Training and Development Essay Example for Free

Training and Development Essay â€Å"Training and development refers to the imparting of specific skills,abilities and knowledge to an employee.† Training and development is any attempt to improve current or future employee performance by increasing an employee’s ability to perform through learning,usually by changing the employee’s attitude or increasing his or her skills and knowledge. WHAT IS TRAINING ? Training is concerned with imparting developing specific skills for a particular purpose.Traning is the act of increasing the skills of an employes for doing a particular job. Training is the process of learning a sequence of programmed behavior. What is Development ? Management development is all those activities and programme when recognized and controlled have substantial influence in changing the capacity of the individual to perform his assignment better and in going so all likely to increase his potential for future assignments.Thus, management development is a combination of various training programme, though some kind of training is necessary, it is the overall development of the competency of managerial personal in the light of the present requirement as well as the future requirement. Development an activity designed to improve the performance of existing managers and to provide for a planned growth of managers to meet future organizational requirements is management development. Why Employee Training and Development ? †¢ Training and development can be initiated for a variety of reasons for an employee or group of employees, e.g.: †¢ When a performance appraisal indicates performance improvement is needed †¢ To benchmark the status of improvement so far in a performance improvement effort †¢ As part of an overall professional development program †¢ As part of succession planning to help an employee be eligible for a planned change in role in the organization †¢ To pilot, or test, the operation of a new performance management system †¢ To train about a specific topic. Types of Employee Training Communications: The increasing diversity of todays workforce brings a wide variety of languages and customs. Computer skills: Computer skills are becoming a necessity for conducting administrative and office tasks. Customer service: Increased competition in todays global marketplace makes it critical that employees understand and meet the needs of customers. Diversity: Diversity training usually includes explanation about how people have different perspectives and views, and includes techniques to value diversity Ethics: Todays society has increasing expectations about corporate social responsibility. Also, todays diverse workforce brings a wide variety of values and morals to the workplace. Human relations: The increased stresses of todays workplace can include misunderstandings and conflict. Training can people to get along in the workplace. Quality initiatives: Initiatives such as Total Quality Management, Quality Circles, benchmarking, etc., require basic training about quality concepts, guidelines and standards for quality, etc. Safety: Safety training is critical where working with heavy equipment, hazardous chemicals, repetitive activities, etc., but can also be useful with practical advice for avoiding assaults, etc. Sexual harassment: Sexual harassment training usually includes careful description of the organizations policies about sexual harassment, especially about what are inappropriate behaviors. Benefits from Employee Training and Development †¢ Increased job satisfaction and morale among employees †¢ Increased employee motivation †¢ Increased efficiencies in processes, resulting in financial gain †¢ Increased capacity to adopt new technologies and methods †¢ Increased innovation in strategies and products †¢ Reduced employee turnover †¢ Enhanced company image, e.g., conducting ethics training (not a good reason for ethics training!) †¢ Risk management, e.g., training about sexual harassment, diversity training Responsibility for employee training and development Employee training is the responsibility of the organization. Employee development is a shared responsibility of management and the individual employee. The responsibility of management is to provide the right resources and an environment that supports the growth and development needs of the individual employee.For employee training and development to be successful, management should: †¢ Provide a well-crafted job description it is the foundation upon which employee training and development activities are built †¢ Provide training required by employees to meet the basic competencies for the job. This is usually the supervisors responsibility †¢ Develop a good understanding of the knowledge, skills, and abilities that the organization will need in the future. What are the long-term goals of the organization and what are the implications of these goals for employee development ? Share this knowledge with staff †¢ Look for learning opportunities in every-day activity. Was there an incident with a client that everyone could learn from? Is there a new government report with implications for the organization? †¢ Explain the employee development process and encourage staff to develop individual development plans †¢ Support staff when they identify learning activities that make them an asset to your organization both now and in the future For employee development to be a success, the individual employee should: †¢ Look for learning opportunities in every-day activity †¢ Identify goals and activities for development and prepare an individual development plan

Pedro Almodovars Talk to Her (Hable con Ella) and Live Flesh (Carne Tr

Pedro Almodovar, in his recent films Talk to Her (Hable con Ella) (2002) and Live Flesh (Carne Trà ©mula) (1997), has brought a thoroughly modern interpretation to the genre of melodrama. These fresh illustrations of human love, loneliness, frustration and individuality explore the complexity of human interaction and interestingly, in Talk to Her, the interactions of the sentient in relation to the insentient. "Nothing is simple," Alicia's ballet teacher muses in Talk to Her, this statement accurately captures the essential Pedro Almodovar style. Both of the works selected for analysis in this essay are melodramas. The word "melodrama" originated from the Greek root which directly translated means "music drama". These films do incorporate music to add to the emotional impact of certain scenes. Examples of this are: (a) in Live Flesh! When Victor is watching TV in prison and sees Elena and David celebrating David's new career, there is a close up of Victors face conveying his hurt accompanied by music in-keeping with Victor's frame of mind. This increases the impact for the viewers as the music is in contrast with Elena and David's joy. (b) in Talk to Her the same tense, measured music is used during several scenes to denote their importance in the narrative (when Benigno is about to speak to Alicia for the first time, at the beginning of Lydia's last fight and when Marco is rushing to the prison in an attempt to stop Benigno from taking drastic measures in prison.) The use of intertextuality in these films is also apparent. The newsreel of the coverage of Victor's birth is significant. Victor's mother appears cold and restrained compared to the intimacy the audience achieves in the scene prior as we hear her cries from her labour pains. In Talk to Her the opening and closing performance art pieces are an outlet for the emotional pain and turmoil which Marco must grapple with. The silent movie too expresses more efficiently what is occurring for Benigno on an emotional level than a depiction of the act of rape could have. Apart from the use of music, colour is integral to Almodovar's melodrama. In Live Flesh! the walls of the apartments where the characters live, as well as the school where Victor and Elena work, are warm and vibrant. The contrast between dark green and deep reds and mustards provide a cosiness that puts... ...an a single life partner. The film Live Flesh! explores the responsibility of sexuality. The film opens with Victor’s birth, the result of his mother’s sexual activity as a prostitute, just after Christmas (an event alleged to celebrate the exact day of Jesus’ birth [not, apparently, the result of sexual activity] and hence the birth of the New Testament and an enormous religious following, the birth of Christ is therefore considered as an overtly positive and important event for Christians to this day). The next important event in the film is Victor’s one night stand with Elena, and the events which follow result in life changing consequences for all involved. Aside from David’s injury (the result of David sleeping with Sancho’s wife), David and Elena fall in love and marry and Victor goes to prison. The sexual relations between Victor and Clara and Victor and Elena subsequent to his release all have major consequences, Elena’s divorce from Davis and the death s of both Clara and Sancho. Sancho points out just prior to his death that he â€Å"should have shot your balls off when I had the chance.† Yes, that would have made life easier and more boring for all characters concerned.

E-Business Paddy Power

Paddy Power, Web Division, Online Gambling Service. Version 1. 0 7th April 2010 Prepared by: Christopher Cadwell (x08795240) eCommerce Operation Evaluation Operation or service overview Paddy Power is the largest provider of fixed-odds sports betting in Ireland. Paddy Power's retail division operates a chain of licensed betting offices located throughout Ireland and in the UK. There online division operates one of Ireland's largest online businesses which consists of the online sportsbook, mobile sportsbook,  casino, games, poker, bingo, and financial spread betting (its latest addition). Paddy Power was founded in 1988 by the merger of three existing Irish high street bookmakers who have an unconventional approach to betting and gaming believing them to be firmly rooted in the leisure and entertainment space. As such its mission is to make ‘risk-based entertainment' more accessible and fun. It offers customers an unparalleled betting experience that is great value, great fun and has the best service. Through this strategy the company has developed a strong reputation as â€Å"The Punter Friendly Bookmaker† and has become renowned for its unique â€Å"Money Back Specials. Thanks to this customer-centric approach, it is now generally accepted that a bet with Paddy Power has three possible outcomes – Win, Lose or Money Back. Marketplace Target market Paddy Power’s target market is everyone over the legal age to gamble. They attract customers of all ages ranging from late teens to pensioners as it is part of human nature to take risks and have a gamble. Paddy Power attracts so many people with its wide variety of different areas on its website including a sportsbook, casino, games and bingo so there is something there for everybody. Major clients I don’t think Paddy Power have major clients as they target everyone from the average everyday punter to the high society people and if they did have major clients im sure their identity’s remain private. Geographic or vertical clustering Paddy Power has 212 shops in Ireland (including 3 shops at race courses) and 86 shops in the UK which are dispersed throughout either country. Recent News and Press Releases Bookmaker Paddy Power has announced it will create up to 250 new jobs at its headquarters in Tallaght in Dublin over the next three years. Paddy Power, which already employs 640 people in Dublin, is recruiting as part of its strategy of international expansion into the online sports betting market. The company is to recruit 50 people with skills in technology and risk management by the summer, with the remainder generated over three subsequent years. Tiger Woods  has snubbed a $75m (â‚ ¬55m) sponsorship offer from bookmaker  Paddy Power. The golfing legend bade farewell to several of his big-name sponsors but the disgraced world number one still won't be tempted by the offer, which could be worth an astonishing $75m over five years. With a down payment of $5m (â‚ ¬3. m) for the use of Tiger's likeness annually, the proposal provides performance incentives including $1m (â‚ ¬736,000) for each Major he wins in the  US  and $2m (â‚ ¬1. 5m) for victory at the  British Open. â€Å"We're in negotiations with IMG to sponsor Tiger,† Paddy Power told US magazine website ‘Golfweek'. â€Å"It's still in the early stage of the negotiations, really, to be honest with you. But if it all comes off, it'll be the biggest sponsorship deal we've done by quite some way. † However,  Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at IMG, indicated that Paddy Power’s proposal is not being given serious consideration. We're not involved in any discussions to add to his sponsorship portfolio at this time,† he said. Paddy Power lost â‚ ¬1. 5m last August when it paid out on Tiger as he led after 54 holes of the  US PGA Championship  at Hazeltine only to be eclipsed by  Korean YE Yang. Now Paddy Power is potentially taking a much bigger gamble on Woods, who has been out of golf since his November 27 car crash precipitated revelations of marital infidelity and a stunningly swift fall in public-opinion surveys. His marketability is under pressure after  Accenture, AT&T and  Gatorade all  pulled their support. At this stage, when other sponsors seem to be ditching him, ther e's an opportunity there to step in,† the bookmaker said of the proposal. â€Å"He's still somebody we would very much like to align ourselves to. † Competitive positioning International and national competitors Paddy Powers international and national competitors would consist of Ladbrokes, Victor Chandler, William Hill, Stan James, Coral, Boylesports, Bet365, SkyBet and Betfair. All these fellow bookmakers have online gambling sites so would be Paddy Powers biggest rivals. Regional competitors Paddy Powers regional competitors would be Celtic Bookmakers, Terry Rodgers Bookmakers and Hackett’s Bookmakers these competitors have rival shops around the country but don’t have the capacity to compete online. Local competitors Paddy Power’s local competitors would be one off independent betting shops set up in local towns the only example I can give is Vernon Racing which is my local bookmakers in Clontarf, as it is not a franchise it is a independently run bookmakers and they only have one establishment. Business value Market demand Paddy Power’s market demand is strong even through the recession I would say it is the market leader as their â€Å"money back specials† apply added insurance to bets made, so therefore more people would place their bets with them instead of a competitor. They would also be the most well known of the brands which lure’s more people to their shops. Expected revenue stream Paddy Power are constantly going head to head with their competitors by saying they will match a better price if you can find it and with their money back specials as well. They are also opening more new stores each year to increase their market share. Market growth potential Online activities are by some distance the largest and fastest growing part of Paddy Power. Their online operating profit increased by â‚ ¬2. 9m to â‚ ¬45. 7m last year, despite a significantly worse run of sporting results and a net negative impact from foreign currency fluctuations of approximately â‚ ¬2. 1m. Their operating profit as a percentage of gross win at 42% remained amongst the highest in the industry, benefiting from the strength of their brand, synergies with Retail, scale and operational expertise. This profitability enables Paddy Power to continue to invest in product, value and brand to drive future success in what is a highly competitive industry. Risk evaluation Evaluation Tools used and why. I would use the SWOT analysis tool in my evaluation of Paddy Power. I think it is the right tool to use because it would help them evaluate what their strengths, weaknesses, possible opportunities and possible threats are in their running of their organisation. Evaluation Tools not used and why I would not use a PEST analysis tool in my evaluation as don’t feel it benefit Paddy Power as much as a SWOT analysis would. It wouldn’t allow them to recognise the area of possible expansion opportunities. Evaluation SWOT analysis: Strengths: * Entrepreneurial and focused management * Focus on small stakes fixed odds betting and entertainment betting designed to add value to a sporting or other event * Strong financial position (no gearing and cash generative) * brand is established and widely recognized Weaknesses: * Threat of new entrants Limited experience of UK betting market * Exposed to rental increases on leased properties * Margins intra-year vulnerable to performance of favourites * Dominant market position in Ireland (33% off-course betting in Ireland) Opportunities: * Scope for further shop openings in Ireland and to roll-out business model in the UK * Extend leadership of on-line and telephone betting business in Ireland into the UK * Enhance organic growth profile with opportunistic bolt on acquisitions in a fragmented UK industry * Expand product range, particularly in the online business Threats: * Risk of more aggressive price based competition in Ireland and the UK * Potential decline in consumer spending due to a severe economic downturn in Ireland and the UK * Susceptible to adverse changes in tax and regulation * Online business vulnerable to threat of software virus attacks * New technology increases disintermediation and pricing transparency, resulting in lower margins Evaluation summary Expected return Paddy Power expects their customers to be happy with the way their website is laid out and the deals and services it provides, as they feel their service is the best in their market. Strategic value Paddy Power has a strategic advantage on their competitor’s websites as they offer better deals then most of their competitors. Ability to deliver success Paddy Power is the largest provider of fixed-odds sports betting in Ireland and they hope this will continue for years to come and for their business to continue to expand.

The Formation of Arab Nations - 1956 Words

The Formation of Arab Nations Much of the modern political Arab world was born at the end of World War I, as outside powers divided up their shares of territories that were loyal to their regimes. For example, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon came to exist along side the precarious state of Palestine. By World War II, these states had begun to want independence, and the following decades would witness revolution, regime change, violence, and, ultimately, a break from the grips of the Ottoman Empire and European powers (Provence). Today, the so-called â€Å"Arab Spring† uprisings, ongoing now for several years, are in part as a result of mid-20th-century political rule and administration by outside powers. In the early 20th century, the†¦show more content†¦Perhaps more importantly, Jordan’s newest residents were Palestinians who potentially had no interest in being Jordanian (Anderson). That tension exists to this day, as Jordan continues to host large numbers of Palestinians (Anderson), as well as Iraqis and Syrians looking to escape instability in those countries (IRIN). Jordan continues to serve as the place of escape for Arabs fleeing unstable places. Refugees from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and occasionally Egypt, live in Jordan. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq Jordan took about 100,000 Iraqis seeking temporary escape from the war in their country (IRIN). Jordan is a strong US ally and they were the second Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel after Egypt. This is an enormously contentious issue in Jordan where about half the residents are Palestinians who left their country between 1948 and 1967 (Anderson). When Jordan’s King Hussein signed the peace treaty it was a risky move. Jordan has no oil reserves, and the population tends to be pretty poor. Some Jordanians saw the treaty as an indication of further instability rather than development. 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