view of those more senior often prevails. Managers don’t really accept the system. And, finally, the system is so onerous everyone waits until the last possible minute to do this task hoping it will somehow make it more bearable. The three major types of performance assessment used in most organizations are those that focus on the following factors: a) Individual characteristics or traits b) Behaviors c) Results As Cascio explains, there are several methods that organizations and their managers use. You should discover the one that is the closest fit to the method used in your own organization. It is important to recognize that each method has advantages and disadvantages. While organizations may design and employ a hybrid, it is likely behaviors or results will be relatively more important when evaluating performance and determining consequences. It is common to hear arguments in favor of a results-based approach. There are, however, some essential preconditions for this to work. One is an understanding that this does not mean â€Å"results at any cost.† Another is to find a way to recognize those who may have a difficult time demonstrating how what they do on a daily basis contributes directly to organizational goals. This concern applies especially to those at lower levels in an organizational hierarchy. To summarize, designing and conducting effective performance appraisals is something all managers have to do, whether using a  formal or informal method. There are available alternatives and each has its pros and cons. The secrets to success are relatively simple: †¢Begin by establishing a common understanding of what is required to do the job. †¢Establish and carefully communicate expectations and standards for performance. †¢Set performance goals and milestones and monitor and discuss progress throughout the year. †¢Maintain good records.  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Avoid surprises.   Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Set aside sufficient time to plan and focus on each employee when meeting to discuss performance. †¢Treat employees with respect and remember to engage them in the process and recognize both accomplishments and areas needing improvement. †¢Use appraisal as an opportunity to examine and explore opportunities for future growth and development. †¢In other words, focus primarily on what will happen rather than what has happened. For those who are interested, this is a video that demonstrates what NOT to do during a performance review meeting: http://polaris.umuc.edu/cvu/amba602/home.html And here is one of several examples from the Web of a well organized and implemented appraisal meeting: ________________________________________ References Bohlander, G., & Snell, S. ( 2010). Managing human resources. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Cascio, W. (2010). Managing human resources: Productivity, quality of work life, profits. NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Written by: Christina A. Hannah, Ph.D.

Of Death and Dying essays

Of Death and Dying essays Although for the religious person death can be viewed as a joyful passing from this natural life to an eternal spiritual existence, the subject of death is still not easy to address. Our lives hold so many hopes, dreams, and plans, and when death comes, it means a sure end to all that we had hoped to accomplish, and all that we have done. Relationships will no longer enrich us, and the loved one, although believing to pass on into eternal bliss, often passes through a gateway of pain or disease When we experience a major loss, grief is the normal and natural way our mind and body react. Although everyone grieves differently, a common pattern has been identified of 5 specific stages of the grieving process. Someone experiencing grief moves through this series of emotional stages which include shock, numbness, guilt, anger and denial. Physical responses can accompany these steps in the grieving process. They can include: sleeplessness, inability to eat or concentrate, lack of energy, and lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed. Finally, time always plays an important role in the grieving process. As the days, weeks and months go by, the person who is experiencing loss moves through emotional and physical reactions that normally lead back toward acceptance, healing and getting on with life as fully as possible. Sometimes a person can become emotionally overwhelmed in the grieving process, and stay locked on one of the staged for a prolonged period of time. There is no set time table for this process, and one often completes one step, and after time passes, cycles through the same step when different memories surface regarding the deceased. Serious losses are never easy to deal with, but someone who is having trouble beginning to actively re-engage in life after a few months should consider getting professional help. For example, if continual depression o...

Concentration Definition (Chemistry)

Concentration Definition (Chemistry) In chemistry, the word concentration relates to the components of a mixture or solution. Here is the definition of concentration and a look at different methods used to calculate it. Concentration Definition In chemistry, concentration refers to the amount of a substance per defined space. Another definition is that concentration is the ratio of solute in a solution to either solvent or total solution. Concentration usually is expressed in terms of mass per unit volume. However, the solute concentration may also be expressed in moles or units of volume. Instead of volume, concentration may be per unit mass. While usually applied to chemical solutions, concentration may be calculated for any mixture. Two related terms are concentrated and dilute. Concentrated refers to chemical solutions that have high concentrations of a large amount of solute in the solution. Dilute solutions contains a small amount of solvent compared with the amount of solvent. If a solution is concentrated to the point where no more solute will dissolve in the solvent, it is said to be saturated. Unit Examples of Concentration: g/cm3, kg/l, M, m, N, kg/L How to Calculate Concentration Concentration is determined mathematically by taking the mass, moles, or volume of solute and dividing it by the mass, moles, or volume of the solution (or less commonly, the solvent). Some examples of concentration units and formulas include: Molarity (M) - moles of solute / liters of solution (not solvent!)Mass Concentration (kg/m3 or g/L) - mass of solute / volume of solutionNormality (N) - grams active solute / liters of solutionMolality (m) - moles of solute / mass of solvent (not mass of solution!)Mass Percent (%) - mass solute / mass solution x 100% (mass units are the same unit for both solute and solution)Volume Concentration (no unit) - volume of solute / volume of mixture (same units of volume for each)Number Concentration (1/m3) - number of entities (atoms, molecules, etc.) of a component divided by the total volume of the mixtureVolume Percent (v/v%) - volume solute / volume solution x 100% (solute and solution volumes are in the same units)Mole Fraction (mol/mol) - moles of solute / total moles of species in the mixtureMole Ratio (mol/mol) - moles of solute / total moles of all other species in the mixtureMass Fraction (kg/kg or parts per) - mass of one fraction (could be multiple solutes) / total mass of the mixture Mass Ratio (kg/kg or parts per) - mass of solute / mass of all other constituents in the mixturePPM (parts per million) - a 100 ppm solution is 0.01%. The parts per notation, while still in use, has largely been replaced by mole fraction.PPB (parts per billion) - typically used to express contamination of dilute solutions Some units may be converted from one to another, however, its not always a good idea to convert between units based on the volume of solution to those based on mass of solution (or vice versa) because volume is affected by temperature. Strict Definition of Concentration In the strictest sense, not all means of expressing the composition of a solution or mixture are termed concentration. Some sources only consider mass concentration, molar concentration, number concentration, and volume concentration to be true units of concentration. Concentration Versus Dilution Another common usage of the term concentration refers to how concentrated a solution is. A concentrated solution contains as much solute as it can hold. Chemists often prefer to call such a solution saturated. In contrast, a solution that contains few solute particles is said to be dilute. In order to concentrate a solution, either more solute particles must be added or some solvent must be removed. If the solvent is nonvolatile, a solution may be concentrated by evaporating or boiling off solvent. Dilutions are made by adding solvent to a more concentrated solution. Its common practice to prepare a relatively concentrated solution, called a stock solution, and use it to prepare more dilute solutions. This practice results in better precision than simply mixing up a dilute solution because it can be difficult to obtain an accurate measurement of a tiny amount of solute. Serial dilutions are used to prepare extremely dilute solutions. To prepare a dilution, stock solution is added to a volumetric flask and then diluted with solvent to the mark. Source IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the Gold Book) (1997).

EXEGESIS PAPER Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

EXEGESIS PAPER - Essay Example So the words used of the different translations have the same meaning: the speaker or sufferer feels he is abandoned or deserted because of the suffering and anguish. Words used in the first verse instantly provide a description of suffering: anguish, groaning, roaring, and the phrases â€Å"desperately for help†, â€Å"come to my rescue†, â€Å"far from saving me†, all reveal a desperate situation asking for instant help and rescue. Verses 22 and 23 speak of banquet or meeting, assembly, and the phrases â€Å"I will praise you,† â€Å"I will tell of your name to my brothers,† â€Å"glorify him,† â€Å"fear the Lord†, â€Å"praise him, all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him, all ye the seed of Israel†. All these reveal that the sufferer – Jesus Christ – on the cross feels he is comforted and saved by the presence of the Father in him. After the â€Å"abandonment† feeling, there is comfort and joy. Psalm 22 is a collection of songs originally for the Temple of Jerusalem. The Levites had a role in compiling these songs which David composed. As time went by, the psalms were recited or sang as a form of prayer or lamentation. The psalms formed the prayer of ancient Israel, but today they are the foundation of Christian liturgical prayer, used by Christians and the laity alike.1 These are useful prayer when we would like to converse with God, or listen to him instead of talking. Reciting the psalms is a form of listening to him. God whispers to our souls through his songs. Verses 1-21 are prophecies of Jesus’ suffering in Calvary. But it was written a thousand years before it actually happened. This is a great revelation of God – the Scriptures as inspired by the Holy Spirit. Only God can tell an event a thousand years before it happens and with such an unmistakable accuracy.2 The psalm may have been written by David when Saul was

Reflective Log in Social Work Practice (FOUR Reflective Logs 750 Words Essay

Reflective Log in Social Work Practice (FOUR Reflective Logs 750 Words Each) - Essay Example Through my own prerogative, I was able to develop, implement and introduce troubleshooting strategies that made my friend re-consider taking an abortion. These strategies can also be used in other case scenarios. I realised the value and need to equip myself with technical information and methodologies in handling more complex tasks like teenage pregnancy. Young people like me should be aware of such social work concepts to be able to analyse these social problems with young people who are experiencing such concern. I should have approached her boyfriend in a more informal way rather than in an accusing manner, especially in the idea of having an abortion. Being the father of the unborn child, he should be man enough to face his responsibilities. He should have been more supportive in this critical moment of her life. I would call my friend’s parents, who are working abroad, and inform them of their daughter’s current situation. It is possible that my friend is somehow not getting the attention that she needed from her parents so instead relied on the presence of her boyfriend and friends. Although she has friends and guardians to support her, my friend would still need the support of her parents that would assure her that despite what happened they still love and would take care of her and her unborn child. There is a need to have a community-based institution or â€Å"teenage clinic† that could handle the growing need number of local teenage pregnancy. A school nurse, health visitor or youth worker might be able to help give ideas for setting up the clinic. Young people like me should be encouraged and involved in this kind of social work endeavour. There is a need to increase the youth’s awareness on teenage pregnancy. Schools, healthcare institutions and the local government should educate adolescents the effects of teenage pregnancy, means to which it can be avoided and how this issue can be disseminated. Five years ago, my neighbourhood