Reparations: African Americans Justice Essay

The United States government should pay reparations to African Americans as a means of admitting their wrong-doing and making amends. The damages African Americans have sustained from White America’s policy of slavery have been agonizing and inhumane. Therefore, I am in favor of reparations for African Americans. The effect of slavery has been an enduring issue within the African American community. Many of us are cognizant of the harm racism brought to the African American race, conveyed through slavery, racial segregation and discrimination. African Americans suffered many atrocities, but the greatest damage done to them was the destruction of they’re original identity. African Americans no longer have a native language or any African customs to connect them to Africa. Today, African Americans are connected together because they all share a common foundation-the horrendous experience of slavery-and the great effort to conquer its lingering result. (www. AcedemicLibrary. com) Americans should realize the magnitude of slavery’s consequences on African Americans as a whole. Blacks were brainwashed and stripped of self-esteem and taught to be ashamed of dark color of their skin. Many African Americans have effortlessly tried to advocate â€Å"Black Pride†, trying to re-instill self-worth and being proud of our distinct facial and body features, and darker complexions. African Americans had zilch to begin with after the abolishment of slavery in 1865. Slaves were promised a â€Å"mule/ and 40 acres† and they didn’t live to receive it nor did generations to follow; because the American government has yet to live up to its word. The fruit of the slaves’ labor was stolen from the â€Å"land of the free†. The victims of the White people’s African slave trade never experienced such freedom. This race deserves compensation for the mistreatment Pongee Bryant it has suffered and continues to endure. Paying reparations to the descendants of African American slaves would bring about a tremendous improvement for the advancement of Black America. (Douglass, Fredrick, 1845, Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglass). White Americans have profited from education, life experiences, riches that were handed down by their ancestors. As well, African Americans have been handed down the hardship of race-related issues, poverty, and the unknown history of their past. African Americans have constantly been inflicted with the social status of their low-income level in contrast with that of White Americans. America should be ashamed for their mistreatment of a race that did not ask or even desire to reside in this country. Yet, they still wear their ugly face of racism, and discrimination, and only seek to segregate African Americans, as if they were at fault. Americans may argue Blacks shouldn’t be complaining, whining, and to pull themselves up by their boot straps. Well, Martin Luther King once said â€Å"White America wants us to pull ourselves up from our boot straps, but we don’t have any boots†. (Shuttlesworth, Fred, 1999, A Fire You Can’t Put Out). The U. S. government has a moral responsibility to this race of people to compensate, African American’s because they were denied their heritage, religion, family, and culture. America alleges it is a religious-based country and their faith resides in God. The bible says: â€Å"If a man steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. † This country consistently contradicts itself in the way it wants to be perceived. If America has any belief in God, they should feel an obligation to compensate the African American descendants of slave ancestors. (Exodus 22, Bible). Pongee Bryant White Americans may argue that the country did enough when it passed the Civil Rights Act in 1960. They may also state America has enough resources and equal opportunity for each individual of every race to succeed. However, there is a huge wealth gap in social status among blacks and whites mostly because of oppression, discrimination and racism toward the modern day contemporary black. Whether anybody wants to admit it, there is still a glass ceiling (i. e. ,a status barrier) against African Americans. Reparations would bring African Americans justice and economic power in this country. There are numerous black reparation organizations which could receive the money and distribute it evenly among African Americans, to incorporate black-owned businesses, home ownership, and better education selective for young and old blacks. These reparation organizations could also invest money into smaller black-owned businesses, and other industries that would further the African American race, and ensure a rapid growth of African American middle-class and beyond. (Robert J. Brym/ John Lie, Sociology) The exploitation of African Americans in this country took on many forms through decades. The centuries of slavery in this country laid the foundation of our current relationship to America. From cotton fields to building America’s most significant buildings African Americans have helped build the wealth in this country. Yet, the African American race has endured the most terrorism from the Ku Klux Klan, lynchings, plantation jails, police torture and murder, and poverty. Slavery was a crime against humanity; and it still is in existence in many other ways and forms. America has created a system with, voter discrimination, drugs, and drug sentences to keep the African Pongee Bryant American man enslaved. The government should compensate the African American race and put an end to a never-ending oppression cycle. The government of the United States of America was instrumental in having pressured the German and Japanese governments into the payments of reparations to the people who suffered and survived the crimes and legacy of slavery endured during World War II. The government of the United States has also already paid reparations to the Japanese-Americans who were detained in concentration camps during World War II. America calls herself a fair nation: a civilized country which respects civil and human rights, encourages opportunity for and well-being of all her people, and can be trusted by other nations as a county whom honors her word. Well, America promised African Americans 40 acres and a mule and didn’t live up to her promise. America’s attitude and silence on reparations reeks of hypocrisy. (X, Malcolm, Biography of Malcolm X). America should also pay reparations to African Americans because they consistently want us to labor for their work and take all the credit. For instance America is at fault for African American dead and injured men who served and were drafted in the Vietnam War. America put young black men on the front-line of a war they had nothing to do with nor helped contribute to. America wanted a race that was not yet â€Å"capable† of voting but was competent enough to fight in a war. A race that did not have the option of drinking from any fountain, sitting anywhere on a bus, using any bathroom, however we were fit for fighting. The point is America constantly benefits from African Americans, but refuses to compensate African Americans for their contributions to this country. (www. AcedemicLibrary. com).

Drug Abuse in Africa Essay

Apart from cannabis abuse in northern and southern Africa and khat chewing in north-eastern Africa, the history of drug abuse in Africa is relatively short. The abuse of drugs in Africa is nevertheless escalating rapidly from cannabis abuse to the more dangerous drugs and from limited groups of drug users to a wider range of people abusing drugs. The most common and available drug of abuse is still cannabis, which is known to be a contributing factor to the occurrence of a schizophrenic-like psychosis. The trafficking in and abuse of cocaine and heroin are the most recent developments in some African countries that had had no previous experience with these drugs. Efforts should be made to design and implement drug abuse assessment programmes to determine the real magnitude and characteristics of the problem and to monitor its trends. A lack of funds and a shortage of adequately trained personnel have made it difficult to implement drug abuse control programmes. In addition to formal drug control involving the implementation of legislation, there is an informal system of drug abuse control operating through the family, church, school, neighbourhood and work environment, as well as healthy recreational activities. It is suggested that efforts in African countries should be directed towards strengthening not only the formal drug control system but also informal control in order to compensate for the insufficient funds and the shortage of personnel trained in implementing formal drug control measures. It is very likely that the drug problems in African countries will worsen in future unless more effective measures are implemented to arrest the current situation. Introduction Drug abuse is defined as â€Å"†¦ excessive or inappropriate use of a [psycho-active] substance by a person ; such use being considered or judged to be illegal (immoral) by the culture and resulting in harm to the person or society† [ 1] . In defining the phenomenon , therefore , the key determinant is the perception of society of what constitutes drug abuse. It may be stated in general terms that the socio-cultural values and standards relating to drug abuse in Africa have been weakened by the influence of international developments relating to drug abuse , which have given rise to the change in what society considers abuse. Historical background The irresponsible use of drugs and alcohol by college students has always been an issue for university campuses, but the problem has become more and more frequent and has grown in familiarity with every passing generation. In past years, the problem has not only multiplied in frequency, but has also grown in danger. Now students are abusing not only recreational drugs like Marijuana and Cocaine, but also prescription drugs like Ritalin and others like it such as Adderall. â€Å"As many as 20 percent of college students have used Ritalin or Adderall to study, write papers, and take exams†¦ † (Jacobs 2). Medications like Ritalin are used to provide energy and concentration when a person cannot achieve them through regular means. Students take medication like Ritalin to help them deal with loss of sleep so they can stay up all night to cram and still do well in class. Students are now using similar medications like Adderall that are released over long periods of time so they can keep an energy high throughout an entire day instead of just one or two class periods. On some campuses, if you’re not using Ritalin or Adderall, you are just increasing your risk to fall behind. As one Columbia student said, â€Å"If you don’t take them, you’ll be at a disadvantage to everyone else† (Jacobs 3). This previous statement is unfortunately all oo true, these types of prescription medications are so popular and commonplace that students attending certain universities believe that â€Å"now it’s almost cool to take them† (Jacobs 2). Many college students have come to believe that these drugs are essential to their success, many believe that it can expand their intelligence and give them a learning advantage in classes they find difficult. This is false because these medications were only created to help people suffering from A. D. H. D. to maintain concentration and focus on tasks they previously found overwhelming. The rise in occurrence of disorders such as A. D. H. D. and A. D. D. in past years may have a link to this problem, many teens are diagnosed with attention disorders and the commonplace use of medications like Ritalin and Adderall may have led a lot of students to think that taking these drugs is normal. At Columbia University, a student even went as far as to say that â€Å"the culture here actually encourages people to use stimulants,† (Jacobs 2) Doctors have been seeing a rising amount of young adults who have claimed to have an attention deficit disorder in order to obtain medications to help them in college. Another leading cause of drug abuse is â€Å"the belief that drug abuse or the non-medical use of any drug will not have long-lasting effects on their health. † (Health Services 2) Campus health providers frequently see students who have over extended themselves by taking too many pills at once or too often and end up wandering in because they cannot function any further. Surveys and reports have confirmed that these forms of drug abuse have more than doubled in the last decade or so. â€Å"†¦ T]he number of teenagers†¦abusing prescription medications tripled from 1992 to 2003†¦ † (Jacobs 2). The ready availability of these drugs has also led to an increase in their wide-spread use, the â€Å"[T]he abuse of prescription drugs†¦has increased dramatically since the mid-1990s†(Leinwand 1). The majority of abused prescription drugs are either received from a friend or acquaintance that has been prescribed the medication or sold by someone on campus. Although prescription drug use has indeed increased â€Å"Alcohol remains the favored substance by far†¦ (Leinwand 1). Reportedly around 50 percent of college students consume alcohol on a regular basis. Although campus authorities have increased their efforts to put a lid on drinking in recent years, â€Å"in 2005, 83% of campus arrests involved alcohol†¦Ã¢â‚¬  So despite regular efforts, drinking on college campuses has continued to become progressively more common over the years, it is pretty much expected. Drinking is the college norm; almost every college student will consume alcohol before their graduation. Once a student becomes overly dependent on a substance, like alcohol or Ritalin, they can obtain help and possible treatment through their University’s health services and offices. Some of the treatments may be medical or involve a rehabilitation center or a student can seek help through a support network like AA or with a group of supporting family or friends. A student can also opt to go speak with a counselor or possibly a professor about their problems in class or their reliance on a substance that they feel is keeping them from failure in their schooling. Substance abuse can terribly interfere with a students ability to attend class and to achieve any type of learning, students should not let themselves be caught in the use or abuse of any such substance and should always be able to turn to a university advisor for help or support. Fellow stdents, advisors, and professors should always make an effort to reduce substance abuse on campuses every time they get the chance, because even if it does not end a life, substance abuse can and will destroy a life if it is given the chance and not stopped before it begins. With the exception of north Africa, where cannabis resin (hashish) has traditionally been used by members of the Sufi sect , east Africa, where the use of khat has been institutionalized , and perhaps southern Africa , where cannabis (dagger) has been widely used [ 2] , there is no evidence to support the view that the abuse of drugs has been part of the African heritage [ 3] , [ 4] . Other psycho-active substances currently being abused do not have historical antecedents in any part of Africa. Africans, though deeply religious, have not used drugs as a medium in religious rituals, and none of the indigenous herbal psycho-active substances have been used in ceremonies [ 2] . The situation in Africa and the life-styles of the Africans have drastically changed over the past years under the influence of industrial and urban developments. These developments have, in turn, changed the way in which he Africans achieve ataraxia ; at present, the easiest way to achieve it is to resort to psycho-active substances. Khat (Catha edulis), a plant grown mainly in southern Arabia and eastern and southern Africa [ 5] , first received international attention in 1935 at the League of Nations [ 6] . The psycho-active effects of khat chewing , which are derived from cathine and cathinone [ 7] , are similar to the effects produced by using amphetamines. Within the African region, khat has been grown and used in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia and the United Republic of Tanzania. The fact that the pleasurable , stimulating and euphoric effects of khat chewing can only be derived from the fresh leaves and shoots of the plant may have contributed to the low popularity of khat as a substance of abuse beyond the local areas of cultivation The plant Cannabis sativa, from which cannabis preparations such as marijuana and hashish are derived, grows wild in Africa. Certain evidence suggests that the cultivation of cannabis and its use as a drug of abuse were introduced into Africa from India [ 8] – [ 10] by the Sufi sect and by Asian traders and travellers [ 9] , [ 11] . One study indicated that the cannabis plant and its use could have been spread across the Sahara to west Africa around the sixteenth century [ 8] . There is also evidence suggesting that soldiers returning from the Second World War were responsible for the increased incidence of cannabis abuse in west Africa, particularly in Nigeria [ 2] , [ 4] . This is supported by the fact that in west Africa there is no known indigenous name for cannabis, nor has it been used there for mystical purposes. This is also supported by research findings indicating that cannabis is an important factor in the occurrence of mental illness in Africa [ 12] , [ 13] ; this factor is much less known in cultures where cannabis has for a long time been consumed [ 14] . Another possible route was across the Indian Ocean. This may have been the route by which travellers from India brought cannabis from India to east, central and south Africa as early as the second century, but there is no evidence to suggest that the use of cannabis spread at that time from there to the west coast of Africa. Current drug abuse situation in Africa Because of the lack of information on the subject, an assessment of the extent, patterns and trends of drug abuse in all the countries of Africa is not an easy task. There are no systems for collecting and retrieving data on drug abuse in African countries, and drug abuse assessment projects are urgently needed for all African countries. This article has, to a large extent, been prepared on the basis of data provided by various workshops and seminars held on the subject in the course of the past 12 years. The following paragraphs summarize the drug abuse situation according to the most commonly abused substances. Cannabis Cannabis grows wild in most parts of Africa but it is also illicitly cultivated. It is the most widely abused illicit drug in the region. It appears to be less abused in countries of east Africa, such as Ethiopia and Somalia, where the abuse of khat is prevalent. Although cannabis is not indigenous to west Africa, it is illicit ly cultivated and widely abused in that part of the continent. In Nigeria, cannabis is predominantly abused by teenagers, who begin using it at the age of 14. The situation in other west African countries is similar. * In particular, the 1974 Workshop of the Association of Psychiatrists in Africa (held at Nairobi, Kenya), the African Seminar on Problems of Drug Dependence (held at Lagos, Nigeria, in 1980) and the World Health Organization Workshop on Prevention and Management of Drug Dependence through Primary Health Care (held at Lagos, Nigeria, in 1985). Khat The chewing of khat has been practised for years and is, to a large extent, socially accepted in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar and Somalia ; some of these countries are introducing control measures to discourage the cultivation and use of khat. Apart from the habitual use of khat, Workneh [ 15] reports that it is used by students to improve their academic performance, by truck drivers to keep themselves awake and by labourers to supply the extra vigour and energy they need for their work- It is interesting to note that the same reasons have been reported by cannabis users in west Africa. Amphetamines Amphetamines are imported into Africa, although there is no significant medical justification for using these substances. They are often illegally smuggled into African countries, where they eventually find their way into open markets and patent medicine stores. A few countries, such as Somalia, the Sudan and Togo, have not reported any amphetamine-related problems, but there is general consensus that the abuse of amphetamines in Africa is a problem mainly among adolescents and unskilled labourers, such as drivers and farmers. Opium Opium is reported to have been abused, sometimes in combination with cannabis or alcohol, in Mauritius, mainly among the Chinese ethnic group. Cocaine, heroin and lysergic acid diethylamide These drugs are not manufactured in Africa but have been increasingly present in Nigeria and other west African countries, as shown by recent seizures and arrests- The evidence suggests that African, and especially west African countries, are used by drug traffickers as transit points for heroin trafficking from South-East Asia to Europe and North America. It has recently been reported that some Nigerians have been used as carriers of drugs and some have invested in the illicit drug trafficking [ 16] . Cocaine and heroin have recently been seized for the first time in the Sudan. An increasing abuse of cocaine and heroin has been reported in Nigeria [ 13] . The abuse of these drugs has also been reported in other African countries such as Kenya, Liberia and Mauritius. Sedative-hypnotic For the purpose of this article , sedative-hypnotics include barbiturates, benzodiazipines and other substances, the abuse of which presents similar problems. These substances are imported for legitimate medical purposes, but reports from various African countries indicate that they have also been abused, especially by women. A study in Nigeria has shown that, in order of magnitude , the abuse of these substances is second in rank following alcohol abuse [ 13] . Mandrax (methaqualone and diphenhydramine) was commonly abused in Nigeria in the early 1970s, but since it was banned, its abuse has abated [ 13] . However, some other African countries, such as Swaziland, have reported an increase in the trafficking and abuse of Mandrax. Glue and petrol sniffing An increase in the abuse of benzine by inhalation has been reported among Sudanese children [ 17] . Recent reports from Kenya, Somalia, SwaziIand and Zambia indicate the abuse of glue and petrol by sniffing, though the extent of such abuse varies from country to country. Pela and Ebie [ 13] highlighted the potential for abuse of volatile solvents in some occupational groups in Nigeria. Most recent reports from Ethiopia indicate that the abuse of glue and petrol is prevalent among juveniles.

Stefan’s Diaries: The Craving Chapter 5

At the close of breakfast, maids whisked away the Dutch china and jam, and Winfield retreated to his study, leaving me with the Sutherland women in the sunlit parlor. Bridget, Lydia, and Mrs. Sutherland had installed themselves on the brocade couch, while I perched at the edge of a green velvet chaise, pretending to gaze at an oil portrait of the family when in truth I was calculating the best way to make my escape. My last, paltry feeding seemed a distant memory, and the sweet symphony of beating hearts in this grand mansion was becoming difficult to resist. During the meal, I'd tried several times to free myself from the Sutherlands' presence, with the aim of slipping out a window or escaping through the servants' quarters. But as though my intentions were written plainly across my forehead, I was unable to shake my company for even two minutes. When I'd excused myself to the facility, the butler had insisted upon escorting me. When I mentioned I'd enjoy lying down in my room, Mrs. Sutherland had pointed out that the couch in the parlor was the perfect place for a repose. I knew that they were grateful to me for returning Bridget to them, but I couldn't explain their acceptance of me into their home. Especially given the state I was in when I first entered it: dirty, torn clothes, disheveled, and bloody. â€Å"Mr. Stefan,† Margaret said, leaning against the column that separated the parlor from the foyer. â€Å"Are you entirely all right?† â€Å"Fine, fine,† I said. â€Å"Why do you ask?† â€Å"You're shaking your leg so hard you're rattling the chair.† I pressed my hand to my knee to steady my leg. â€Å"I usually start my morning with a walk,† I lied, pushing myself to standing. â€Å"In fact, if I may excuse myself, I think I'll take a stroll around the park.† Margaret raised a perfectly arched brow. â€Å"You certainly seem to spend a lot of time in the park.† â€Å"I consider it my second home,† I said with a wry smile, picturing my cave with its cadre of statues. â€Å"I've always found nature comforting.† â€Å"What a lovely idea!† Mrs. Sutherland said, clasping her hands together. â€Å"Would you mind if we joined you? It's a beautiful day, and we could all use some fresh air.† â€Å"Mama, I think it would be best if I rested instead,† Bridget said, putting a hand to her very healthy-looking brow. â€Å"You mean, stay in and receive visitors all day so you can tell them about your adventures,† Margaret said, shaking her head. â€Å"I'm afraid I shall have to beg off, too, Mother. I've things to attend to at home, now that it appears my sister is fine – and my husband misses me.† â€Å"I can't imagine why,† Bridget muttered uncharitably. Lydia shot her youngest sister a look and lightly slapped her arm. Mrs. Sutherland ignored the sisterly sniping, shaking out a light cloak and wrapping it around her shoulders. â€Å"Come with us, Mr. Salvatore. We shall make a fine party of three.† Resisting the urge to shout in frustration – what would it take to leave this family's clutches? – I forced a smile on my face and held out my arm to Mrs. Sutherland. The second we stepped outside the massive front door, the sun assaulted my eyes. It was a bright, lemony yellow and the sky a perfect blue. For early November up north, it was a remarkably mild day. If not for the sun's low angle in relation to the earth, it would have been easy to mistake it for a brisk spring morning. We headed south, then crossed at Sixty-sixth Street and walked through the wrought iron gates of the park. Despite the events of the night before, neither Lydia nor Mrs. Sutherland showed any hesitation or fear. I suppose they felt safe enough in my presence. I took a deep breath of the morning air, which seemed so clear and pure after the events of the previous night. It was as though, with the rising sun, the entire world had been washed clean. Seed heads bobbed at the ends of long grasses and flowers opened toward the sky, taking in the last bright sun of the year. The droplets of dew had already dispersed from the previous night. We were not the only ones out to enjoy the day. The park was packed with families and strolling couples. I was struck once again with how different the North was. Yankee women wore bright colors, such as we hadn't seen in the South for years – scarlets, brilliant yellows, bold, sky blues in silk and velvet and expensive cloths like European lace, delicate stockings, tiny leather boots. Even nature here was different. Northern trees were round, quaint, elliptical maples where our lush oaks spread out, soaking up the sun to the farthest tips of their branches. The pines were spiky and blue, not the tall, soft, grand ones the soft Southern breeze whispers around. Mrs. Sutherland and Lydia prattled on about the weather, but they had lost my attention, for at that moment a squirrel crossed our path. A sudden darkness overcame me, as if one of the few clouds in the sky had momentarily passed in front of the sun. My predator instincts awoke. There was nothing delectable about its beady eyes or bushy tail, but in a flash I could taste it – the blood of yesterday. It invaded my nostrils and tickled my throat with desire. â€Å"Please excuse me – I – I believe I see someone I know.† I made my trivial excuse as I dashed off, promising to return in a moment, though I had no intention of doing so. I could feel Lydia and Mrs. Sutherland's eyes follow me curiously as I disappeared behind a thicket of bushes. There sat my prey, as innocent as Bridget had likely looked to her attacker last night. It eyed me as I approached, but did not make a move. In a flash I was upon it, and it was over even more quickly. As I felt the blood seep into me – a paltry feeding, but a feeding nonetheless – I leaned against the tree trunk, awash in exhausted relief. It had not been apparent until just now how edgy I had been, every moment afraid of my own hunger. Afraid of the stirrings inside of me, and how they might control me at any instant. My relief was so great that I didn't even hear Lydia approach, ruining my chance of escape. â€Å"Stefan?† she said, looking around, no doubt curious to meet the person I had run off to greet. â€Å"It turns out that I was mistaken after all,† I mumbled, reluctantly rejoining Lydia and her mother on the path. They fell back into polite conversation, while I kicked along silently next to them, berating myself for my slowed reflexes. What was wrong with me? I was a vampire. Removing myself from the Sutherlands' presence should have been no hard task, even in my weakened state. An unpleasant thought rattled at the back of my mind, an alternate explanation, that I was still with this family because I wanted to be. â€Å"Mr. Salvatore, you're awfully quiet,† Mrs. Sutherland observed. I stole a glance at Lydia, who gave me a smile, clearly acknowledging that her mother did not deal in subtlety. â€Å"Forgive me. It's been a while since I've been in the midst of people,† I admitted as we turned on to the bridle path. Mrs. Sutherland squeezed my hand. If she noticed its icy pallor, she must have taken it for a chill. â€Å"Since you lost your father?† she asked gently. I nodded. That explanation was easier than the truth. â€Å"I lost a brother in the battle with Mexico,† Mrs. Sutherland confided, as we passed a little girl and her father walking a long-haired dachshund. â€Å"We were the closest of nine brothers and sisters. Despite our numbers, none of my siblings could ever replace him in my heart.† â€Å"Uncle Isaiah,† Lydia murmured. â€Å"I barely remember him. But he was always kind.† â€Å"I'm sorry to hear that. I did not mean to turn this outing into a sad affair,† I apologized. â€Å"Remembering and mourning needn't always be sad,† Mrs. Sutherland pointed out. â€Å"It is simply . . . what it is. Keeping their lives present in our own.† Her words cast a true light through all the confusing thoughts that had been clouding my mind of late: how to remain in touch with my human side even as I embraced becoming a vampire, how to not lose my soul. Keeping the past present was paramount. Just as my memory of Callie kept me from attacking Bridget, my connection to my family, to the life that had once been mine, would help me keep my humanity. Though she didn't resemble my own mother at all, for one instant, with the sunlight shining down through her cap and illuminating her graying hair, her sharp blue eyes softened with feeling, I suddenly felt she could be my mother. That, were the circumstances different, I could be happy in her home. Oh, how I missed my mother. While my deep grief for her had abated in the years since she had died, there was a dull ache that was never absent from my heart. How much of the tragedy that engulfed our lives could have been avoided if she were still alive? I missed my father, too. Up until the moment I killed him, I respected and loved him. I had wanted to follow in his footsteps, to take on the family estate, to please him as much as possible. My deepest wish had been that he could respect and love me back. I even missed my brother, or rather who he used to be. Though he vowed to get revenge on me for turning him into a vampire, in life he had been my truest companion in the world, my playful competitor and my closest confidant. I wondered where Damon was right now, and what harm he might be doing. I couldn't judge his bad behavior – I'd had my share of bloodlust after I had turned. I only hoped his humanity would return to him as mine had. â€Å"You are a wise woman, Mrs. Sutherland,† I said, returning the squeeze of her hand. She smiled at me. â€Å"You're a remarkable young man,† Mrs. Sutherland noted. â€Å"If I was your mother, I should be very proud of you. Of course, I have no sons, and only one son-in-law. . . .† She sniffed. â€Å"But, Mother, Margaret and I are each very accomplished, in our own way,† Lydia said, ignoring the pointed remark about son-in-laws. â€Å"She does the books for Wally. And I am helping to form that charity for mothers who lack a stable income.† Mrs. Sutherland cast a private smile at me, and in that moment I dared to hope. Perhaps it was possible to stay here, to become part of this family. It would be a dangerous game, but perhaps I could master it. I could keep my hunger under control and take daily walks with Lydia and Mrs. Sutherland, accompanying them home for a cup of tea or a lively debate about the war with Winfield. Lydia continued on, making her case for her own independence, her mother sighing despite her apparent pride. The sun grew warmer as we made our way west, choosing paths at random until we came upon a familiar foot trail in the middle of the park that led straight to Seneca Village. My home. Perhaps it was my sudden distraction that caused Mrs. Sutherland to look at me so closely. â€Å"Mr. Salvatore,† she said, half-concerned, half-afraid. â€Å"You have a . . . spot . . . upon your collar.† Despite the laws of decorum, Lydia reached for it then, brushing a finger gently near my neck. I shuddered in excitement and fear at her closeness. When she withdrew her pointer finger, it wore a speck of blood. I grew ashen. For this was the fact of my life. Despite the pains I took to control myself, the exhaustive efforts at constant secrecy, one speck of blood was all it took to upset the balance. They would see me for who I was: a liar, a murderer, a monster. The tinkling of Lydia's laughter broke the silence. â€Å"Just a bit of jam,† she said lightly, wiping her finger on the low-hanging branch of a passing tree. â€Å"Mr. Salvatore,† she teased, â€Å"I know we have made you feel very much at home, but while you are our guest, perhaps you should be more careful with your table manners.† Mrs. Sutherland began to chide her daughter, but seeing the happy relief upon my own face, she smiled as well. Soon we were all laughing gaily at Stefan Salvatore, the nighttime-hero-turned-careless-houseguest, as we made our way back into the sunlight.

The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on a Diagnostic Imaging Department Dissertation

The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on a Diagnostic Imaging Department - Dissertation Example 15 3.2 Data Analysis 16 3.3 Sampling 17 3.4 Ethical Considerations 17 3.4.1 Informed Consent 17 3.4.2 Ethical Application 17 3.5 Time Frame and Cost 18 3.5.1 Time Frame 18 3.5.2 Associated Costs 19 4.0 Possible Projected Outcomes 21 Reference List 22 1.0 Literature Review 1.1 Introduction In itself, alcohol use is not something that generally leads to heath problems or visits to the hospital. However, alcohol abuse is linked to many health problems, both immediate and cumulative. Alcohol abuse can take many forms from drinking significant amounts of alcohol on a regular basis, to drinking large quantities occasionally (binge drinking). Both forms of alcohol abuse have direct and indirect health consequences. Globally, alcohol is responsible for approximately 1.8 million deaths per year . From 2005 to 2006 in the United Kingdom, more than quarter of a million people were admitted to hospitals for diagnoses related to alcohol. This includes direct effects of alcohol, such as alcohol ov erdose, and indirect effects, such as injuries as the result of driving while intoxicated. The number of alcohol-related admissions has been growing since around 1997, and roughly doubled in the years between 1997 and 2006 . Alcohol consumption is also increasing as a result of values changing and alcohol becoming inexpensive and readily available. The consumption of alcohol has become socially acceptable in many circumstances, and is often encouraged . For example, among young adults and in University settings, there is a strong alcohol drinking culture. These factors make it likely that alcohol consumption will continue to increase, and place pressure on many parts of the healthcare industry. This includes hospital departments who often have to work with people being admitted who are... The essay discusses that in itself, alcohol use is not something that generally leads to heath problems or visits to the hospital. However, alcohol abuse is linked to many health problems, both immediate and cumulative. Alcohol abuse can take many forms from drinking significant amounts of alcohol on a regular basis, to drinking large quantities occasionally (binge drinking). Both forms of alcohol abuse have direct and indirect health consequences. Globally, alcohol is responsible for approximately 1.8 million deaths per year. From 2005 to 2006 in the United Kingdom, more than quarter of a million people were admitted to hospitals for diagnoses related to alcohol. This includes direct effects of alcohol, such as alcohol overdose, and indirect effects, such as injuries as the result of driving while intoxicated. The number of alcohol-related admissions has been growing since around 1997, and roughly doubled in the years between 1997 and 2006. Alcohol consumption is also increasing as a result of values changing and alcohol becoming inexpensive and readily available. The consumption of alcohol has become socially acceptable in many circumstances, and is often encouraged. For example, among young adults and in University settings, there is a strong alcohol drinking culture. These factors make it likely that alcohol consumption will continue to increase, and place pressure on many parts of the healthcare industry. This includes hospital departments who often have to work with people being admitted who are still intoxicated, and who must manage many alcohol-related injuries.

Study of Social Networks users types, models, and effect of new Article

Study of Social Networks users types, models, and effect of new features using pattern recogniton and data classification techniques - Article Example Social networking users are generally classifies into six types. These types of users are classified based on their personality and its types. The various types of social networking users are essentialist, transumers, connectors, scene-breakers, collaborators and entrepreneurs. The essentialists are people who make use of the social networking sites to be in contact with their family and friends. The next category, transumers are people those who adhere to the trends. These people implement the latest improvements and innovations in the technology. Connectors are the next category of users who look out for creative trends and other unique features of the social networking sites. Around 10 percent of the social networking users are classified as connectors. Scene-breakers are the next category of users who are interested in learning new concepts. They are regular browsers in the social networking sites and they communicate their talent to the other users in the social networking sites . Another set of users are collaborators who work for the integration of users to create and explore new projects. They form a group to create and develop new events and they are knows as online traders. The basic social networking models rely on the presentation of each and every user. Then the relationship among the other users are established which enables the user to find the person whom he intends to. The advancements in the technologies are used in ... II. FEATURES The social networking sites incorporate various new features and implement the latest updates on their sites. The advancements in the technologies are used in the development and improvement of social networking sites like facebook, linkedin and orkut. The features of such social networking sites include creating personal profiles, user images and the communication with the help of text. The networking sites allow the users to create personal profiles with their name, date of birth, location and their personal interests. This enables the other users to easily identify a particular person in the networking site. The next best feature is the ability to upload personal images that helps others to easily find and track the person whom they are searching for. The most important feature of a social networking site is that it facilitates the users to send messages in the form of text, graphics and sounds. This makes the communication process much easier. The objective of a social networking site is to establish connectivity among the people and to communicate with them in a hassle free manner. With the advent of such social networking sites a user can interact, communicate, perform an activity and form groups which are referred to as communities. II. DATA CLASSIFICATION TECHNIQUES Apart from these common features several other features are introduced using the data classification techniques. The data classification techniques classify the data by dividing them into quantiles, equal intervals and natural breaks. The social networking sites implement these data classification techniques to classify the information regarding the users [3]. The users are classified based on their way

To what extent have policies aimed at enhancing flexibility been Essay

To what extent have policies aimed at enhancing flexibility been successful in reducing unemployment in Europe since the early 1990s - Essay Example um wages and policies of the labor market to empower employees, discouraging the employers from flexible working practices that could boost employment. It also affected the rates of tax, thereby making it difficult for employers to absorb more employees in from the labor market (Brodsky 1994 p. 68) The policy on minimum wages does not help employers in hiring more workers, especially the unskilled entry level graduates. It is believed that the rate of unemployment in Europe has steadily increased from 1970 to a high of more than 8% of the labor force in 2002. From 1990 and 1993, unemployment increased by 2.3%. This is an indicator of failure of labor market policies to enhance employment creation. It is mainly attributed to their rigidity. In order to solve this problem, â€Å"the OECD recommended an improvement in labor market flexibilities† (Brodsky 1994 p. 60) which include; non-wage labor cost reductions, enhancement of income re-distribution through re-assessment of the role of statutory minimum wages, job security provisions reforms and reforms in the benefits related to unemployment. These were the major policy drivers in Europe employed to reduce unemployment. Research indicates that the benefits associated with unemployment are highest in the European Union. More over, they are known to be prolonged and easily accessible to the population of the unemployed in the labor market. This is one factor that is seen to maintain the high unemployment rates. This provides evidence of lack of enough labor market flexibility that could enhance employment. It is what Nickell (1998) describes as â€Å"generous replacement rates† which have maintained the high unemployment patterns in European Countries. Even though there have been several draw backs in the efforts to reduce unemployment, the active labor market policies have served as a major tool for the government to increase the capability and motivation towards taking up the available jobs, including part time jobs.

Research proposal in identity theft in banking,uk Essay

Research proposal in identity theft in banking,uk - Essay Example 1 billion every year to identity theft which is already sending warning signals to the online bankers. With more banks venturing in online services and online financial transfer is dominant in these sectors, the banks and the customers are at a very high risk of losing their money to fraudsters. This research intends to narrow down to cybercrime, an area that has had little coverage by researchers of identity theft, yet a threatening one. By taking a quantitative approach to identify the severity cybercrime in identity theft and identifying possible security approaches that can be used to reduce instances of identity theft, it is possible to make viable recommendations that would go way far in reducing identity theft. Problem statement In the UK, the banking sector loses approximately ?1 billion to cyber crime and customer trust is at stake in this sector (Barclays, 2013). The banking sector is a major contributor to the economy of the country contributing about 8% of the UK Gross Do mestic Product. Therefore, it is one of the sectors that must be protected to ensure economic stability in the UK. Online banking is an innovative strategy that has enhanced business growth in the UK and has ensured customer comfort and satisfaction. However, as the internet technology grows, network aware experts delve in cyber crime and take advantage of innocent customers who do not know the threats that they expose themselves to wherever they conduct an online bank transaction in the UK. By identifying the vulnerability of the people and possible mitigation measures it is possible to protect the banking industry and consequently contribute to the economic development of the UK. Research Questions This research study intends to provide the answers to two critical research questions; What are the factors that predispose customers to identity theft during their online transactions? And what are the possible mitigation measures that would reduce the risk of customers falling victims of cybercrime? Objectives of the Study Main objectives To identify the factors that predispose customers to identity theft during their online bank transactions. To identify possible mitigative measures to protect online bank transactions from cyber crime. Specific Objectives To gather information from the public on their awareness risk of the identity theft while conducting online bank transactions. To assess the UK bank's security policies that protect their customers from identity theft within the scope of their online services. To identify the efficiency of the banking security policies in protecting their customers from cybercrime. To quantitatively analyse the data and make possible conclusions on identity theft To make viable recommendations on the possible measures that can protect bank customers from identity theft. Literature Review According to Haldane (2011, Para. 3), an economic analyst, the UK banking sector contributes to over 8% of the country gross domestic product and employs millions of UK residents. This points out that the UK banking sector is a major contributor in the economic development of the country, hence the need to protect it from any kind of business threat. Surprisingly, the UK banking sector continues to lose over ?1 billion every year from identity theft which has led to loss of trust in customers and a consequential drop in their revenue margin. In the current technology driven business sector,

Fredrick Douglasss Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fredrick Douglasss - Essay Example He joined the abolition movement and became its leader because of his excellent command at speaking. This paper discusses about Frederick Douglass as a personality who struggled very hard in his life and can be seen as a shining star by his appreciators. Frederick Douglas was born in 1818 at Maryland (Lampe, 1998). As a child, he learnt to read and write by the support of white children and men as he used to notice them reading and writing. From his childhood, he identified that only education can transform his status from a slave to a freeman. He tried multiple times to run away from his masters and at last became successful. He thought about running from slavery to freedom by the support of his education. He also used to read newspapers with the help of which, he was able to comprehend political and social content (McFeely, 1991). He believed in his right of freedom. Douglass used to narrate his story as a slave in abolitionist gatherings and after noticing his vigor and eloquence at speaking, he was made the leader of the movement. He used to deliver lectures on the issue of anti-slavery. He became a member of American Anti-slavery society and took part in tours for highlighting the curse of slavery (Oakes, 2007). During his struggle at making people acknowledge that slavery is a curse and every person has equal right to remain free, he was attacked several times but he continued to pursue his mission. Douglass’s speeches were so inspirational and convincing that people liked them and continued to listen to them. When Douglas used to orate in a public gathering, the crowd was usually heavily populated because of the expressiveness and strength of his words (Lampe, 1998). People used to give weight to his words because of his elaboration and power of speech. Douglass remained the property of his master until and unless he did not raise funds for his freedom by carrying out a tour of Ireland and England for the anti-slavery movement. After coming back f rom England, Douglass started to turn out many newspapers with abolitionist topics (McFeely, 1991). Douglass was well aware of the effectiveness of the newspapers as in his childhood, he had seen their power and influence on people. This was the reason that motivated Douglass to start his own newspapers for the education of masses of US. Frederick Douglass not only worked for anti-slavery movement but also spoke for women rights as according to his perception, all human beings were equal and had the right to have their civil liberties. He was of the opinion that women should have equal right to vote as men. In his view, nobody was to be deprived of any civil right in order to lead a life that is not suffocating whether the person is black or a woman. It was the strength of the words of Douglass that resolution related to women’s right to vote got passed (McFeely, 1991). According to Douglass, it was only education and knowledge that kept the power of bringing the black out of the curse of slavery (Lampe, 1998). He struggled for gaining equal rights of education for African American population. Douglass felt that no fortified insurgence was required by the African American population but only knowledge acquisition was enough to gain their due right of freedom (Oakes, 2007). He emphasized on the acquirement of education. During the American civil war, Douglass struggled for the obtainment of rights of his people and after the declaration

Comparative politics and governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Comparative politics and governance - Essay Example While the United States considers itself the original and best democratic nation, the institutions and basic structure of the government inhibit some of the foundational ideals of democracy. Younger democracies, like Nigeria and Spain, actually come closer to realizing representation of the citizenry. The small-scale direct democracy of classical Athens is often held up as the purest form of democracy. Each citizen in Athenian democracy had a vote, the simplest formulation of â€Å"One man, one vote,† a right which did not extend to women and slaves, and voted directly on issues, policy, and representation (Blackwell 2003). This original democracy is only truly practicable on small scales. With larger populations, such as the 300 million population of the United States (United States Census Bureau 2010), direct democracy is highly impractical, requiring voters to vote on representatives to act in their interests. The way these representatives are elected and represent the will of their constituents is the primary difference between democratic governments. In the United States, power is shared by three separate branches of government, designed to share and check one another to avoid concentration of power in any single branch of the government. The elected representatives of the legislative body are tasked with the crafting of legislation, funding, approving presidential appointments, and declaring war. Representatives of the two houses in the legislature are elected by voters in their district, unlike the president who is elected by electors who are themselves elected in the Presidential race (Leip 2008). On the surface, this may appear to be direct representation, but the United States has a two-party system of democracy, meaning that voters are more often voting for a political party rather than a candidate and his policy platform. Power in a legislative body is shared and wielded by political parties who, more often than not, can act in the best inter est of their party rather than the interest of the voters, regardless of the reasons for which they were elected. This system presents problems for a claim of a true democracy in several ways, one of which being the means by which candidates are selected to run for office in the first place. The political party helps raise funds to run the campaign, a control on who can run in the race before it even starts. Independent or third-party candidates rarely win an election because of the lack of political party support. When they do win, it is almost always because they have name recognition as an established political figure, such as Joseph Lieberman, who won his seat in the Senate as an independent after losing the Democratic primary in 2008 (Joseph I. Lieberman 2011). The voter has, basically, a choice between two candidates, two parties, which does not represent a real choice and may not truly represent the views of the voters. Another problematic aspect of a limited-party system is the gerrymandering of political districts. Once in power, political powers redraw districts to consolidate blocks of voters they know will vote for their party. In a way, this is â€Å"rigging† the election system such that the incumbent, or at least his or her party, is reliably safe in an election, which explains the

Sign Language in Spain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sign Language in Spain - Essay Example These variations are due to the difference in cultures of the countries. Such differences keep evolving over time and they become part of the sign language used in the territory. In the United States there is a full history of deaf culture that goes back to fifty years or so, and it is traceable if one looks through scholarly and academic sources. Such a thing is not present in Spain, where the period of history is just around fifteen years. Besides that, in Spain it was not very long ago that there was an attempt to give an official status to their sign language (which could be Spanish Sign Language [LSE] and Català ¡n Sign Language [LSC]). It was in 2005 that they drew up a law that supported sign language; later on the language was at long last supported by the Spanish senate by the year 2007. In the United States deaf culture was actually the basis on which research had been started, more so in the groups of deaf people, universities, and in certain related courses such as linguistics and anthropology. On the other hand, in Spain the issue has just been debated a lot all this time. The biggest clash in this seemingly never ending history can be succinctly put in this manner: the attribute of oralism in deaf education during the early times is noteworthy as it broke with long believed philosophical thoughts regarding deafness and language. It is possible that this assimiliationist representation had a positive goal of including deaf people in society. There were materially important social advantages for people who could learn to talk. For example: people who were deaf and did not speak either were not allowed to inherit property, while on the other hand, people who took pains to learn to speak were given permission to inherit. Though the past of generous paternalism concerning the deaf people in Spain may have had its share of advantages, but indisputably it has not permitted the complete addition

A Capstone Experience introduction 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Capstone Experience introduction 1 - Assignment Example First, the company has to identify projects for change. The management has to prioritize what needs immediate attention. Such case is more successful if the company consults with as many people as possible. The feedback for each person will determine the plans that would serve the firm better (Bryson, 2011). Secondly, the company has to develop an effective communication plan. The communication strategy has to be easily adapted by the whole company. A good communication strategy will make it easy for all employees to understand the proposed project. Additionally, the management will get the feedback in time. The third step is to eliminate implementation barriers. Most of these barriers are the people who do not welcome the change in the firm. Moreover, executives who insist on other employees to implement change are barriers. Such executives are not sure about the change and fear any form of risks. There should be extra time to deal with potential resistance to eliminate the challenge (Hawkins, 2012). The last step is to develop a good change plan. The company needs to formulate a simple and clear vision for its goals. Additionally, it is important to design an action plan. After all this has taken place, the firm then sets timeframes for implementation and

Performance Management in a Human Resources Framework Essay Example for Free

Performance Management in a Human Resources Framework Essay Performance Management in a Human Resources Framework Introduction The purpose of this assignment to is to consider Performance Management in a Human Resources Framework. Firstly, the assignment will look at the concept of ‘Human Resources Management’ as a holistic strategic approach to managing the relationship between employer and employee that goes beyond the bounds of mere ‘Personnel Management’. Secondly, in light of the statement from Cooke and Armstrong (1990, cited in Rudman, 2002) that â€Å"Human resources strategies exist to ensure that the culture, values and structure of the organisation and the quality, motivation and commitment of its members contribute fully to the achievement of its objectives† (p. 7), I will examine the extent to which my school’s performance appraisal and professional development policy and practice fit into a human resources framework. Lastly, these examples will be used to identify some of the potential and pitfalls of performance appraisal and professional development for an educational organisation. Human Resources Management – a holistic approach Human resource management (HRM) can be viewed as a holistic approach to managing the relationships in an organisation between the employer and employee. Rudman’s (2002) definition of HRM implies this holistic approach, in that HRM â€Å"covers all the concepts, strategies, policies and practices which organisations use to manage and develop the people who work for them† (p. 3). Several authors (Macky Johnson 2000; McGraw, 1997; Rudman, 2002; Smith, 1998) acknowledge that HRM is the strategic and coherent approach to the management of an organisations most valued assets the people working there who individually and collectively contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the organisation. The terms ‘human resource management’ (HRM), ‘human resources’ (HR) and even ‘strategic human resource management’ (SHRM) have largely replaced the term personnel management as a description of the processes involved in managing people in organisations during the decades of the 1980s and 1990s (McGraw, 1997; Rudman, 2002). â€Å"People have been making personnel decisions since the earliest of times† (Rudman, 2002, p. 2), however, from a historical perspective, the modern form of personnel management was founded from the time of the industrial revolution on two main beliefs: 1) the employer’s concern for the welfare of its workers, and 2) the organisation’s need for control (Rudman, 2002). Over the last century personnel management evolved through the changing responses between these two beliefs and altered because of influences through scientific management, the industrial welfare and human relations movements, the developm ent of trade unions and collective bargaining, and the growth of employment-related legislation (Rudman, 2002). Today, personnel management is associated with the functional aspects of people in organisations, whereas HRM is associated with the strategic aspects of people in organisations (Rudman, 2002). In practice the distinction between Personnel and Human Resource Management is often blurred because organisations need both function and strategic direction for managing and developing people (McGraw, 1997). Personnel management (PM) is therefore often used to describe the work related with administering policies and procedures for staff appointments, salaries, training and other employer/employee interactions.

The After Effects Of World War One History Essay

The After Effects Of World War One History Essay World War I has been an event of the great significance for its times. According to its dimensions and after effects it did not have the equalities within the previous history of the humanity. The First World War lasted 4 years 3 months and 10 days (from August 1, 1914 till November 11, 1918), 38 countries were involved within the war processes, at that times nearly 1,5 milliard, approximately two thirds of all the Earths population, people dwelled within these countries  [1]  . The multimillion armies took parts within the battlefield processes, which used the newest technologies of the military powers. It is a well known fact that a number of so called inhumane weapons (it is contemporary relation to such military forces and techniques) was tested during the World War I and used for the later military conflicts. General number of the soldiers participating within the WWI reached 73,5 million people and the war brought very significant damage to the civilians dwelling on the ter ritories the war occupied. 10 million people were killed during the conflict (historian, investigating the subject came to the conclusion that so many number of people were killed during the military conflicts in a period of a thousand years, which were held within the European continent) and 20 million of injured these are the results of these conflicts. According to the data provided within the investigations on the subject the direct expenses of participating in the conflict countries were nearly 208 milliards of dollars, which is 10 times larger than the cost of the wars lasting since 1793 to 1907  [2]  .The war provided a significant impact on the whole development of the historical processes: it caused the sharpening of the class fight, activation of the nationalist movements; the war was one of the main reasons that increased rising of objective pre-conditions of the socialist revolution in the Russian empire. Some left-oriented historians considered that the World War I and the Revolution of 1917 in Russia caused the total crisis of capitalism and it was one of the most significant after effects that impacted the history development within the countries involved in the conflict. The history of the WWI attracted attention of the numerous investigators, from different countries in the whole world. The writers were intended to analyze the reasons from different aspects, economical sociological military and examined it after effects. They analyzed cardinal questions dealing with the roots, processes and lessons of the war lasting during the 1914 1918, its impact on the further economical development, socio-political life of the conflicting countries, the role of the every participant and the character of the military operations and military tactic arts. The investigation of the First World War is still acute within the contemporary realities as it strongly deals to the one of the most significant, even burning questions the problem of the peace and t he war. The generation of people living in age of nuclear missiles turn to the past for the better understanding the present day events. We and our contemporaries are eager to learn what the reasons were and what newest military missiles were used during the war in order to understand present days events. Creating of the military political groups in Europe and armament race sharpened the difficult relation between the imperialistic countries more and more. They provided tensions within the international relations and rather calm world history changed on the more conflict, catastrophic and irregular policy of relations between the countries. It goes without saying that the sharpening of the imperialist confrontations started earlier than the war. It was already observed during the Morocco Crisis in 1905 1906 and 1911; Bosnia crisis of the 1908 1909; Italy Turkish was lasting during the 1911 1912, Balkan wars of 1912 -1913. The most significant confrontation of that period was sending the military mission to Turkey by German government, it was headed by general von Sanders and aimed on reorganization and tutoring of the Turkish army (the events happened in December 1913). Preparing for the war the governing rows of imperialistic government created powerful military industry, the basis of which were the most big and significant governmental plants ordnance factories, gunpowder factories, ammunition factories, cartridge-manufacturing plants, shipbuilding yards and many others. The private enterprises were involved to the process of military goods and production in Germany there were Krupp factories and plant, in Austria Hungary Schneider Krezo and St. Chaumont, in Great Britain Wickers and Armstrong Whitworth, in Russia Putilovs factory and many other private manufacturers. The imperialists of both confronting coalitions were faithfully supporting the military industry, they energetically fixed their defense powers and it is essential that all the contemporary investigations and discoveries of science and techniques were aimed on the providing and supporting military industry and helped to developed radically new tactics of military conflicts. The newer, more perfect armor appeared: rapid rate rifles and machine guns, which provided increasing of the firing powers of the infantry forces; within the artillery arms there was observed significant growth of the quantity in rifled-barrel guns of the newest systems. It goes without saying that the development of railroads had also been a part of the strategic plan. Their role was strategically very significant as they helped to fasten the centralization and deploying for action of the large military masses by the human inputs and any other type of material and technical supports of the army. The role of autom obile transport also started to increase. The military air forces appeared it was really the first military conflict where aviation was used as a military force for bombing, it was innovation that changed the whole idea of the contemporary military confrontation. The usage of the newest means of communication such as telephone, telegraph and radio helped the leaders of the military troops to provide all the necessary arrangements within the army they were leading. The number of soldiers was increasing significantly and well-taught arrearage forces had also appeared during this period of the military development. It goes without saying that imperialist nature of the majority states involved in the WWI was playing probably one of the most significant roles in the military development of the countries. In the field of naval military forces there was severe confrontation between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Germany. Both countries provided huge expenses for supporting their military naval forces. From the 1905 the new type of military ships was involved the dreadnought type of ships. Up to the 1914 the German naval forces firmly occupied the second place in the highly developed naval forces after the United Kingdom. It goes without saying that the other countries were also intended to develop their naval forces, but financial and economical facilities did not let them to provide the set shipbuilding programs. The increased armament drive was overwhelming and as a result it needed significant financial inputs as it usually happened the labor class was supporting all these expenses. The wide spread was provided to the ideological support and preparation to the First World War. The Imperialist leaders tried to persuade the nations about inability to avoid serious military confrontation between the states, the militarism became a part of the propaganda and was forced into the applications, chauvinism has also became a significant force for militarism propaganda the leaders of empires used to reach the set aims. It goes without saying that all means of propaganda were used: public means, literature, arts, church are among the most influential and significant for that period. Bourgeoisie of all the states, playing with the patriotic feelings of the different nations, found the real justification for armament race, providing a perfect mask for the expansionist policies by the massaging the theme of the necessity to defend their motherland from the external enemies (i. e. the other countries taking the leading positions on the armament drive). It goes without saying that the governmental forces at those times, supported by the biggest manufacturers of their countries were intended to solve certain problems with the help of the War. It goes without saying that German government (supported by Krupp manufacturing powers) were intended to enlarge the territory of the state as Germany being separated for quite long period of time did not participated on the military arena and did not take part in the carving up the colonies and territories. German Kaiser Wilhelm II was very ambitious person and supported by the key industrialists he promoted his expanding policy. The internal policy of the Germany at the time of so called The Long Fuse by historians was also aimed on concentration the powers within the Kaisers hands. He was the one who set his ideas as seeking for the place in the sun for the German nation. Kaiser was the one who found explanation of his policy within the national interest. He built strong military machine due to the Tirpitz plan and was without any doubts successfully confronting British fleet. Being one of the most significant figure in the war Wilhelm II was not the one who forced the events, he just did not prevented the activity of Austria Hungary. The same time he did not paid enough attention to control the socialist movements in Germany, which also played a significant role and provided an impact on the World War I and made Kaiser to refuse from his title and leave the country. According to Versailles Peace Act Wilhelm II was called the main war criminal, who was supporting the conflict. It would be necessary to say that all the leaders of some imperialist countries (the core participant in WWI) were relatives Kaiser, Russian king, Nicholas II and British King George V. It goes without saying that confrontation between the Germany and Britain made both George V and Kaiser seek for the suitable their region politics. George V refused all the German titles when the war broke up. Alongside with the imperialist leaders there should be mentioned alternative forces. The real force that could prevent the expansion policy of the imperialist government was so called international labor class, which consisted of nearly 150 million people. The labor movement in the worldly measures was headed by the International, which united 41 socio-democratic parties from 27 world countries consisting of 3,4 million members. But the opportunist leaders of the socio-democratic parties from Europe could do nothing for providing in life the anti-military decision of the 2nd International congresses, which took place accurately before the WWI started. As it usually happened the strong political forces supported the governmental policies of their imperialist leaders and voted in the parliaments for supporting the military credits. The Socialist leaders of France, Great Britain and Belgium even took part participating within the bourgeoisie military governments. 2nd International ideol ogy was ruined and it stopped its existence. It should be noted that the left oriented parties of Russia and Germany were the ones that kept on the anti-militarist policy and did not supported the war. The Russian scenario is well known all over the world. At first the leftists did not supported the military strategy provided by the king, strongly criticizing the intension of the Russian leaders to participate in the WWI and finally it ended by the Revolution of 1917, refuse for further participation in the WWI and Civil war in Russia. The Leftists were supporting the idea that the war is imperialist and do not have any brighter perspectives for the working class all over the world. They were supported by the German social-democrats and some French socialist leaders. The revolutionary ideas provided also very significant impact on the WWI and further development of European history. The German November Revolution was the one that played significant role for the whole war processes and the people cant stand oppressive military policy anymore. It would be hardly to define was it good or was it not but it is the historical lesson. Kaiser, even supported by manufacturers could do nothi ng with the growing indignation from the masses. The German scenario did not cost so many ruins for the country as the Russian one, but it was a total loss of the campaign. The united European power oppressed Kaiser and he could not keep on anymore. It goes without saying that all the united factors started the war and the united factors ended it. The most powerful world states were involved in the conflicts and it was looking like the demonstration of scientific and technical achievements of the confronting sides  [3]  , expanding policies of the country that did not took part in the main division of the colonies and the participation of the private companies in the supporting the war processes. In the end I would like to return to the very beginning. The represented statistical data, the death rates, the appearing of inhuman weapons that is still become a very contradictory question. The whole WWI was the shift moment in the world and especially European history. It showed who actually who is, the demonstration of power and forces showed the equipment and the results of armament rate. The revolution and socialist leaders and ambivalent figure of Lenin in Russian Revolution of 1917 all these were powers involved in the WWI, the results of which are really significant if we look back to observe them. The start of the new division and the expansion policies could be hardly accepted by contemporary society but the case of Kaiser Wilhelm II and other military leaders, who were intended to demonstrate the powers, the united powers that stressed Europe are really good lessons from the history. The after effects were different for the many countries. But we know that in the end the re was significant crisis in Europe and US and other countries involved in WWI. Understanding the core ideas and lessons of the First World War is really important for contemporary world. The First World War gave a strong push to the development of missiles of massive attacks and the first weapons of mass destruction were tried. Personally I think that in the present day world such type of conflicts is impossible as the results were undertaken. Historians still argue of the roots of WWI conflict that stressed all the European powers and make them either unite or confront and the common reason is one. During the 10 years Europe was living under the tension and stress, the small attempts of the territory fights were not enough for the countries growing their weapons and making significant inputs into the military and defense industry (it should be noted that manufacturers also supported the idea of the military conflict and took an active part in supporting the governmental forces). T hey need to demonstrate the power and start the re-division, more significant than Morocco crisis and the result was WWI engaging the strongest European forces.

Example Answers to Strategic Human Resource Management Exam

Example Answers to Strategic Human Resource Management Exam Section A, Question 1 To what extent does the approach to Talent Management at Standard Chartered Bank display features of SHRM? Answer: By focusing heavily on its talent management program it can be clearly be seen that Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) is making the practice of SHRM as one of its key priorities. As can be seen from the article, the way SCB adopts its appraisal methodology is of a very strategic angle. By making it a global standard to conduct face-to-face performance appraisals every 6 months goes to show that SCB is reviewing its own performance management objectives to make sure that those objectives stay relevant and achievable, and that is a feature of SHRM. Being sensitive to different cultures by employing different appraisal methods also shows that SCB understands the importance of managers and staff identifying and dealing with real, actual problems in a way that is most familiar and effective to them. That is also another facet of SHRM as through such means, SCB is able to monitor its own competitiveness in the market. Through appraisals, SCB also classifies their employees into 5 categories ranging from high-potentials, to critical resources, then to core contributors, followed by underachievers and finally, underperformers. By doing so they are able to identify areas in which they are lacking and act upon it. Interestingly, as Geraldine Haley explains the classifications, it can be seen that SCB is already identifying the likely flow of talent in the bank and are taking actions to manage the flow. For example, when classifying certain employees as underperformers, Haley goes on to mention that this group of people do not fit the job requirements and they should be transferred to another role or be managed out. Clearly, whether the bank decides to place this group of employees in another role (which fits the idea of SHRM because by placing people where they perform best clearly benefits any company), or by managing them out (thereby reducing unnecessary manpower costs or replacement with a more pr oductive candidate), the intent behind both actions is clearly strategic in nature. The employee classification also allows the bank to understand the their potential and manpower mix which is critical because, the HR department would be able to plan in advance for staff mobility or develop different programs to help develop potential of their talents to another level. So far we are able to see that SCB does indeed view its employees as a strategic key asset in churning out profits for the bank. Yet another SHRM feature being displayed is the secrecy of employee classifications. As mentioned in the article, SCBs stance is that while they do not want certain employees to feel de-motivated and others to boast about their own performances, the whole point of the classification system is to inform managers that there might be actions required on their part to improve the situation. It is true that in SHRM, managers should not cause their staff to feel like they are being constantly monitored for poor performance because this will affect the staffs willingness to contribute towards the company. Again, either way, we see that the actions taken are closely linked to helping the organisation achieve its strategic corporate objectives. The classification system is also being used a guide for regional offices to strategically benchmark against one another to see where they stand. Ever since SCB has been experiencing a high staff turnover rate among newly recruited employees, a solution in the form of a global induction program named Right Start was implemented to curb this problem and they successfully brought down the rate of employees leaving by 5% (http://www.standardchartered.com/annual-report-07/en/business_review/people.html, 2008). SCB has also gone on to groom talents into leaders by means of providing coaching and self-help tools through various medias such as podcasts, videos and workshops. Another key concept is to allow talents to play to their strengths rather than on focusing on managing their weakness. As Hayley explains the strategic rationale on focusing on coaching talents with global roles in the bank, it is because a small 5% improvement from these top managers is enough to cause a huge positive impact on the banks earnings. Under the Best practice view in SHRM, there are 18 Key practices of which SCB can safely said to have achieved at least 50% or more: Realistic job previews; Use of psychometric tests for selection; Well-developed induction training; Provision of extensive training for experienced employees; Regular appraisal; Regular feedback on performance from many sources; Individual performance-related pay; Profit-related bonuses; Flexible job descriptions; Multi-skilling; Presence of work-improvement teams; Presence of problem solving groups; Information provided on firms business plan; Information provided on the firms performance targets; No compulsory redundancies; Avoidance of voluntary redundancies; Commitment to single status; Harmonised holiday entitlement (Source: University of Sunderland). It can be concluded that SCB is investing so much resources towards its human talent management program simply because it views it employees as human capital for the organisation and understands the wisdom in developing and managing its employees in close relation to the values and objectives of the company so that an effective workforce can be grown, and groomed to achieve the strategic objectives of the bank. Word count (865) 1.2 Comment on the relevance of this approach in the light of the recent banking crisis? Answer: The banking crisis of 2008 was largely due to the fall of banking giant, Lehman Brothers (LB). If LB had adopted SCBs view of employees as human capital in the organisation, it could have at least minimised the loss to a certain extent. For one, discussions between employers and staff would have been more open and problem issues could have been brought up and identified at an earlier stage. Inefficiencies in the organisation would have been uncovered if there were a global compilation of performance like in SCB, where CEOs were able to benchmark their performances against regional offices. In a way, having a certain amount of centralised control through talent management would also enable the monitoring of LB companies globally. It is interesting to note that when a German subsidiary of LB requested that top management in the USA forgo multi-million bonuses as a sign of taking responsibility for poor performance, the request was immediately struck off at the first instance. It seems that top management either did not know or did not bother to care what was going on in its other global offices. Therefore it is important for companies to have a solid leadership and to achieve that, organisations must start to take the first step in acknowledging its employees as key assets towards enabling the company to achieve it strategic goals and objectives. Thereafter that, the companys HR policies should be dawn to include short and long term strategies that are inline with the companys corporate objectives. Companies should also consider which view the company would adopt in relation to SHRM. For example, does the company suit the Best Practice view, Bes Fit view, Best Fit Integration view or Resource based approach? Each has its own strengths and weaknesses but the company has to decide which is the most compatible and allow the company to achieve its goals. Perhaps the culture of a company should also be set as culture can deeply affect a employees willingness to contribute positively to the company. Every organisation aims to communicate its own objectives and goals to its employees so a to align the values and attitudes of the employees towards commitment in performance for the company, and in this respect, having an appropriate culture will greatly enable the employee to settle comfortably into the company and be motivated to perform well. Retaining talent is crucial in a companys route of progress and much effort should be put into talent management where employees will feel like that are an important part of a company that cherishes their contributions and seeks to develop and groom them for further growth in their career. With SHRM as the key basic guiding principle, companys should therefore seek to create a pool of talent that will steer it in the right direction, both in good times and bad. Word Count (473) 1.3 Why is it important to measure the impact of SHRM? What might be included in a evaluation strategy to measure the impact of SHRM in an organization to achieve strategic integration? Answer: It is important to measure the impact of SHRM because, firstly, strategies that are formulated into HR policies are closely linked to the strategic objectives of its organisation. The reason why this is so is because the company understands that attitudes and performances of its employees makes a significant difference towards achieving organisational goals. Therefore when an organisation decides to employ the HR unit as a strategically, resources are being invested to make sure the HR unit contributes towards the attainment of those objectives. In measuring the impact of SHRM in a company, there are 18 Key practices of SHRM might be used to ascertain the degree of SHRM present in the company: Realistic job previews; Use of psychometric tests for selection; Well-developed induction training; Provision of extensive training for experienced employees; Regular appraisal; Regular feedback on performance from many sources; Individual performance-related pay; Profit-related bonuses; Flexible job descriptions; Multi-skilling; Presence of work-improvement teams; Presence of problem solving groups; Information provided on firms business plan; Information provided on the firms performance targets; No compulsory redundancies; Avoidance of voluntary redundancies; Commitment to single status; Harmonised holiday entitlement (Source: University of Sunderland). Other possible measurements could be in the form of appraisals where performance management objectives are being reviewed. Through the appraisals the organisation would be able to know how it is faring against the achievement of its own targets relative to the overall performance of the employees. Word count (287) Section B, Question 4 4. What are the main features of a Performance Management system? In what ways can organizations ensure that such systems fulfil strategically useful outcomes (30 marks) Answer: 4.1 Main Features of a PMS The main features of PMS are: PMS consists of business-led outcomes that may be assessed against definite business objectives; PMS is integrated with interlocking procedures and flows of information; There is a mix of quantitative and qualitative objectives; There is a focus on both system design and manner of implementation. Because PMS are sensitive to process and culture, it is hence flexible; PMS rely on a participative approach by mangers and staff alike, which can align with other organisational processes, for example, employee religions, communications and decision-making processes; Lastly PMS have a distinctive and adaptable quality of being people and systems-oriented (Source: University of Sunderland). There are 6 other features of PMS that links it to the overall business strategy of a company which might also guide organisations in ensuring strategic outcomes are met: Objective setting; Ongoing review of objectives; The development of personal improvement plans linked to training and development; Formal appraisal and feedback; Pay review; A competence-based organisational capability review (Source: University of Sunderland). 4.2 Ensuring PMS Fulfils Strategically Useful Outcomes The best way to ensure that PMS is able to fulfil strategically useful outcomes is for the organisation to be involved in the setting of performance objectives and thereafter measure those objectives. When setting clearly defined performance management objectives organisations can gear the scope and nature of the objectives to reflect the organisations own corporate goals. These performance objectives should also be linked closely to the individual employees as well as the organisations capability resources. When setting objectives, coverage should include competence and skill development, ability in meeting operational targets, and creating a suitable corporate culture. Objectives are generally defined into 3 categories: productivity and output related, job-related and person-related. For productivity and output related objectives, these are a measure of quantifiable output targets like: Cost reduction Achieving sales quota Meeting production volumes. For job related targets, these involve meeting the main objectives of the job laid down in its description according to the specified level of competence: Achieving main responsibilities and accountability. Meeting tasks as described in the job description. Meeting the obligations and service relationships to internal and external customers. For person related objectives, these affect the behavioural outcomes of the person performing his job, such as sharing knowledge an ideas with co-workers. Organisations recognise the importance of linking organisational culture with person-related objectives as it can help to bring about a positive change in the organisations culture. For instance, an organisation that wants to have a culture that is collaborative in nature will set objectives on employees and measure an employees research report on the number of references made to other employees work or the number contributions made by the employees colleagues in the report. This type of objective will change a person behaviourally so that he or she is able to meet the performance objectives. As organisations are beginning to shift away from individualistic performance objectives such financial goals and moving towards objectives which links the workforce to the corporate objectives or wider environment such as quality and effectiveness of business processes, other measurements are being introduced to maximise the potential and skill of the workforce through a commitment-oriented strategy. Thus, organisations have also realised that to engage the wider environment, they have to identify the relationship between the 3 key stakeholders an the organisation: Investors who require return on their investment through dividends; Customers who require quality and service for which they pay; And employees who require a healthy and rewarding working environment that provides job security (Source: University of Sunderland). Now that the inter-relationship has been identified, organisations are better able to communicate expected levels of competence from employees and will also be able to appropriately empower staff to deal with activities as a result of their integration. Lynch and Cross (1995), created a model that shows this relationship (see Figure 4.A). This model also identifies the broad measures and integration of objectives at each individual level. Figure 4.A shows The Performance Pyramid from Lynch RS and Cross (1995) (Source: University of Sunderland) 4.2.1 Appraisal Systems As the link between objectives and organisational resources are important, it must therefore be integrated with appraisal systems. Appraisals do the job of reviewing the performance management objectives, and it traditionally occurs annually between the manager and staff. However, as the need for objectives to stay relevant and achievable all the time, reviews of the objectives are beginning to occur more regularly. Hence it can be said that regular reviews also encourages the building of relationship and the occurrence of coaching through such regular discussions. In the design of appraisal schemes, there are 2 types of orientation schemes that emerge: the control orientation and the developmental orientation. In the control orientation approach, it is always assumed in a negative light that a senior entity in the organisation decides the goals, targets, objectives and rewards for the employees to achieve. This results in employees feeling insecure as they feel that they are being constantly monitored and may lead to a breakdown in commitment. Often, when adjustments are introduced to ease such worries, the appraisal scheme becomes ineffective as manager do not address real issues which may cause a loss in motivation or damage in relations between the manager and employee. Standardised controls are put in place so as to maintain consistency and equal treatment for all, however it sacrifices flexibility in the process. The level of impact is low on performance with the exception of a few existing high performers. Thus, this approach is effective when targets are clear and staff are used to it. The emphasis is not so much on enhancing performance through feedback and motivation but more on t he managements authority over the employees. In the case of the developmental approach, the manager is not in control whereas employees are the ones who take the initiative to address uncertainties in wanting to know how to improve themselves. Employees want to be helped and supported through problems and they learn through failures and success. The strengths in this approach include less resistance between the manger and staff, and being able to handle problems in an open way. Problems can also be dealt with on a more objective basis without souring relationships. Employees are also given high trust in their integrity. However, the weaknesses with this approach include less visible outcomes being produced and the manager has to take on a more consultative or counsellor role that they might not be able to perform well in. 4.2.2 Types of Appraisals There are a few types of appraisals which organisations may choose to adopt including the, self-appraisal, top-down appraisal, peer appraisal and multi-directional appraisal. Top-down appraisals are traditional and feedback is gathered from the staff while objectives come only from the top. The weaknesses of this type of appraisal are that too much emphasis is being placed on traditional organisational hierarchies. Favouritism might also be prevalent and employees might not have full knowledge in structures where managers posses a wide span of control. Self-appraisal methods are hardly used. It gives the employees more ownership and a much higher degree of participation in the appraisal scheme. Managers adopt a more supportive and advisory role where they engage in discussions with the staff on setting of objectives. In the upward appraisal model feedback is given from the bottom to top. Employees are often asked to provide such feedback anonymously. Organisations that use this method recognise the need to provide more effective working systems for employees to work more efficiently. In the peer appraisal model, members of the same team are being asked to appraise one another. There may be sensitivities involved when using this method as members might show favouritism to particular members or dislike towards certain members might be the reason for poor rating given. In contrast to the peer appraisal method, multi-directional appraisals sets up to obtain feedback from the outside of the team and it often also includes gathering feedback externally from customers. Its key strength is its being able to overcome the lack of knowledge from a single appraiser as it gathers feedback from many sources. However its biggest weakness lies in the lack of control over hostile ratings being given. Thus appraisals are also a tool to ensure that performance objectives meet strategically useful outcomes. Word count (1409) Section B, Question 5 5. Why are reward management systems critical to SHRM? How can organizations develop reward systems strategically? (30 marks) Answer: 5.1 Why Reward Management Systems are Critical to SHRM In strategic human resource management (SHRM), strategies that are being implemented into a companys human resource policies are closely connected with a companys main adopted strategy in order for it to aid in achieving company objectives. SHRM does so by means of recruiting, developing, maintaining and retaining an efficient, productive workforce. As employees make up a companys workforce, they should then be regarded as key assets in a company. Reward management systems are therefore critical to SHRM because they are used to reward and compensate employees in manners that impact employees positively for the company. For example, well-developed reward management systems uses rewards to motivate employees to grow and develop their potential, thereby increasing the quality of efforts contributed towards the company. Rewards and compensation systems are also critically used in aligning the culture, objectives and philosophies of the company with efforts of the employees, this allows employees to identify themselves as part of the company and thus strengthen their loyalty and commitment towards the company and its objectives (Sherman et al., 1998). In todays competitive environment where companies compete for talent and expertise, rewards play an important role in both the recruitment of talent and retention of long serving employees who have difficult-to-source tacit knowledge in their field of expertise. Having a flexible reward management system also means that a company is able harness other forms employment, for example, hiring of part-timers with relevant experience to temporarily fill in during short-term projects. 5.2 Developing a Reward System Strategically Rewards systems in companies practicing SHRM must obviously be strategic in nature. According to Lawler (1984), there are nine points to consider when making strategic decisions in developing reward systems in companies. The nine points are termed as follows: Base of rewards. Performance and Incentivisation scope for progression. Market position. Internal versus External comparison. Centralised versus de-centralised reward. Degree of pay hierarchy. Reward Mix. Process issues. Reward systems consequences/integration. 5.2.1 Base of Rewards Salaries can be based on 3 options: The type of job a person undertakes. The persons contribution in the job. The knowledge and skill level people possess within the job. The 1st option is to pay based on the growth and development an individual undertaking a job. This is typically done through internally comparing a particular job with other jobs within the company using a job evaluation which measures the tasks that the job is required to perform. External comparisons could be used, whereby companies compare the wages offered by other companies against their own. Job based rewards are typically found in larger organisations where job and pay equity is predominant; an example would be jobs in the public service sector where job grading is used. The 2nd option is to pay based on the individuals performance within his or her job and is commonly implemented in cases where the jobs are small in number or job scopes that are distinct and pay has to be individual. Performance based pay is used to balance job demands and contributions made in order to motivate the individual to enhance performance. The 3rd option is to pay based on the need to acquire new s kills and knowledge so as to enable organisations to meet the new market challenges. 5.2.2 Performance and Incentivisation scope for progression. This point considers the many types and ways of using incentives, whether as a part of an individuals salary or an additional portion. However, the main dilemma lies in reconciling strategic objectives with the use of suitable incentives to motivate and enhance employee performance and commitment to the company. Companies will have to decide the forms in which incentives will take and how it will be distributed as well as the positive and negative repercussions it might bring to the company or its employees. For example, substituting commission for a fixed bonus payout to sales employees might cause low-performers to be happy, while high-performers might become disgruntled they could have earned more on a commission scheme. 5.2.3 Market Position As labour markets are vulnerable to the economy, market trends and political influences, radical changes may happen anytime within the labour market. For example, if there is a labour shortage in certain industries, organisations would be forced to pay a higher wage to acquire the labour needed. As such, organisations are finding it difficult to sustain an internal sense of fairness that comes from a formal measurement of job equity within internal wage structures. Therefore, reward strategies need to be formulated to answer to such external uncertainties, and also be flexible (if it is not already so) enough to accommodate different wage schemes and levels when required. 5.2.4 Internal versus External comparison As reward systems are key to hiring, retaining and developing employees, it is important for a company to benchmark its reward policies against the external and internal environment. Hence, it is important for companies to understand the logic behind market rates of pay and benefit and to know where and how to collect data required to conduct pay and benefits surveys. These surveys are often conducted so that companies are able to rely on the information to make adjustments to current pay and benefit rates, thus staying competitive in their pay and benefit policies. Companies should also be able to present data in a meaningful manner so that proper analysis can take place. Job evaluaton (JE) is defined as a systematic procress by which relative worth of jobs are determined so as to establish which jobs will be paid more over others in the organisation (Sherman et al., 1998). The key features of JE are: A process which compares the relationships between jobs based on demand placed on employees. A process of judgement made by understanding of job descriptions and roles required to perform the job. A process of analysis after generating point factors from judgements, to enable job ranking. A process of structuring whereby job descriptions are formulated, problem solving, identifying key factors equivalent to job knowledge, and more. Score formulation also takes place to establish ranking, building wage structures and create job-grading systems. The important decisions to make in a JE are the selection of appropriate factors and their levels, as well as how value of factors will be expressed. 5.2.5 Centralised versus de-centralised reward Organisations often have to struggle to decide if reward systems should be managed in a centralised or de-centralised manner. Centralised controlling is tight and usually means a standardised rate of wage increment. This may cause employees to be less motivated and innovative in their contribution which becomes unhealthy for the company, this holds true for employees who belong to a business unit selling a varied number of products and services. In this case, it might be better having a de-centralised control of rewards system and empower managers with discretionary authority to reward employees accordingly, hence boosting morale. 5.2.6 Degree of Pay Hierarchy Pay hierarchies exists in organisations and reward systems are dependent on them to a large extent. Pay hierarchies show the distinct difference in power and often reflect career progression. However, organisations are gradually moving away from such distinct hierarchies in pay systems by formulating wage structures that encourages wage overlap and opportunities for increment. Graded wage structures are commonly used and though not all are exactly the same, they share common features such as: A salary grade allocated to a job based on an individuals contribution, the labour market and the degree of complexity present in a job. Salary bands or grade in which employees belong to and have to gain promotion in order to progress on to a higher salary band. Each band consists of at least minimum entry point, market or mid-point and a maximum point that employees can achieve. Salary bands are associated with each other; usually the maximum point of a starting salary band is the commencement of the next salary band. The degree of overlap will have to be determined by the organisation. As employees move up along the band, organisations will have to decide if employees move up to fixed points along the bands or should employees be allowed to skip certain points and progress at a faster rate instead. 5.2.7 Reward Mix Although pay is often identified to be the key ingredient in a reward mix, other benefits such as free annual health screening, pension schemes, certified-skill upgrades, use of company vehicles, etc, are just as useful in rewarding employees. When creating a reward mix, the challenge for companies is to identify the strategic reasons for having each benefit in the reward mix and their costs to the company. 5.2.8 Process Issues In the discussion of process issues, the 1st strategic issue to be considered is communication and transparency. As communicating pay objectives to employees clearly is important in achieving positive human resource results, the existing culture of companies usually decides how open the dialogs are. Traditional companies adopt a closed system and keep salary ranges unknown for purposes of pay review. Other companies with open systems often publicise the salary structure and criteria for which salary increment can occur. Open systems tend to instil confidence and fairness into employees as decision-making becomes more transparent and criteria are made known. The 2nd strategic issue concerns with employees degree of involvement in pay decisions. A company aiming to achieve a team-based operating culture and high employee involvement in all aspect of human resource management should consider allowing employees to be involved in determination of job salaries too. Companies adopting close -based systems usually applies HR policies onto its employees and ultimately, companies have to decide whether leveraging highly on employees trust and commitment or otherwise, is more suited to the companys culture. 5.2.9 Reward Systems consequences/integration As HR objectives change over time, so should reward objectives because rewards should be integrated into HR systems. And if the objectives are inline, then the integration between rewards and HR systems will serve well to make a positive impact on employees who in turn stays committed to churn out more positive contributions for the company. Word count (1700)