Many organizations are harnessing the power of teams to improve performance and replace traditional “command and control” methods. Robinson defines a team as “[…] a unit of people with complementary skills who are committed to a unilateral purpose and hold themselves mutually accountable for performance to goals using a common process” (Maintenance Management 2506). While effective teams may indeed generate synergistic results, ineffective teams may actually prove to be counter-productive. Team dynamics are affected by the characteristics of the individuals and the ways in which they interrelate as a group. Achieving high performance levels with teams is dependent on constructive interaction among the members. Teammates must be able, and willing, to draw on the individual strengths of each other as well as to compensate for weaknesses. While teams are used in many different ways, for this discussion we will focus on project teams.
In constructing a project team, it is important to include members with complementary skills. The proper mix of skills and abilities is a crucial factor in the team’s success. The selection process should ensure that the team is composed of people who possess the appropriate technical knowledge, the ability to solve problems effectively, and are able to make sound decisions. It is also important to include members with strong interpersonal skills (Thompson, Aranda, Robbins et al 253). The latter can be especially important since each team member brings to the group his or her own unique personality, biases, and interests. This diversity is one of the reasons that effective teams are able to achieve levels of performance greater than that of the individuals; however, these differences may also be a source of conflict within the group.
When a team is starting out, if those with stronger skills decide to move forward without consideration of those who do not possess the required skills, the team will begin to fall apart (Yager 11). To prevent this, and achieve optimal results, the team should draw on the knowledge and skills of each member, requiring them to be engaged in the process. Yager notes, “All learning, if it is to be effective, must proceed from awareness to choices and options, and then to applications and change” (11). In designing the way in which a team will operate, it is important to consider the different personality traits of the members and the affect on team dynamics. While some people are influenced more by their feelings, others require facts. Domineering personalities may cause those who are less assertive to withdraw and avoid voicing their views, potentially resulting in a loss of valuable insights. Personality and behavioral style tools such as the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator and the DISC Assessment can provide an insight into the ways individuals may interact with others. With a better understanding of their styles, team members can determine the most effective way to approach each other.
The attitude each member brings to the process will have an influence on the dynamics of the team. Volunteers normally approach the process more positively than those forced into participation will. Some individuals may come to the team with a strong positive or negative bias toward the team objective. For example, if one of the members has previously worked on a project that the team’s responsibility, there may be resentment that he or she was not allowed individual credit for the work. Others may lack motivation to participate in a process that does not generate benefits for them as individuals. In an altruistic environment, each member of the team would only consider the benefits to the team goal in their interaction. However, as humans, each member brings their own interests to the team process and, to some extent, will tend to influence situations from a personal gain or loss perspective. If the team is working on a high profile project, some members may view it as an opportunity to improve their visibility within the organization. If individual interests override those of the team, there is likely to be conflict.
Creating a charter is an important first step in setting the team up for success. As the team works on its assignment, it will help maintain focus and guide the process. An effective charter covers areas such as the team’s purpose, goals, methods, resources, boundaries, commitments, and process checks. Properly constructed, it can provide a basis to work through the normal issues encountered by new teams and help them deal more effectively with the conflicts that are certain to arise (Thompson, Aranda, Robbins et al 253). In addition to the charter, the team should develop a good set of ground rules to guide the expectations for interaction of the group. The ground rules should be clear and agreed upon everyone on the team.
Just as each person brings their own personal traits to the team, they also bring a unique background. This allows the team to draw from a variety experience, skill, and knowledge bases in working together. In forming a project team, it is important to assemble a group with the right skills and abilities for the work at hand. This often means the members will come from different functions and levels of an organization with various amounts of experience in working in teams. While building a team with individuals who bring a great deal of knowledge and experience relating to the project may seem ideal, it may also limit the creativity of the team. To obtain the best results, the team should find ways to challenge past methods and current thinking. Utilizing the diversity of experiences across the team may identify new approaches and options to the project at hand. Conversely, the team should contain a level of knowledge and experience to allow them to move forward at an acceptable rate.
As the team works on various aspects of a project, different skills are required. Time spent acquiring the capabilities required for that phase may hinder timely progress. The selection of team members should take into consideration the various functions required for success. Subsequent training and follow-up is necessary to support the team members if the project outcome is to be successful. Effective teams will incorporate learning into the process as a priority. At times, the team must rely on outside means to supplement their own abilities and must establish ways to access these resources.
Another consideration for team selection is the level of authority necessary to achieve results. If the project requires access to financial, labor, or other resources to execute the project, they must have the ability to obtain these resources. The scope and availability of resources granted to the team should be outlined early in the process and agreed upon by management. Teams often struggle in this area if tasked to achieve results without the necessary tools. Once these tools and resources are available, the members may require training and guidance in their use. A team sponsor or mentor may be able to provide the support and guidance necessary to keep the team moving forward.
In some situations, it may be beneficial to include a senior manager or executive with the authority to approve use of resources beyond the scope of the team. A concern with this approach is the effect on team dynamics. There is a natural inclination for people to defer to the “boss” rather than voicing their views. This may inhibit some of the beneficial interaction and idea sharing found in a group of peers. It may be preferable to establish a process for the team to present their needs to the appropriate manager or executive group for approval.
For a team to function effectively there are roles and responsibilities that must be fulfilled, such as leading meetings, agenda distribution, recording minutes, or arranging a meeting place. The ability to achieve results in a team environment is dependent the ability of the team to establish a structure that considers the combination of personalities, skills, and experience. In some teams, leadership responsibilities rest with one individual, others may rotate leadership at determined intervals, and still others may change leadership to best suit various stages of a project. Because of the varied interests, skills, knowledge and abilities of the members within a team, it is important to establish a leader within the team. Goals must be communicated by the leader so that the team members are inspired with a shared vision to maintain a commitment to the success of the project (Taylor 15).
A key role of the leader is to ensure that the group stays on task while promoting participation by all members. It is essential that the team establish the methods for performing tasks and monitoring progress. Since it is very easy for team meetings to get off track, agendas are useful to maintain order, structure, and time control. When meetings continually stray, members may become frustrated or lose interest; however, at times, it does make sense. The leader must make the judgment of when to allow a valuable process to continue despite the agenda. Team leaders must be careful to avoid the use of a member’s positional influence to sway the direction of the team.
Most team members dread the task of recording minutes leading many teams to struggle with assigning this responsibility. The recorder must be careful to accurately capture the main meeting topics and decisions and avoid personal bias in presenting the information. Often this role limits direct participation; therefore, it may be desirable to rotate this role. An alternative would be to have a designated recorder who is not a team member to achieve that the greatest level of participation from all team members. Good record keeping will help prevent disagreements later in the process.
There may be other ongoing roles depending on the structure and focus of a team. Tasks such as updating a project timeline or updating a management group are often assigned to one or more members of the group for the duration of the project. Though often overlooked, being a team member is a role in itself. Mark Taylor, president and CEO of TAYLOR Systems Engineering Corp., maintains, “No leader exists without gaining the support of others. The first natural law of leadership changes our view of followers because it recognizes the collegial, partnering role they play. Followers are allies who represent the necessary opposite side of the leadership coin.” (15)
A team can function at peak performance when all members take an active part in the team practice. Regardless of the team’s structure or function, all members should participate in the process and provide feedback to the group. This can be difficult when there are strong personalities or authority figures on the team. A well-designed team charter and good ground rules will support a process where all team members feel equal and safe to share their views. This is especially important during brainstorming and problem solving processes where breakthroughs are often a result of one idea triggering another. By drawing from the diversity of the group, teams have a greater opportunity to identify new and innovative solutions to the problems they face.
With teams becoming increasingly important in business today, understanding team dynamics will help to ensure they operate effectively. Good teams are able to tap into the diversity of members to achieve higher levels of performance. Drawing upon the various skills and experience of each individual, teams can accomplish things that individuals cannot. Teams will function best in an environment that is committed to their success and provides the support necessary for their development. Establishing processes to evaluate and support teams in achieving effective interaction of members will support organizational goals as well. Without this process, team dynamics may inhibit performance of the group, leading to less than optimal results. The ultimate level of success achieved by the team will be a function of the effectiveness of member interaction. George Eckes, the primary consultant for General Electric Co. wrote in The Six Sigma Revolution, published two years ago: “By far the greatest source of team failures is poor team dynamics and poor facilitative leadership behaviors” (qtd. in Taylor 15).
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Saturday, January 10, 2009
Recruitment and Selection Plan
It is important to realize a couple things about the restaurant industry, for those who do not know a lot about it. It is different from other industries in terms of hiring. There are always applications coming in from prospective employees, especially in a larger, high volume restaurant. Because of this, the managers are always looking at applications, and the potential for interviewing and hiring. You do not wait for someone to quit or change their schedule before you start to look for someone new. It takes time to go through the selection and interview process, and then the training after that. In a restaurant, the goal is to have your staffing levels appropriate to your sales volume. So, if you wait too long to interview and train, you may fall short of your proper staffing level. This could ultimately lead to not having enough servers to work at any given time, which could in turn lead to bad service for the guests. It all goes back to staying ahead of the game when it comes to interviewing.
Applebee's uses applications as the basis for screening potential employees for interviews. The manager may look at things like previous experience, availability and flexibility to determine who may have the best fit for the job. The manager would look at all the current applications, and interview the people that most closely fit the needs of the restaurant.
The interview process is very structured at Applebee's. There is a first interview, done by the service manager. There are four sections of the interview, within which the manager can pick two or three questions from the list provided for them. The sections of the first interview consist of action orientation, composure, teamwork, and guest focus. The manager will rate the answers in each section from one to five. The manager adds up the scores from each section to get a total, and would then determine whether or not to proceed with the interviewing process.
The next part of the interview process is a test, the SQ-II (service questionnaire, second edition.) This is a test of 150 yes or no questions. The test is given to see if applicants' answers correlate to those that have proven to be successful in customer service and guest relations. The 150 questions are rated using five areas: drive and energy, sociability, emotional consistencey, accomodation, and acceptance of authority. The manager translates the answers into a five letter code. This code is then located on the summary interpretation table. This is a very detailed table, which tells what type of characteristics the person may have, and how well they correlate to success in this industry. At this point, the manager must again decide whether to continue on with the interviewing process, depending on their scores on the test.
If continuing on, this is when the reference checks would be done. Then the applicant would have a second interview, this time with the general manager of the restaruant. The questions asked during the second interview are based on the specific tasks of the server position. Again, the manager will be asking two or three questions from the list provided for them, in each of four sections. The sections in the second interview include interpersonal effectiveness, integrity and trust, humor/work attitude, and suggestive sales. The manager would rate the answers on a scale from one to five to find a total score for the second interview. At this point, the person would either be offered a job, or be told they will be contacted by mail or phone within the next three to seven days to be told the results.
As you can see, Applebee's has a very detailed and structured interviewing process. They have learned to spend time in this process early on to try to find the right person for the job every time. Why go through orientation and training for someone who will not be there next month, simply because the fit wasn't quite right?
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Applebee's uses applications as the basis for screening potential employees for interviews. The manager may look at things like previous experience, availability and flexibility to determine who may have the best fit for the job. The manager would look at all the current applications, and interview the people that most closely fit the needs of the restaurant.
The interview process is very structured at Applebee's. There is a first interview, done by the service manager. There are four sections of the interview, within which the manager can pick two or three questions from the list provided for them. The sections of the first interview consist of action orientation, composure, teamwork, and guest focus. The manager will rate the answers in each section from one to five. The manager adds up the scores from each section to get a total, and would then determine whether or not to proceed with the interviewing process.
The next part of the interview process is a test, the SQ-II (service questionnaire, second edition.) This is a test of 150 yes or no questions. The test is given to see if applicants' answers correlate to those that have proven to be successful in customer service and guest relations. The 150 questions are rated using five areas: drive and energy, sociability, emotional consistencey, accomodation, and acceptance of authority. The manager translates the answers into a five letter code. This code is then located on the summary interpretation table. This is a very detailed table, which tells what type of characteristics the person may have, and how well they correlate to success in this industry. At this point, the manager must again decide whether to continue on with the interviewing process, depending on their scores on the test.
If continuing on, this is when the reference checks would be done. Then the applicant would have a second interview, this time with the general manager of the restaruant. The questions asked during the second interview are based on the specific tasks of the server position. Again, the manager will be asking two or three questions from the list provided for them, in each of four sections. The sections in the second interview include interpersonal effectiveness, integrity and trust, humor/work attitude, and suggestive sales. The manager would rate the answers on a scale from one to five to find a total score for the second interview. At this point, the person would either be offered a job, or be told they will be contacted by mail or phone within the next three to seven days to be told the results.
As you can see, Applebee's has a very detailed and structured interviewing process. They have learned to spend time in this process early on to try to find the right person for the job every time. Why go through orientation and training for someone who will not be there next month, simply because the fit wasn't quite right?
You can order a high-quality custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis, dissertation, speech, book report or book review from our professional custom writing service. We have employed more than 500 highly qualified Ph.D. and Master's academic writers to provide students with professional academic writing help. Feel free to contact our company right now!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Rediscovering Businesses
Rediscover Anoka formed two years ago when several Minnesota businesswomen gathered to drink coffee and share ideas. Now the group includes nineteen business people interested in promoting their historic town as a shopping destination. Located at the confluence of the Rum and Mississippi Rivers, Anoka retains its small town, historic appeal though it is part of the growing Twin Cities metropolitan area. The downtown businesses, all within easy walking distance of one another, include many antique and specialty stores, as well as a tearoom, a Victorian bed and breakfast, a bookstore, and a full-service department store. A river walk along the Rum River features interpretive plaques focused on the town’s rich history, and the Anoka County History Center and Library showcases other aspects of local history.
Because of its river location, Anoka has been home to many businesses throughout its 150-year history, including industries important to Minnesota’s beginnings, lumber and flour milling. When these industries faltered in the Panic of 1873, local citizens rallied to bring a shoe factory and potato starch factory to town. According to a history written by the 1943-1944 Social Science classes at Anoka High School, business people rallied after an August 16, 1884 fire burned most of downtown and began selling their wares from shanties the following day. Many of the current businesses inhabit buildings from the period immediately following this fire.
Anoka businesses came together in 1920 to solve another civic problem—Halloween vandalism. In 1919 youthful antics got out-of-hand. Citizens awoke on October 31 to find cows grazing on Main Street, a cow sleeping in the sheriff’s office, and another devouring the globe in the local high school. To deter a repeat performance, the local businesses started a Halloween festival, now in its 83rd year. Today’s celebration includes a kiddy and an evening parade. Local schoolchildren paint murals on merchants’ windows, and scarecrows on lampposts add a festive touch to downtown. According to a 2001 souvenir booklet, Anoka’s was the first communitywide Halloween celebration in the nation.
By 1938 Anoka claimed that the town was the Halloween Capitol of the World. A collection of Anoka County Union articles Mary Caine compiled gives a sense of the event’s rich history. While parades and bonfires were centerpieces of early celebrations, many other activities also occurred. Businesspeople dressed in costumes, decorated store windows, and sponsored guessing contests. Throughout the 1920s romance was an important feature, including dances at the armory and the 1928 wedding of Emma Merkins and Louis Melberg, who wed while standing on their car at a parade attended by 10,000. Even the Great Depression didn’t dampen the spirit of the event. In 1933 Old Man Depression in mannequin form fueled the post-parade bonfire at Goodrich Park and comic boxing matches added to the attractions. Only the early years of World War II, 1942 and 1943, resulted in no Halloween festivities.
Anoka’s Halloween celebrations have also marked changes in American culture. 1940s celebrations reflected post-war growth with the addition of commemorative buttons, the Anoka High School Pumpkin Bowl, and decorative Halloween jackets on light poles. The 1949 celebration took a serious turn when Governor Luther W. Youngdahl burned the restraints from the Anoka State Hospital in the bonfire after giving a speech comparing the restraining of the mentally ill to the burning of witches in Salem. The 1950s brought big names including Rex Allen, King of the Cowboys, and Tex Ritter. In 1970 a couple on The Dating Game won a trip to Anoka and flew in via helicopter for the parade.
Today the Anoka Chamber of Commerce and Rediscover Anoka have added a Christmas event to their downtown festivities. The first weekend in December Santa arrives in town via1 horse-drawn carriage. A tree lighting ceremony with Mayor Bjorn Skogquist officiating ensues at city hall. As carolers stroll the streets, Santa walks through town handing out money to lucky shoppers. Many businesses plan special events in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Both special events and its rich history make Anoka a great place to spend the day. Rather than searching for a parking spot at a bustling mall and walking through chain stores, a visitor to downtown Anoka can slip into a municipal parking lot and begin a relaxing day of shopping. Whether browsing in antique stores or looking for unique home decor is the purpose of a visit to downtown Anoka, the visitor will find friendly stores and a small-town pace make a memorable shopping experience.
You can order a high-quality custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis, dissertation, speech, book report or book review from our professional custom writing service. We have employed more than 500 highly qualified Ph.D. and Master's academic writers to provide students with professional academic writing help. Feel free to contact our company right now!
Because of its river location, Anoka has been home to many businesses throughout its 150-year history, including industries important to Minnesota’s beginnings, lumber and flour milling. When these industries faltered in the Panic of 1873, local citizens rallied to bring a shoe factory and potato starch factory to town. According to a history written by the 1943-1944 Social Science classes at Anoka High School, business people rallied after an August 16, 1884 fire burned most of downtown and began selling their wares from shanties the following day. Many of the current businesses inhabit buildings from the period immediately following this fire.
Anoka businesses came together in 1920 to solve another civic problem—Halloween vandalism. In 1919 youthful antics got out-of-hand. Citizens awoke on October 31 to find cows grazing on Main Street, a cow sleeping in the sheriff’s office, and another devouring the globe in the local high school. To deter a repeat performance, the local businesses started a Halloween festival, now in its 83rd year. Today’s celebration includes a kiddy and an evening parade. Local schoolchildren paint murals on merchants’ windows, and scarecrows on lampposts add a festive touch to downtown. According to a 2001 souvenir booklet, Anoka’s was the first communitywide Halloween celebration in the nation.
By 1938 Anoka claimed that the town was the Halloween Capitol of the World. A collection of Anoka County Union articles Mary Caine compiled gives a sense of the event’s rich history. While parades and bonfires were centerpieces of early celebrations, many other activities also occurred. Businesspeople dressed in costumes, decorated store windows, and sponsored guessing contests. Throughout the 1920s romance was an important feature, including dances at the armory and the 1928 wedding of Emma Merkins and Louis Melberg, who wed while standing on their car at a parade attended by 10,000. Even the Great Depression didn’t dampen the spirit of the event. In 1933 Old Man Depression in mannequin form fueled the post-parade bonfire at Goodrich Park and comic boxing matches added to the attractions. Only the early years of World War II, 1942 and 1943, resulted in no Halloween festivities.
Anoka’s Halloween celebrations have also marked changes in American culture. 1940s celebrations reflected post-war growth with the addition of commemorative buttons, the Anoka High School Pumpkin Bowl, and decorative Halloween jackets on light poles. The 1949 celebration took a serious turn when Governor Luther W. Youngdahl burned the restraints from the Anoka State Hospital in the bonfire after giving a speech comparing the restraining of the mentally ill to the burning of witches in Salem. The 1950s brought big names including Rex Allen, King of the Cowboys, and Tex Ritter. In 1970 a couple on The Dating Game won a trip to Anoka and flew in via helicopter for the parade.
Today the Anoka Chamber of Commerce and Rediscover Anoka have added a Christmas event to their downtown festivities. The first weekend in December Santa arrives in town via1 horse-drawn carriage. A tree lighting ceremony with Mayor Bjorn Skogquist officiating ensues at city hall. As carolers stroll the streets, Santa walks through town handing out money to lucky shoppers. Many businesses plan special events in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Both special events and its rich history make Anoka a great place to spend the day. Rather than searching for a parking spot at a bustling mall and walking through chain stores, a visitor to downtown Anoka can slip into a municipal parking lot and begin a relaxing day of shopping. Whether browsing in antique stores or looking for unique home decor is the purpose of a visit to downtown Anoka, the visitor will find friendly stores and a small-town pace make a memorable shopping experience.
You can order a high-quality custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis, dissertation, speech, book report or book review from our professional custom writing service. We have employed more than 500 highly qualified Ph.D. and Master's academic writers to provide students with professional academic writing help. Feel free to contact our company right now!
Jane Austen
Jane Austen has been called the “prose Shakespeare,” and Sir Walter Scott; one of age’s greatest writers, once lamented that her “exquisite touch, which renders ordinary common place things and characters interesting, from the truth of the description and the sentiment, is denied to me.” Sir Walter Scott, believed that Miss Austen is one of the greatest novelists of all time. Some critics have even claimed that she is the first great novelist. Miss Austen’s significance on literature, through her novels is equivalent to Shakespeare. There are Austen societies and circles, and the Regency Period of her novels has become the preferred setting for countless historical romances (Felder 46). They are mostly overheated and sentimental imitations of her work. She set precedence for romance. She gave every woman an idea of what true love means. Miss Austen did this in an unexaggerated but still compassionate way (Sherry 89). Jane Austen had an ironic humor to all of her works that made her an original.
Jane Austen was born on December 16,1775 at Steventon (Austen-Leigh xiiv). During this period of time, women built their lives on marriages. They were not welcomed into labor and men looked only to marry when it increased their fortune. In this era, Jane, the youngest of seven and the daughter of a clergyman, would break the mold and become a prominent unwed writer. She was educated, along with her sister Cassandra, in private schools and well versed in many languages (Austen-Leigh 12). Jane spent her days traveling with her sister, Cassandra, with who Jane held a close relationship. In 1782 they traveled to Oxford and stayed under the care of Mrs. Cawley. Mrs. Cawley was Doctor Cooper’s, a friend of the families, sister. In 1783 they moved to Southhampton where Jane caught a fever and almost died. Jane and Cassandra left Mrs. Latournelle’s school at Reading and returned home in 1785 (Austen-Leigh xiiv). Ten years later Cassandra became engaged to Thomas Fowle, who died before they were to be married. By November of 1797 Jane had moved, with her sister and mother, to Bath (Austen-Leigh xiiv). After Jane became ill she moved in with her sister so they could share the remainder of her days together in Winchester. Austen died in 1817 due to an illness (Austen-Leigh xiiv). Even when her illness overtook her she still wrote up until the end. Because Austen never married, the tendency is to see her as a wise, ironic spinster aunt, writing exclusively about courtship and marriage matters outside her experience. However, Miss Austen had opportunities for marriage and proposals. In 1802 Jane returned to her hometown of Steventon and received an offer of marriage from an old friend. Instead of marriage, Austen involved herself with her large circle of friends and family (Clausen 32).
‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.’ What she is implying is that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be the target of all the unmarried women who are looking for a husband. This opening sentence of Pride and Prejudice could be taken as the theme of each of her six novels (Clausen 62). Jane Austen used a bit of irony in her writing. The ironic humor must not be allowed to disguise the fact that we have to hear the opening of a love story. She saw marriage as women hunting for prey. This is best exemplified in Charlotte from Pride and Prejudice. “Without thinking highly either of men nor matrimony, had always had marriage as her object,” Jane said herself of Charlotte (Clausen 63). However, Austen also saw the romantic prospect of marriage for what it could be. The other woman; Elizabeth; in the novel was not a romantic, but like most of Austens’ heroines, she had a certain ideal marriage based on her observations of the marriages she knows. All of Austen’s works are about country families and their trials at love and of money (Jenkyns 148).
Beyond the practical drama of courtship and marriage, Jane Austen schooled her heroines in the unalterable laws of human nature, class, and custom. Willful and headstrong heroines like Elizabeth Bennett and Emma Woodhouse are shown going through a sobering process of maturing and gaining a deeper appreciation of the rules and elements that govern their lives. Austen wrote of educated heroines, women who had class and not extremely rich. Heroines who all women could, and still can identify with. She showed women that it was okay to want more, and men not to underestimate women (Felder 47).
Jane Austen’s life itself became an inspiration to women. She entered a profession when it was thought that women were only for sowing and birthing. She excelled at that profession and surpassed many men to do so. Her novels also attract men. It is said that Austen had given pleasure to more men in bed than any woman in history had (Tomalin 341). Many men have found themselves attracted to such characters as Elizabeth Bennett. Men in those times did not possess television or Playboy, they relied on their imaginations and literature to evoke fantasies. In 1796 Pride and Prejudice, then called first impression was wrote, it was her first novel. However, it wasn’t until 1813 that is was published. Jane’s father sent it in previously, but Cadell. rejected it. Northanger Abbey was wrote in 1798, but she actually sold her work in 1803 to Crosby of London. In 1811 Sense and Sensibility became published (Austen-Leigh xiiv). Marianne and Eleanor became adored by all. Many critics say that the relationship between the two sisters was taken from Austen’s own relationship with Cassandra (Felder 47). Finally in 1813 Pride and Prejudice was published and began selling copies (Austen-Leigh xiiv). It became a wide success. The same people who had come to love Marianne and Eleanor now would come to cherish Elizabeth and Darcy as well. The characters of Elizabeth and Darcy were loved and on the tips of every readers thoughts. This enabled he other works to be published without objection. Due to these novels, Emma, which was written in March of 1815 was published only a few months later in December. In May of 1814 Mansfield Park was published (Austen-Leigh xiiv). Many critics believe that Fanny Price, Mansfield’s heroine, to be the most unfavorable. She does not have the same zeal that the other of Austen’s heroines has, but she is a different character with different ways to handle the situations that are thrown her way (Sherry 495).
Perhaps Austen’s most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice has become a classic in today’s literary world. Her characters handle situations with what is proper and right (Austen 223). In Sense and Sensibility, Marianne and Eleanor show opposite views on how to handle situations. Marianne is very passionate and open when she meets Willibee. She does not contain her adoration of him. After he is proven to be a dishonorable person that she does not even attempt to hide her Diaspora. Eleanor, on the other hand, holds appearance the most important thing of all. She holds her composer when she finds out that Edward in engaged. Marianne finds Eleanor unfeeling, while Eleanor finds Marianne to passionate. But each finds happiness with the one they love (Austen 294). In Emma, Emma Wood house buries herself in trying to fix up her friends. She is so busy with these that she doesn’t realize until almost the end of the novel that she loves Knightley. Again Emma and Harriet Smith both marry the men they love (Austen 766). This seems to be Austen’s trademarked. Always the true loves marry. But each character is remarkably vivid and her words transport the reader into the novel. Each story is basically the same and still so much different. This was summarized by Somerset Maugham who once said,” Nothing very much happens in her books, and yet when you come to the bottom of the page, you eagerly turn it to learn what will happen next. The novelist who had the power to achieve this has the most precious gift a novelists can possess (Felder 48).”
Jane Austen lived her life in a way that many women of that era dreamed. She became an accomplished writer and supported herself. She brought joy into the hearts of both men and women. Her novels seemed real, because she drew from only what she witnessed. With that realistic description she made up the most intricate characters. Who abided by honor and a sense of moral code. There were always a few characters in each novel that feel victim to the money and gave up everything for it. Isabelle in Northanger
Abbey is a perfect example, she chose money over the person she loved (Austen 273). The draw to her novels now reflects how timeless these stories are. Women can still identify with the heroines. This is what has immortalized Jane Austen forever. Even though Jane is long since perished she will live forever in the hearts of anyone who picks up one of her novels.
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Jane Austen was born on December 16,1775 at Steventon (Austen-Leigh xiiv). During this period of time, women built their lives on marriages. They were not welcomed into labor and men looked only to marry when it increased their fortune. In this era, Jane, the youngest of seven and the daughter of a clergyman, would break the mold and become a prominent unwed writer. She was educated, along with her sister Cassandra, in private schools and well versed in many languages (Austen-Leigh 12). Jane spent her days traveling with her sister, Cassandra, with who Jane held a close relationship. In 1782 they traveled to Oxford and stayed under the care of Mrs. Cawley. Mrs. Cawley was Doctor Cooper’s, a friend of the families, sister. In 1783 they moved to Southhampton where Jane caught a fever and almost died. Jane and Cassandra left Mrs. Latournelle’s school at Reading and returned home in 1785 (Austen-Leigh xiiv). Ten years later Cassandra became engaged to Thomas Fowle, who died before they were to be married. By November of 1797 Jane had moved, with her sister and mother, to Bath (Austen-Leigh xiiv). After Jane became ill she moved in with her sister so they could share the remainder of her days together in Winchester. Austen died in 1817 due to an illness (Austen-Leigh xiiv). Even when her illness overtook her she still wrote up until the end. Because Austen never married, the tendency is to see her as a wise, ironic spinster aunt, writing exclusively about courtship and marriage matters outside her experience. However, Miss Austen had opportunities for marriage and proposals. In 1802 Jane returned to her hometown of Steventon and received an offer of marriage from an old friend. Instead of marriage, Austen involved herself with her large circle of friends and family (Clausen 32).
‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.’ What she is implying is that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be the target of all the unmarried women who are looking for a husband. This opening sentence of Pride and Prejudice could be taken as the theme of each of her six novels (Clausen 62). Jane Austen used a bit of irony in her writing. The ironic humor must not be allowed to disguise the fact that we have to hear the opening of a love story. She saw marriage as women hunting for prey. This is best exemplified in Charlotte from Pride and Prejudice. “Without thinking highly either of men nor matrimony, had always had marriage as her object,” Jane said herself of Charlotte (Clausen 63). However, Austen also saw the romantic prospect of marriage for what it could be. The other woman; Elizabeth; in the novel was not a romantic, but like most of Austens’ heroines, she had a certain ideal marriage based on her observations of the marriages she knows. All of Austen’s works are about country families and their trials at love and of money (Jenkyns 148).
Beyond the practical drama of courtship and marriage, Jane Austen schooled her heroines in the unalterable laws of human nature, class, and custom. Willful and headstrong heroines like Elizabeth Bennett and Emma Woodhouse are shown going through a sobering process of maturing and gaining a deeper appreciation of the rules and elements that govern their lives. Austen wrote of educated heroines, women who had class and not extremely rich. Heroines who all women could, and still can identify with. She showed women that it was okay to want more, and men not to underestimate women (Felder 47).
Jane Austen’s life itself became an inspiration to women. She entered a profession when it was thought that women were only for sowing and birthing. She excelled at that profession and surpassed many men to do so. Her novels also attract men. It is said that Austen had given pleasure to more men in bed than any woman in history had (Tomalin 341). Many men have found themselves attracted to such characters as Elizabeth Bennett. Men in those times did not possess television or Playboy, they relied on their imaginations and literature to evoke fantasies. In 1796 Pride and Prejudice, then called first impression was wrote, it was her first novel. However, it wasn’t until 1813 that is was published. Jane’s father sent it in previously, but Cadell. rejected it. Northanger Abbey was wrote in 1798, but she actually sold her work in 1803 to Crosby of London. In 1811 Sense and Sensibility became published (Austen-Leigh xiiv). Marianne and Eleanor became adored by all. Many critics say that the relationship between the two sisters was taken from Austen’s own relationship with Cassandra (Felder 47). Finally in 1813 Pride and Prejudice was published and began selling copies (Austen-Leigh xiiv). It became a wide success. The same people who had come to love Marianne and Eleanor now would come to cherish Elizabeth and Darcy as well. The characters of Elizabeth and Darcy were loved and on the tips of every readers thoughts. This enabled he other works to be published without objection. Due to these novels, Emma, which was written in March of 1815 was published only a few months later in December. In May of 1814 Mansfield Park was published (Austen-Leigh xiiv). Many critics believe that Fanny Price, Mansfield’s heroine, to be the most unfavorable. She does not have the same zeal that the other of Austen’s heroines has, but she is a different character with different ways to handle the situations that are thrown her way (Sherry 495).
Perhaps Austen’s most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice has become a classic in today’s literary world. Her characters handle situations with what is proper and right (Austen 223). In Sense and Sensibility, Marianne and Eleanor show opposite views on how to handle situations. Marianne is very passionate and open when she meets Willibee. She does not contain her adoration of him. After he is proven to be a dishonorable person that she does not even attempt to hide her Diaspora. Eleanor, on the other hand, holds appearance the most important thing of all. She holds her composer when she finds out that Edward in engaged. Marianne finds Eleanor unfeeling, while Eleanor finds Marianne to passionate. But each finds happiness with the one they love (Austen 294). In Emma, Emma Wood house buries herself in trying to fix up her friends. She is so busy with these that she doesn’t realize until almost the end of the novel that she loves Knightley. Again Emma and Harriet Smith both marry the men they love (Austen 766). This seems to be Austen’s trademarked. Always the true loves marry. But each character is remarkably vivid and her words transport the reader into the novel. Each story is basically the same and still so much different. This was summarized by Somerset Maugham who once said,” Nothing very much happens in her books, and yet when you come to the bottom of the page, you eagerly turn it to learn what will happen next. The novelist who had the power to achieve this has the most precious gift a novelists can possess (Felder 48).”
Jane Austen lived her life in a way that many women of that era dreamed. She became an accomplished writer and supported herself. She brought joy into the hearts of both men and women. Her novels seemed real, because she drew from only what she witnessed. With that realistic description she made up the most intricate characters. Who abided by honor and a sense of moral code. There were always a few characters in each novel that feel victim to the money and gave up everything for it. Isabelle in Northanger
Abbey is a perfect example, she chose money over the person she loved (Austen 273). The draw to her novels now reflects how timeless these stories are. Women can still identify with the heroines. This is what has immortalized Jane Austen forever. Even though Jane is long since perished she will live forever in the hearts of anyone who picks up one of her novels.
You can order a high-quality custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis, dissertation, speech, book report or book review from our professional custom writing service. We have employed more than 500 highly qualified Ph.D. and Master's academic writers to provide students with professional academic writing help. Feel free to contact our company right now!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
A Farewell to Arms
In "A Farewell to Arms", Ernest Hemingway creates a character referred to as Lieutenant Frederic Henry, who is subject to a painful internal conflict throughout the book. He is pulled in one direction by his desire for the beautiful English nurse’s aide named Catherine Barkley and a completely different direction by his obligation to fulfill his duties as an ambulance driver serving in the Italian army during World War I. This conflict eventually comes to be the essence and core of the story.
The mutual love between Henry and Catherine begins as just a playful game of seduction, exchanging feigned plans for the future and almost numb kisses. However, it eventually grows to a point of passion, although it may be a subconscious illusion on both of their parts, where he does not want to be without her for the long stretches of time that he spends at war. Lieutenant Henry is wounded on the battlefield and sent to the hospital to have a necessary knee operation and then recuperate. Very fortunately, Catherine is transferred to the same hospital in Milan, allowing her to be with Henry during his recovery. Over this time of healing, the love between the two intensifies and becomes seemingly real, making Henry want to stay with her and not return to battle as an ambulance driver.
The other possible outcome of this problem is that Henry will continue his work as an ambulance driver. He is a young American, but speaks enough Italian to converse with other Italians easily. He feels a strong obligation to continue serving in the Italian army, but does not necessarily enjoy it. When he is wounded and sent to the hospital, able to spend extensive time with Catherine, he realizes the sincerity of his love for her and decides that he does not want to leave her again to return to war. He is given three weeks convalescence leave after his knee has healed, after which he is told he will be returning to war. He attempts to plan a vacation with Catherine, but then he contracts jaundice, which the superintendent of the hospital deems as intentional and the convalescence leave is revoked. Henry is restored to health and is sent back to the war.
This issue, over which Henry constantly struggles with himself, is integral in the novel and the two options fluctuate in weight throughout. At different times, one will seem to stand out as what he thinks is more important and then this will seem to change, judging by his thoughts, statements, and actions. At first, the war takes precedence over everything and Henry rarely even considers leaving it and abandoning his fellow soldiers. Though later, as his love for Catherine evolves and becomes more important in his life, he begins to reevaluate his priorities. This inability to decide rips at him throughout the story. Even after making the decision, he finds himself regretting it at times, but then dismisses these feelings. This makes the reader wonder if his passion was extreme for both his loyalty to the war and for Catherine, or if it was never extraordinarily strong for either.
In the end, Henry winds up choosing to flee the war and quit the army, devoting the remainder of his life to Catherine. The two reunite in a town called Stresa and they borrow a boat and Henry rows all night to escape to the safety of Switzerland and live peacefully in a town called Montreux. This marks his parting with weaponry and war altogether and his commitment to Catherine, also explaining the significance of the title, A Farewell to Arms.
You can order a high-quality custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis, dissertation, speech, book report or book review from our professional custom writing service. We have employed more than 500 highly qualified Ph.D. and Master's academic writers to provide students with professional academic writing help. Feel free to contact our company right now!
The mutual love between Henry and Catherine begins as just a playful game of seduction, exchanging feigned plans for the future and almost numb kisses. However, it eventually grows to a point of passion, although it may be a subconscious illusion on both of their parts, where he does not want to be without her for the long stretches of time that he spends at war. Lieutenant Henry is wounded on the battlefield and sent to the hospital to have a necessary knee operation and then recuperate. Very fortunately, Catherine is transferred to the same hospital in Milan, allowing her to be with Henry during his recovery. Over this time of healing, the love between the two intensifies and becomes seemingly real, making Henry want to stay with her and not return to battle as an ambulance driver.
The other possible outcome of this problem is that Henry will continue his work as an ambulance driver. He is a young American, but speaks enough Italian to converse with other Italians easily. He feels a strong obligation to continue serving in the Italian army, but does not necessarily enjoy it. When he is wounded and sent to the hospital, able to spend extensive time with Catherine, he realizes the sincerity of his love for her and decides that he does not want to leave her again to return to war. He is given three weeks convalescence leave after his knee has healed, after which he is told he will be returning to war. He attempts to plan a vacation with Catherine, but then he contracts jaundice, which the superintendent of the hospital deems as intentional and the convalescence leave is revoked. Henry is restored to health and is sent back to the war.
This issue, over which Henry constantly struggles with himself, is integral in the novel and the two options fluctuate in weight throughout. At different times, one will seem to stand out as what he thinks is more important and then this will seem to change, judging by his thoughts, statements, and actions. At first, the war takes precedence over everything and Henry rarely even considers leaving it and abandoning his fellow soldiers. Though later, as his love for Catherine evolves and becomes more important in his life, he begins to reevaluate his priorities. This inability to decide rips at him throughout the story. Even after making the decision, he finds himself regretting it at times, but then dismisses these feelings. This makes the reader wonder if his passion was extreme for both his loyalty to the war and for Catherine, or if it was never extraordinarily strong for either.
In the end, Henry winds up choosing to flee the war and quit the army, devoting the remainder of his life to Catherine. The two reunite in a town called Stresa and they borrow a boat and Henry rows all night to escape to the safety of Switzerland and live peacefully in a town called Montreux. This marks his parting with weaponry and war altogether and his commitment to Catherine, also explaining the significance of the title, A Farewell to Arms.
You can order a high-quality custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis, dissertation, speech, book report or book review from our professional custom writing service. We have employed more than 500 highly qualified Ph.D. and Master's academic writers to provide students with professional academic writing help. Feel free to contact our company right now!
Human Resource Management
This assignment will attempt to identify and assess the Human Resource Management (HRM). What follows is first, an outline of history of quality of Human Resource Management will be given. Second is to identify the differences between hard Human Resource Management and soft Human Resource Management; the rhetoric and reality of the phenomena. Third is to discuss the role of Human Resource Management in the employment relationship at organizational, national, international levels. Finally, a conclusion will be given at the end.
Before moving to next content, the concept of Human resource Management should be discussed first. Human Resource Management (HRM) is an ambiguous and controversial meaning. A critical view of Fombrun, Tichy and Devanna (1984) that HRM task is to combine companyбп formal structure with HR system selection, rewards, assess and development to drive the strategic object of companies. Moreover, Walton (1985) suggested that HRM is formed of promote policies included mutual goals, influence, respect, rewards and responsibility. The opinion of Foulkes (1986) is that the primary value of HRM is to help to realize top and line management goals. In addition, Hendry and Pettigrew (1986) found that HRM use people as a valued resource. Companies invest human resource in current performance of companies and future growth. From points addressed above, it could be suggest that HRM related with companyбпs performances. During HRM, workforce was look as the special resource and valuable asset that not only can use effectively but also can be developed for the long-term.
With reference to the history of Human Resource Management, with the view of Beardwell, L & Holden, L. that Human Resource Management has become an influential and widely approach to manage employees in market economies now. Moreover, today Human Resource Management became the least variability and the highest quality than before. According to Langbert, M. (2002), what follows is the historic process of quality improvement in Human Resource Management.
In the pre-industrial period, due to inequity, inflexibility and misalignment, the level of Human Resource Management was nearly none. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, indentured servants and slaves were employed from colonies to work for employers. Apprenticeship was the only way for employers to train their employees. At the same time, laws that restrict employбпs freedom were passed. For workers, the only thing they could do was to perform the ownerбпs goals. Since little motivation for workers, it could be suggested that workers only were looked as a tool to make profits in this period. In another words, it could said that there was Personnel Management rather than Human Resource Management in this period.
In paternalist period, the expansion of industrialization broke the limitations of labors. Firms should improve employeeбпs productivities, life expectancies and living standards to increase their produce scales. In this period, the significant change is the freedom of American slaves. Due to the expansion of industrialization, firms needed more and more labors. People began to think about the benefits between labors and management. Many people suggested that labors could be the future entrepreneurs. As Abraham Lincoln remarked that: the man who labored for another last year this year labors for himself and next year he will hire others to labor for him. These measures made the early development of modern management practices to appear. In this period, there were both quality improvements and losses.
In bureaucratic period, experts and economists forced firms to reform their practices. These improvements focused four factors: management practice; bureaucration; protective legislation and unionization. Companies paid attention to control of employees; methods of worker selection; training and incentives. Therefore, Bureaucratization made the personnel department appeared. Besides appearance of personnel department, welfare and public support appeared to improve equity. This trend continued to now. Moreover, more and more unions appeared to protect the legal rights and interests of employees. In this period, quality of Human Resource Management became stability and equity.
In high performance period, free market appeared. Managerial balancing was used to declining competition. At the same time, small business and companies were believed to be important. Companyбпs goals became more flexibility. To reach these goals, companies should develop human resource techniques such as individual incentives and self management. It could be suggested that twentieth century could be looked as a period of learning through experimenting new management approach.
Although HRM developed from personnel management, HRM are radically different with traditional personnel management. According to Storey (1992), there are four basic outlines in there differences: beliefs and assumptions; strategic aspects; line management; key levels. All differences can be suggested in three substances. Firstly, personnel management seems to aim to non-managers. Personnel managers use a set of rules and procedures to manage their subordinates as they think. However, HRM emphasizes the development of employees especially the management team. Secondly, the focus of rule of line management is different. In personnel management view, role of line management is only to manage people. On the other hand, HRM looks line management as business manager. They should coordinate and direct all resource in business to meet the performance. Thirdly, HRM emphasizes to manage the culture of companies as the main activity for senior management.
You can order a high-quality custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis, dissertation, speech, book report or book review from our professional custom writing service. We have employed more than 500 highly qualified Ph.D. and Master's academic writers to provide students with professional academic writing help. Feel free to contact our company right now!
Before moving to next content, the concept of Human resource Management should be discussed first. Human Resource Management (HRM) is an ambiguous and controversial meaning. A critical view of Fombrun, Tichy and Devanna (1984) that HRM task is to combine companyбп formal structure with HR system selection, rewards, assess and development to drive the strategic object of companies. Moreover, Walton (1985) suggested that HRM is formed of promote policies included mutual goals, influence, respect, rewards and responsibility. The opinion of Foulkes (1986) is that the primary value of HRM is to help to realize top and line management goals. In addition, Hendry and Pettigrew (1986) found that HRM use people as a valued resource. Companies invest human resource in current performance of companies and future growth. From points addressed above, it could be suggest that HRM related with companyбпs performances. During HRM, workforce was look as the special resource and valuable asset that not only can use effectively but also can be developed for the long-term.
With reference to the history of Human Resource Management, with the view of Beardwell, L & Holden, L. that Human Resource Management has become an influential and widely approach to manage employees in market economies now. Moreover, today Human Resource Management became the least variability and the highest quality than before. According to Langbert, M. (2002), what follows is the historic process of quality improvement in Human Resource Management.
In the pre-industrial period, due to inequity, inflexibility and misalignment, the level of Human Resource Management was nearly none. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, indentured servants and slaves were employed from colonies to work for employers. Apprenticeship was the only way for employers to train their employees. At the same time, laws that restrict employбпs freedom were passed. For workers, the only thing they could do was to perform the ownerбпs goals. Since little motivation for workers, it could be suggested that workers only were looked as a tool to make profits in this period. In another words, it could said that there was Personnel Management rather than Human Resource Management in this period.
In paternalist period, the expansion of industrialization broke the limitations of labors. Firms should improve employeeбпs productivities, life expectancies and living standards to increase their produce scales. In this period, the significant change is the freedom of American slaves. Due to the expansion of industrialization, firms needed more and more labors. People began to think about the benefits between labors and management. Many people suggested that labors could be the future entrepreneurs. As Abraham Lincoln remarked that: the man who labored for another last year this year labors for himself and next year he will hire others to labor for him. These measures made the early development of modern management practices to appear. In this period, there were both quality improvements and losses.
In bureaucratic period, experts and economists forced firms to reform their practices. These improvements focused four factors: management practice; bureaucration; protective legislation and unionization. Companies paid attention to control of employees; methods of worker selection; training and incentives. Therefore, Bureaucratization made the personnel department appeared. Besides appearance of personnel department, welfare and public support appeared to improve equity. This trend continued to now. Moreover, more and more unions appeared to protect the legal rights and interests of employees. In this period, quality of Human Resource Management became stability and equity.
In high performance period, free market appeared. Managerial balancing was used to declining competition. At the same time, small business and companies were believed to be important. Companyбпs goals became more flexibility. To reach these goals, companies should develop human resource techniques such as individual incentives and self management. It could be suggested that twentieth century could be looked as a period of learning through experimenting new management approach.
Although HRM developed from personnel management, HRM are radically different with traditional personnel management. According to Storey (1992), there are four basic outlines in there differences: beliefs and assumptions; strategic aspects; line management; key levels. All differences can be suggested in three substances. Firstly, personnel management seems to aim to non-managers. Personnel managers use a set of rules and procedures to manage their subordinates as they think. However, HRM emphasizes the development of employees especially the management team. Secondly, the focus of rule of line management is different. In personnel management view, role of line management is only to manage people. On the other hand, HRM looks line management as business manager. They should coordinate and direct all resource in business to meet the performance. Thirdly, HRM emphasizes to manage the culture of companies as the main activity for senior management.
You can order a high-quality custom essay, term paper, research paper, thesis, dissertation, speech, book report or book review from our professional custom writing service. We have employed more than 500 highly qualified Ph.D. and Master's academic writers to provide students with professional academic writing help. Feel free to contact our company right now!
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