Customer Service Environment Is Extremely Important

Listening in any customer service environment is extremely important. However, professional call center agents face extra challenges that brick-and-mortar customer service employees typically don t have to address. Why? Because without using intentional listening techniques while assisting customers over the phone, you risk frustrating your caller before the conversation even begins in earnest. To understand how important it is to train employees the differences between call center interactions and improving in-person customer service, you must dissect how humans communicate in different settings. The first step is to get rid of the notion that communication is simply the exchange of ideas – words – between two people. Effective communication is more than just hearing the spoken words and responding politely. In face-to-face conversations, body language, specifically gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, posture and even silence, provide visible clues that words alone don t reveal. For call center representatives, who don t have these clues, paying close attention to tone, inflection and rhythm of the dialogue helps identify the emotions behind the words that necessitated the call to the service center. Why Intentional Listening in the Call Center is Crucial For Fostering Customer Relationships Seven out of ten consumers polled by Forrester Research say that valuing their time is the most important factor driving a positive customer experience. And, another surveyShow MoreRelatedService Encounter Report1465 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Service Encounter Report 1.0 Introduction The purpose of this report is to critically evaluate the services encounter using service marketing perspective. In order to do this report, I had experience few service industries around Kota Kinabalu area. I had took six encounters service as my journal entries and two of the journal entries will use to develop this report which is the most and least satisfactory service encounter. The encounters that I had chosen will reflect different type of satisfactionRead MoreWhat Is Customer Service Satisfaction?1345 Words   |  6 Pagesissues in regards to customer service satisfaction. Modern technology has created a new economic environment, in which requires different practices of delivering customer service. Specifically speaking of the Internet and online shopping. I will begin to analyze and indicate issues research for how, where, and why they take place. Concluding with possible solutions, in regards to customer satisfaction, to the rapidly changing business world. â€Æ' II – Defining Customer Service Satisfaction ExactlyRead MoreIKEA: Business Analysis1255 Words   |  6 Pageswill be affect by the business environment. It includes political environment, economical environment, social environment and technological environment. So let’s start with political environment. Political environment may mean some kind of regulation or legal issue made by the government. Fair-trade and minimum wage will be a good example. For IKEA, we can see any significant impact from the political environment. The next one will be the economical environment. During the economic recession,Read MoreUnited Airlines Slept Analysis971 Words   |  4 Pagesbusiness environment and what are its main components? External environment refers to the environment that has an indirect influence on the business. The factors are uncontrollable by the business. The external environment of an organization is those factors outside the company that affect the company s ability to function. Some external elements can be manipulated by company marketing, while others require the organization to make adjustments. Some main components of external environment are: Read MoreMarketing Strategies for a Marketing Information Business1278 Words   |  5 Pagesdepending on the enormous tasks this manager would face it is wise to focus on teamwork here. Other things which would be emphasized here include the name, location and nature of the business, self analysis, customer analysis, and analysis of primary competitors and the study of marketing environment. Name, Location and Nature For our business firm, we have chosen the name of Marketing Solutions. This title is easy for everyone to remember and it also clearly defines the aims, objectives and principlesRead MoreUnderstanding And Acting Upon Consumer Behavior Essay1378 Words   |  6 PagesConsumer Behavior – Booking.com Understanding and acting upon consumer behavior is at the core of becoming a successful retailer. Today’s business environment is packed with competing firms, all seeking to convenience customers to choose them over their competitors. Many industries, such as the soda, cell phone, and washing detergent industry are dominated by a just a few or a sole firm. Therefore, more than ever it is difficult to intervene in the habitual consumption of most consumers. A consumer’sRead MoreData Collection and Analysis of Starbucks Coffee Corporation1453 Words   |  6 PagesStarbuck Coffee Corporation Starbucks, as we know, is the largest global coffee company and coffeehouse chain in the world. Employees, otherwise known as â€Å"partners†, serve hot and cold beverages, whole-bean coffee, instant coffee, tea and food to its customers or target market. As a former employee, or â€Å"partner†, this paper will show primarily the overall assessment of the partner morale and assessment of the skills appropriate for the levels of both Barista (entry) and Shift-Supervisor. The data collectedRead MoreMarketing and Strategic Elements1031 Words   |  5 Pagesgenerate revenue and measure results. In non-profit businesses, community service target levels and education service target levels can be used to measure results. Unlike profit seeking organizations that focus on marketing solely to customers, non-profit organizations have to target clients and sponsors. A marketing plan helps to identify the target customer, identify who needs the service, it creates awareness abo ut the services they provide, it creates satisfaction among the community and it helpsRead MoreRadio Frequency Identification Is Important For Airport Workers, Travelers, And The Airlines1498 Words   |  6 Pagesto properly function, it is important for the airport to make an effective plan. Planning which is, â€Å"choosing a goal and developing a strategy to achieve that goal,† (Williams, 2015, p.4) is an approach that will benefit all involved. In this case specifically, it will benefit the airport workers, travelers, and the airlines themselves. The amount of customer-service representatives it takes to handle all aspects of the baggage process is very large. From customer-service representatives taking complaintsRead MorePrice Of A Fast Food Restaurant1570 Words   |  7 PagesMoe’s southwestern grill, like many other businesses, price their food using many different strategies such as value based pricing, cost based pricing and/or competition based pricing. Mo e’s grill is known for their quality of food. Because of this, customers are willing to pay a higher price than they normally would when going to a typical fast food restaurant. Pricing this way is considered value based pricing. There are times when restaurants cannot just use one specific pricing, Moe’s also uses the

The Do This, Get That Guide On Commentary Examples

The Do This, Get That Guide On Commentary Examples Finding the Best Commentary Examples Effective paragraphs are important in all sorts of writing. You don't therefore should quote huge sections from the text. Essays could be lightly modified for readability or to defend the anonymity of contributors, but we don't edit essay examples before publication. Commentary essays are among several forms of essays utilised in writing. What You Need to Do About Commentary Examples Starting in the Next Nine Minutes If it's been proved that the thesis isn't right, then it is going to be refuted in the conclusion. Other times, you'll have more freedom as to what sort of commentary you put in your essay. On the surface of it, this is the type of essay feedback every student wishes to hear. In the event the commentary has proved that the thesis is correct, it is going to be reaffirmed via the conclusion. Keep in mind, since the book commenter, you've got free reign here to present your opinion of how well the author has performed their task. Likewise, the writer is optimistic concerning the state promise to wash the river. Whenever your professor asks you to give thoughtful commentary on a sheet of work, you can be confident he or she doesn't want you to just provide a thorough recap of the events. A. Only the narrator of a bit of literature. The apparent overindulgence of the world wide web is presently debated. Social networking deserves a huge thumbs up for helping people network for jobs and remain connected to family and friends. The survey might have been 10 pages long, with 2 questions devoted to river sports. Each paragraph within the body of this perceptive essay identifies and examines an unstated assumption that is vital to the argument. When it comes to your writing style, you might secure a comment similar to this in the event the essay marker found your writing either boring or inside a style inappropriate to the context of an official essay. In reality, writing that summary took me beneath a moment, with very little thought. By showing that every assumption is extremely suspect, this essay demonstrates the weakness of the full argument. The video did not supply any statistical details about social media bullying. If your topic is all about controversial advances in medicine, your commentary is going to be slanted toward doctors and other professionals in the health care area and your goal is going to be to supply a commentary that will encourage these professionals to see the field in a way besides initially presented. Aim to represent quite a few opinions and views. Be aware that physical education necessitates work samples in the shape of videos. Studies have suggested that awareness of it is the most crucial element of social media bullying along with legislative recourse in handling the continuing issue. For instance, if you need to comment on the language, this ought to be noted in the thesis. Language plays an extremely important function. Among the sources ought to be from someone who's academic or who's in a field regarding the object of your commentary. Following are some literary devices to secure you started. Even though most portfolios will include things like documents as work samples, the precise features of the document can fluctuate based on subject location. What You Don't Know About Commentary Examples Soy milk also may decrease the possibility of heart disease. When you check at two sentences, the outcome isn't suitable for the cause. Paragraph 4 considers several explanations for why river clean-up plans might not be successful (the plans might be nothing more than campaign promises or funding might not be adequate). As a consequence the state expects that water sports increase. Thus, the proposal to improve funding for riverside recreational facilities might not be justified. Think about the choices which need to be made when applying to college.

Accounting Financial Report Public Policy †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Accounting Financial Report Public Policy? Answer: Introduction The business corporations around the world need to develop and publish their annual disclosures that enclose the information regarding their financial performance. The full disclosure principle requires a business entity to provide all the necessary information to support the decision-making process of the end-users. The accounting disclosures are developed by the business entities as per the accounting policies and rules developed by the accounting standard-setting bodies such as IASB. The IASB (International Accounting Standards Board) holds the responsibility of providing standard guidelines to the business entities around the world regarding the development of the financial reports. The IASB has developed the conceptual accounting framework that needs to be adopted by the businesses globally for preparing the financial reports and meeting the stakeholder expectations. The AASB has developed the accounting standards that need to be followed by all the business entities operating i n Australia as per the IASB accounting rules. However, the accounting disclosures of various business entities are largely influenced by the political forces that impact the accounting choices of a particular entity (Bazley, Hancock and Robinson, 2014). In this context, the present report aims to present an evaluation of the accounting strategies and choices of an ASX listed corporation. The company selected for the purpose is Commonwealth Bank, a world-recognized Australian bank involved in providing financial services to the population of the country. The annual report of the bank for the last two financial years, 2016 and 2017, are analyzed and examined for assessing its compliance with conceptual framework principles. Identify Key Accounting Policies The accounting policies of Commonwealth Bank of Australia are decided by the board of directors and they have the power to change the same at any time. Commonwealth Bank of Australia is a leading provider of integrated financial services and is based in Australia. The company is a profit earning entity and is operating globally. The company deals in various kinds of products, they provide services in retail, institutional and business banking and wealth management products (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The accounting policies of the company are made quite effective. The accounting policies of the firm are based on historical cost convention. There are certain assets and liabilities which are measured at fair value. The losses that have been occurred due to the damage of asset are being reversed. The accounting policies are having remained consistent with the standards provided by the AASB. Apart from this the operations and other accounting policies are based on the princip le of IFRS. Securities sold under the repurchased agreement on the guidelines provided by the AASB (Ordelheide, 2016). The interest expenses of the cost are settled on the basis of amortized cost. Interest expenses include cost of issue that was initially identified as the part of carrying cost. The income received from the interest is brought into accounting by using effective interest method (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). It calculates amortized cost of a financial instrument. The equities are classified as available for sale financial assets. The financial statement of the company provides a consolidated data of the business of the company in an effective way. In addition to this the assets of the company are classified on the basis of fair value and are divided into three categories, trading, insurance and other. The firm also uses derivative financial instruments, this aspect includes various things such as forward rate agreements, future options, credit swaps etc (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). Assess Accounting Flexibility The firm Commonwealth Bank of Australia is following its accounting policies based on the guidelines of the AASB. The AASB has made it mandatory for all the firms to comply with the rules and guidelines prescribed by AASB (Walton, 2011). The financial statements and the accounting policies of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia are prepared by the board of directors (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The bank is operating in various countries and hence it a global firm. Apart from this, the company is the parent firm for all its subsidiaries. The board of directors is not only responsible for preparing the accounts of the main company but also of its subsidiaries. The principle accounting policies are adopted on the basis of the guidelines prescribed by the AASB. The financial report of the firm is presented in Australian dollars. The general purpose financial report is prepared in accordance to the norms provided by the AASB (Bazley, Hancock and Robinson, 2014). The accounting principles and policies comply with the International Financial Reporting Standards. In addition to this the interpretations are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and IFRS interpretations committee. The amount presented in the financial statements is rounded up to remain in accordance with the ASIC Corporations Instrument 2016/191 (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The firm has made amendments in its accounting policies so that it can align closely with the economic substances. The operations of the subsidiaries are also maintained on the guidelines presented by the AASB. The accounts of the subsidiaries are presented in consolidated form. All the transactions between the segments are conducted on an arms length basis. All these practices by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia prove that the company follows the accounting principles as prescribed by the AASB. The top level management of the firm is engaged in making accounting policies, they do not adopt the path of flexibility, and they have adopted the accounting principles and policies as prescribed by the ASSB (Dagwell, Wines, and Lambert, 2015). Evaluate Accounting Strategy The Commonwealth bank is attributed to be leading provider of financial services in Australia and has diversified its business operations in many countries around the world, that is, New Zeeland, Asia, the United Sates and the United Kingdom. As such, the banking corporation accounting strategy is to select the most appropriate accounting policies and choices that enable it to meet its corporate objectives of global expansion (Knight, 2004). The bank has determined its selection of accounting policies that enables it to remain competitive in the in the banking industry of Australia. The corporate, institutional and government clients of the Commonwealth Group incorporate the use of relationship management model that is based on industry expertise and insights. The services offered by the clients include debt raising, financial and commodities risk management, transactional banking capabilities for stretching the Groups competitive position in the market. The annual disclosure has als o provided a description of the accounting policies adopted for identifying and measuring the material risks such as credit risk, material risk and funding risk. The banking corporations has also implemented an Internal Control Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) as per the industry norms in order to develop an understanding and quantifying the material risks to develop strategic ensures for overcoming the risk identified (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The banking corporation has also implemented laws, regulations, legislation, rules and codes of conducts as per the industry norms. Also, the Group has adopted accounting policies regarding its audit as per the accounting process and controls of the industry. The Group has ensured that its audit team has adequate skills and competencies required for auditing a complex banking institution (Kenny, 2009). The major competitor of the bank is regarded to be Westpac, an Australia bank holding a prominent position in the big four banks of Australia. As such, both the banks are operating in Australia and therefore need to comply with the AASB standards and Corporations Act 2001 (2016 Westpac Group Annual Report, 2016). The basic accounting policies adopted for the development of general purpose financial reports is provided under notes to financial statements section by both the banks. However, there exists some difference between the accounting policies ad estimates of Commonwealth bank as compared to Westpac as pre their nature of business operations. The Banking Corporation has disclosed in its financial report regarding the changed accounting policies in relation to the recognition of Global Asset management of long-term incentives offered to some employees in wealth management. As per the new accounting policy, the long-term incentives of the managers are recognized as expenditure whe n they are actually given rather than vesting them over the period as per the previous accounting policy (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017) This change has been introduced in order to aligning the accounting policy as per the economic environment in which the Group operates. The change introduced has resulted in reducing its net profit after tax, retained earnings, decreasing its total assets and enhancing its total liabilities. This change in the accounting policy has been done as per the positive theory of accounting (PAT) as per which managers tend to adopt a particular accounting approach in order to achieve a defined set of objectives and goals. The change in the incentive policies for managers has been done as per the external economic conditions. The accounting transactions relating to long-term incentives of the managers are structured as per its new strategic goals of linking the accounting policies with the economic substance of the arrangements (Henderson et al., 2015). The Group has also disclosed its accounting strategy in relation to the incentives offered to the managers for managing its earnings. The superannuation plans provided by the banking corporation are calculated by independent fund actuaries. Also, the benefits offered to the employees are recognized in the income statements and the unpaid contributions are included under liability section in the balance sheet (Sheridan, 2016). This is done to ensure that incentives offered to the managers for earning management is not related to the equity position and therefore ensuring that managers does not involve in any fraudulent activities for maximizing their personal benefits (Hussey and Ong, 2017). Evaluate the Quality of Disclosure The financial statement of Commonwealth Bank of Australia has covered various aspects. The report has provided enough information about the purpose and vision of the company. In addition to this the report has also provided the idea about the core function of the firm. The firm, Commonwealth Bank of Australia is a global bank situated in Australia. It is operating in various countries and the same information is provided in the report. The bank deals in various services such as retail, institutional etc. all this information has been provided subsequently (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The footnotes in the report has provided information about the accounting policies that is been followed by the firm. In addition to this, the footnotes also discussed that the accounting policies implemented by the firm is in accordance with the AASB (Hussey and Ong, 2005). It is evident from the report that the foreign currency transactions are translated into functional currency using the e xchange rates which changes every day. There is no flexibility in the management of accounting policies. The firm works in pure compliance with the AASB (Horngren et al., 2012). The disclosure provided by the firm is adequate as it has covered wide range of information. It has provided information about the accounting policies that has been used by the firm and the changes made by it in its policies. The accounting policies are followed consistently and are in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the AASB. The company has framed its policies in accordance with the IFRS because it is a global unit and cannot follow the regulations prescribed by its country only (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The implementation of IFRS principle has certainly proved beneficial for the firm as it has helped them in making their financial statements clearly with proper divisions in accounting sections. The company regularly keeps a check on the accounting policies and makes amendments in the same as prescribed by the AASB. The disclosure by the firm was sufficient as it has provided a wide spectrum of data which is quite beneficial for the general public, invest ors other parties. This will help them in deciding their future course of action (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The footnotes have provided information about the accounting policies that has been used by the firm. It has also provided information about the policies that has been amended. The footnotes have covered information about the accounting principles and the procedure through which the financial statement has been prepared (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The footnotes were quite adequate to analyze the performance and the accounting policies being followed by the firm. The notes have explained various aspects in a proper manner; they have covered all the areas quite effectively and hence were sufficient enough to analyze the performance and operations of the firm. The firm is working in accordance with the policies and procedures as prescribed by the AASB. In addition to this the policies are framed in compliance with the IFRS (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The report has not provided any information about its compliance with GAAP. The firm is a global unit, apart from AASB it is also following the norms prescribed by IFRS which is accepted internationally. This practice has proved beneficial for the firm as it has made accounting quite easy and effective (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). The segment reporting is done on the basis of groups organizational and management structures. The top level management of the firm review the groups internal reporting, in order to assess the performance and allocation of resources (Australia, 2011). Identify Potential Red Flags The financial report of the banking Corporation has provided all the relevant information related to the accounting policies adopted for preparing its general purpose financial statements. However, there exists some accounting changes in the financial reports of the banking corporation that requires more disclosure identified as red flags as follows: Unexplained Accounting Policy Changes: The comparison of the financial reports of the banking corporation over the last tow years have indicted that there is reduction in its retained earnings and total assets in the financial year 2017 as compared to that that of the year 2015. The net profit after tax has been decline to $5 million as compared to $10 million from 2016 to 2017. The retained earnings has decreased from $192 million to $188 million and reported a reduction of 477 million in its total assets and increase in its overall liabilities to $115 million (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). This has resulted from the change in accounting policy of the banking group for recognizing its long-term incentives. As such, the group has not adequately explained the change in its accounting results with the adoption of the significant accounting policy (Marley and Pedersen, 2015). Increase in Receivables: The Group has also reported an increase in its loans, bills discounted and other receivables in the year 2017 to $ 731,762 from $695,398 in the year 2016 (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). There is no proper disclosure reading the increase in its receivable by the banking corporation that is an issue of major concern for the bank (Walton, 2011). Large Asset Write-offs: There are large write-offs of the intangible assets of the group as evaluated from its annual reports (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). This is also an issue of major concern for the group as large asset write-offs represent a reduction in the recognized value of an asset and lead to a large decrease in the taxable income of the banking corporation. The large asset-write offs of the intangible assets of the group represents a reduction in the goodwill of the banking corporation (Mirza and Ankarath, 2012). Compliant with the Conceptual Framework It is quite important for a firm to remain competitive in the market, however various factors affects its competitiveness. The political factors play an important role in accounting standard setting environment (Marley and Pedersen, 2015). The firm is operating in various countries and is a globally functioning entity. Various countries have different political environment, some boots the firm while others restricts its operations. Thus it plays a major role in setting standard for accounting. Commonwealth Bank of Australia has tried its best to remain in compliance with the political factors of every country in which it is operating (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). Every firm which is operating in a particular political setting has to follow the regulations prescribed by the political factors. In some countries it is quite essential to make the financial disclosures keeping in mind the impact on the economic environment. thus to remain competitive in the international market, Commonwealth Bank of Australia has made policies so that it can remain in compliance with the political factors of the countries in which it is operating (Pietra, McLeay and Ronen, 2013). The AASB has made it mandatory for the profit earning firms to follow the rules which are prescribed by the AASB itself (Marley and Pedersen, 2015). The firm has not adopted any other flexible route for their accounting policies. In addition to this, ASSB has also made it mandatory to work in accordance with the norms delegated by IFRS so that the firm can remain viable internationally as well. The disclosures made by the firm is quite essential and effective as it helps the general public, investors other to decide their future course of action as to invest in the firm or not (Hoffman, 2016). In addition to this, the disclosures made by the firm helps in gaining information about the performance and productivity of the firm in the global market. The disclosures about the accounting policies and other aspects help in building goodwill of the organization (Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 2017). Conclusion It can be inferred from the overall discussion held in the report that development and publishing of proper annul disclosures is essential for business entities in order to promote their sustainable growth and development. The business corporations operating in Australia need to prepare their financial reports as per the AASB standards and the Corporations Act 2001. The AASB has directed all the business entities of Australia to comply with the conceptual accounting framework principles as per the IASB accounting rules and conventions. The analysis of the annual disclosure of the Commonwealth bank has revealed that it has effectively adopted the conceptual accounting framework principles by providing all the relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable information in its annual disclosure statements. The accounting disclosure is prepared as per the industry norms in order to remain competitive and also there is change in some accounting policies as per the mangers decision to ac hieve certain desired set of objectives. The bank operates its business corporation globally and therefore need to adopt some changes in its annual disclosures as per the political environment of different countries. The potential area of concern for the banking corporation is reduction in net worth over the subsequent years from 2015to 2017 and increase of its receivables and large write-offs of its intangible assets. The banking group is recommended to develop and implement proper strategies for overcoming these existing red flags identified in its annual report disclosure. References 2016 Westpac Group Annual Report. 2016. [Online] Available at: https://www.westpac.com.au/content/dam/public/wbc/documents/pdf/aw/ic/2016_Westpac_Annual_Report [Accessed on: 18 September 2017]. Australia. 2011. Australian Corporations Securities Legislation 2011: Corporations Act 2001, ASIC Act 2001, related regulations. CCH Australia Limited. Bazley, M., Hancock, P. and Robinson, P. 2014. Contemporary Accounting PDF. Cengage Learning Australia. Commonwealth Bank of Australia. 2017. Annual report. [Online] Available at: https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/about-us/shareholders/pdfs/annual-reports/annual_report_2017_14_aug_2017.pdf [Accessed on: 18 September 2017]. Dagwell, R., Wines, G. and Lambert, C. 2015. Corporate Accounting in Australia. Pearson Higher Education AU. Henderson, S. et al. 2015. Issues in Financial Accounting. Pearson Higher Education AU. Hoffman, C.W. 2016. Revising the Conceptual Framework of the International Standards: IASB Proposals Met with Support and Skepticism. World Journal of Business and Management 2 (1), pp. 1-32. Horngren, C. et al. 2012. Financial Accounting. Pearson Higher Education AU. Hussey, R. and Ong, A. 2005. International Financial Reporting Standards Desk Reference: Overview, Guide, and Dictionary. John Wiley Sons. Hussey, R. and Ong, A. 2017. Corporate Financial Reporting. Springer. Kenny, G. 2009. Diversification Strategy: How to Grow a Business by Diversifying Successfully. Kogan Page Publishers. Knight, J. 2004. Internationalization Remodeled: Definition, Approaches, and Rationales. Journal of Studies in International Education 8 (5), pp. 5-29. Marley, S. and Pedersen, J. 2015. Accounting for Business: An Introduction. ed, 2. Pearson Higher Education AU. Marley, S. and Pedersen, J. 2015. Accounting for Business: An Introduction. ed, 2. Pearson Higher Education AU. Mirza, A. and Ankarath, N. 2012. Wiley International Trends in Financial Reporting under IFRS: Including Comparisons with US GAAP, China GAAP, and India Accounting Standards. John Wiley Sons. Mumba, C. 2013. Understanding Accounting and Finance: Theory and Practice. USA: Trafford Publishing. Ordelheide, D. 2016. Transnational Accounting. Springer. Pietra, R., McLeay, S and Ronen, J. 2013. Accounting and Regulation: New Insights on Governance, Markets and Institutions. Springer Science Business Media. Sheridan, T. 2016. Managerial Fraud: Executive Impression Management, Beyond Red Flags. Routledge. Walton, P. 2011. A Global History of Accounting, Financial Reporting and Public Policy: Asia and Oceania. Emerald Group Publishing. Walton, P. 2011. A Global History of Accounting, Financial Reporting and Public Policy: Asia and Oceania. Emerald Group Publishing. Wolk, H., Dodd, J. and Rozycki. J. 2012. Accounting Theory: Conceptual Issues in a Political and Economic Environment. SAGE.

The Outsiders1 Essay Example For Students

The Outsiders1 Essay In this book analysis, about the book The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton I will discuss character and plot development, as well as the setting, the authors style and my opinions about the book. In this part of the analysis I will give some information about the subjects of the book, and about The author wrote the story when she was just 16 years old, in the 1950s. The book was successful, and it was sold, and still being sold, in many copies as a young adults novel. There was a movie made about it, and today there are still many schools that use this book in junior high and high schools for English classes. There were plays made about the book too. The Outsiders is about a gang. They live in a city in Oklahoma. Ponyboy Curtis, a 14 year old greaser, tells the story. Other characters include Sodapop and Darry, Ponyboys brothers, Johnny, Dallas, and Two-Bit, that were also gang members and Ponyboys friends. This story deals with two forms of social classes: the socs, the rich kids, and the greasers, the poor kids. The socs go around looking for trouble and greasers to beat up, and then the greasers are blamed for it, because they are poor and cannot affect the authorities. I hope you would enjoy and learn something about the book from reading this analysis. We will write a custom essay on The Outsiders1 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The plot development in the book, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, was easy to follow. In this part of the book analysis I will give some more details about the plot development. There were no hooks or hurdles in the beginning of the book, the first sentence starts right away with the plotwithout any forewords. This is the beginning of the first sentence: When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house (page 9). As you can see, it goes straight to the point without any prologues or any kind of introduction. The plot development in the middle of the story was sensible and easy to understand. It was clear and simple, and the events have occurred in a reasonable order. The ending of the story was a bit expected. I anticipated the death of Johnny because a broken neck usually means death. The death of Dally was not as predictable as Johnnys death because it was said that: He was tougher than the rest of ustougher, colder, meaner. (page 19). I did not think t hat such a tough person would get himself killed because of a death of a friend, although it was said a short time before the death of Dally that: Johnny was the only thing Dally loved. (page 160). The climaxes at the end of the story were the deaths of Johnny and Dally. Here are quotations about the deaths: Johnnys death: The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died. (page 157). Dallys death: He was jerked half around by the impact of the bullets, then slowly crumpled with a look of grim triumph on his face. He was dead before To conclude I can say that the plot development was simple and easy to understand and to follow. The author organized it in a way that fits the actual content of the plot. The characters in the book, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, were not very heroicthey were just humansit was easy to believe that this is the way they should be. The characters in the plot give the reader a feeling this can be a true story. The author has created the personality of the characters through the descriptions of Ponyboythe narratorand through their actions. Following are some examples of these methods of getting familiar with a character. Here is an example for a description of Ponyboy: Steve Randle was seventeen, tall and lean, with thick greasy hair he kept combed in complicated swirls. He was cocky, smart, and Sodas best buddy since grade school. Steves specialty was cars (page 17). The reader can find this kind of descriptions almost everywhere in the story, but especially in the beginning. I think the author put them there because the reader does not know the characters, and he needs to get familiar with them. The descriptions make the reader know the characters better and understand their actions. A good example of an action that was taken and suggested something about a character is the way Dally was killed. He wanted the police to kill him, so he robbed a store, and the police officers shoot him. This shows that Dally was sensitive to a death of a friend although he acted like a tough guy. The dialogues in the stories show the thoughts and the feelings of the speakers. The way the gang members talk shows that they are gang members and street boys, because they speak in street slang. When the socs talk to greasers, the reader can feel their aversion to them. Following are some examples for dialogues that indicate something about the characters. Here is an example for a dialogue with slang in it: so I can still help Darry with the bills and stuffTuff enough. Wait till I get outI told you he dont mean half of what he says (page 26). The highlighted words and phrases are ones that will not be used in formal writing and they even contain grammar mis takes. Here is an example for the hate the socs have to the greasers: Hey, grease, one said in an over-friendly voice. Were gonna do you a favor, greaser. Were gonna cut all that long greasy hair off. (page 13). The reader can feel the hatred of the socs to the greaser in this dialogue when they tell him what they are going to do to him. The central figure of the story is Ponyboy that is also the narrator. Here I would analyze his character. The physical description of Ponyboy can be found in the first page of the book, page 9: I have light-brown, almost-red hair and greenish-gray eyes. I wish they were more gray, because I hate most guys that have green eyes, but I have to be content with what I have. My hair is longer than a lot of boys wear theirs, squared off in back and long at the front and sides, but I am a greaser and most of my neighborhood rarely bothers to get a haircut. Besides, I look better with long hair. He is smart, according to page 12: I make good grades and have a high IQ and everything. He is a bit naive sometimes, like in page 45 when he tried to convince himself that the only difference between socs and greasers is that greasers like Elvis and do not like the Beatles and socs like the Beatles and do not like Elvis. Sometimes, Ponyboy is daydreaming and not connected to reality, like in page 158, when he tried to convince himself that Johnny isnt dead: That still body back in the hospital wasnt Johnny. Johnny was somewhere elsemaybe asleep in the lot The supporting cast in the story is the gang and other characters. The gang members have long descriptions from Ponyboys point of view, and they are part of the plot development. The other characters in the book do not have long descriptions, and they usually appear in small parts of To conclude I can say that the characters have contributed a lot to the coherent development of the plot. The characters are believable and they enhance the feeling of realism in In this part of the book analysis about the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton I will discuss the setting. The setting is appropriate to the plotthe streets in the wrong side of town.The authors descriptions are deep but easy to understand. The neighborhood where the gang lives is a place that fits the plot well, and helps to understand it. A good example for a description would be the one in page 85, of the dawn: The dawn was coming then. All the lower valley was covered with mist, and sometimes little pieces of it broke off and floated away in small clouds. The sky was lighter in the east, and the horizon was a thin golden line. The clouds changed from gray to pink, and the mist was touched with gold. There was a silent moment when everything held its breath, and then the sun rose. It was beautiful. This kind of description made an image in my mind of a beautiful dawnthis was a word picture.The story happens in the 1950s in the US, it lasts a few days. The author usually describes every part of the day using Ponyb oy. The mood the setting creates is of the neighborhood, and street life. This really contributes to the judicious plot developmentit makes it more believable and reasonable. To conclude I can say that the setting fits the plot and the characters in a very good way. This is the best setting that can be for this kind of plot and characters, because other setting would make the story ridiculous because a street In this part of the book analysis, about the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, her style of writing would be discussed. The word usage in the dialogues between the gang members is of street slang. In the descriptions there are less simple words and more descriptive and artistic words (look at Setting and Character Development for examples). There is suspense in the bookusually in the middle of chaptersthat makes the reader to want to read what will happen next. An example for suspense is when the socs have tried to drown Ponyboythere was uncertainty and I was anxious about wha t is going to happen next. The way the plot develops is easy to follow and to understandthe writer does not make it too complex. To conclude I can say that the authors style is easy to read and not complicated. Reading the book is enjoyable and there is no need to look up words in the dictionary. .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f , .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f .postImageUrl , .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f , .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f:hover , .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f:visited , .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f:active { border:0!important; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f:active , .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0ed881590047a368261d8051cace0e1f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Drink Up - Drunk Driving Should be Legalized EssayIn this part of the book analysis I will write my opinions about the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. The book really focuses on what some kids in the US have to go through. One problem is how Ponyboy has to grow up without parents. Another problem is that the characters are in a gang and at war with another gang. A problem with the family that was shown in the story is that kids today may have parents that are alive, but they might not have enough time for them. Also, kids are worried about not fitting in and might join gangs to act cooler. It also shows how if a member of a family has an injury its tough for the family and friends. This happens when Johnny gets hurt and he did not want to see his parents. Also, it was a problem for Ponyboy because he was worrying about him the whole time. I think The Outsiders is an average book. It really does show how these things can affect a family and friends. The book was rather good. It would have been better if it was written in the 90s, and not in the 50s. This is because then young people that live today time can correlate with I think people who enjoy action and some adventure, should read this book, because the action, the writing, and the adventure are powerful. There is always something going on. For example, when Ponyboy was walking through the park, and three socs came out of the bushes and jumped him. This is one of the many times that problems between the two gangs end in destruction. One other reason to read the book is that the end of each chapter of the book does not leave you in suspense. You do not have to keep reading to solve a problem. There is always something big going on, such as when Johnny broke his back trying to rescue children from a burning church. A thing that reduced the realism of the story was the names of the people (i e Ponyboy, Two-Bit, Sodapop). I have never known people with these strange namesthere a re no parents who would give their children To conclude I can say that the book was not very good but it was not too bad either. The writing is clear and easy to In this part of the analysis I will give a general summary of the whole analysis of the book, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, and discuss the difficulties I had preparing it. I found the book hard to relate to in some parts because of the different time it was written inthe 1950s. A good example for it was that Ponyboy thought the big difference between socs and greasers was that the greasers loved Elvis and the socs loved the Beatles. Since I was not born at Elvis and the Beatles time and I do not like either of themI cannot relate to it. The were two other reasons for why it was hard to relate to the book: the first reason is that my life is not like the lives of the characters in the book. The things that Ponyboy and his brother did, I would never dream of doing. For example, I would not beat up people or gang up on people. The second reason is that I think it would be hard to live a life without parents as To conclude I would like to say that the book has made me see the way people that are living on the streetsin the wrong side of the townbehave and feel within themselves. It is like going behind the scenes of a gang. Bibliography:

10 Jobs That Will Hire You Today, Even With No Experience

10 Jobs That Will Hire You Today, Even With No Experience Fresh out of school? Looking for your first job? Looking for a new job after years of not being in the job force? Need to pick up a new job in a new field quick? You might find yourself banging your head against the Catch 22 of needing experience in order to get a job- and then acquire said experience. You might think that there are no decent paying jobs worth taking that don’t require a minimum of experience. But you’d be wrong. Here are a number of perfectly good jobs that don’t require you to have work experience in that field. Stay in them happily, or use them as a stepping stone to other career moves.1. Administrative AssistantWhat is valued most by people looking to hire an admin assistant or an executive secretary is not experience, but skill. Can you do the job. Are you preternaturally organized? Super reliable, trustworthy, discreet, able to multitask with the best of them? Willing to pick up dry cleaning and handle confidential legal and financial infor mation? Familiar with word-processing, database, and spreadsheet software? Can you type? You’re hired. Average salary: nearly $38k per year.2. Delivery DriverHave a clean driver’s license? Get work for a national, local, global, or regional company driving delivery vehicles. You’ll even have the benefit of a great deal of scheduling flexibility- and a chance to get your foot in the door at a company. Average salary: anywhere from $16-46k per year.3. Bill CollectorDidn’t even know this was a job? All you need is a high school diploma, good phone manner, and good customer service skills to be able to help chase down payments from negligent payers. This career is expected to grow 19% in the next ten years and the average salary ranges from $21-48k per year.4. Security OfficerAlways wanted to be a cop but don’t want to bother with all the training? Try being a security officer for an office building, a lobby, a museum, or a mall. You’ll have to be on your feet most of the time, but you’ll get on-the-job training, flexible hours, and the average salary is over $35k per year.5. BartenderIf you can handle the work, and make the drinks, and keep from overserving unruly clientele, then you can make great money behind a bar. If experience is necessary for one of these jobs, it is usually as simple as attending a course or bartending school. And you can make as much as $50k per year.6. School Bus DriverYou’ll have to be patient and a very, very safe driver, but you can make anywhere from $16-$40k driving children to and from school- with no prior experience. You might even score some decent benefits.7. Real Estate BrokerYou need to take a 60-hour course and pass a test, but once you do, you’re qualified to be a broker. What matters in this job is more who you know and how broad your network, rather than how many years you’ve been selling houses. If you’re good at sales and personable, this might be for you. It starts small, but the compensation can be wildly enticing. Average salary ranges from: $30-227k.8. HR AssistantHelp screen job applicants for companies (and learn something in the process). You’ll get decent benefits and a competitive salary (around $38k per year). And the more skills you have with computers and communication, the better off you’ll be.9. ClerkConsider working at the local courthouse, DMV, or municipal office. City governments employ a ton of people; you might as well be one of them! Experience requirements are very low, but benefits are high. And the average salary is around $38k.10. Cable InstallerEver wonder about the guy or gal who comes to install your cable or internet? Chances are you could have their job with little to no experience. You’ll get on-the job-training, of course. And people skills are a plus. Contact your local provider to see about job openings. Average annual salary: between $21-52k.

Laos Facts, History, and More

Laos Facts, History, and More Capital: Vientiane, 853,000 population Major cities: Savannakhet, 120,000; Pakse, 80,000; Luang Phrabang, 50,000; Thakhek, 35,000 Government Laos has a single-party communist government, in which the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party (LPRP) is the only legal political party. An eleven-member Politburo and a 61-member Central Committee make all laws and policies for the country. Since 1992, these policies have been rubber-stamped by an elected National Assembly, now boasting 132 members, all belonging to the LPRP. The head of state in Laos is the General Secretary and President, Choummaly Sayasone. Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong is the head of government. Population The Republic of Laos has approximately 6.5 million citizens, who are often divided according to altitude into lowland, Midland, and upland Laotians. The largest ethnic group is the Lao, who live mainly in the lowlands and makeup approximately 60% of the population. Other important groups include the Khmou, at 11%; the Hmong, at 8%; and more than 100 smaller ethnic groups that total about 20% of the population and comprise the so-called highland or mountain tribes. Ethnic Vietnamese also make up two percent. Languages Lao is the official language of Laos. It is a tonal language from the Tai language group that also includes Thai and the Shan language of Burma. Other local languages include Khmu, Hmong, Vietnamese and over 100 more. Major foreign languages in use are French, the colonial language, and English. Religion The predominant religion in Laos is Theravada Buddhism, which accounts for 67% of the population. About 30% also practice animism, in some cases alongside Buddhism. There are small populations of Christians (1.5%), Bahai and Muslims. Officially, of course, communist Laos is an atheistic state. Geography Laos has a total area of 236,800 square kilometers (91,429 square miles). It is the only land-locked country in Southeast Asia. Laos borders on Thailand to the southwest, Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Cambodia to the south, and Vietnam to the east. The modern western border is marked by the Mekong River, the regions major arterial river. There are two major plains in Laos, the Plain of Jars and the Plain of Vientiane. Otherwise, the country is mountainous, with only about four percent being arable land. The highest point in Laos is Phou Bia, at 2,819 meters (9,249 feet). The lowest point is the Mekong River at 70 meters (230 feet). Climate The climate of Laos is tropical and monsoonal. It has a rainy season from May to November, and a dry season from November to April. During the rains, an average of 1714 mm (67.5 inches) of precipitation falls. The average temperature is 26.5 °C (80 °F). Average temperatures over the year range from 34 °C (93 °F) in April to 17 °C (63 °F) in January. Economy Although the economy of Laos has grown at a healthy six to seven percent annually almost every year since 1986  when the communist government loosened central economic control and allowed private enterprise. Nonetheless, more than 75% of the workforce is employed in agriculture, despite the fact that only 4% of the land is arable. While the unemployment rate is only 2.5%, approximately 26% of the population live below the poverty line. Laoss primary export items are raw materials rather than manufactured goods: wood, coffee, tin, copper, and gold. The currency of Laos is the kip. As of July 2012, the exchange rate was $1 US 7,979 kip. History of Laos The early history of Laos is not well-recorded. Archaeological evidence suggests that humans inhabited what is now Laos at least 46,000 years ago, and that complex agricultural society existed there by about 4,000 BCE. Around 1,500 BCE, bronze-producing cultures developed, with complicated funeral customs including the use of burial jars such as those on the Plain of Jars. By 700 BCE, people in what is now Laos were manufacturing iron tools  and had cultural and trade contacts with the Chinese and Indians. In the fourth to eighth centuries CE, people on the banks of the Mekong River organized themselves into Muang, walled cities or petty kingdoms. The Muang were ruled by leaders who paid tribute to more powerful states around them. Populations included the Mon people of the Dvaravati kingdom and proto-Khmer peoples, as well as forebears of the mountain tribes. During this period, animism and Hinduism slowly mixed or gave way to Theravada Buddhism. The 1200s CE saw the arrival of ethnic Tai people, who developed small tribal states centered on semi-divine kings. In 1354, the kingdom of Lan Xang united the area that is now Laos, ruling until 1707, when the kingdom split into three. The successor states were Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Champasak, all of which were tributaries of Siam. Vientiane also paid tribute to Vietnam.   In 1763, the Burmese invaded Laos, also conquering Ayutthaya (in Siam). A Siamese army under Taksin routed the Burmese in 1778, placing what is now Laos under more direct Siamese control. However, Annam (Vietnam) took power over Laos in 1795, holding it as a vassal until 1828. Laoss two powerful neighbors ended up fighting the Siamese-Vietnamese War of 1831-34 over control of the country. By 1850, the local rulers in Laos had to pay tribute to Siam, China, and Vietnam, although Siam exerted the most influence.   This complicated web of tributary relationships did not suit the French, who were accustomed to the European Westphalian system of nation-states with fixed borders. Having already seized control of Vietnam, the French next wanted to take Siam. As a preliminary step, they used Laoss tributary status with Vietnam as a pretext to seize Laos in 1890, with the intent of continuing on to Bangkok. However, the British wanted to preserve Siam as a buffer between French Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) and the British colony of Burma (Myanmar).  Siam remained independent, while Laos fell under French imperialism. The French Protectorate of Laos lasted from its formal establishment in 1893 to 1950, when it was granted independence in name but not in fact by France. True independence came in 1954  when France withdrew after its humiliating defeat by the Vietnamese at Dien Bien Phu. Throughout the colonial era, France more or less neglected Laos, focusing on the more accessible colonies of Vietnam and Cambodia instead. At the Geneva Conference of 1954, the representatives of the Laotian government and of Laoss communist army, the Pathet Lao, acted more as observers than participants. As a sort of afterthought, Laos has designated a neutral country with a multi-party coalition government including Pathet Lao members. The Pathet Lao was supposed to disband as a military organization, but it refused to do so.  Just as troubling, the United States refused to ratify the Geneva Convention, afraid that communist governments in Southeast Asia would prove to correct the Domino Theory of spreading communism. Between independence and 1975, Laos was embroiled in a civil war that overlapped with the Vietnam War (American War). The famous Ho Chi Minh Trail, a vital supply line for the North Vietnamese, ran through Laos.  As the US war effort in Vietnam faltered and failed, the Pathet Lao gained an advantage over its non-communist foes in Laos. It gained control of the entire country in August  1975. Since then, Laos has been a communist nation with close ties to neighboring Vietnam and, to a lesser degree, China.

External influence on health care organization Essay

External influence on health care organization - Essay Example P.R. Manager: External influences most applicable to the organization include political, trade and industry and socio-cultural, ecological and complementary external pressures upon healthcare policy proposals and organizational agendas. A comparison with eternal elements affecting medical organizations reveals the balance in significance of each factor towards the organization’s performance (Mannion, 2000, p. 111). However, the internal features have straight, instant, and authoritative impacts. These effects are far more open to adjustment at a domestic level of the organization than eternal factors. An organizational discussion should appreciate individual experience alongside objective information. As a result, the debate will promote positive change within the organization (Ford, Menachemi & Phillips, 2006, p. 108). Joining the organization creates the utmost confidence that has systematic expertise in association administration and understanding of the current healthcare frameworks. As a healthcare administrator, I will be able to prove valuable as I progress and exploit opportunities in my profession (Ford, Menachemi & Phillips, 2006, p. 106). Daake, D. and Anthony, W. P. (2000). Understanding Stakeholder Power and Influence Gaps in a Health Care Organization: An Empirical Study. Health Care Management Review: July, Volume 25 - Issue 3 - pp

Child eyewitness testimony Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Child eyewitness testimony - Research Paper Example Six to eight year olds’ testimonies have also been proven vulnerable to suggestion. These researches help with the obtaining of accurate information from children, without pressuring them in any way. Goodman and his colleagues studied the link between abused children and their eyewitness testimonies while considering a few other factors. They split children with similar backgrounds, abused and non-abused, into the age groups of three to six and seven to ten year olds. The children were paired up according to common factors like their age, gender, abuse status etc. The first part of the experiment was that the children were paired with a stranger (with whom they were encouraged to engage) and then busied in things like reading, photography or blowing bubbles. After a two week interval, an interview was conducted, questioning the children about the various aspects of the social-interaction and asked fallacious questions about the play session. Then the memory and vulnerability of the abused and non-abused children was compared. The group’s initial prognosis was that the older children would have more confident recollections; the non-abused would have display a higher aptitude than the abused children and that an abused child would be easier to influence and his memory more imprecise. From the experiment, the researchers established the older children’s recollection to be more precise and detailed. Age had little impact on the boys’ answers but it was an effecting factor for the girls. The younger girls were inaccurate in comparison to the older girls and the younger boys. The younger boys were found to have the best accounts. However, older children in general gave more noncommittal responses than the younger ones and abused boys gave more noncommittal responses than non-abused boys. The influencing agents in the precision of recollections, age, gender and abuse status, were interconnected. Younger non-abused boys had

Death of a Salesman Detailed Analysis Essay Example for Free

Death of a Salesman Detailed Analysis Essay ARTHUR MILLER Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 February 10, 2005) was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American theatre, writing dramas that include plays such as All My Sons (1947), Death of a Salesman (1949), The Crucible (1953) and A View from the Bridge Miller was often in the public eye, particularly during the late 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s, a period during which he testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee, received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Prince of Asturias Award, and was married to Marilyn Monroe. SUMMARY It is important to bear that the story is told through the mind and memory of Willy Loman and there is a constant back and forth between two periods ,1928 and 1942.The first period is one of the happiness and contentment when Willy Loman is young and dynamic and the children ,Biff and Happy are running about in shorts ;the second is one of gloom and discontent -Willy is now old and ,virtually out of a job and the children are grown up and gone their different ways. The play is thus structured in such a way to show the pleasures of the past ,the dreams and hopes the characters had and how these aspirations had turned sour. Willy Loman had built his life in such a way that he had finally trapped himself in an impossible situation. Willy Loman ,the protagonist in the play was a travelling salesman in the services of the wagnor company for 34 years. When his old boss died ,his son Howard took over the administration of the company .Willys family consists of three other members ,his wife Linda, Biff,the elder son and Happy, the younger son. Willy unexpectedly returned on the same day he had left for New England territory on a business tour. Linda felt that her husband is thoroughly  exhausted both physically and mentally and he has almost reached the breaking point. Willy, who is 63, has driven the car off the road twice or three times and when he reached home he was found to be panic stricken ,desolate and shattered. Willy liked his eldest son Biff,who was wellknown as a football champion. Though he is 34 , it is unfortunate that he could not settle in life. Inspite of the fact that three colleges offered him scholarship in recognition of his proficiency in football, he did not join any college . Happy, the women chaser also could not settle in life. For the next two days, immediately after his unexpected return, Willys mind was rather disturbed with thoughts of todays realities inter mingled with yesterdays half forgotten episodes. He felt that it was mistake on his part not to have followed his elder brother Ben ,who dared his way into the diamond minds of Africa and amassed fabulous wealth . Willys guilty consciousness pricked him at the flash back scene of Boston hotel room, when his son Biff makes a surprise visit and finds his father having an affair with a strange lady .After this episode, Biff seemed to hold a grudge against his father and could never again bring himself to trust Willy. As suggested by Linda, Willy visits Howard, the young Boss and request for a change of job in the New York City office as he is physically and mentally incapacitated as a travelling sales man. When the request was unceremoniously turned down by Howard and Willy dismissed from service he protest You cannot eat orange and throw the peel away ; man is not a piece of fruit. Willy is very much frustrated and disillusioned at the behavior of capitalists who lacked the human milk of kindness, sympathy and gratitude. Biffs attempt to raise a loan from Bill Oliver, the proprietor of sports goods company also failed. Oliver, who once liked Biff immensely, now refused to recognise him now because Biff has stolen a fountain pen, Charley ,Willys neighbour extended a helping hand in those days of adversity. He ,not only advanced a loan to him but also offered him a job to him. But Willy refused to accept it with a false sense of dignity. The two sons invited the father for a dinner party at a prominent restaurant in the city. But Happy picked up two call girls and left the place along with Biff,  leaving Willy alone. Willy felt humiliated and this experience was shocking and unbearable when Biff and Happy returned home, Linda ordered them out of the house by the next morning. She was planning to commit suicide on a particular night .Willy was left alone while all others went upstairs. He has insured his life for 20,000 dollars. Once he dies, the family will be entitled to receive the amount from the insurance company. So Willy got into his car and drove madly through darkness, only to kill himself. His funeral was attended only by Linda, the two sons, charley and his son Bernard. Linda could not stand the strain of separation from her beloved husband; but still she stooped down and dropped flowers on the grave of Willy. DEATH OF A SALESMAN AS A TRAGEDY: According to the traditional views based on Aristotelian cannons, the tragic hero was to be a person of high rank and status. So that his down fall could produce an inevitable emotional effect on the audience. In ancient Greek tragedies, fate or destiny is mainly responsible for the downfall of human beings. But Shakespeare and Marlow attributed human misfortune mainly to the personal draw backs of the tragic heroes themselves and hardly to the hidden forces which we describe as fate or destiny. Miller generally departs from both these concepts of tragedy as in the tragic hero in the Death of a sales man belongs to the middle class. He does not hold the view that tragic effect can be produced only by the downfall of a highly placed individual in society. It matters not at all whether hero falls from a great height or small one, whether he highly conscious or dimly aware of what is happening ,if the intensity is their America grows like a giant in unimaginable proportions . Willy symbolically stands for all the low men in American business community not just salesmen -who in a way sell themselves. Willy sells himself and in the process wears himself out and he is finally discarded when he is no longer useful. Willy begins as a salesman 36 years ago, opens up unheard of territories to their trade mark, but in his old age they take his salary away. It is pity that once Willys energy is exhausted by the work that  society has assigned to him, he is thrown aside and dismissed by the son of his old boss. Willy protests, you cannot eat the orange and throw them peel . Man is not a piece of fruit no doubt ,Willy loman is a superannuated employee, but he is rejected and ill treated by his employer at the end of his career. Even a change of job with less travelling was denied to him. But still it may not be fully correct to say that Willy is wholly a victim of the prevailing social system. His own responsibility of his tragedy is by no means insignificant or negligible. In the first place he failed to realize his own limitations and short comings Willy has the conviction that success depends on personality, contacts and good cloths and that these will bring everything one wants in life. Obviously Willy is a prey to that magical book of Dale carnegies How to win friends and influence people we know that mistake is that Willy had chosen a wrong profession for himself under the impression that the selling profession is the best in the world. Secondly the sense of guilt which he carries with him due to his past infidelity to his wife has also serious repercussions in his mental stability .His affair with the woman in the hotel when he was visited by Biff hangs on his conscience. Biffs discovery of Willys infidelity marks the crucial turning point in the relationship between the father and the son .There after Biff no longer believes Willy . Another point to be noted is Willys incurable optimism .He has had higher expectation about the future of his elder son Biff who looks so charming as the Adonise in Greek mythology and who has earned high reputation as a good football champion. Biff has become disillusioned .For Biff ,life came to be an end with his match. He could neither make a mark in business nor could he go back to school to finish his course. Ironically Bernard who never represented University of Virginia, Bernard who pleaded to carry Biffs helmet or shoulder guards , prospered. Bernard wins glory by pleading before the supreme court ,but he does this without any pushing from his father. According to Willy, they ought to be success at all; for both Charley and Bernard were not well liked. These tragic experiences shatter Willys conception of American dreams. No human or super natural agency interfered his life .The sense of frustration and psychological neurosis upsets his  mental equilibrium and shatters him to pieces. CHARACTER LIST WILLY LOMAN: An insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman. Willy believes wholeheartedly in the American Dream of easy success and wealth, but he never achieves it. Nor do his sons fulfill his hope that they will succeed where he has failed. When Willys illusions begin to fail under the pressing realities of his life, his mental health begins to unravel. The overwhelming tensions caused by this disparity, as well as those caused by the societal imperatives that drive Willy, form the essential conflict of Death of a Salesman. BIFF LOMAN: Willys thirty-four-year-old elder son. Biff led a charmed life in high school as a football star with scholarship prospects, good male friends, and fawning female admirers. He failed math, however, and did not have enough credits to graduate. Since then, his kleptomania has gotten him fired from every job that he has held. Biff represents Willys vulnerable, poetic, tragic side. He cannot ignore his instincts, which tell him to abandon Willys paralyzing dreams and move out West to work with his hands. He ultimately fails to reconcile his life with Willys expectations of him. LINDA LOMAN: Willys loyal, loving wife. Linda suffers through Willys grandiose dreams and self-delusions. Occasionally, she seems to be taken in by Willys self-deluded hopes for future glory and success, but at other times, she seems far more realistic and less fragile than her husband. She has nurtured the family through all of Willys misguided attempts at success, and her emotional strength and perseverance support Willy until his collapse. HAPPY LOMAN: Willys thirty-two-year-old younger son. Happy has lived in Biffs shadow all of his life, but he compensates by nurturing his relentless sex drive and professional ambition. Happy represents Willys sense of self-importance, ambition, and blind servitude to societal expectations. Although he works as an assistant to an assistant buyer in a department  store, Happy presents himself as supremely important. Additionally, he practices bad business ethics and sleeps with the girlfriends of his superiors. CHARLEY- Willys next door neighbor. Charley owns a successful business and his son, Bernard, is a wealthy, important lawyer. Willy is jealous of Charleys success. Charley gives Willy money to pay his bills, and Willy reveals at one point, choking back tears, that Charley is his only friend. BERNARD Bernard is Charleys son and an important, successful lawyer. Although Willy used to mock Bernard for studying hard, Bernard always loved Willys sons dearly and regarded Biff as a hero. Bernards success is difficult for Willy to accept because his own sons lives do not measure up. BEN Willys wealthy older brother. Ben has recently died and appears only in Willys daydreams. Willy regards Ben as a symbol of the success that he so desperately craves for himself and his sons. THE WOMAN Willys mistress when Happy and Biff were in high school. The Womans attention and admiration boost Willys fragile ego. When Biff catches Willy in his hotel room with The Woman, he loses faith in his father, and his dream of passing math and going to college dies. HOWARD WAGNER Willys boss. Howard inherited the company from his father, whom Willy regarded as a masterful man and a prince. Though much younger than Willy, Howard treats Willy with condescension and eventually fires him, despite Willys wounded assertions that he named Howard at his birth. STANLEY A waiter at Franks Chop House. Stanley and Happy seem to be friends, or at least acquaintances, and they banter about and ogle Miss Forsythe together before Biff and Willy arrive at the restaurant. MISS FORSYTHE AND LETTA Two young women whom Happy and Biff meet at Franks Chop House. It seems likely that Miss Forsythe and Letta are prostitutes, judging from Happys repeated comments about their moral character and the  fact that they are on call. JENNY Charleys secretary THEMES, MOTIFS SYMBOLS THEMES Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. THE AMERICAN DREAM Willy believes wholeheartedly in what he considers the promise of the American Dream- that a well liked and personally attractive man in business will indubitably and deservedly acquire the material comforts offered by modern American life. Oddly, his fixation with the superficial qualities of attractiveness and likeability is at odds with a more gritty, more rewarding understanding of the American Dream that identifies hard work without complaint as the key to success. Willys interpretation of likeability is superficial-he childishly dislikes Bernard because he considers Bernard a nerd. Willys blind faith in his stunted version of the American Dream leads to his rapid psychological decline when he is unable to accept the disparity between the Dream and his own life. ABANDONMENT Willys life charts a course from one abandonment to the next, leaving him in greater despair each time. Willys father leaves him and Ben when Willy is very young, leaving Willy neither a tangible (money) nor an intangible (history) legacy. Ben eventually departs for Alaska, leaving Willy to lose himself in a warped vision of the American Dream. Likely a result of these early experiences, Willy develops a fear of abandonment, which makes him want his family to conform to the American Dream. His efforts to raise perfect sons, however, reflect his inability to understand reality. The  young Biff, whom Willy considers the embodiment of promise, drops Willy and Willys zealous ambitions for him when he finds out about Willys adultery. Biffs ongoing inability to succeed in business furthers his estrangement from Willy. When, at Franks Chop House, Willy finally believes that Biff is on the cups of greatness, Biff shatters Willys illusions and, along with Happy, abandons the deluded, babbli ng Willy in the washroom. BETRAYAL Willys primary obsession throughout the play is what he considers to be Biffs betrayal of his ambitions for him. Willy believes that he has every right to expect Biff to fulfill the promise inherent in him. When Biff walks out on Willys ambitions for him, Willy takes this rejection as a personal affront (he associates it with insult and spite). Willy, after all, is a salesman, and Biffs ego-crushing rebuff ultimately reflects Willys inability to sell him on the American Dream-the product in which Willy himself believes most faithfully. Willy assumes that Biffs betrayal stems from Biffs discovery of Willys affair with The Woman-a betrayal of Lindas love. Whereas Willy feels that Biff has betrayed him, Biff feels that Willy, a phony little fake, has betrayed him with his unending stream of ego-stroking lies. MOTIFS Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the texts major themes. MYTHIC FIGURES Willys tendency to mythologize people contributes to his deluded understanding of the world. He speaks of Dave Singleman as a legend and imagines that his death must have been beautifully noble. Willy compares Biff and Happy to the mythic Greek figures Adonis and Hercules because he believes that his sons are pinnacles of personal attractiveness and power through well liked-ness; to him, they seem the very incarnation of the  American Dream. Willys mythologizing proves quite nearsighted, however. Willy fails to realize the hopelessness of Singlemans lonely, on-the-job, on-the-road death. Trying to achieve what he considers to be Singlemans heroic status, Willy commits himself to a pathetic death and meaningless legacy (even if Willys life insurance policy ends up paying off, Biff wants nothing to do with Willys ambition for him). THE AMERICAN WEST, ALASKA, AND THE AFRICAN JUNGLE These regions represent the potential of instinct to Biff and Willy. Willys father found success in Alaska and his brother, Ben, became rich in Africa; these exotic locales, especially when compared to Willys banal Brooklyn neighborhood, crystallize how Willys obsession with the commercial world of the city has trapped him in an unpleasant reality. Whereas Alaska and the African jungle symbolize Willys failure, the American West, on the other hand, symbolizes Biffs potential. Biff realizes that he has been content only when working on farms, out in the open. His westward escape from both Willys delusions and the commercial world of the eastern United States suggests a nineteenth-century pioneer mentality-Biff, unlike Willy, recognizes the importance of the individual. SYMBOLS Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. SEEDS Seeds represent for Willy the opportunity to prove the worth of his labor, both as a salesman and a father. His desperate, nocturnal attempt to grow vegetables signifies his shame about barely being able to put food on the table and having nothing to leave his children when he passes. Willy feels that he has worked hard but fears that he will not be able to help his  offspring any more than his own abandoning father helped him. The seeds also symbolize Willys sense of failure with Biff. Despite the American Dreams formula for success, which Willy considers infallible, Willys efforts to cultivate and nurture Biff went awry. Realizing that his all-American football star has turned into a lazy bum, Willy takes Biffs failure and lack of ambition as a reflection of his abilities as a father. DIAMONDS To Willy, diamonds represent tangible wealth and, hence, both validation of ones labor (and life) and the ability to pass material goods on to ones offspring, two things that Willy desperately craves. Correlatively, diamonds, the discovery of which made Ben a fortune, symbolize Willys failure as a salesman. Despite Willys belief in the American Dream, a belief unwavering to the extent that he passed up the opportunity to go with Ben to Alaska, the Dreams promise of financial security has eluded Willy. At the end of the play, Ben encourages Willy to enter the jungle finally and retrieve this elusive diamond-that is, to kill himself for insurance money in order to make his life meaningful. LINDAS AND THE WOMANS STOCKINGS Willys strange obsession with the condition of Lindas stockings foreshadows his later flashback to Biffs discovery of him and The Woman in their Boston hotel room. The teenage Biff accuses Willy of giving away Lindas stockings to The Woman. Stockings assume a metaphorical weight as the symbol of betrayal and sexual infidelity. New stockings are important for both Willys pride in being financially successful and thus able to provide for his family and for Willys ability to ease his guilt about, and suppress the memory of, his betrayal of Linda and Biff. THE RUBBER HOSE The rubber hose is a stage prop that reminds the audience of Willys desperate attempts at suicide. He has apparently attempted to kill himself  by inhaling gas, which is, ironically, the very substance essential to one of the most basic elements with which he must equip his home for his familys health and comfort-heat. Literal death by inhaling gas parallels the metaphorical death that Willy feels in his struggle to afford such a basic necessity. QUESTIONS The play Death of a Salesman revolves mainly around a conflict between ? What are the reasons for Willys failure as a business man? American dream in the play Death of a salesman. What is the central theme of the play Death of a salesman. The father son conflict in the play Death of a salesman. The hotel scene in the play Death of a salesman. The role of mother Linda Loman in the play Death of a salesman. Why did Biff Loman leave the school? The significance of the titleDeath of a salesman. Why did Willy commit suicide? The flash back scene in the play Death of a salesman. Millers play as a critique of the American way of life.

Leprosy :: Hansens Disease Biology Essays

Leprosy Leprosy, now more commonly referred to as Hansen’s disease, is one of the world’s oldest and most feared maladies. Over the course of thousands of years, it has managed to afflict millions of people in every region of the world. In addition to physical suffering, leprosy patients also faced tremendous psychological distress, due to the fact that, until as recently as last century, the disease was seen as a punishment from God and thought to be highly contagious. As a result, leprosy sufferers faced many indignities and, in some instances, were removed from their communities and relocated to so-called â€Å"Leper Colonies.† However, in recent times, the conditions for people with leprosy have vastly improved in terms of both the treatment of the disease and removal of the stigma attached to it. The origins of leprosy cannot be definitively traced to any particular place or time. The earliest evidence of the disease is provided by the Hindu Vedas, which mention a disease that most believe to have been leprosy, suggesting its existence in India since at least 1400 BCE (Skillicorn). There is more concrete evidence from members of the medical community that the disease existed in China by the fifth-century BCE and in Egypt as early as the second-century BCE. The disease is believed to have spread to Europe in the first-century BCE by Roman soldiers returning from war in Egypt. Its existence in Europe was first documented by Aractus and Galen in approximately 150 CE (Skillicorn). It is believed to have been spread from Europe to the Americas and South Pacific islands by European colonists. The disease became universally known as Hansen’s disease in 1873 after a Norwegian scientist, Dr. Armauer Hansen, discovered the bacterium that causes the disease, whi ch eventually served to end the myth that the disease was a curse of God (Skillicorn). The disease is caused by a slowly multiplying bacillus, called Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily affects the nerves, skin, and mucous membranes (Hansen’s Disease). Scientists are still unable to cultivate the organism in any bacteriological media, although it has been successfully grown on the foot pads of mice.

Developing Professional Practice Essay

1. Briefly explain how the CIPD HR Profession Map defines the HR profession, including the professional areas, the bands and the behaviours. The HR profession Map captures what successful and effective HR people do and deliver across every aspect and specialism of the profession, and sets out the required activities, behaviour and knowledge. It covers 10 professional areas and 8 behaviours, set out in 4 bands of competence. The Map covers every level of the HR profession: Band 1 being the start of your HR career through to Band 4 for the most senior leaders. The bands set out what you need to do and what you need to know for each area of the HR profession. As per the CIPD Website, the bands cover the following areas: Band 1: Supports colleagues with administration and processes. Effectively manages information and date and is customer orientated. Band 2: Advises on and/or manages HR related issues relating to an individual or at team. Has a clear understanding of the evaluation process and the solutions available. Band 3: Leads a professional area acting as a consultant or partner, addresses key HR challenges at an organisational level for the medium and long term. Band 4: Leads and manages a professional area(s) and/or the organisation. Responsible for developing and delivering organisational and HR strategy. The two professional areas, Insight, Strategy and Solutions and Leading HR sit at the heart of the profession and are applicable to all HR professionals, regardless of role, location or stage of their HR career. There are 8 behaviours that identify in detail how professionals need to carry out their activities and make a contribution to organisational success. The behaviours are: †¢ Curious †¢ Decisive thinker †¢ Skilled influencer †¢ Personally credible †¢ Collaborative †¢ Driven to deliver †¢ Courage to challenge †¢ Role Model CIPD website refers to the HR Map as: â€Å"This is a powerful and simple to use personal development tool for professionals operating at all levels in HR. Not only is it free for members to use, we’ve also carefully designed it to ensure that many of the suggested actions to help professionals progress are low-cost or no-cost – which will be particularly welcome at a time when the recession is ensuring resources for development are tight. Professionals can use the tool to develop in their roles and pursue their career plans. We hope the insights it delivers will quickly become a firm fixture in the performance and development reviews of HR professionals in organisations of all shapes and sizes and across all sectors.† (Stephanie Bird, April 2010). 2. Evaluate how the two core professional areas, the bands and any two selected behaviours uphold the concept of ‘HR Professionalism’, giving two examples from the knowledge and activities at band 2. The two professional areas Insight, Strategy and Solutions and Leading HR sit at the heart profession and are applicable to all HR professionals. They underpin the direction of the profession as an applied business discipline with a people and organisation discipline and describe how great HR professionals work for HR’s purpose. HR can only deliver it’s purpose of sustainable organisation performance if it works from a deep business, contextual and organisational understanding to develop actionable insight. This allows us to creative prioritised and situational strategies that make the most difference and build a compelling case for change. It includes: †¢ Building a picture †¢ Developing actionable insight †¢ Delivering situational HR solutions that stick †¢ Building capacity and capability †¢ Working with agility The successful HR professional provides active, insight led leadership. Owning, shaping and driving themselves, others and activity within the organisation. They develop across three main areas of leadership – personal leadership, leading others and leading issues. It includes: †¢ Personal leadership †¢ Leading others †¢ HR function design and service delivery †¢ HR recourse planning and delivery †¢ Delivering value and performance in HR teams †¢ Managing HR budgets and finances This being based as the heart of the profession, there are 8 main behaviours expected, including; †¢ Role Model – Consistently leads by example. Acts with integrity, impartiality and independence, balancing personal, organisation and legal parameters. †¢ Skilled Influencer – Demonstrates the ability to influence to gain the necessary support from drivers stakeholders in pursuit of organisational value. The CIPD (2005a) has stated that: All personnel and development specialists must be thinking performers. That is, their central task is to be knowledgeable and competent in their various fields and to be able to move beyond compliance to provide a critique of organisational policies and procedures and to advise on how organizations should develop in the future. HR professionals have to think carefully about what they are doing in the context of their organization and within the framework of recognised body of knowledge. They have to perform effectively in the sense of delivering advise, guidance and services that will help the organisation to achieve its goals. Legge (1995) made a similar point when she referred to HRM as a process of ‘thinking pragmatism’. Harrison (2007) commented that the ‘thinking performer’ philosophy focuses on the ways in which HR fields of activity should link to produce a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, on strategic awareness and on evidence based practice. The CIPD ‘The Thinking Performer Concept’ (2007) believes: â€Å"The non thinking performer will privately regard many of the things her or she is required to do as absurd, indefensible, inefficient, even immoral or corrupt, but will say nothing †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ the non thinking performer is a ‘ lifetime liability’ to the organisation.† Looking at the requirements in Band 2 of the HR Map, and taking into consideration the behaviours within this, you need to build strong relationships with your customers. Managers need to feel comfortable approaching your for advise, and confident that you will be able to lead and advise them on the appropriate approach to take. You need to be skilled in influencing the manager to the correct way of thinking, to handle the situation in the correct manner, but also be flexible in your approach and listen to their ideas/requirements. And together, agree on the best action and way forward. The need for HR theory, Ulrich (1997a): To make practices more than isolates acts managers and HR professionals must master the theory behind HR work; they need to be able to explain conceptually how and why HR practices lead to their outcomes. Regardless of the preferred theory, managers and HR professionals should extract from it a higher level of reasoning for their day to day work and thus better explain why their work accomplishes goals. 3. Explain, with related examples, why HR professionals need to be able to manage themselves, manage groups or teams, manage upwards and manage across the organisation. HR professionals provide insight led leadership. They need to own and shape themselves as well as others within the organisation. They need to personally lead themselves, as well as teams and upwards within the organisation. The definition of management as stated by Michael Armstrong is ‘Management is defined as deciding what to do and then getting it done through the effective use of recourses’. The main processes of management are planning, organizing, motivating and controlling. HRMagazine say: HR must turn outside business trends and stakeholders expectations into internal actions, and should focus on both business results and human capital improvement. HR professionals should target both individual ability and organisation capabilities. HR is not an isolated activity, but sustainable and integrated solutions. An effective HR professional melds individual abilities into an effective and strong organisation by helping to define and build its organisation capabilities. Organisation is not a structure or process, it is a distinct set of capabilities. HR professionals can help line managers create meaning, so that the capability of the organisation reflects the deeper values of the employees. HR professionals are credible activists because they build their personal trust through business acumen. Credibility comes when HR professionals do what they promise, build personal relationships of trust and can be relied on. In order to be an effective HR professional, it is important that they are able to manage themselves in order to show their teams and organisation that they can be trusted. They can then go on to manage their teams effectively, through to managing across the organisation. HR professionals make change happen at institutional , initiative and individual levels. 1. Undertake a self-assessment against the specification of HR professional practice capabilities, such as the CIPD Associate Membership criteria, to identify professional development needs. See appendix 1 for SWOT analysis. 2. Evaluate and select at least three development options to meet your needs , explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each, and their fit with your preferred learning style and career aspirations. Continued Professional Development (CPD) is a necessity in the HR environment. The profession is a very high pace with changes to the law and best practise. CPD makes sure your knowledge is up to date and fresh. New ideas and developments are happening all the time and being dedicated to CPD ensures you are professional and consistent. 20 years ago CPD was not widely spoken of, or used in the HR environment. Until recently the profession has not recognised the need to adhere to the requirements of other professional bodies (medical, law etc) as HR was seen as a job anyone could do, but the recent introduction of the HR standards and HR Map means all HR professionals need to continue with CPD to reflect the professionalism of their career. In recent years the concept of ‘a job for life’ has subsided and now employees in all professions need to continue to prove their worth and stay valuable to the organisation. Keeping up to date with CPD means you are actively trying to develop yourself and have an interest in developing yourself to benefit the organisation and profession. I have undertaken a SWOT analysis (Appendix 1) on my current developmental needs. I have also used the HR map to find out where my weaknesses lie as an HR professional. I found this exercise an interesting and useful tool for working out my developmental needs. I have included a Career Development Plan (Appendix 2), this shows my current development needs and I will be referring to them below. My first, and most important need, is an update on HR Law. This is needs so I can give better advice to managers and have the confidence to act on my own beliefs. My second is updating my knowledge on how to deal with Absence Management, a high level of absenteeism can be extremely costly to an organisation and I would like to develop my knowledge so I can help the absent employee and also help the organisation’s statistics and costs in turn. My third developmental need is Reward Strategies. I find the topic fresh and a lot of organisations are not fully using the strategies. I would like to enhance my knowledge and research best practise to see what recommendations I can make for the organisation I am employed by. I intend to satisfy these needs by taking advantage of courses offered by the CIPD, in house training and by attending the Intermediate Certificate in HR Management at Bridgwater College. It is also important for me to use other tools for learning, for example journals, on line resources and many of the books available at local libraries. To satisfy the needs for enhancing my knowledge of HR Law I will be attending the unit on the subject at Bridgwater College and I also regularly attend HR Breakfast’s at FootAnstey Solicitors. They cover a wide range of topics, including sessions on Employment Law. Absence Management will be researched by looking at the media available, for example previous research and best practise. I will also look to attend relevant CIPD courses being held in the South West area. Reward strategies are reasonably new and important when it comes to employee satisfaction and retention. Researching the subject will enable me to make use of best practise and o ffer recommendations.