New Challenges in Retail Human Resource Management

Why Do We Need Professional Human Resource Management in Retailing? Such terms as globalization, process management, and value-based management dominate the current discussion of management in retail co mpanies. There has been an increasing realization that people are one of a company’s key assets. Re- tail means working and serving customers in a direct, personal way. This calls for special actions from retail companies to fulfill the demands of an increasing num- ber of well-informed and sophisticated consumers.In view of all the c hanges in both national and international contexts, it is ab solutely essential to get the right people if a business is to be successful and sustainable. Retailing is a major labor-intensive industry sector. The refore, companies are continually challenged to re-organize and adapt their st ructures to become more efficient. The necessity for part-time workers, because of long store opening hours and peaks in the trading day/week, requires a flexi ble framework to optimize labor processes. Emotionally, the workforce needs orientation and vi sion in changing times.Human resource management (HRM) has to provide a â€Å"coach,† not only to organize, but also to support employees and m anagement mentally and p rofes- sionally in fulfilling their tasks in terms of future company goals. People are the driving force behind all transactio ns that occur in retailing outlets. In the future world of retailing, there will be an increasing need to adapt and change towards a more formative and proactive style of HRM. M. Krafft and M. K. Mantrala (eds. ), Retailing in the 21st Century: Current and Future Trends , DOI 10. 007/978-3-540-72003-4_16, ? Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010 257 258 Julia Merkel, Paul Jackson, and Doreen Pick Changes Changes in Retail The formats of retailing have been evolving continuously over the last 100 years, and individual retailers have changed tremendously in the products they sell and in the man ner in which they operate. Retailing of lifestyle products impacts directly on the changing culture of our societies—one has only to think of the introduction of the Sony Walkman or the Apple I-Pod to grasp the international range of con- sumer needs.In order to provide an expanding product and service range, retail has had to alter and amend its approaches to satisfy ever more voracious and in- creasingly sophisticated consumers. For several years, retailers have had a promi- nent role in today’s society in their capacity as employers: the retail industry em- ploys one in nine of the UK workforce, for example (Gilbert 2003). Nearly two thirds of employees are female. Therefore, special concepts in HRM are require d to allow for the compatibility of work and family.Gilbert (2003) also points out that: â€Å"[T]he retail sector has had a reputation for not supporting its employees and for having lower pay and longer hours than other sectors. † Future HRM h as to find a practical ap proach that will lead to the right balance of companies’ and employees’ needs in terms of pay ment and hours for the workforce, and service guarantees for their customers. The developments in many European countries show the changing attitudes of young university graduates for whom retailing now provides modern and attractive career pro spects.However, retailing is still far from the first choice for top graduates and this needs to change. Environmental factors such as economic, social, political, cultural, and demo- graphic developments are driving the rapid changes in the retail business. Retail management and HRM departments have to be aware of all these changes. Some of the environmental factors are described below. New Forms of Trading New trading formats have been the lifeline allowing businesses to gain and sus- tain competitive advantage. New t rading form ats are constantly appearing at both ends of the spectrum.Higher margin goods, sometim es even with designer labels, have coexisted with the increasing demand for more aggressive pricing such as that app lied by hypermarkets, off-price retailers, and hard discounters. Often, consumers switch from smaller local stores to supermarkets, and increas- ing numbers of consumers are using new channels for Internet and TV shopping. The international press reports the continuing success of new fo rms of online retailing (e-tailing) in Europe and the USA, as well as rapid changes in Eastern Europe and Asia in use of the Internet.Within these trading formats, new pro- fessions, working careers, and functions are developing very fast. To succeed, HRM has to recognize and manage these changes in retailing human resource requirements. Exchange of knowledge is one of the basic prerequisites: For ex- New Challenges in Retail Human Resource Management 259 ample, the German retailer METRO Group is installing software that will allow knowledge shar ing with sy stematic tr ansfer of all n ecessary infor mation and skills to METRO Group sites throughout the world.It is imperative for a retailer to co llect and struct ure all exper ience and knowledge fro m d ifferent staffs, stores and country-markets. The challenge in the future for retail company man- agement i n general and HRM in particular will be t o ensure t hat th e right knowledge is available at the right time and in the right place. Consumer Behavior Closely aligned with the expansion of new trading formats are the changing needs of consumers.Increasing social acceptance of women in the labor force has led to the emergence of a new l ifestyle and changed consumer purchasing patterns over the last seve ral decades (Gilbert 2003). Present-day consumers are m ore experi- enced, more aware of their important role in the business, and more self-confident than previous generations. Further, as international retailers have found out, there is a great need for retail chains to adapt to ‘local’ ways, so as to fulfill regional needs and shopping habits, especially in the food business (e. g. , see c hapter by Mierdorf, Mantrala and Krafft in this book).Technology Let us consider what retailing looked like 20-30 years ago: little or no EPOS tech- nology, electro-mechanical tills, paper-driven accounting, checking and co mptom- eter systems, perhaps enhanced by a ‘Kim ball tag’ system to aid stock replenish- ment. Thirty years ago there were not even many supermarkets—self-service was just appearing over the horizon for some modern retailers in the 1960s and 1970s. The advent of increasing computerization in the late 1970s started to affect busi- nesses as they adapted to possibilities that began to open up through IT-supported working practices.Processes for controlling, distribution, payroll, accounting and, especially, merchandise management systems started to be aut omated during the early 1980s. E DI, scanning, and bar-coding were im plemented—after he avy IT investments—to lower costs and increase accuracy levels. Many organizations were downsized and refocused as these manual processes were converted to more cus- tomer-focused activities and professional supply chain management. Structural Trends and Competition In Europe and USA, retailing is characterized by increasing rates of market con- centration.This is caused by shareholders’ requirements for more cost-effective operations, mergers among suppliers, and the growth of technology. Future retail- ers have to be fast and flexible in making decisions about worldwide sourcing and selling. This calls fo r people to acquire skills and competencies that will allow them to compete successfully in both national and international contexts. Interna- 260 Julia Merkel, Paul Jackson, and Doreen Pick tional HRM has to consider different ways of working with people: in many Euro- pean countries, HRM departments have to cooperate with works councils, which influence companiesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ management thinking.HRM has the role of developing and defining human working processes fai rly an d prov iding for capability-oriented working conditions. Germany’s political debate about the consequences of capital- ism in 2005 shows the need for companies to act and communicate on the basis of consistent and balanced argumentation. HRM needs executives who are familiar with developments going on in a society, shifts in cultural values and behavior. To be competitive in global markets, many organizations reduce staffing levels and change to automated processes to lower costs.Beyo nd this, h owever, more pro- gressive ret ailers, s uch as Carrefour, M ETRO G roup and Wal-Mart, have ex – panded their offerings: they have i nvested heavily in new product ranges, new trading f ormats, and joint v entures, o r i n shapi ng an d spreading t heir bra nds. Merely cutting investments, e. g. , in the sales force, or opening stores around the world per se i s not enough to meet the demands of the new retail age. A clear strategy, stable and IT-supported processes, and correct allocation of financial and management resources are needed for international success the future. Globalization of SourcingSourcing from overseas vendors gathered momentum with the conclusion of trad- ing agreements with, for example, the Peop le’s Republic of China and grants of ‘favored nation’ status. Manufacturing’s importance has decreased enormously in most W estern countries since the em erging Asi an â€Å"t igers† a nd l ess expensive Eastern European manufacturers began to dominate the supply of goods, espe- cially, nonfood goods, to the industrialized countries. Consequently, in the West, distribution has become one of t he most promising sources of improved margins as new technology drives down the cost of logistics.However, with globalization of sourcing, it has become imperative to develop special strategies to enable the headqu arters workforce to be aware of international processes, markets, and com- petitors. Further, domestic retail companies anywhere have to also stay on top of emerging global trends. Companies that plan to enter new foreign markets have to carefully consider local cultures, religious values, and national laws in developing their new market entry strategies. All the developments mentioned above are stron gly interrelated.Retail man- agement and HRM have to jointly examine all these change s to m ake adequate and appropriate adaptations to organizational structures, systems, and processes. Changing Role of HR Departments HR departments—originally called payroll departments, then relabeled staff man- agement, followed by another m etamorphosis to personnel and then to human resource management—have been in the vanguard of change management in re- New Challenges in Retail Human Resource Management 261 tailing. Many companies have recognized that HRM is an essen tial componen t in achieving long-term success, and not just a means of recruiting workers.Areas such as the recruitment process, selection, induction, retention, performance moni- toring and evaluations, staff training, development and motivation. Decision mak- ing, and re-sourcing for expansion will continue to demand the professionalism of HRM workers. Personnel in different kinds of businesses have to adapt and change in response to emerging trends. The international HRM professional has to think globally, while rem aining ab le t o fu lfill lo cal asp irations. This i dea is based on Geert Hofstede’s theory of cultures. He turned the well-known slogan, â€Å"Think globally, act locally† into: â€Å"Act g lobally, think locally. A major task of th e international HRM professional is to provide expertise in terms of interpretations of the local laws and working practices, so as to offer practical steps for successful operation of the international retailer. Building the Future à ¢â‚¬â€œ HRM Challenges for Retailers Retailing means working in a g lobal con text but sim ultaneously adjusti ng to local needs. We describe below some international challenges to HRM in retail which are connected with national and local requirements. As mentioned above, major retail com panies have decided to invest globally to en sure greater po ten- tial for sustainable growth.Several ret ailers have identified internationalization as a huge oppor tunity for growth. In 2006, about 50 % of the METRO Group’s employees work ed ou tside Germany. Th e Am erican retail g iant Wal -Mart, France’s Carrefour, and United Kingdom’s Tesco are thr ee more organizations that are aggressively pursuing international expansion. This immediately gives rise to qu estions that require answers in every ar ea of operati on. An swering these questions is key to successful transformation of a national business model into an international one.HRM strategy builds on the business stra tegy of the firm. The HR persons in charge have to be b usiness partners for management, providing strategic and practical operational solutions in the form of HR concepts or staffing solutions based on thorough know ledge of the bu siness. Wal -Mart’s initial attempt at expansion in Germany failed—as did Marks and Spencer’s—because neither of these companies appreciated the nuances of German retail culture, underestimat- ing local competition and, especially, the price sensitivity of German customers.Carrefour’s for ays i nto the United Kingdom lik ewise end ed with a strategic retreat. As long ago as in 1989, Dawson stated that: â€Å"Retail is a response to cul- ture†Ã¢â‚¬â€and the HRM function plays a c rucial role in assisting corporate man- agement understand and adapt to local cultures. For example, UK consumers’ resistance to th e use of self- scanners p rovided b y some retailers to r educe queues at checkou ts might have be en anticipated by HR managers interacting with local employees. 262 Julia Merkel, Paul Jackson, and Doreen PickStrategic Tasks of HRM: Key strategic tasks of human resource management of an international retailer include: ? Assisting the retailer’s top managers who work well over 60 hours a week negotiating myriad complex issues in a competitive marketplace, cope with stress arising from quick changes, fierce competition, cost pressures, time management problems, and the need to make quick decisions. ? Keeping up to date with continuously developing technology and being able to optimize its usage so as to achieve the right balance between pro- ductivity gains and service gains.HR needs to find answers to the follow- ing question: How much technology can customers and the workforce han- dle in the store? ? Dealing with demography, e. g. , an aging workforce in Western Europe but predominantly young and inexperienced employees in other areas of the world, such as Asia and the M iddle East. Strategically, this poses one of the hardest challenges for HR professionals who are required to recruit and develop t alented st aff, offer t raining f or all age gr oups, ens ure a well- balanced age structure, and build up a working climate enabling employees of all ages to buy in and show suitable results. Cross-cultural recruiting and training: All cultures have their own unique practices and emphases, some of which are obvious while others are more subtle and harder to detect. HR departments need to be able not only to of- fer advice and professional preparation to local managers but also ensure that individuals appointed to these positions are aware of company policies as well as sensitive to the local culture. That is, in international settings, in- dividuals need both a common language and intercultural sensitivity. Identifying and retaining highly qualified, highly motivated individuals ready for international management appointments: The role of HRM is to prov ide an international assignment policy that takes into account individual prob- lems of expatriates, works around and supports family integration abroad. Operational Tasks of HRM: Some key HRM tasks that have to be fulfilled to enable the workforce to meet the needs of customers nationally and internationally include: ?Reshaping and r estructuring the workforce so as t o broaden their e xperi- ence by the acquisition of n ew skills: Developments like automatic stock replenishment, new methods of conducting transactions, and alterations to the way goods are displayed, have increased retailer employee training re- quirements. Also employees must learn to serve increasingly litigious con- sumers wh ile main taining h igh productivity wh ich is essen tial in h igh- volume, l ow-margin e nterprises.P rofessional human reso urce m anagers must train employees on how to balance these oft-conflicting demands for high staff-productivity and great customer service. New Challenges in Retail Hu man Resource Management 263 HR Challenges General Conditions ?Company Strategy ?Added Value Management ?Change Management ?Recruitment and Retention ?Employability and Lifelong Learning ?Corporate Governance ?Technology / IT Infrastructure Fig. 1. Challenges and General Conditions for HRM ? The critical resource of most businesses is no longer financial capital, but rather their employees (Barber, Strack 2005).Consequently, identifying and gathering the data for human capital valuation and assessment of the return on human resource investments is an important task for HR managers. ? HRM itself must develop, moving from being a ‘personnel’ department to its new role as a strategic business partner and building the basic structural foundation that will enable companies to organize and optimize their return on human resources. The emerging trends that persistently need HR attention currently include some of the areas discussed below.We m ake a di stinction between HR chal lenges and general conditions (Figure 1). In the case of HR challenges HRM has direct influ- ence, while general conditions are contingencies within which HRM has to oper- ate. This list is not exhaustive, but looks at some selected current trends and needs. Current HR Challenges ? Company Strategy. HRM has to adapt its entire program to the company’s overall vision and strategy. It is known that organizations with good human capital management generally create substantially more shareholder value than other companies.The significance of human capital is especially visi- ble in the case of a merger. The success of a merger depends much more on the competencies of the staff and m anagement than on other aspects, such as finance, IT, and production. Hax and Majluf (1991) feel that it is there- fore essential for well-planned practices and highly efficient HR functions to be aligned with the business of the company concerned. An HR strategy must be ‘com prehensive’ in the sense of addressing all the different per- sonnel and HR activities central to the long-term development of the firm’s businesses.HRM departments have to conceptualize and structure business 264 Julia Merkel, Paul Jackson, and Doreen Pick plans with detailed operations extending from the current to the future state of strategy, organization, and action. These must be based on the organiza- tion’s mission and common values. ? Added Value Management. This confronts HRM with the critical q uestion of what actions add m easurable value to the business. There is less cer- tainty about the central direction and more about committed management setting the right tone within the organization for defined values to flourish.Commitment in the form of personal engagement and belief in the organi- zation and its concepts is important. HRM has to support this by elaborat- ing concepts and criteria for their evaluation, some of which should be re- vised annually. The following behavioral aspects of the workforce should be included in the HRM concept: ? Personal Honesty and Integrity ? Self-Motivation and Entrepreneurial Style ? Ability to Communicate the Values and Benefits ? Encouraging Others to Want to Work with the Company and Share its Values; Pride in the Company Training and Developing, Coaching, and Mentoring ? Change Management. The most important drivers for change are globaliza- tion, technology, and a workforce that is in creasingly knowledge-based. Ulrich has stated that there is a need to redefine firms’ performance less in terms of cutting cost and more in terms of profitable growth (Ulrich 1997). Managers have to be able to make changes happen of their own volition and also to support the company in its drive for sustained success. Manag- ers have to be able to empower their own staff.Moss Kanter (1989) states that it is only through true empowerment that staff will really contribute to the changing needs of a busi ness, since they will then be doing things be- cause they understand them and for the right reasons, thinking and reflect- ing on the changes and t heir likely impact, and above all feeling at ease with the implementation of change. Change management recognizes the need to reflect on t he manager’s role in the management of cha nge, the identification of problems, and the ability to make changes in either a pro- grammed or a no nprogrammed manner.HRM has to take accoun t of the risks required for the achievement of change in the company. ? Recruitment and Retention. Employee recruitment and selection is one the most vital HR functions. However, the retail industry is faced with difficul- ties in attracting highly educated people. Nonetheless there is a po sitive trend for change. The challenge for HRM is to show the attractiveness of the retail sector a nd ensure that appropriate training and careers are avail- able, so that this sector can take a leading place in t he competition for availab le talent.Retail has recently been promoting opening up access to its workforce by declared rejection of discrimination on the grounds of gender New Challenges in Retail Human Resource Management 265 or race, and, lately, also by employing more elderly persons. It is also nec- essary to build up programs for part-time workers. The ability to value di- versity within the workforce is a strength, provided that this is backed up by continuous training and correctness. Many organizations run courses on this aspect, usually under the title of ‘Inc reasing Self-awareness,’ as t he ability to understand one’s impact on others is a powerful skill.Next, reten- tion focuses on the goal of keep well-performing staff in the company. This depends not only on interesting work, fair compensation, and a motivating climate and management culture, but also on transparent and achievable ca- reer paths combined with a supportive management that provides guidance. ? Employability and Continuing Education. This is a major area of challenge to most employers, but especially those who employ large numbers of staff, as retailers do. Staff have to take retraining in order to adapt to a constantly changing external environment.It is a question of mind-set, working envi- ronment, and attitude towards self-responsibility. The future will be charac- terized by the following needs, amongst others: ? The need to handle increasing complexity. ? The need f or co ntinual enh ancement of th e ma nagement skill sets known as ‘Life-Long Learning,’ i. e. the ability to adapt to changing en- vironments, challenges and technology. ? The need for a positive attitude to newly emerging opportunities: Manag- ers themselves have to become life-long learners.This is of particular im- portance to the changing generations. The process can be aimed, for ex- ample, at obtaining further business qualifications, such as an M BA, a marketing diploma, or HRM qualifications, or atte nding training courses on key skills, such as lead ership, or personal development workshops. Some universities are now of fering master’s degree courses on wor k- based learning in which projects are directly related to the learning envi- ronment of the individual s tudent’s workplace.Analysis of actual workproblems can be counted as a credit toward an MA o r an MSc. Classroom training fostering positive acceptance of new structures, top- ics, and technologies is necessary. ? The need to communicate regularly and precisely, and transmit meaning and values: While the company will provide support, it will be the indi- vidual managers who have to ‘drive’ their own learning and that of others in periods of intense change, often using technology such as video con- erencing or E-l earning/blended learning to pursue their studies. HRM needs to consult with managers on how best to use modern methods. ?The need for creative management: This can be the way to bring new insights into common view or to introduce new issues as an area for the HRM specialist to develop. Many managers are locked into their own reality or their own version of their world, allowing themselves to be trapped into a mind-set of either success or self-perpetuating failure. One 266 Julia Merkel, Paul Jackson, and Doreen Pick f the keys to successful business growth is for managers not to allow themselves to be trapped in a ‘psychic prison’ (Morgan 2001) of t heir own making, causing them always to see retail in one dimension only. Current General Conditions ? Corporate Governance. The recent case of Enron and the difficulties faced by retailers such as Sainsbury suggest that the governance of these organi- zations was grossly at fault in permitting the excessive amounts of power vested in their chief executive officers (CEOs).The nonexecutive directors seem to have abdicated their duties in not restraining the CEOs in their riskier schemes. Expansion, absolu te power, soaring costs, and misinterpre- tation of facts and figures appear to have gone unchecked and a tacit acqui- escence to have been entered into, presumably with the goal of presenting stakeholders with a picture that was m ore positive than the reality. As th e impact of the backlash is always difficult to predict, it is likely that HR di- rectors will become more closely involved in the careful examination of candidates’ integrity and suitability for high office.It is likely that this will slow t he decision-making process within t he board e nvironment, b ut i t might be a small price to pay for a more responsible environment acting in the best interests of all parties. HRM needs to motivate the entire staff of their company, to observe and evaluate the ‘political’ situation within the company, and to react in a n appropriate way that ca n influence the re- tailer’s level of success. HRM has the opportunity, and therefore the duty, to influence national and international codes of corporate governance. ? Technology/IT Infrastructure.In some of the ne w and emerging m arkets management has to decide whether to implement a total system with all branches totally aligned with the parent company. It can be prohibitively expensive for a branch at the periphery of the organization to lock into a global IT infrastructure that is geared to operations in Western countries where labor costs are very much higher. Retailers operating internationally rely on com mon platforms and IT structures; the decision to be m ade is when is the time right for investments? A major change in retailing in the future will be the worldwide use of RFID technologies.The success of the METRO Group in developing and running their â€Å"Future Store† in R heinberg as a tigh tly controlled experi- ment has ha d a strong impact on t he application of new technologies in ‘real business,’ since METRO Group has shared the results with industry and with its wholesalers, as well as its IT and logistics providers (see, e. g. , chapter by Kalyanam, Lal a nd Wolfram in this book). The scientific re- search involves customers’ reactions to the new shopping methods, and possibly also staff training in the use of intelligent technologies and intro- ductions to available information and changing processes for customers.New Challenges in Retail Human Resource Management 267 In conclusion, there has been, and continues to be, a great deal of activity sur- rounding staff appraisal. The management of progression, or performance moni- toring, continues to exercise HRM professionals, who wish it to be as fair as pos- sible to individuals, but also want the company to obtain maximum benefit from the exercise. While the strategy should be systematic, it also needs to be continu- ous, with a fully im plemented set of key me trics.A full look at each individual’s future, which can be a position as well as a set of personal go als, should be carried out at regu lar intervals. HRM professionals must ensure that line managers can perform this function. Next, we discuss approaches that address current HR challenges in retailing. HR Challenges General Conditions ?Company Strategy ?Added Value Management ?Change Management ?Recruitment and Retention ?Employability and Life-long Learning ?Corporate G overnance ?Technology/ IT Infrastructure Structure Motivation Fig. 2.Approaches to Challenges and General Conditions for HRM Approaches to HR Challenges in Retailing Practice Building up and Keeping Motivation As indicated in Figure 2, HRM has to en sure that the workforce is motivated and trained to satisfy consumers’ needs. Retailers have to develop the employee value proposition. This means an attractive position with the fulfillment of employee needs and expectations and achievement of a go od, unique image in terms of re- cruiting and keeping human capital. We list below some approaches to retaining an adequate sales force. HR quality cannot be assured without investment.Such investment has to be justified in economic terms and must therefore be constantly monitored: ? Planning the HR costs and expenditures for the annual business budget and forecasts ? Supplying key data needed for planning the workforce at all levels and providing benchmark data on key performance indicators, such as average working hours per store opening hour, turnover per w orking hour, profit per working hour 268 Julia Merkel, Paul Jackson, and Doreen Pick ? Elaboration of systems to measure the work involved in and results of HRM (training investment per employee, rate of internal job placements, etc. ? Providing common and communicated values of the com pany to give the workforce a strategic framework and common mind-set ? Creating a transparent internal job market ? Offering the staff a perspective for the future and clear career paths ? Flexible models of working times, such as part-time working concepts , an- nualized hours contracts, and balancing of profession and family with the aid of sabbaticals ?Ensuring adequate processes, tools, and budget to allow for members of the workforce to achieve their objectives and ambitions Continuing education of ex ecutives and employees within actual training programs and a corporate university ? Training the workforce in soft skills and mentoring to ensure proper align- ment of their values with the company’s values and beliefs ? Initiation of an employee suggestion/inquiry system to improve the process of cooperation ? Recruitment of talented graduates from exchange programs with universi- ties worldwide ? International education within internal exchange programs, with p artici- pants from different countries ? Apprenticeships and e ducations in new professions to build up t he best workforce Sharing company success with e mployees (incentive systems at all sta ff levels, based on parameters that are accessible to employees) ? Offerin g fringe benefits, such as discounts for shopping at the employer’s stores, company cars, equity programs, retirement arrangements, company nursery/kindergarten, and other social benefits. The Future of HRM and Final Remarks Most employees spend a substantial amount of time at work. Some people there- fore consider their job decisions on joining a retail company or some other indus- try in the cont ext of social environment.HRM has to kee p an eye on s uch con- straints, as the retail trade is anxious to attract the best employees. Future HRM will concentrate on supporting management and workforce and outsource admin- istrative tasks to contractors. In future, there will be more intensive collaboration New Challenges in Retail Human Resource Management 269 and networking with external parties. New professions in retail, such as that of IT specialist, are developing. HRM must also place greater emphasis on ethical work- ing conditions, safer working environments, and equal-opp ortunity policies (end- ing sex/age discrimination, inclusion of minorities, etc. . In any company, HRM has to build up trust and commitment among all persons working in that organiza- tion. Continued reliance on traditional processes is d efinitely no longer a recipe that pr omises much success. HR m anagement has t o a ssure fast a nd market- oriented actions that are appropriate to complex market situations. HRM will have to set priorities on the HR strategy and its realization, but will be viewed on the operational side more in the role of a serv ice center. In future, the issue of management development will gain even greater importance.To sum up, HRM has to be aligned with the business strategy of the company, to work in keeping with all of its corporate objectives, and to be prepared not only to help in implementing all changes necessary but also to instigate and be at the vanguard of change programs. Further, HRM should be aware of employee inter- ests within the organizatio n yet conscious of its place as the ‘power house’ when controversial business decisions, such as downsizing, have to be implemented. Lastly, it plays a key role in ensuring that constant retooling and retraining takes place in the operation to meet ever-evolving challenges.Life-long learning should be an integral part of any business, to enable it to respond to its rivals’ activities with fresh initiatives within the company. HRM specialists have to ensure the long-term performance of â€Å"their† retail or- ganizations. It is a big challenge for HRM to meet the future needs, and the task is wide ranging. How well HR managers perfo rm th eir fu nction will determin e whether a reta iler registers a sustainable success in the future. We have tried to show in this chapter the comprehensive and central role of HRM in retailing.Re- tail has been and will continue to be an exciting field of business throughout the world. The main function of the retail sector i s to wo rk with and for people all over the world, so that retail has the chance to give people interesting and fulfill- ing workplaces.References Barber, F. and Strack, R. (200 5): The Surp rising Economics of a â€Å"People Business†, in: Harvard Business Review June 2005, pp 81-90. Davies, G. (1999): The Evolution of Marks and Spencer. Service Industries Journal. 19, 3, 60-73. Dawson J. A. (2001): Strategy and opportunism in European retail internationalisation Brit- ish Journal of Management, 12, 253-266. Dawson, J. A. (2000): Retailing at Century End: some challe nges for management and re- search. International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 10, 119- 148. Gilbert, D. (2003): Retail Marketing Management, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall. 270 Julia Merkel, Paul Jackson, and Doreen Pick Hax, A. and Majluf, N. (1991): The Strategy Concept & Process. A pragmatic Approach, Prentice Hall. Mellahi, K. , Jackson T. P. and S parks, L. (2002) : An explor atory stu dy into failure of a successful organisations: the case of Marks and Spencer, British Journal of Man age- ment, 13, 15-29. Morgan G. (2001): Images of Organisation Sage, London Moss Kanter R. (1989): When giants Learn to Dance Simon & Schuster, London Seth, A. and Randall, G. (1999): The Grocers: the rise and rise of the supermarket chains, London: Kogan Page, Social Science Research, 24, 28-62. Ulrich, D. , Losey, M. R, Lake G. editors (1997): Tomorrow’s HR Management New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Ulrich, D. (199 7): Human Resources of the Future: Conclusions and Observ ations, in: Tomorrow’s HR Management, edited by Dave Ulrich, Michael R. Losey et al. , 354-360, John Wiley & Sons.

Gun Control Essay

Under federal law people with felony convictions, fugitives from justice, dishonorably discharged from the military, illegal aliens in the United States, or convicted of domestic violence, and restraining orders are permitted from purchasing firearms. This also includes the purchase of firearms using false statements. According to (May, 2005) â€Å"a police officer found guilty of domestic violence was reissued his firearm, because the judge stated the conviction created a manifest injustice†. This illustrates how judges in certain situations overrule the domestic violence laws, which are federally regulated. This reasoning can avoid police officers in this case from losing their firearms and their employment. This can also lead to a judge’s decision to continue to put citizens in danger. Restricting gun access can decrease homicides by firearms. Some private dealers legally sell guns at gun shows, and do business from their homes without proper background checks. This result can lead to convicted felons and suspected terrorists purchasing firearms without a background checks. Imposing harsher sentencing on illegal gun dealers, who distribute firearms without background checks, can impact they way firearms are being distributed. This would also provide for safer streets. Prior to transferring a firearm for purchase, The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) does a background check on all person(s) prior to purchase. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) accesses the (NICS), which determine if a person(s) who are prohibited from purchasing a firearms. The effect of illegally purchasing firearms is that, the firearms end up in the hands of criminals. This subsequently leads to firearms used in serious crimes, which causes harm and ultimately resulting in the death of a person(s) and at times innocent bystanders. This also affects the way law enforcement does their jobs to protect the public. The National Rifle Association (NRA) opposes gun control. The (NRA) views gun control as a violation of the Second Amendment, which state, â€Å"A militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed†. Firearms protect citizens from harm and even life threatening situations. The firearms purchased legally by honest American citizens, to protect themselves and their properties can deter crime and save lives. As a deterrent to violent crimes, American citizens who have purchased firearms legally have deterred crime against themselves, and their property. This has also prevented citizens, who carry firearms legally from becoming victims of serious violent crime and saving their lives thwarting of attacks. Gun control provides safety to citizens. Communities are safer places knowing that responsible American citizens are purchasing firearms legally. Not all people who purchase firearms use them to protect themselves and their property. Some people legally use firearms for the sport of hunting during certain times of the year, which is legal. Hunting related deaths by firearms are statistically are lower, than firearm related homicides each year. The people who purchase firearms legally provide positive reinforcement to public safety. The benefit of having safety features on firearms is that safety features save lives, and prevent accidental deaths. In regard to children who stay in homes where firearms are located, there are immediate dangers that present themselves. One of the dangers is that young children do not know the difference between a real firearm, and a fake firearm. Some young children are strong enough to pull a trigger. According to the (CDC, 2004) â€Å"accidental shooting deaths are most commonly associated with one or more children playing with a gun they found in the home†. Safety is very necessary, for those people who have firearms around young children to teach, and practice safety precautions. There is the need to teach safety precautions even if people do not own a firearm. Young children may need to know the dangers of firearms where ever they go. There is a possibility that they may encounter a firearm at someone else’s home. To ensure the protection of children, certain safety measures need to be under consideration. All firearms should be safely secured, and locked up. Firearms should not be accessible to children or other unauthorized personnel. The ammunition needs to be stored, and securely locked up properly. The use of trigger locks can also provided for safety. Some gun manufacturers, such as Smith and Wesson are providing safety features on their firearms. The additional safety feature would include childproof trigger locks on firearms. This is an additional form of safety for gun owners with children in their homes. This can also lead to a decrease in injuries and accidental deaths amongst children. The National Rifle Association (NRA) opposes additional safety features on firearms. The (NRA) argues new legislation laws on additional safety features, means the federal government will add more restrictions, and regulations for safety features. This would ultimately put some gun manufacturers out of business. This would also cause extra burdens for law-abiding citizens who seek to buy and sell firearms. The (NRA) also argues the new legislation laws would infringe on the â€Å"Second Amendment†, and the right for law-abiding citizens to bear arms. The impact on the homicide rate from firearms, can attest to the dangers caused by firearms being illegally purchased. The illegal use of firearms can increase the homicide rate. When criminal minded individuals can access guns illegally, the outcome of that purchase usually results in someone getting injured or being killed by that firearm. The deaths from firearms are rear in some countries compared to the United States. This can be a result of the population in other countries or the gun laws. However, the United States has seen a decrease in homicides by firearms. This can attest to new legislation laws being passed, strict regulations on gun manufacturers, and gun being kept from criminals by way of proper screening through database in which The Federal Bureau of Investigations, State police, and local authorities have access to. The rate of suicides and accidental deaths from the use of firearms attribute to gun not being securely stored in house-holds. There were over 31,000 firearm deaths in the United States in 2005. Firearms deaths were at an all time high in 2005. [pic] The (CDC, 2005) concludes that â€Å"suicide remains the highest cause of death by firearms†. According to (Hemenway, 2007) â€Å"One of the strategies for reducing firearms suicides is the removal of the firearm from the home, where there adolescents, and young adults. Children are also victims of accidental gun deaths. This can also be attributed to excessive guns in the communities and areas where children frequent such as schools, and playgrounds. The impact of firearm safety and training is also important in reference to saving lives. There are numerous gun training and safety organizations to help the law abiding citizens, with gun safety or self defense. Some organizations include the National Rifle Association (NRA), and Front Site Firearm Training Institute. Since firearms injuries affect children and teenagers classes are taught to children. This would help the children learn the dangers of guns and to stay away from guns. This would also help children identify and report any guns found or not safely secured. The increase in firearm deaths amongst children is on the rise. The lack of awareness can be fatal to children not aware of the dangers of gunplay. Volunteer training can also can decrease firearm incidents. Firearm related incidents have an impact on health care. According to (Beasley, Theodore March 2006) â€Å"firearms injuries are a major public health issue, with a significant impact on society in both economic and human terms†. The medical cost of gun violence put a burden on health service providers. The effect factors in mental health, rehabilitation, legal, and judicial cost. The cost of gun violence in the United States can range from 100 billion dollars annually. Gun control provides for safer schools and communities. In the wake of the Columbine shooting, and the shooting at Virginia Tech laws are being passed to make sure schools are safe for students to attend, and communities are safe for people to live in. To ensure communities and schools are safe, communities have to be a part of the process. This may include groups such as neighborhood watch, to report any illegal activity observed in the community or around schools especially where children frequent. Illegal activity such as drug dealing poses a high risk to children. This can attest the gun being involved which are used to protect drug dealers and their turf, which is ultimately the community the children play in. There are also gangs that factor into illegal activities. These gangs also protect the neighborhoods or turfs with guns. The dangers involved result in drive by shootings, which can injury or kill innocent individuals. They also recruit young children to participate in these gangs. This also exposes children to illegal activities, which include giving young adolescents firearms to protect themselves from rival gang members and to protect their turf. These high crime areas continue to involve individuals who obtain firearms illegally. Some poverty stricken neighborhoods see an increase in firearm violence, due to the environmental surroundings. This would include public housing projects, and other low income housing areas surrounded by drugs, prostitution, gangs, and illegal gun activity. These neighborhoods see an increase in violent crimes by firearms, such as assaults, robbery, and murder. This can also attest to the young adolescents that bring firearms to school. The men and women of law enforcement are also at risk against legally obtained firearms. This is because suspected criminals can be armed and dangerous. The dealers, who sell firearms without proper screening, put the public’s safety at risk. Law enforcement officers are not equipped for the type of gun power these criminals’ possess. Some criminals possess assault weapons, which are military style weapons. If the weapons get into the wrong hands of criminals, these weapons can impose at grave risk to law enforcement, often putting law enforcement in grave danger trying to protect the public. There are law enforcement officers that have die at the hands of firearms. This is a result of handguns and assault weapons being purchased by criminals. Law Enforcement deaths by firearms since 2005 [pic] National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund (2008) The law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty has declined since 2007. Law enforcement agencies adopted new safety measures to assure law Enforcement were better equipped to apprehend suspected criminals who carry deadly firearms. Do Americans citizens want guns illegally circulating in their community? Individuals and criminals purchase guns illegally every day.

Platos Philosophy in Apology - 1375 Words

PHL202H5 Plato s Philosophy in Apology Plato was known to be one of Socrates students, and knew him for over 40 years. Although Plato s version of Apology is popularly believed to be (the most accurate) historical recount of what happened in 399 B.C on the day of Socrates trial, historians cannot be sure the validity of everything he wrote. It can be argued that it is actually a philosophical work, remarking on the teachings of Socrates and his beliefs, which he stood by even until his death. Plato does attempt to develop a new mission for philosophy through this text. By writing Apology, Plato hopes to inspire deeper thinking amongst everyone. There are three main themes in Apology that seemed to show Plato and Socrates †¦show more content†¦Only after we accept our faults, can we go out and teach others. The only way to be wiser is to accept that neither of us know anything fine and good (21d). Socrates, when faced with the death penalty, goes back to the issue of knowing. He is not afraid of death because fearing death is nothing other than thinking one is wise when one isn t, since it s thinking one knows what one doesn t know. (29a) Because death is part of what we don t know, it could be neither positive nor negative. Many demigods gave up their lives for virtue, to fight for what they believed in. Socrates says he would rather follow in their footsteps; that death is better than having to be afraid of living as a bad man (28d). This philosophy on death makes us think that we cannot ever imagine what we don t know. It s argumentative whether it s unreasonable to fear the unknown, as fear is a human driven emotion. It can t really be compared to thinking one is wise when one isn t, because its knowledge does not lead to immediate engagement. Socrates perhaps readily accepts his fear of death, yet he has not fully vanquished it. The Virtuous Life vs The Unexamined Life Plato s perhaps greatest mission in making people realize what philosophy is lies in Socrates speech ....if I say it s the greatest good for a man to discuss virtue every day, and other things you ve heard me discussing and examining myself and othersShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Platos Apology On The Man Of Save The Day, But Not Himself1285 Words   |  6 PagesHimself An Analysis of Plato’s Apology Socrates, painted as a humble man who never had any of his own writings, and often speculated to be illiterate, is considered one of the major partisans of Western philosophy. Western philosophy is the philosophical thought of the western world. This idea proves to be quite accurate when considering Plato’s Apology, the apology of Socrates which is not really considered an apology but a defense. In the ancient Greek era, the word apology meant to defend one’sRead MoreSocrates will Refuse the Jurys Decision1397 Words   |  6 PagesDuring Socrates’ defense against Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon in Plato’s Apology, Socrates states that he will refuse the jury’s decision, regarded as the Law of Athens, if the court were to acquit him on the basis that he stops practicing philosophy. However, later in Plato’s Crito, Socrates explains he cannot escape from prison due to the laws of Athens and thus adheres to the jury’s decision of a death sen tence. Despite appearing to contradict himself, Socrates is actually not contradicting himselfRead MoreThe Big Three Ancient Greek Philosophers1107 Words   |  5 Pagesare philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. These two philosophers are regarded as two of what some call the Big Three of Philosophy. â€Å"Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. You can’t begin a study of world philosophy without talking about these guys: the Big Three ancient Greek philosophers†(Cohen). Aristotle was Plato’s student, and the remaining member of the Big Three was Plato’s teacher, Socrates. Socrates is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in history. This assumption coming from DialoguesRead MoreUnderstanding Philosophy and Its Benefits1194 Words   |  5 PagesUnderstanding Philosophy and its Benefits By: Anonymous Understanding Philosophy and its Benefits 1 Many of Plato’s dialogues such as the Euthyphro, Apology, Crito and Phaedo are based upon the same reoccurring theme, the defense of the study of philosophy. Plato’s dialogues notable for their depth in a relatively narrow framework, attempt to argue the benefits of philosophical reasoning through essence, knowledge and truth. To understand the benefits of philosophy one must pose the questionRead MoreThe Great Philosopher728 Words   |  3 Pageshis grandfather s name, and tradition was that the eldest son would be named after the grandfather. Plato’s father, Ariston, was a direct descendant from kings of Athens and Messina. His mother, Perictione, was a descendant of an athenian statesman named Solon. Due to his parents having high political statuses, Plato received the best education. In his early years of education he was taught philosophy, poetry, and gymnastics by the philosopher Cratylus. Not only did Plato enjoy learning, he also enjoyedRead MorePlato s Views On Socrates928 Words   |  4 Pageswritings on Socrates came from one of his own disciples, Plato. Plato’s writings are the reason Socrates is historical figure he is today, without them Socrates would have been nothing more than a minor presence (Navia 93). Plato’s writings are classified as either early, middle, or la te. However, only the early writings best portray the real Socrates (Navia 105). These writings include the Euthyphro, Crito, Phaedo, and most importantly the Apology, which discusses the trial and execution of Socrates. SimilarlyRead MoreSocrates’ Philosophy-The Republic And The Apology. Plato1522 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates’ Philosophy-The Republic and The Apology Plato was an Ancient Greek philosopher who lived between 428-432 B.C. He wrote mainly in dialogues, to stay true to how Socrates communicated philosophy. Plato displayed what is considered Socrates’ philosophy throughout the dialogue The Apology. In The Republic, Socrates is mainly used as a mouthpiece to communicate Plato’s philosophy. Socrates follows a philosophy best explained as â€Å"I do not know†, whereas Plato tries to find the ultimate solutionRead MoreEssay about Meno and the Socratic Method1413 Words   |  6 PagesMeno was one of Plato’s earliest of dialogues, written in depth the book is founded around a central question: If virtue can be taught, then how? And if not, then how does virtue come to man, either by nature or some other way? Socrates addresses this inquiry by questioning a person who claims to understand the term’s meaning (Platos Meno). The purpose of this essay is to relate the Socratic method performed by Socrates in P lato’s dialogue The Apology, to Meno, by illustrating its effect on theRead MorePlato And Plato s The Apology1623 Words   |  7 Pagesdriving force for the emergence of philosophy. From early on, individuals realized that the world and many of the things and concepts within the world were inconceivable, which created a desire or love for wisdom. While many were interested in philosophy, pre-Socratic philosophers were more interested in determining how the world worked and its origins/cosmology, as oppose to philosophers such as Plato And Socrates who focused more on ethics or morality. Plato’s conception of God and religion canRead MoreAristophanes’ Clouds a Satyr Play Written in 419 BCE1161 Words   |  5 Pagesa â€Å"friendly critic† of Socrates and warns Socrates to change his ways for Athens and for the good of himself (Whidden). Plato’s Symposium and especially his Apology of Socrates does not discount the claims made in Clouds about the dangers of philosophy and Socrates to the public, even if Plato’s Socrates is less exaggeratedly flawed than the Socrates in Clouds. In Apology, Socrates takes the warning from the Clouds seriously. In Socrates’ speech he disregards the newer charges made against

The Policies Of The Disabled People With Disabilities And...

Policy Stakeholders According to the 2000 U.S. Census, nearly fifty million individuals, one in every five people ages five and older in the United States are living with potentially disabling conditions (United States Census Bureau website, 2012). Because so many Americans are living with a disability, the Americans with Disability Act, enacted in 1990, was a landmark act that reduced many barriers for people with disabilities (Thompson, 2015). However, more needs of the disabled population are being identified. Consequently, more regulatory policy formulation needs to be done to improve the health of people with disabilities and their families (Mason, Gardner, Outlaw, O’Grady, 2016). Various areas of health care, health finance, and nursing practice do not have sufficient policies to deliver affordable care safely, effectively, and efficiently to a disabled population of this size. Scarce resources, changing times, and fluctuations of demographic trends are reasons policies are lacking for the disabled community (Mason et al., 2016). This paper will describe the promotion of a policy initiative, extending the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) to disabled individuals of all ages. A key step in assimilating policy on a public agenda is identifying key stakeholders. As a member of the Rock Island County community ABLE task force, our mission is federal legislation to ease financial strains by the creation of a tax-advantaged savingsShow MoreRelatedThe Development Of The Welfare State And Social Policies1563 Words   |  7 Pagesdevelopment of the Welfare State and Social Policies have been based on assumptions about gender, race, ability/disability and age. Discuss this statement with reference to one of the highlighted issues and illustrate your discussion with at least one area of Social Policy Disability is an umbrella term used to cover impairments, activity limitation and participation restrictions. Disability is not just a health problem but a complex phenomenon (WHO 2015). Disability has been a neglected area of historicalRead MoreSupport Services Available For People Living With Disabilities809 Words   |  4 Pagesavailable for people living with disabilities. It is important these services are in place to ensure disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else. The Equality Act was put into place in 2010 to ‘support the rights of disabled students by giving greater legal protection against discrimination’. (Disability Rights UK, 2012) The act emphasises the legal duty on education providers, employers and service providers to make appropriate changes in order for disabled people to take part inRead MoreThe Promotion Of A Disabled Population Essay1668 Words   |  7 Pagesindividuals, one in every five people ages five and older in the Unit ed States are living with potentially disabling conditions (United States Census Bureau website, 2012). Because so many Americans are living with a disability, the Americans with Disability Act, enacted in 1990, was a landmark act that reduced many barriers for people with disabilities (Thompson, 2015). However, more needs of the disabled population are being identified. Consequently, more regulatory policy formulation needs to be doneRead MoreCommunity Sector Assessment Work1043 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Community Sector Assessment Work Introduction Part A. Values and Philosophies ONE: a) Ensuring the wellbeing of staff, clients and communities suggests policies of safety with a zero tolerance of any kind of aggression; any form of inappropriate behavior by staff is unacceptable; understanding personal and emotional needs of all individuals within the bounds of the services must be respected and maintained; b) community workers must be wholly alert to any and all tensions or hints that somethingRead MoreThe Importance of Education for Children with Disability Essay1464 Words   |  6 PagesEducation and Disability INTRODUCTION The importance of education for all children, especially for those with disability and with limited social and economic opportunities, is indisputable. Indeed, the special education system allowed children with disability increased access to public education. Apart from that, the special education system has provided for them an effective framework for their education, and for the institutions involved to identify children with disability sooner. In turn, thisRead MoreThe Disabled And Mentally Disabled Youth Transitioning For Adults Experience Improper Health Care1024 Words   |  5 PagesMany physically and mentally disabled youth transitioning to adults experience improper health care, usually as a result of socio economic status and/or misdiagnosis by medical professionals. As these children grow to adulthood, the in depth healthcare they received before dwindles, if not already, cuts off completely. The highest rates of this phenomenon are among the disabled children of minoriti es. Predominantly due to the high rate of individuals having no insurance coverage, along with otherRead MoreBenefits Of Private Disability Insurance1624 Words   |  7 PagesI. Private Disability Insurance Is Vitally Important In Ensuring that Employees From All Parts of Society Who Become Disabled Can Maintain Their Quality of Life Through Protecting Their Income. Private disability insurance pays employees a part of their income on a monthly basis if they become disabled and cannot maintain their prior earning capacity. Like Social Security Disability Insurance (â€Å"SSDI†), workers’ compensation, or pension plans, private disability policies are an investment made byRead MoreAcross The Nation Employment Rates Are Holding Steady For1696 Words   |  7 Pagesare holding steady for individuals with intellectual disabilities and no progress is being made to increase those percentages. Disability employee opportunities are not fair and lacking equity. The problem is that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a difficult time trying to receive employment opportunities. There are numerous factors that attribute to the cause of this issue, which include individuals with disabilities can only attain lower wage jobs, discrimination in theRead MoreSociological Research On Physical Disability1398 Words   |  6 P agesnorm-breaking act but instead focuses on how society view people who are deemed as deviant in this case physically disabled and reactions from society whether it is good or bad. Physical disability is when a person lost full or partial loss of their bodily functions. Labelling perspective is still relevant in our society and for society to be able to look beyond the norm breaking; society needs to develop an understanding about the difference between ‘disabilities’. Stigma labels may produce the deviant behaviourRead MoreThe Concept Of Quality Of Life Versus Disability1137 Words   |  5 PagesTHE CONCEPT - QUALITY OF LIFE VERSUS DISABILITY Persons with disabilities are various and heterogeneous, while stereotypical views of disability emphasise wheelchair users and a few other â€Å"classic† groups for example, Blind people and deaf people. Disability includes the kid born with a congenital condition, for example, cerebral paralysis or the youthful trooper who loses his leg to a land mine, the moderately aged lady with severe arthritis, the more seasoned person with dementia, among numerous

The Great War Of World War I - 2218 Words

Even though ‘The Great War’ ended over 100 years ago, people are still arguing about how it all started. Beginning in 1914, and involving over 30 countries, World War One was the first major war to impact the world. Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Serbia could all be considered factors that helped rise World War One. Before the war, countries faced many internal and external conflicts, leading to rising tensions and concern across Europe, and later the world. Out of the many nations who participated in the war, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Serbia seem to have contributed the most to the start of World War One. Whether it was an assassination, irrational demands, or inane ideas, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Serbia were the most†¦show more content†¦This idea, known as social Darwinism, in Austria-Hungary perhaps further strengthened the want by various ethnic groups to leave Austria-Hungary. Additionally, a group which the Austro-Hungarians controlled wer e the Serbs, who were placed under their control after the Bosnian crisis of 1908. In the Bosnian crisis, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, against the approval of Serbia(Bosnian crisis of 1908†). Because Austria-Hungary didn’t have the approval of the Serbians, the connection between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was broken. Serbia was connected to Bosnia and Herzegovina because the countries had ethnic and geographic similarities. It seems likely that these connections limited the conflicts between Serbia and Bosnia, lowering the tension in the Balkan region. However, the annexation by Austria-Hungary created a barrier between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia because the Serbians already had previous hatred for Austria-Hungary. This separation angered Serbia to an extent where Serbia demanded a portion of the annexed land be given to them. Austria declined, and soon after threatened to invade Serbia if they continued with their demands. The threats by Austria-Hungary suggest that they had no fear of creating conflict with Serbia, and would rather anger Serbia than help them. In addition, the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina had previously proved economically prosperous for

A Note on the Arts and Crafts Schools of Germany Essay Example For Students

A Note on the Arts and Crafts Schools of Germany Essay Tive and therefore charming small canvas by D. W. Try on, â€Å"Evening—Septem ber†; J. Francis Murphy shows a small work delightfully interpretative entitled â€Å"Showery Day†; J. Alden Weir is seen at his best in Autumn,† and William Lathrop in â€Å"A Stretch of Salt Marsh land.† Emil Carlsen’s â€Å"Wood Interior† has decorative quality aside from pro nounced beauty both of theme and treat ment; Charles H. Davis’s â€Å"Summer in the Hills† combines classical spirit with modern spontaneity. Among the painters of winter, the interpreters of sunlit frosty air—Schofield, Redfield and Gard ner Symons—are as usual to the fore. Daniel Garber’s prize winning picture shows, not only admirable transcription of the subtleties of light and air, but feeling for design and a fine sense of color. Leonard Ochtman, Willard Met calf, Ben Foster, Bolton Jones and Hobart Nichols send notable canvases. That subject is of less importance than treatment is manifested by two paint ings, one of a â€Å"Sow and Pigs† in a barn yard by Horatio Walker, the other of â€Å"Porpoise† leaping through a wave, by Clifford W. Ashley—each individual in treatment but equally engaging in effect. Excellent examples of still life paint ing are shown. Chase sends another brilliant painting of fish, which almost straightway upon the opening of the ex hibition found a purchaser; H. R. Riten berg, Alice Worthington Ball, Hugh Breckenridge, Carl Schmitt and Aline Solomons each contributes a study which helps to uplift the average of merit. Following the custom of past seasons the Corcoran Gallery has made purchases from this exhibition for its permanent collection acquiring the following seven works before the doors were open to the public: â€Å"My Daughter† by F. W. Ben son, â€Å"Incoming Tide† by R. N.Brooke, â€Å"Woods in Winter† by John F. Carlson, â€Å"Late Autumn Moonrise† by Ben Foster, â€Å"Cape Porpoise† by Chauncey F. Ryder and Autumn† by J. Alden Weir. NOTE ON THE ARTS AND CRAFTS SCHOOLS OF GERMANY Casual American who wanders JL into a room labeled â€Å"Kunst-Gewerbe Schule† in one of the many German in dustrial exhibitions, looks with idle if ad miring eye at the cases of jewelry, etch ings and embroidery, vainly tries to puzzle out the signs on the wall refer ring to â€Å"Metal Arbeit,† â€Å"Druckerei† and Sticherei,† and passes on ignorant of the fact that he has seen the results of one of the most remarkable elements of the complex German school system. The details of this system differ in each of the several cities of Germany, but in the main the plan is the same. It is one which endeavors to select by searching examination young, ambitious and talented artisans, and to train them under instructors of the highest grades of artistic knowledge and technical skill. The time given to this training varies, though it is rarely less than four years, and in some cases is prolonged for six or seven. The candidates come from a variety of sources, many of them from the Craft or Gewcrbe schools, estab lished to train the lads that have al ready had some artistic foundation in schools for â€Å"Lchrling† as apprentices. The Lchrling† schools give a little drawing with the elements of a general education to the apprentice who has left the â€Å"Folk† school at fourteen. The Gewerbc† or Craft school gives much more in the way of artistic workman- ship and practical skill, but it is re served for the â€Å"Kunst-Gcwcrbc† school to take the pick of the young people, those with the keenest artistic sense and ability, and train t hem to produce work of the highest technical order and excel lence. Numbers do not count in these schools—one rarely finds an attendance of more than two hundred or so in the day school and perhaps as many more in special and evening classes, while the faculties are large, often twenty-five to thirty professors and assistants giving lessons at different times throughout the week. Arts And Crafts EssayThe work must be right†Ã¢â‚¬â€ nothing hurried or shabby will pass for an instant. If these things need a week, take a week†Ã¢â‚¬â€what is a week in four years’ training for mastership! So also we shall find affairs in other shop-studios. In the textile room we may see beautiful pieces of embroidery or perhaps a table-cover of charming color and design; in the pottery room, vases of fine shape and line, jars of quaint conceit of form and color—of course made and fired in the school kiln. The professor of the printing arts will show us etchings, dry prints, mezzotints, and lithographs made by his little group of experts, and the professor of sculp ture will exhibit a half dozen projects all in development, or may, as in Vien na, take us out into the public garden back of the school and show the decora tions in â€Å"Calk-Stone made by his pupils. Perchance, we may come to one room where only a couple of students are at work and wonde r whether a course so scantily patronized is considered a suc cess. There we should make the easy error of estimating success in numbers, rather than in fine craftsmanship. A word to the director will set us right. Ah, this course, yes. We have few students with the right talent, but as long as we have one we must have the course. That one may mean much for our art in the years to come. Here is the seed idea of the German Arts-Crafts school. It is a school for the cultivation of the highest taste and skill in the highest type of worker, that worker and state may enjoy the fruits of this deter mined scheme to raise the artistic value of the products of German industry â€Å"yes—that one may mean much for our art in the years to come.† THE COLLEGE ART ASSOCIATION The infant among college societies is the College Art Association, which drew its first breath in Cincinnati last May, developed forthwith a good consti tution and was ready for active work December 27th and 28th, in Pittsburgh. The object of the Association is to pro mote art interests in all divisions of American colleges and universities.† This makes the organization militant rather than reflective, concerned perhaps more with teaching than with research. It is inclined to take for granted its own in terest in things artistic, and to bend its endeavor to arousing a similar interest in others. This is fairly apparent from the na ture of the program presented at Pitts.

Most Annoying Things about Common Blog Post Titles

5 Most Annoying Things about Common Blog Post Titles Blog titles are your first introduction to your reading public. They are your siren call to your potential customers and clients. In a Google search, especially on a small screen, the title – limited in length to a few tens of characters, in many cases – may be all that your reader knows about you before clicking on your link.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Most Annoying Things about Common Blog Post Titles specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, they deserve as much attention and care as every other portion of your blog, website and other elements of your marketing efforts. There exist some really annoying ways to construct a blog title, virtually guaranteed to irritate your audience. You can avoid these by being considerate of your reader’s limited time and aesthetic sensibilities. Misuse of English words The English language is arguabl y the richest world language in terms of vocabulary. Although there are some few concepts that do not have a specific word to express them, these instances are rare. If a writer exerts some effort, the right word, or at least the correct phrase to express almost any concept awaits your finding it. There is thus simply no excuse for the use of the wrong word. This applies as much to blog posting titles as much as it does to more formal types of writing. It is so irritating to see a blog title that was clearly composed with enthusiasm but little in-depth knowledge of the vast range of word choice options. Misuse of English phrases English has many idiomatic phrase constructions that are vivid and instantly evocative of images and ideas. However, as with any idiom, misuse of these phrases is a dead giveaway that the writer is either not literate or not an English speaker. One example of idiomatic constructions that are often (and irritatingly) mistaken is that of colloquial pairs. Phra ses such as ‘prim and proper’, or ‘by and large’, are virtually incomprehensible except as idioms that one simply memorizes. These phrases resist decoding of some of these phrases means that they are risky to use unless one has checked their meaning and applicability. Here again, a less than literate or fluent speaker is likely to ‘come a cropper’, or ‘lay an egg’, to use two phrases meaning make an embarrassing error. What is the solution to the two problems noted above? One is to be literate oneself. This involves reading constantly, and reading high quality material in a variety of fields and genres. Thus, for example, if you are a businessperson, try reading outside the financial press.Advertising Looking for article on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, you should not only cast your eyes on the New York Times Book Review section (or anot her book review source) from time to time (in addition to the business section), but also actually read some of the books that are reviewed. This will expose you to the vocabulary and locutions employed in other areas of study and expertise. With time and increasing breadth of reading, you will be able to distinguish incorrect use of phrases more readily. Another solution is to hire writers who are fluent and competent users of English. This raises its own problem. How do you tell whether someone is a ‘power user’ of English? Well, if you are, yourself, a native speaker, it should be relatively easy. However, even native speakers may have spent more effort in their lives in honing (this is a frequently misused word, by the way) their business or technical skills, than on expository writing. In this situation, or if you are an ESL speaker yourself, it may be necessary to actually run a detailed grammar and word usage check on a sample of a prospective writer’s wor k. If a writing sample comes up clean, that gives you some assurance of this individual’s competence. Overstatement Saying that something is the best, the biggest, the most, is sometimes accurate but more often is just hyperbole. Consider carefully, as well, when making any sort of claim of uniqueness (e.g., ‘we are the only’). If it is not entirely true, and it seldom is, it is simply an irritant to your readers. Just stop and think before asserting that anything is the ultimate of any characteristic. Inaccuracy Your readers have limited time to devote to reading your blog, or any other writer’s. They appreciate being directed accurately to the most relevant topics. If you misstate the topic in the title, you can really turn off your readers. Think about what the content is, rather than what you want to sell, in generating a title. Uncertainty about the subject This can occur when the author does not understand the topic. Alternatively, it can occur when the author faces a nearly impossible challenge; to include the key words that the blog requires, as well as the specific topic of the post. How can you avoid this particular irritation? Be sure that you or your writer understands what the topic is, and don’t insist on overly long key words or phrases.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Most Annoying Things about Common Blog Post Titles specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Your readers deserve to know what exactly you are trying to convey, not just be hit with a mini-sales-pitch. Be correct in your use of language and accurate in describing your blog post, and readers will think kindly of you and your product or service. 5 Golden Rules of Entry Level Resume Writing Hooray for you – you have made it to graduation. You have a degree in hand, and everything that this represents, to offer the world of work. Now, how to launch your career? Along with making p olite networking calls to everyone you know who might be in the position to hire, or be acquainted with someone who can hire; you need to assemble your resume/curriculum vitae. We’ll discuss some ideas for optimizing that effort. You may have been applying for jobs since you were of legal age to work. You may have a list of work experiences that fills several pages already. On the other hand, your first job hunt out of college may be, in fact, your first job hunt. In either case, your resume is your best means communicating how wonderful you are to prospective employers. Employers are receiving masses of resumes these days. While your parents may complain about how hard it was to get an employer’s attention back when they were trying to get their first jobs, your situation is more extreme. Your target employers are getting resumes via email as well as snail mail and personal delivery ‘over the transom’, as the old-school phrase described it. The amount of time that they can dedicate to your individual resume must be measurable in nanoseconds! You need to make the most of your one chance to grab the attention and eyeballs of the person who is making the hiring decision. In everything you do, consider the limited time available to make an impression on your reader. Don’t send out a one-size-fits-all resume – Know your audience: You need to research the organization or entrepreneur the resume is meant to impress. With the help of your computer and a printer, customization is not only possible, but crucial. See above for the reason; limited time on your reader’s part.Advertising Looking for article on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More She/he needs to be able to see how your qualifications are going to help them IMMEDIATELY. The reader should not have to figure this out. Spoon feed them! Connect your qualifications directly to the firm’s mission. The only way to do this effectively is to know the firm, their product, and anything else you can find out, in as much depth as possible. And, no, the effort is not wasted if you do not get that job. This research will stand you in good stead in applying to any similar firm. Don’t undersell yourself – Make the most of what you are: Consider all your good points and everything you have accomplished for inclusion in your resume. What should you include? Things that are legal, which you could discuss without embarrassment with your parents, are good items with which to start. Make a list of all courses you have taken, including non-credit ones. Make another with all your volunteer service, and one listing any experience that paid. List your travel, camps , outside lessons (e.g., violin, fencing, karate), and most especially, your honors. Go deep here, and list everything that could be construed as an award or distinction. List, as well, anything you did as your private passion. Maybe you taught yourself to fish, or knit, or had a garage band. Don’t include trivialities After you have listed everything – EVERYTHING – the real work begins. Your list is valuable and you should keep it. This investment of time you have made is a long-term one. However, you must select from this comprehensive list only the right items to put in each customized resume. For example, the prize you won for raffia work in middle school is not relevant for most office job applications. However, if you are applying to be a camp counselor, this could get you the job! Your embarrassing stint wearing historic colonial costume and demonstrating the crafts of the 1700s and 1800s may not seem immediately useful, but one young lady parlayed that v ery experience into an actual job teaching history. Don’t fib: The internet makes all information shareable – fast. Assume that any assertion you make can and will be followed up on if you receive a serious job offer. Be sure that you have provided enough information to allow your employer to reach someone who can confirm your achievements or at least your dates of employment. This is more important when you are starting out than perhaps later on. Employers are concerned about, among other things, your work ethic, and work habits, because you are just starting out. They cannot infer these things from your resume, and it is fair that they wish to speak with someone who knows you. Just be honest. If you cannot be sure that you will get a good reference, leave that employer or experience out. Don’t overshare: Your personal interests and the people/bands/movies/online games of which you are a fan do not generally constitute relevant information unless such predilect ions have resulted in some tangible achievement. Save such revelations for your social media page, but be careful there as well. Be sure that you have set things up so that only your presentable information is visible. In your resume, be professional rather than cute. Be truthful but not gushing, and toot your own horn. No one else will. Your resume is your best means to this end. 5 Most Annoying Things about Common Blog Post Titles Because blogs have become such a vital part of so many marketing efforts, it is critical that all their constituent parts be appealing and informative. This includes the title. You can avoid alienating your readers if you also avoid annoying them. Of course this is a challenge, given that you have such limited space and such minimal access to your reader’s attention. However, you can reduce your chance of irritating potential customers and clients by eschewing the following all too common errors. Titles that don’t give a clear indication of the subject matter Your readers, customers, clients, supporters, or donors– whatever their reason for coming to your blog post – has very limited opportunity, time, and attention to grasp your topic. They may have less than a second to read your title. They must decide instantly whether this is something they need to read, want to read, have the discretionary time to read, and are willing to invest the time to read. For your part, you have those same pitifully limited fractions of a second to let the reader know why they should click on your post at all. You need to be crystalline and transparent in the way you convey your content. Never mind that you may want to sell a product or service in the title as well. It is very important that your title reflect what the blog post is actually about. Otherwise you risk confusing your readers and potentially losing some who could actually use the substantive information you are providing. You also may make readers resentful bec ause they will feel that although they are being offered an informational blog, they are getting something else instead. Of course, you need to start by knowing what you are trying to convey in order to express it succinctly and accurately in a few words in your title. The technique that this writer uses is as follows: to create the topic sentence as precisely and as truthfully as possible, and then pare this down to the absolute minimum. Titles that are just plain meaningless because of confusion over word usage Have you seen the phrase ‘kick-up’ used where it should be ‘kick-start’? Have you seen the word ‘preponderance’ used where the near-but-not-quite synonym ‘superiority’ would be more graceful and more accurate? Have you seen a blog post title that included the awkward near-miss phrase, ‘going an extra mile’, rather than the more usually seen ‘going the extra mile’? These painful misuses of the Engl ish language trip up the eye and make the brain ache. If you can avoid doing this to your readers and potential clients, do so! There is no secure defense against such mistakes except true literacy. You need to be comfortable with idiomatic English (or whatever language you are using) or hire writers who are entirely at ease with it. There is no reliable substitute. In the absence of a writer who is fully fluent and facile with language, you can fall back on the online guides to grammar and usage. There are grammar checkers as well that cost something in a subscription or a one-time fee, but if you are doing a great deal of blog posting, it may be worth it. Titles that promise the best, the worst, the newest, the most effective, the ultimate – perhaps even including the title of this post! While this title format is tempting, sometimes ineluctably so, it should be kept for only those situations where it is really justified by the facts of the case. Asserting that you have ide ntified the ultimate of whatever item is under discussion, and then just recycling what everyone already knows is a tease for the reader that may result in resentment. Try to be restrained in your claims for your blog posting content. This writer has no hope of convincing anyone not to use this format, but please be forewarned about the risks. Titles that just sell, sell, sell We noted earlier that concealing a sales pitch under the aegis of an information blog posting is irritating. While it is more honest to make the sales purpose of the content explicit in the title, it is nonetheless annoying. Try to respect your readers’ time by offering something they can apply to daily life, rather than merely an advertisement. Titles that are so driven by awkward keywords that they make no sense It is certainly the case that keywords are important, and that they help your readers find you on the World Wide Web. However, an awkward key-phrase is going to really mess up the title thorou ghly. Yes, perhaps someone out there has searched, for example, on the word ‘homeworks’ – why, one has trouble imagining, but apparently someone has done so, and repeatedly enough for it to be detectable by the search engine algorithms. However, trying to include this seldom (if ever) used form of the word in the title is going to guarantee a clunky result (this writer speaks from painful personal experience). The same is true of any odd-ball forms of any word or phrase. If you feel that you must, absolutely must, use a word or phrase that sounds ridiculous, in the title, give yourself or your writer the freedom to work around this literary road block It is critical to not be misled into thinking that blog titles are somehow exempt from the rules for writing that apply elsewhere. Be clear and have integrity in what you put in the title. If you respect your readers’ time in your title, you will garner their attention and, one hopes, their business. 8 Ways t o Add Color to Your Writing Routine Writing for others, expository writing, writing to assignment, writing to a deadline; these are all challenging parts of being a freelancer. When you are creating on schedule, and expressing what someone else needs for you to express, rather than your own feelings or ideas, your writing can become quite mechanical. There is a distressing tendency to fall back on a handful of options for sentence structure or for illustrative phrases when writing under pressure. One assignment begins to sound disappointingly like the next and the previous one. After a while, you may find that your writing is not as interesting as you would like, and that is has become rather flat and grey, with no spark to interest the reader. If you went into writing because you love it (and why on earth else would one do so?) this situation can be depressing. A flattening and washing out of the dimensionality of your writing can also be a handicap in getting new jobs. Your client s want your services because you can grab the reader’s attention. If all they wanted was a mechanical text generator, they could use a piece of software. How can you keep your writing fresh and vivid? Think of your writing routine like your home. You want it to be filled with useful furnishings in beautiful colors in all probability. You want it illuminated well, and appropriately. You want your writing to be the same way, don’t you? You want to get the job done with appealing text, illuminated by useful insights. The best way to add this sort of liveliness to your writing is to be absorbing new and unfamiliar words, phrases, and locutions, drawn from every academic field, and realm of activity and endeavor. You should be expanding your bank of ideas every day, and learning how to use them appropriately. This need not cost an overly excessive amount in terms of money, time, or effort. Learn a new adjective and adverb each day There are dozens of free vocabulary-buildin g websites online. If you access one that you like, this can remain open while you are writing so that you can flip back and forth between your writing project and a screen that explains a new word or phrase. You really learn them thoroughly, and their proper use in real-life sentences. Read a variety of literature There is really nothing better than this approach. Reading is the way to see imaginative combinations of words and vivid metaphors in action. Your goal should be to look at a broad range of writing genres and styles. To accomplish your purpose, you want to be reading way outside your comfort zone and usual areas of interest. For example, if you regularly read the sports page of your favorite newspaper or news blog, find the arts review section, or the book review section, and take a look. (If you find a title there that remotely intrigues you, this is your chance to read a well-recommended book, or an exhibit that is worth visiting – see below.) Alternatively, if y ou read manga for fun, try reading some poetry from the 19th century or before. As you read, note the special terminology used in different fields, whether finance or literary criticism. You can be sure that every field has its own jargon and ways of expressing things. If you pick up on these, you may find ways to use them in your own writing, with care. At the very least, you will see that there is more than one way to say something. Listen to radio in a variety of genres There is wonderful stuff on the radio. If you are in a place that has limited radio, you can stream many radio programs over the internet. Consider Prairie Home Companion, or Le Show, from National Public Media. The BBC has a massive roster of fascinating shows that feature scientific and cultural discussion and use specialized terminology. Watch movies and TV shows that you don’t usually follow Here again, you can hear marvelously varied language in films from varying genres. Police procedurals, courtroom dramas, and wildlife documentaries, in particular, will expose you to specialty jargon. Appreciate visual art Whether you see it in a gallery, in person, or online, there is art available everywhere. The experience of viewing fine art is inspiring, and if you take the trouble to note your impressions of the work, you will be stretching your writing muscles in a fashion that is hard to duplicate. Listen to music This is a similar technique. You may be able to find free concerts, or just listen online to YouTube, but music is also inspiring, in slightly different ways. Again, if you will record your feelings in response to the performance, using words other than ‘awesome’, you will find your image-generating facilities improved. Immerse yourself in nature Nature is overwhelming. If you have any chance to be in touch with things that are green and growing, take it. The experience of nature, no matter how brief, will touch your nervous system in an irreplaceable way. Here a gain, you need to take down your impressions of your contact with the natural world. This exercise will expand your capacities as well. Talk with people whom you don’t usually, perhaps by volunteering Listen to the novel rhythms of their speech and think about how you could apply some of the ways that they use language. Although most people speak in slang and with incorrect grammar most of the time, the expressions that people use can spark ideas and images for you. This infusion of novel linguistic adornments can help to ignite your own creativity, and find expression in your writing. Keep in mind that exposure to new words, phrases, and ways of speaking, is the key to your work being constantly renewed. Use the riches of language around you to inspire new ways of expressing yourself and add color to your writing routine. This article on Most Annoying Things about Common Blog Post Titles was written and submitted by user Selah Vang to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.