Causal Argument Essay

In a split congress, our government tends to bicker among minor issues, which leads to turmoil among the nation. With a deadline for the 2014 fiscal year budget, our congress couldn’t agree on the amount of money being funded to Obamacare and the Medical Device Tax. Republicans fought for cutting of Obamacare funding, while the Democrats opposed and eventually won out. As October 1st approached, Republicans made a proposed budget that cut the funds for Obamacare that would cripple it as a government program. When the Democrats rejected the proposed budget, our government went into a partial shutdown, which lasted until the 17th of October. The Continuing Appropriations Act 2014 has allowed us to keep our current spending levels until January 15th and the debt ceiling will be extended to February 7th. Republicans made a feeble attempt of scaring the Democrats into doing what they wanted, which in turn, back fired and caused a negative press toward the Republicans (McCullough). Tourists and travelers worldwide have also become angry over the shutdown and US citizens are seeing the affect our shut down is having on countries all over the world, such as France, Germany, and England. This government shutdown is going to lead to many economic issues such as lost jobs, a weakened economy, and Obamacare funding, which could weaken large businesses. When the government shutdown, 800,000 non-exempt government employees were furloughed and loss there income for over two weeks. Once these non-exempt employees returned to work, they were paid for their lost wages, which is another hit on government spending. The White House projected that a one week government shutdown would cost the U.S. economy 10 billion dollars (Stein). As of October 22nd, the economy has lost 24 billion dollars and more than 3 billion dollars in lost government services. Large businesses also took a huge hit with the shutdown because they had to furlough employees and U.S transportation systems weren’t running so certain goods were not delivered on time. When the temporary  budget was passed, it funded Obamacare, which requires large businesses to provide health insurance in 2015 and that is another financial impact that could decrease the pay for the low-income workers in larger businesses (Walshe). With 24 billion less dollars in the economy, it will now be difficult for international stocks as well as revenue for large businesses to make the expected profit gains. Pamela Sampson of Yahoo News, released an article with the title: â€Å"Global Stocks jittery after US Government shutdown†, where she discusses how the British, French, German, and U.S stocks plummeted after the shutdown. Asian stocks rose partially after a public holiday, but international trade nearly halted (Sampson). United States’ foreign policy will also be widely effected by the government shutdown because outside countries may lose trust in our abilities to pay back our debts. Necessary deals with Syria about possible bombings and the European Union about the Transatlantic Free Trade Area were suddenly stopped. The Transpacific Strategic Economic Partnership was not able to be discussed at the Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting because President Obama couldn’t attend, which would have helped end Chinese influence on our country (Sampson). The public opinion of US citizens and travelers from overseas are always important because it earns credibility to the administration which is running the country at any given time. Polls from CNN and Fox News (one democratic-biased and one republican-biased website) showed that Republicans were to blame for the government shutdown, which may affect voters in the 2016 election. A Gallup Poll also showed an 11% approval rate of the congressional branch of the government, which was at an all-time low (MSN). Tourists from all over the world were up in arms about the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, being shut down due to the government shutdown. Luckily, the state of New York made a deal with the national government in which they would absorb the bill to open the Statue of Liberty. Every National State Park was also closed after the shutdown, which decreased the tourist industry. In return, a decrease in tourist around our national parks, leads to a decrease in profit for businesses close in proximity to national parks. Jim Geraghty, a  columnist for the National Review Online, stated: â€Å"Harry Reid doesn’t want to minimize the pain of the shutdown. He wants to maximize it.† As you can see, the media is not behind congress and they have lost any support they once had due to this government shutdown (Taylor). Shutting down our government doesn’t just hurt the economy, trading, foreign deals, and public opinion, it also creates a bigger rift between the Democratic dominated Senate, the Republican dominated House, and the Presidential Administration. The Continuing Appropriations Act 2014, or the deal which ended the shutdown, will buy congress until February 7th, but the rift between the house and senate may cause us to shut down again after this date. John Chambers said, â€Å"We think that we’ll be back here in January debating the same issues† and it seems as if Obama agrees. Obama told reporters, â€Å"Hopefully, next time, it will not be in the 11th hour†, which seems to show his lack of support for our congress (Taylor). Government jobs were furloughed, worldwide stocks and economies dropped, foreign policy and trade halted, and a loss of tourism and US support; all due to Republicans not being able to deal with Obamacare, which they passed in 2010. Althou gh we extended the time allowed for the debt ceiling and the spending levels, we have once again ran around the real issue and found a cop out (McCullough). With a loss in global revenue, our stock, as well as, international stocks dropped tremendously and are still recovering. Trade amongst international countries and the United States has been minimized because foreign countries aren’t sure if they will get paid back the money that the United States has borrowed. Not only did National Parks close, but some of the biggest world monuments were shut down and tourists from all over the world were enraged by the amount of money they paid to see the monuments in the United States (Walshe). Public opinion on the United States, the Republican Party, and Congress have diminished because citizens and outside foreign leaders are losing trust (Sampson). Economic struggle, crippled foreign policy, and a loss of support will only lead to the further struggle of our country and eventually lead into another government shutdown in 2014. With a 2016 election approaching in 3 years, this government shut down proved to a lot of people how destroyed our congress has become; and polls showing how Republicans should be blamed have now made it even easier  than it already was for a Democratic Administration to be brought into power in this upcoming election. Foreign trade issues, nuclear weapons in foreign countries, and international stocks decreasing, may lead t o either another war or losing support and allies in other parts of the world (Taylor). Now, we must wait to see if our congress can pull together their differences and create a deal that will stop the fighting amongst parties and lead us in a forward direction as a complete country. Bibliography McCullough, Ian. Forbes. 03 10 2013. 18 10 2013. MSN. 22 10 2013. 22 10 2013. Sampson, Pamela. Yahoo News. 02 10 2013. 20 10 2013. Stein, Sam. Huffington Post. 07 10 2013. 19 10 2013. Taylor, Andrew. The Northwestern. 10 2013. 20 10 2013. Walshe, Shushannah. ABC News. 17 10 2013. 20 10 2013.

Assess the Importance of Party Government in Leading to the Rise

Party government Bring disappointment to the people –Failure to educate the public about democracy to help consolidate the democratic ( People lost confidence in democracy and turned to support the political ideas advocated by extreme nationalists. It looked like democracy was not eh suitable choice of government to Japan, put hope on military, give military an opportunity to restore authoritarian rule. –Fail to protect the rights of its own country, brought humiliation to people (e. g.Paris Peace Conference: western powers rejected Japan’s demand for racial equality to be included in the Covenant of the League of Nations Washington Conference: Japan was forced to return Shangdong to China, Japan had to accept a lower tonnage of capital ships to the US and Britain. –Corrupt and unreliable politicians ( Different parties concerned with how to gain power for themselves rather than solve the problems of the country and the people –e. g. – close connection with the zaibatsu Minseito and Seiyukai –Fail to bring the military under control –Unstable government with frequent changes ( 1918-1932, six cabinets had been created. Frequent change of government made policy making difficult, so people criticized that the party government was not ruling the country efficiently and effectively. –fail to provide effective solutions to the economic crisis (1927 Banking Crisis Owing to credit crises, some bank collapsed (1929 The Great Depression Limited resources to satisfy the growing population + relied much on import of raw materials and foodstuff. In 1926, japan was already suffering from a domestic economic recession, followed by banking crisis 1927. This worsened the situation and further weakened the democratic party government -Foreign countries levied heavy custom duties on Japanese good. Because of the protectionism policy, by 1931, total exports had been reduced by 50%. This led to decrease in wages and une mployment reached 3 million. therefore, Japanese were convinced that military conquest is the only way to overcome difficulties for the economic development + support the growing population. –fail to solve the shortage of land and resources (Japanese population was growing fast in the 1920s, the problem of overpopulation and shortage of land and resources worsened the economic difficulties in 1920s and 1930s. However, the party government did nothing effective to solve the problem, so the Japanese believed that the only way to solve it was through military conquest and territorial expansion.Political –The rise of totalitarianism in Italy and Germany (1930s) set an example for Japan to follow. ( the rise of totalitarianism in Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany made the people think that dictatorship rather than democracy was more effective to solve economic problem Culture –the promotion of extreme nationalist ideas promoted militarism and territorial expansion (rise of extreme nationalist ideas -e. g. Kita Ikki wrote an outline plan for the reconstruction of japan in 1919 which advocated the idea of military dictatorship and expansionism -e. . the prime minister Tanka Giichi suggested Japan’s conquest of Asia by steps: first conquer Northeast China, then the rest of China, and finally Southeast Asia. (Setting up of extremist societies -to promote extreme nationalism and expansion -e. g. Black Dragon Society called for the invasion of China Military Japan Had a strong military tradition ( Long history of military tradition in Japan -the shogun could rule the country simply because he was militarily stronger than all other feudal lords means military strength was important and useful. Japanese warrior, samurai, were given a privileged position in feudal Japan. These men practiced Bushido which meant by Way of Warrior. They were the only people who were allowed to wear swords, a symbol of class and privilege at that time. They were highly respected highly respected in society as they protect the countries as warrior ( The continuation of the military tradition in the Meiji Constitution -they Meiji constitution gave the military a special position by allowing the Army and Navy Chiefs to report to the emperor directly.Their importance was recognized by the constitution. ( The adoption of ‘Bushido’ among the soldiers -all adult male were to serve in the army, and they were indoctrinated with Bushido thoughts, encouraging absolute loyalty to the stage. (The contributions from the military in Japan’s quest for equality -Japan’s victories in foreign wars helped Japan claim equality and raised the status of the military and strengthened militarism in Japan. Japanese believe that an expansionist policy was beneficial to Japan.

Alexander The Great

Alexander The Great Essay Alexander The Great Essay is said to be one of the greatest conquerors of all time, and yet, his significance in battle showed up late in his life. His early years were spent in poverty, and as the years progressed, his dream of being a war hero grew dimmer and dimmer.Ironically, while he was later known as a war hero, he was still feared by all because of his reputation as a drinker and murderer. But first, his background. He was born in 356 BC. His parents were Philip, the brother of King Perdiccas III of Macedon, in Northern Greece. His mother was Olympias, daughter of King Neoptolemus I of Epirus, in modern Albania. He also had a younger sister, Cleopatra (not the famous Egyptian queen).However, this family was not as ordinary as one might think. In fact, his parents absolutely hated each other. Philip had complied with Macedonian tradition and had a few wives. Soon, one of his wives had a baby which had mysteriously become disabled after birth. It was said that the disability was due to poisoning from Olympias. Olympias sometimes told Alexander that Philip wasnt his real father, but this probably wasnt true.After all, Philip certainly did seem to care for Alexander as if he was his real son. He even appointed Aristotle himself as Alexanders first and only tutor. Yet, there were some things about Alexander that made Philip angry. He hated the fact that his was very skinny and the fact that he had a high-pitched voice. Still, Alexander felt lucky to have this man as his father and mentor. In 359 BC, when Alexander was three, Philips Brother, King Peridcaas III, died. It was originally planned that his son, Amyntas, was tosucceed him with Philip as his regent, but Philip usurped his nephews throne and made himself King Philip II. In a few decades, he proved to be a stronger king and he eventually conquered most of Greece. When he was in his teens, Alexanders father came to him one day and told him that he had to leave to fight in a war. Thus Alexander, being his regent, would have to serve for the time being. While his father was away, Alexander led an expedition to a wild region of modern day Bulgaria. Here, he found a race of wild barbarians, whom he later subdued. He, then, established his first city, Alexandropolis, at the site of this defeat. This made his strength apparent to everyone and consequently became general of his fathers army. However, things still werent amiable between father and son. On one occasion, Philip was attacked and hurt by rioters and he fell and played dead on the ground. Alexander shielded the attackers away and his father lived, but he never acknowledged the fact that Alexander saved his life. Alexander deeply resented him for this. Alexander was known for his many temper tantrums. One memorable one was during a dinner party celebrating his final marriage. His uncle gave a toast saying that he hoped that they would have a child to take over throne. Alexander replied,; so am I just a bastard?; and he threw his goblet at his uncle. This started such a great brawl between the two that Philip stood up and drew his sword at Alexander, but fell over drunk before he got even close to him. To this Alexander yelled, ;Look, men,hes about to cross from Europe to Asia, and he falls crossing from chair to chair.; This incident forced Alexander and his mother to leave Macedon, but, several years later, they reconciled with him and moved back. However, soon after their return, Philip was stabbed by the Captain of his bodyguards while he was entering the theater that his nephews wedding was being held in. The assassin fled across a vineyard. READ: Roman Aqueducts: An Engineering Brilliance Essay He might have escaped, but a vine caught his foot and he tripped. He was killed by some other bodyguards instantly. Philips death in 336 BC lead Alexander to succeed him and become King Alexander III. By this time, he was twenty years old. It was said that he was an incredibly handsome man and he always was clean shaven. Although he was a heavy drinker, he .

Women in Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Women in Engineering - Essay Example The first six clippings are analyzed in detail whereas the rest of them are summed up into an aggregate account in the end. The analysis throws light on the overall perspective which is affecting the economy of the US nation as a whole. FIRST CLIPPING â€Å"Women who leave engineering jobs after obtaining the necessary degree are significantly more likely to leave the field because of an uncomfortable work climate than because of family reasons, according to a study being undertaken at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).† (Science Daily, 2008) The above mentioned news clipping revolves around the most current problem that is being faced by women engineers nowadays. The overall ethical structure of the society and more importantly that of a workplace has deteriorated so very much that day by day it is becoming increasingly difficult for the fairer sex to take advantage of it. The above mentioned current problem is very moral negating. ... The above research was the outcome of a latest study conducted in Milwaukee using about half a million grant by the National Science Foundation. The study was based on an online survey. Around 3700 women who had done their engineering degree from over 230 countries participated in the survey. Among the four type of respondents women who never entered their practical engineering field constituted a considerable part. THIRD CLIPPING â€Å"As the need for engineering professionals grows, educators and industry leaders are increasingly concerned with how to attract women to a traditional male career. A new University of Missouri study found the impact of the engineering curriculum and obstacles, including self-efficacy and feelings of inclusion, can impede women’s success in the predominantly male discipline of engineering.† (Science Daily, 2008) Engineering is a predominantly male discipline. The structural difficulties and obstacles encountered by students pursuing this c areer needs to be taken into account when realizing the reasons behind its being predominantly male. Engineering is mainly a tough field. The excessive hours spent in it along with the harsh conditions involved in the practical environment of engineering are not apart from the difficulties that are faced by engineering students during their studies. Rigid mathematical calculations involving calculus are just a few of the obstacles that the engineering curriculum involves. This scenario is making it troublesome for industrialists because lesser and lesser women are entering the field of engineering day by day. The need of the day is that steps should be taken that would persuade women and would convince them

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Human Resource Management - Essay Example The paper tells that the human resource department can demonstrate its effectiveness to an organization by providing a workforce that meets the organizational goals and objectives. In this respect, it means that the department can plan and implement effective policies that attract potential employees, maintain and develop the existing ones such that they become an essential part of the organization. In any business organizations, employees are among the most valuable organizational assets and highly determine the overall performance of any business. Many organizations despite having the abilities essential in enhancing performance have slacked due to poor input towards employees concerns. In fact, according to Levesque employee satisfaction leads to customer satisfaction. In this line, the researcher suggests that effective HRM (human resource management) is vital for optimally exploiting creativity and accomplishing organizational as well as individual goals. Organizational leadersh ip must ensure appropriate integration of different activities and synchronized functioning focusing on organizational goals. Effective HRM should demonstrate its commitment to motivate employees and increase their productivity. Employee motivation is vital for guaranteeing commitment of human capital to the given goals. The answer to motivation is centered on the integration of individual and organizational goals. Hence, managers have to show their concentration on important HRM tasks like planning, development, evaluation and compensation. Question two Human resource planning is affected by different environmental factors emerging from internal and external environments. Internal factors like organizational goals, behaviors, technology, employees, demand and supply of personnel, reward and evaluation systems and policies affect the process of planning. Some enterprises could be highly structure while others are not. Some jobs could require skills in teamwork while others might req uire technical skills. Specifically, these factors define the decision making process in many issues associated with human resources such as promotion, recruitment to counter competition, staffing responsibility and overcoming resistance. This suggests that internal factors influence both strategic and operational components of human resource planning. External factors such as level of education, societal attitudes, economic conditions, laws and regulations, and cultural factors affect human resource planning in varying degrees. For instance, the new technologies employed in many organizations require rigorous and far-reaching education. Likewise, employees in our social-cultural environment want to be involved in the process of making decision. Moreover, human resource managers are required to respond to legal needs, public needs and observe ethical principles. Political limitations require enterprises to adhere to laws issued by regulatory bodies. Economic status especially compet ition influence the demand and supply for staffs. Question three Human resource practices in different countries have not been exaggerated. The reason is the need to address the differing environments that influence the effective of human resource management. These differences matter a lot when it comes to the factors influencing the organizations. For instance, the organizational behavior adopted by the Japanese organization must differ from that of the United States organizations. Unlike US firms which promote a culture that encourages individualism, Japanese firms must develop a culture that allows for team work. This also reflects the importance of national culture when adopting particular human resource practices. The values that are upheld in one culture differ from those of another and extend to business practices. In addition, different economic situations have resulted in different human resource practices among nations. For instance, the aging situation in United States wi ll demand different

Matthews College Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Matthews College - Case Study Example ley Allison bore the responsibility of devising a plan that will address the estimated budget deficit of $ 3 million for fiscal year 2004-05 and an estimated budget deficit of $ 4 million for fiscal year 2003-04. President Allison’s strategy for achieving a balanced budget depicted significant aspects that sought to arrest the situation. These aspects included restructuring the administration by designing and establishing a central planning unit and a practice of institution-wide discourse to focus the college on its position. This led to the establishment of a College Planning Council at the College consisting of five faculty, five administrators, and two students. The College Planning Council was to adopt a three-year period with clear and independent guidelines on the budget making process. The council was to analyze and organize the college accordingly. Moreover, the President mandated the Committee on the Budget and Financial Priorities to advise him on the annual budget to present to the Finance Committee of the Boards of Trustees, examine the priorities, and recommend a draft budget. The President had set the principles and commitments that guided the operations of the budget committee, which fostered a participative budget process with clear and detailed information. The President assembled a new senior staff that included the finance vice president who bore the mandate of implementing the President’s strategy. The finance vice president was to appoint an experienced director of budgets with financial systems experience. The President’s strategy also included expanding the scope of the dean of faculty to the dean of academic affairs with additional academic and curriculum budgeting responsibilities. Moreover, the President’s strategy entailed the recruitment of new and quality students to improve the College’s fiscal and academic quality. He also appointed three senior administrators from his senior staff to the budget committee to inform him

Paul Van Dyke Concert Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paul Van Dyke Concert Critique - Essay Example The costumes of the artist are a black shirt and black trouser. The staging of the singer is on a podium. The shooting of the video makes him appear to be moving across the podium from left to right and vice versa. A large part of the song mixes music, light, and motion using electrical control. The musicians were well prepared since the song achieved all the musical elements and styles in an efficient manner. The song is quite entertaining and has a message too. This is evidence that the musicians had a good command to the instruments (Ann 103). The song acted as an informative device to me. It made me feel the different and contrasting situations that humans undergo just because of the existing difference in time (Ann 98). The vocal style of the song is a soft one, which is not easy to understand. The next song is â€Å"the other side.† The song is categorized under the electronic dance music. The song has employed instruments such as guitar, drums, and piano. The vocal style used in the song is a soft one, and is easy to comprehend and interpret, with relevance to the video. Analyzed and interpreted, it is a political song showing the necessity of a good relationship between the top leading politicians in a given society and their subjects within the same society. The rhythm of the song is a complex one since there more than one rhythms in the song. It is easy for a dancer to get lost while listening. The song has a strong beat which changes in pitch and speed throughout the song. The tempo of the song is a medium a fast one. The costumes of the singer is a uniform black, both shirt and trouser. Other characters are in white attire. Considering the song’s choreography, there is no dancing on the performance of the song as the entire song takes place in the house of an old man. It looks like a story, in the making. The song was performed on a concert in New York. The musicians were not well prepared as there were difficulties hearing their voices. The instruments were high in volume submerging the performer’s voices. The lighting was red, in color making the background of the show appear red. The performers had a good command of music. Like other audiences, the song made me feel bad about the political system in our nation, where the top leaders behave like totalitarians towards their poor subjects. â€Å"Crush† is another song done by Dyke. There is the use of guitar, saxophones, trumpet, and drums in the song. It is electronic dance music. It is also classified under classical music. The vocal style is shouted, as there is a rising and falling of tones within the performance. The words or lyrics are difficult to understand. The core message

Six Sigma versus Total Quality Management Essay

Six Sigma versus Total Quality Management - Essay Example During the past few decades, quality management has emerged as a major competitive edge in business and a source of long term profitability. Different techniques and concepts have evolved to improve product or service quality, including Zero Defects, Six Sigma, quality circles, TQM, Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001 and others) and continuous improvement. Essentially, it means setting up systems and processes that ensure product or service quality and that people are rewarded for doing the right thing, thus keeping their highest-quality performance strong and accurate. This paper attempts to compare, contrast and analyze two such techniques i.e. Six Sigma and Total Quality Management. What is Six Sigma? Bill Smith, a senior engineer and scientist at Motorola in the year 1986 introduced the concept of Six Sigma (Quinn, 2002). The main purpose was to standardize the way defects are counted. Six Sigma provided Motorola the key to addressing quality concerns throughout the organization, from manufacturing to support functions. The application of Six Sigma also contributed to Motorola winning the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality award in 1988 (Motorola University, 1994). Six Sigma not only improved Motorola’s products and processes, it also saved the company more than US $15 billion in the 10 years after it began the program (Microsoft Office System, Operation Agenda, N.D.).

Discussion Essay Qustion Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Discussion Qustion - Essay Example These winds are also known to change their directions every now and then, especially during the night. Sea and land winds are the ones we encounter on a daily basis. These winds are not much strong when compared with Santa Ana winds (Kissell, 2011). Santa Ana winds on the other hand flows at a distance relatively high from the surface of the earth. These winds are dry and extremely strong. Santa Ana winds are known to originate from the inland. Noticeable effects of these winds have been seen in the coastal regions of Southern California. Geologists have further provided that Santa Ana winds do not take any specific direction (Kissell, 2011). When a wind firm wants to put a new turbine, for electricity generation, they must put into consideration the direction of the wind. For the case of land and mountain winds, the turbine should be set in a manner that allows flexibility based on the direction of the wind at that specific moment. A fixed turbine may be put in place when considering Santa Ana winds as they do not have a specific direction. Situating turbines on mountainous locations may pose the problem of power evacuation and maintenance. Sea and land winds are believed to be important since they are available on flat ground/terrains (Chiras Sagrillo & Woofenden, 2010). They are thereby used in generation of electrical energy. Implementation of the local grid is also easier on flat

Cultural Assessment - Sweden Essay Example for Free

Cultural Assessment Sweden Essay Culture is a dynamic structure of behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, habits, beliefs, customs, languages, rituals, ceremonies, and practices that are unique to a particular group of people. I see great value in learning about different cultures and about cultural diversity, including a broader perspective of others, enhanced problem-solving ability and creativity, and potential improved productivity in my future workplaces. For this assignment, I have chosen to do a cultural assessment of the Swedish Culture. Doing so has broadened my understanding of the Sweden’s cultural perspectives and will help in bridging cultural gaps with future Swedish clients. I hope this will help me become a more culturally competent nurse and help me in providing optimal, global healthcare in a society which is growing more and more culturally/ethnically diverse. I know first-hand that variation does occur within each cultural group, and there is a tendency to assume that all members of an identified group are the same. Sweden, a country that once reflected only a single or perhaps a few ethnic groups now comprises more than 100 different ethnic groups so for the purposes of this paper, I will write about the Swedish culture as a whole. Sweden is a country on the Scandinavian peninsula in Northern Europe, with it’s capital being Stockholm. It is fourth in size among the European counties, with about 15% of its total area situated north of the Arctic Circle. You would think that the weather in Sweden would be colder year long due to it’s longitude but the average Stockholm’s average temperature is 20-65 degrees Fahrenheit year round. Sweden has a total population of about 9. 4 million people as of 2009 with the majority of residents living in urban areas. Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm, had a population of 1,697,000 in 2005. From 1865 to 1930, nearly 1,400,000 Swedes, emigrated; over 80% went to the United States, and about 15% to other close by countries. This heavy migration ended in the mid-1900s when resource development in Sweden started to keep pace with population growth. Since the early 1970s, there has been a flood of immigration to Sweden, mostly due to refugee migration and family reunification from countries in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. As far as cultural makeup, the Swedes are primarily Finish, Scandinavians or of German origin. The remaining population is comprised of immigrants, including Danes, Poles, Iraqis, Iranians, Norwegians, Greeks, and Turks. Swedish is the national language in Sweden. It consists of the same letters of the English alphabet in addition to a, a, and o. Many Swedes speak and understand English and German, and to a lesser extent, Finnish. English has been a compulsory subject for all Swedish students since the late 1940s. Swedens high-quality scientific, communication and technological development is renowned throughout the world. The World Economic Forum 2009–2010 competitiveness index ranks Sweden the 4th most competitive economy in the world. Three of Swedens largest industrial corporations are engineering companies: L. M. Ericsson, Volvo, and SAAB-Scania. Ericsson, one of the largest telecom companies in the world was started by Lars Ericsson of Sweden. Technology is prevalent all over Sweden. Swedes are accustomed to communicating through the same technology that is available in the United States. Swedes communicate via. cell phones, internet, media, and print. As far as family roles and organization within Swedish culture, human rights and equality are deeply respected in Sweden. Sweden is one of the most egalitarian societies in the world. Family life is important in typical Swedish families, but family structure is diverse and offers differing lifestyles and beliefs from one family to the next. In a typical family, both parents work. Household chores are usually democratically divided among Swedish family members, regardless of traditional female and male roles and age. Swedish houses tend to be small and tidy. Mutual respect between children and adults is nurtured at an early age. More than 5 percent of the Swedish population are aged 80 or over. Many elderly people in Sweden are in good health and lead active lives. Most live in their own homes by choice, and can do so thanks to public support in the form of home meal delivery, help with cleaning and shopping, transportation and healthcare when needed. Health and social care for the elderly constitutes an important part of Swedish welfare policy. Most elderly care is funded by municipal taxes and government grants. Sweden invests more of its GDP in caring for its elderly than any other country in the world. All Swedish residents are entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension from the age of 65, the standard retirement age in Sweden. In the Swedish healthcare system, responsibility for health and medical care is shared by the central government, county councils and municipalities. Sweden is divided into 290 municipalities, 18 county councils and two regions. Around 90 percent of the Swedish county councils’ work involves healthcare, but they are also involved in other areas, such as culture and infrastructure. Responsibility for providing healthcare is decentralized to the county councils. I learned that county councils are political bodies whose representatives are elected by their residents every four years. Every county council must provide the population with -quality health and medical care, and work toward promoting good health for the entire population. County councils are also responsible for dental care for local residents up to the age of 20. Swedish people have free choice in health care meaning they can obtain care in any of the 60 hospitals in Sweden that provide specialist care, with emergency services 24 hours a day. Eight of these are regional hospitals where highly specialized care is offered and where most teaching and research is based. What’s great is everyone in Sweden has equal access to healthcare services; The Swedish healthcare system is taxpayer-funded. According to the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, a Swedish government expert agency, Sweden is relatively well protected from the spread of communicable diseases. Good hygienic conditions prevail among Swedish society and public health is well developed. Medical progress and preventative measures protect the Swedish population from infections that, in other countries of the world, may cause large scale disasters. Sweden continues to vaccinate, trace infections, fight outbreaks, and engage in research on diseases. Sweden as a whole, maintains a high level of preparedness in order to prevent disease, and avian influenza from gaining a foothold in Sweden. Life expectancy in Sweden continues to rise. In 2008, it was 79 years for men and 83 years for women. Sweden along with Italy has Europe’s largest elderly population as a proportion of the national total. According to www. sweden. se, Sweden’s healthcare system performs well in comparison with other countries at a similar level of development.

Effective Communication In Workplaces

Effective Communication In Workplaces Effective communication has its own benefits in the workplace. Effective communication from managers to employees will result in the employees doing their job well. A good management style together with a positive communication approach will be quite effective in the workplace and will lead to better understanding between the employee and manager. For an organization to be successful communication should happen both internally and externally. Internal communication: between management and employees. External communication: this takes place between staff and clients. Let us consider Vodafone as a case study to illustrate the effective communication skills[3] Internal Communication[2]: this takes place inside the organization between the employees and management. Here the employees act as stakeholders. This communication may take place in any of the forms listed below: Vertically: this the top down approach which happens from the senior employees to juniors associates. The ultimate goal here is to improve the performance of tasks and make the junior employees understand the companys priorities and requirements. Horizontally: this takes places between various teams and across departments. The goal here is to make sure roles are effectively carried out and tasks completed. Intranet with restricted access to people within the business is a great tool for promoting better communication. External communication[1] :this takes place with customers. Vodafone has laid a principle for communication as We will communicate openly and transparently with all of our stakeholders within the bounds of commercial confidentiality. Vodafone believes that this will reduce the barriers to communication. It makes sure that its messages are conveyed both verbally and non verbally. For verbal communication the company has set contact centers so that the staff can be in direct contact with the customers and further giving an opportunity for its staff to talk to the customers about the issues. Non verbal communication can take place through various methods such as advertisements in television, newspapers and other media, the Vodafone logo. This also acts as a method of determining the position of the brand. Further methods of non verbal communication include SMS to contact certain customers. Sales information can be reached out to customers through literature in the Vodafone shops. The many forms of communication through which Vodafone reaches out to its customers are as below: Promotion and sales material- Vodafone makes sure that the advertising material is correct and follows its Business principles. This also helps the information reaches out responsibly to its stakeholders together with promoting its products and services. Awareness and Information: Vodafone promoted the use of mobile phones responsibly in the cars. It took the complex material and translated the information in easy to understand form and made the public aware of the new law and appropriate use of phones in the car. Explanation and guidance: mobile phones have health effects on human beings. But the latest scientific research has something new and Vodafone needs to convey these findings clearly to the customers. Motivation to dedicate Employees A well motivated staff is a key to a productive and pleasant environment in a workplace. Motivating the employees must be one of the key responsibilities of a manager. An effective management and leadership reflect through effective motivation of employees in the workplace. Understanding the human nature is a key to effective employee motivation. The key to performance improvement in an organization is motivation. Motivation is very essential for any business to survive and excel. Motivation is a skill and must be learnt. Performance can be defined as a function of ability and motivation as below Job performance= function (ability)(motivation) Ability depends on education and training. Motivation has the following seven strategies through which it can be initiated: Fair treatment of people Positive and high expectations Discipline Satisfying the needs of the employees Setting goals at work To restructure the jobs Set rewards and recognition for performance Every organization has its own ways to motivate the employees to ensure that goals and targets are reached [4]. Obstacles to Effective Performance The main obstacles to effective performance in an organization are as follows: Culture Change Conflict Culture Culture is related to beliefs, values and customary ways of doing things. The main reason for employees leaving the company is cultural mismatch. According to the present culture employees are required to have a clear understanding of short term and long term goals. The employees are required to have a shared vision and values as well as being productive and motivated. The organizational culture is determined by the leadership style and practices in an organization and hence plays an important role especially during acquisitions and mergers. Every organization has a set of values and beliefs. When an employee is exposed to a new culture, the individual goes through a state known as culture shock. When the companies merge the employees from the non dominant company need to adapt themselves to the new culture of the dominant company. Let us consider Barclay Plc for instance. Barclay acquired Lehman Brothers and one of the major issues for Barclay after this acquisition is to take into consideration the two different cultures in these two companies. Most of the employees of Lehman Brothers have left Barclay and a few did not join Barclay. This makes it clear that the employees are not ready to adapt to the new values, leadership styles, beliefs and practices of the Barclay culture. One of the biggest challenges to the management at Barclay is to make employees accept the new culture. The change in culture ultimately has an effect on the motivation level of the employees, their commitment to the organization and their engagement in work. Another consequence of an acquisition is that the individuals from the non dominant organization will feel like loss of identity and the others will have a superior feeling. This will ultimately affect the company achieve its goals and objectives. Another major issue of culture when the two organizations were merged is it will divert the attention of the employees and make the less productive. The attention of employees will be diverted to issues such as job security , feeling of discomfort working with new employees. Job security is the main issue as there will be duplication of departments and to manage the staff, the organization can reduce the manpower. The job profiles may be redesigned which may have an impact on the performance of the employees. The employees motivation, attitude and performance are determined by the culture. Motivation and culture go hand in hand. More an employee is motivated; the culture will be healthier. The key factor to be dealt in any organization is motivation. If an employee is not motivated properly then the employee will have problem accepting the new culture which will impact the individuals ability to do the job effectively and efficiently. The company should have flexible culture if a decision of acquisition is taken. This will allow the new employees to adjust to the new culture. Culture reflects the style of management and leadership. A slight change in the values, leadership style and ideas will help the new employees adjust to the new environment. This is not easy task, but since Barclays has taken a decision of merger it should be ready to consider changes in its culture and leadership style. Change Except for change nothing is constant in this world. Every activity in an organization results in some change. It can have a positive or negative effect depending on the communication made through change. The acquisition of Barclay and Lehman Brothers bought together a huge change in both organizations. New strategies and policies, procedures and work environment were created for work in both organizations. Change should involve people and not be imposed on people. Preparing the employees of an organization for change is a very vital task and it is the responsibility of the management to do this. This can be done through various methods such as through oral communication, via training programs or through counseling. The major reason for the Lehman employees leaving Barclays when the two organizations were merged is that the change was not managed properly. The key principles needed when planning to manage change are as follows: Every person reacts to change differently. Each person is different and has its own perceptions and preferences. A few people always look forward to change and new things and it easy to handle them. But it is a very difficult to handle people who always like things the way they were. These kind of people will experience stress and dissatisfaction and negative attitude towards their counterparts preferences. Every person has his own needs and priorities A few people work just for money but a few for the self and social identification. Change can be managed effectively by designing jobs in a better way through job redesign, job rotation management etc. Managing expectations realistically The organization should make clear to its employees that it cannot make everyone happy at the same time and this should be communicated effectively and realistically. The relation between expectations and reality is very important. The management should do the tasks listed below in order to manage change effectively: The management should inspire people and set certain objectives, goals and values for the organization It should set up a communication network such as face to face interaction so that new ideas and policies can be easily communicated. If there are any obstacles in the way of communication then those should be removed as this will help people accept change. Change can be made inevitable by promotions, recruitments and rewards. Conflicts When Barclays merges with Lehman conflicts were natural to arise as people from two different cultures and two different companies were merging. Starting with small disputes, conflicts may reach to higher levels which will ultimately affect the organization. Since the culture of both organizations is different each will have its own ideas, strategies, perspectives and goals. The different types of conflict that may arise when people of two different cultures merge are as follows: Conflict with boss Since the manager has a more experience and bigger perspective it will not be good to encounter conflict with the boss. In order to avoid such a conflict it is better not to question his authority and any ideas and views should be presented in the form of suggestions. Conflict with colleagues Different point of view will lead to conflict between employees. This can be done resolved through proper communication. Conflicts with the subordinates Conflicts can be handles effectively by one of the following ways: Each person should be given freedom to express their views. Conflicts can be sorted to a greater level by identifying positive minded people. Not everyone may have a broad vision as ours. So communicating and discussing our vision will help keep conflicts away. Changing nature of Modern Work Organizations [9] There many factors that contribute to the changing nature of work at organization, but the two main factors are: Current market scenario requires organizations to be more competitive and customer focused, hence there is an increased pressure on the organization The breakthrough in IT and communication is another factor. For example mobile and internet have made work to be separated from time and space. Organizations have changed their focus and their main principles are: Defining vision and values from the consumers perspective Creating a value chain i.e., defining activities and process that add value to customers and link them Remove activities that add no value to the organization. Reducing inefficiencies in the tasks in an organization. These principles have added value to the organization enabling them to respond rapidly to customers needs and supporting change and encouraging innovation. Conclusion The base of any organization depends on the policy, the values, the vision, the philosophy and goals set by the management. These act as the driving force for the organizational culture. Culture in a workplace determines the leadership style, the type of communication and group dynamics within the organization. The employees in the organization perceive the culture as a quality essential at work which has an impact on the degree of the employees motivation. This ultimately affects the performance, personal growth and self development which ultimately affect the organization from achieving its goals. The above discussed concepts such as communication, motivation, culture etc, make up only a small part of the theories of organizational behavior and theory. The success of any organization is determined by the application of the concepts of organizational behavior in the organization. The best way to handle conflicts in a workplace is to address them through discussions and debates. Conflict can have a positive effect within the organization if it is addressed effectively. A successful manager is one who takes time to address and deal with the conflict. This in turn will lead to a healthy and diverse work environment.