Monday, November 11, 2019
Carol Ann Duffy Study Notes
1. ââ¬ËLITTLE RED CAPââ¬â¢ ââ¬ËLRCââ¬â¢ is a poem written by Carol Ann Duffy, and is the first poem in the anthology ââ¬ËThe Worldââ¬â¢s Wifeââ¬â¢, published in 1999. By interpreting the fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood in her poem, Duffy recounts her ten years of marriage to Adrian Henri, who was twenty-three years old her senior. She places herself as the character of Little Red Cap and Henri as the wolf. Duffy also alludes to fairytales such as ââ¬ËSleeping Beautyââ¬â¢ in ââ¬ËQueen Herodââ¬â¢ or more traditional stories like ââ¬ËThe Hunchback of Notre Dameââ¬â¢ in ââ¬ËMrs. Quasimodoââ¬â¢.In ââ¬ËLRCââ¬â¢, however, Duffy uses the fairytale staple of the woods, symbolically a rite of passage, to represent her change from a naive teenager to a woman who gains sexual maturity and independence, as a woman and a poet. a. Form and structure: POV of Little Red Cap? by extension, this is the POV of Duffy when she was younger? access true st thoughts of the character ? also allows the reader to see how she progresses from a naive young teenager who is struck by the wolfââ¬â¢s (and by extension Henriââ¬â¢s) sophistication and, more importantly, physical features to someone who has seen past this illusion and is more mature . Key features: Duffyââ¬â¢s use of the fairytale? seeing through illusions to find truth, leading to transformation? the illusion that Little Red Cap has to see through ? also may contain a moral, as fairytales do. While LRRH may have focused on never trusting strangers, this one may be about learning to trust and know yourself before anything else (girl gains independence at the end- ââ¬ËI took an axeââ¬â¢, etc. )? links to self-discovery? Duffy also subverts the original tale by removing the passive female protagonist who gets saved by a man, into someone who asserts her independence by taking ââ¬Ëan axe to the wolfââ¬â¢ herselfSetting? contributes to the theme of self-discove ry and awakening ? we begin ââ¬Ëat childhoodââ¬â¢s endââ¬â¢, where ââ¬Ëthe house petered outââ¬â¢ ? there is a sense of safety and innocence lost, as she is on her own ? the listing in the first stanza presents a world that encapsulates childhood (ââ¬Ëplaying fieldsââ¬â¢), work (ââ¬Ëfactoryââ¬â¢) and retirement (ââ¬Ëallotmentsââ¬â¢) ? she has left the microcosmic reality of childhood, inside her house, and is surrounded by this vast expanse of life? sense of being overwhelmed? but before she can join them she must go through the woods? ymbol of a rite of passage? somewhere unknown, fearful that LRC must traverse through in order to come out the other side with her ââ¬Ëflowers, singing all aloneââ¬â¢ Characterization of LRC? throughout the poem, the dynamic of the relationship between LRC and the wolf, as well as the states of each character change ? represents Duffyââ¬â¢s changing and growing dissatisfaction in her marriage to Henri? charact er represents Duffy at age sixteen (young)? described as ââ¬Ësweet sixteenâ⬠¦waifââ¬â¢, emphasizing her innocence and naivety ? casual tone (ââ¬ËYou might ask why. ), again highlights her juvenility, which attracts her to the more mature wolf? attraction causes whirlwind romance (ââ¬ËI clung till dawn to his trashing furââ¬â¢/ ââ¬Ëmy stockings ripped to shredsââ¬â¢) ? emphasized through violent verbs, and her need to seek justification (ââ¬Ëwhat little girl doesnââ¬â¢t dearly love a wolf? ââ¬â¢)? suggests she doesnââ¬â¢t really know what she is doing? so, it takes ââ¬Ëten years in the woodsââ¬â¢ to come out the other side? she undergoes her rite of passage? represents the disillusionment caused during the final years of Duffyââ¬â¢s marriage? fterwards, she gains independence (repetition of ââ¬ËIââ¬â¢), and by doing so she finds her own voice within her femininity in the final lines of the poem (ââ¬ËI come with my flowers, singin g, all aloneââ¬â¢) Characterization of the wolf? represents the older Adrian Henri ? character progresses in the opposite way of LRC ? he starts off at a higher status, but falls from grace at the 6th stanzaââ¬â¢s turning point ? introduced in stanza 2? Duffy emphasizes his masculine, physical qualities (ââ¬ËWhat teeth! ââ¬â¢), emphasized by allusions to the original tale, as well as the regular rhyme scheme (focuses on ââ¬Ëhairy pawââ¬â¢, ââ¬Ëbearded jawââ¬â¢)? lso creates a juvenile tone, emphasizing LRCââ¬â¢s schoolgirl attraction to him, and how he has the upper hand status-wise ? portrayed as mysterious, sophisticated and confident (contrasts with juvenility of LRC)- ââ¬Ëred wine staining his bearded jawââ¬â¢- it is red wine, not blood? also has connotations of illusion? however, in the 6th stanza she sees through the illusion ? realizes the ââ¬Ëgreying wolf howls the same old song at the moonââ¬â¢? implies that she was only taken by the i nitial lust for him, but that she has become bored and dissatisfied over time? caesura and parallel structures (ââ¬Ëyear in, year outââ¬â¢) emphasize this? o she emasculates him (ââ¬Ëone chop, scrotum to throatââ¬â¢), relinquishing him of his power, becoming independent In conclusion, Duffy manages to explore the themes of self-discovery and independence as she takes a look back at her 10-year marriage to Adrian Henri. She cleverly places herself and Henri as the characters Little Red Cap and the wolf, subverting the traditional fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood and by doing this, uses the fairytale staple of seeing through illusions. Finally, Little Red Cap emerges out of the woods, completing her rite of passage.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Financial Statement Review Essay
What is the net income for the current fiscal year? Is it up or down from the prior year? Why would this information be important to investors? The total consolidated net income for Fiscal Year 2015 is $17,099 million dollars. This is amount is up from the previous Fiscal Year (2014) which had a consolidated net income of $16,695 million dollars. This information can be found on page 38 of the Walmart 2015 Annual Report. This information would be of importance to investors because it indicates whether the company is prospering financially and generating revenue. What is the ending balance in stockholdersââ¬â¢ equity? Why would a labor union potentially be interested in this information? The ending balance in stockholdersââ¬â¢ equity is $323 million dollars. This information can be found on page 40 of the Annual Report. This information would be of potential interest to a labor union because it provides information that could be used in determining labor rates, work salaries, and employee benefits. What is the total value of assets? Why would this information be important to a potential creditor? The total values of assets is $101,381 million dollars which can be found on page 60 of the Annual Report. This information would be of importance to a potential creditor because it provides an indication of whether the company would be able to repay any accumulated debt. It also provides a picture of how liquid those assets might be. What is the total cash flow from operation? The total cash flow from operations is $17,099 million dollars which can be found on page 41 of the Annual Report. What financial statement user would find this information most important?
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Jurisprudence Essay â⬠Ethics and Philosophy Paper
Jurisprudence Essay ââ¬â Ethics and Philosophy Paper Free Online Research Papers Jurisprudence Essay Ethics and Philosophy Paper ââ¬Å"Does utilitarianism provide an appropriate ethical basis for determining the existence and content of any duties we owe towards poor people living in developing countries and/or towards animals?â⬠Introduction It is important in any argument to have boundaries, structure and guidelines. There is no one definition of utilitarianism. Provided below are particular extracts that endeavour to define the foundations of utilitarianism. Macquarie Dictionary ââ¬ËConcerning practical or material things.ââ¬â¢1 Will Kymlicka ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦ claims that the morally right act or policy is that which produces the greatest happiness for the members of society.ââ¬â¢2 Kymlickaââ¬â¢s extract refers to society; this term can be related to any perceived injustice throughout the world. Utilitarianism is demonstrated by many modern day philosophers as the building block for animal rights fundamentalist and the ever expanding concept of globalisation. The obvious problem with a utilitarianism argument is that it is based on personal moral and ethical opinions and perceptions. Ethics is seen to be a ââ¬Ësystem of moral principles, by which human actions and proposals may be judged good or bad or right or wrong.ââ¬â¢3 Ann Atkinson (Ed), Macquaire Dictionary (1991) 509. Will Kymlicka, ââ¬ËUtilitarianismââ¬â¢ in Contemporary Political Philosophy An Intro (2nd Ed, 2002) 10. Atkinson, above n 1, 164. Therefore, utilitarian theory does provide an ethical basis for determining the existence and content in any particular moral issues in modern society. The moral issues that will be expanded on throughout this essay are in relation to the duties that modern day societies owe to the poor people living in developing countries and towards manââ¬â¢s best friend, animals. Developing Countries The United Nations has defined all countries and nation-states as either developed or developing. There are many factors and considerations that contribute to the classification of a developing country. The most commonly highlighted characteristics of a developing country are as follows: high poverty and malnutrition, medical access and standard of medical care limited, high infant mortality rate, poor housing, low literacy levels, access to clean water limited, poor infrastructure, exploitation of natural resources, lack of military and police forces, and political/racial or religion based fighting. Countries that fall into the developing section seek foreign aid to help improve their lives from developed countries. Foreign aid does not only come from donations of money from either government or non-government organisations, aid can come in other shapes and disguises. Medical staff, teachers, and engineers are renowned for their participation in developing countries throughout the world. People who give up there own time or money to help those in need support the view that it is morally correct to assist those in a less fortunate position then oneself. These people see it as their personal duty on this Earth to help those who cannot help themselves due to location and situation. Is it ethically correct to help poor people in developing countries? It should be the opinion of all personnel that poor people in developing countries (or those less fortunate) do require help from those that are in a position to provide the appropriate aid, ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦most of us unquestioningly support declarations proclaiming that all humans have certain rights, and that all human life is of equal worth.ââ¬â¢4 To what extent and scope does this aid entail is the moral and ethical argument. A brick in the foreign aid building is the concept of globalisation. Some people are of the opinion that they must aid their family, friends, neighbours and countrymen before helping those from a different background or country. Singer states, ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦citizens give their primary, and near exclusive, loyalty to their own nation-state rather than to the larger global community, and such a system has not led to a great enough will to meet the pressing needs of those living in extreme poverty.ââ¬â¢5 Singer is of the belief that we should ââ¬Ëconsider ourselves as members of an imagined community of the world.ââ¬â¢6 Globalisation is gaining momentum throughout many industries. Some examples of the expanding globalisation trends are evident in daily society, these are multi-national companies, international laws and treaties, global environmental issues, joint military objectives, the stock exchange and joint currency (Euro). Peter Singer, One World: the Ethics of Globalisation (2002) 168. Ibid 188. Ibid 187. Utilitarian foundations are made on the assumption that the globe needs to be a happy and more fulfilling place. The ethical basis of providing aid to developing countries is to assist the poor people to have a better quality of life, happiness and thus producing a better outcome for all mankind. Hence, society acknowledges that duties do exist for richer people to provide to those who are poor. These duties are not only based on personal ethics, but also can be forced. An example of forced aid is personnel income tax. The more one earns the more tax they pay. These tax dollars contribute to governments helping those less fortunate in national and global arenas. It is thus established that duties do exist for developed countries and their kinsmen to aid developing countries. To what content does this aid evolve? There are no written rules about how much a government or a single person must contribute to foreign aid. In the opinion of a utilitarian theorist, the more aid donated to a developing country, the better. Singer makes the point that a person should give all they can spare, ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦advocate that everyone with income to spare, after meeting their familyââ¬â¢s needs, should contribute a minimum of 0.4 per cent of their income to organisations working to help the worldââ¬â¢s poorest people.ââ¬â¢7 This continues with Soros calling the proposed US government foreign aid contributions, ââ¬Ëa token gesture instead of something that could successfully impact most of the poor countries.ââ¬â¢8 Singer and Soro are appalled at governments and everyday people for not carrying out the socially required content of their duty to the developing countries. Ibid 211. Ibid 213. The content becomes complicated when developed nations are paying for the mistakes and inabilities of another country to sort out their own problems. Global inequality is a natural occurrence, so why are we determined as a global concept to redistribute the wealth evenly. Some nations throughout the world, like Australia, have been blessed with a large proportion of the worldââ¬â¢s natural resources. Natural resources are a naturally significant inequality between nations. Natural resources generally provide a viable and reasonably steady export income for the government. Rawls makes a pertinent argument that, ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦ it unacceptable for a person who has worked hard and achieved wealth to be taxed in order to support someone who has led a more relaxed life and so is now, in terms of resources held, among the worst-off members of society?.ââ¬â¢9 On reflection of Australiaââ¬â¢s recent colonial history, one might avoid accepting such strong opinions against the duties t owards developing countries. As Australia once was a developing country only 150 years ago, without the help of her colonial parent the ââ¬ËUnited Kingdomââ¬â¢, Australia would still be developing today. The United Kingdom originally saw Australia only for exploitation, not for it to become a real society within itself. Does every developing country require a parent to look after it and help it to become more developed? Singer describes certain governments only providing foreign aid where it will benefit their nation, by advancing their own strategic and cultural interests.10 This type of aid is how Australia become developed. The aid by these governments is not donated without ulterior motives, though it is still benefiting the global community. Ibid 195. Ibid 209. The theory of utilitarianism provides an ethical basis for outlining the global duties in the context of developing countries. The theory defines the basis of duties that must exist in a stable, happy and equal global community. The ethical debate over the content of duties required by developed countries towards developing countries will be harder to resolve, as all individuals share a different opinion on the amount of aid appropriate to be given from oneââ¬â¢s own wealth. Animal Rights The issue of animal rights stems from the precedence that all living things on Earth have a right to live be happy and not exploited for human gratification. ââ¬ËMen and women are similar beings and should have similar rights, while humans and nonhumans are different and should not have equal rightsââ¬â¢.11 Singer uses utilitarianism as an ethical basis for comparing the arguments of animal rights (speciesism) with womenââ¬â¢s rights (feminism), though the phrase ââ¬Ërightsââ¬â¢ should be changed to ââ¬Ëequal considerationââ¬â¢. ââ¬ËEqual consideration for different beings may lead to different treatment and different rights.ââ¬â¢12 Singer suggests that all living organisms on Earth should be given equal consideration when making decisions that may affect that organism. He also continues to explain that, ââ¬Ëthe interests of every being affected by an action are to be taken into account and given the same weight as the like interests of any other being.à ¢â¬â¢13 The reason why this argument exists in society today is due to the present exploitation of many animals on Earth i.e. animals for human consumption (livestock, seafood); animals for human entertainment and recreation Peter Singer, Animal Liberation (2nd Ed, 1991) 2. Ibid. Ibid 5. (caged animals, domestic pets); laboratory test subjects; animals for clothing and animals for the production of other household products. This list does not include the animals dislodged from their ecosystems due to logging, tourism and housing developments. Therefore, ââ¬Ëthe taking into account of the interests of the being, whatever those interests may be ââ¬â must, according to the principle of equality, be extended to all beings, black or white, masculine or feminine, human or nonhuman.ââ¬â¢14 Singerââ¬â¢s argument is that all organisms on Earth should be given equal consideration when assessing a future action. Due to numerous animals each year suffering due to humans, there exists a moral need to grasp the duties expected of humans towards other organisms on Earth. ââ¬ËIf possessing a higher degree of intelligence does not entitle one human to use another for his or her own ends, how can it entitle humans to exploit nonhumans for the same purpose.ââ¬â¢15 Humans do not use each other for food, clothing, laboratory test subjects or household products so why should we not give equal consideration to animals. The content of the duties required by humans towards animals is hard to define, as humans do need to exploit animals in some context. Societyââ¬â¢s current acceptable exploitation of animals includes but is not limited to: organic and natural farming of livestock (cattle, sheep, chickens, fish, and crustaceans) for food; clothing and household items; limited laboratory test animals for essential experiments16; and domestic pets. Animals are a great source of food and natural fibre for clothing and materials; it would be near impossible to completely substitute all products they can Ibid. Ibid 6. Peter Singer, ââ¬ËTools for Researchââ¬â¢, in Writings on an Ethical Life (2000) 54. provide with synthetic alternatives. There is a need for some animals to be exploited by humans, though all animals, especially those living in their natural ecosystems are to be given equal consideration when taking action that could affect the area and its inhabitants. Kymlickaââ¬â¢s explanation of utilitarianism17 suggests animals belong to their own society. They have an inherit right to be happy and be given equal consideration as appropriate, in comparison to other societies within the world. Conclusion If a person has morals which reflect equality for all organisms on earth, utilitarianism can be the basis of any ethical debate. This was proven within this essay by utilitarian theory being relevant and adaptive to both contrasting ethical debates. If there are society accepted morals involved in any debate, the theory of utilitarian could be used to mould a possible resolution or response. Utilitarianism proves that there is a distinct ethical requirement for developed countries to conduct duties towards developing countries. The extent of these duties is a matter of opinion. This opinion will evidently change as the phenomenon of globalisation increases. Eventually, developing countries could become developed countries, if enough aid was given by the current wealthy countries. 17. Kymlicka, above n 2, 10. The duty towards animals is to make sure as humans we give all organisms due and equal consideration. Hence, complete happiness for every animal will be quite unachievable in present society. This is due to humans need to exploit animals for consumption. It is unlikely that a substitute will replace this need for consumption. In summary, there are limitations to utilitarianism for both debates: a person of reasonable wealth should not be expected to part with their money when they have worked for it; and most humans consume meat as part of their daily diet, therefore, some exploitation of animals needs to continue. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ann Atkinson (Ed), Macquarie Dictionary (1991). Ronald Dworkin, Taking Rights Seriously (1977). Will Kymlicka, ââ¬ËUtilitarianismââ¬â¢ in Contemporary Political Philosophy An Intro (2nd Ed, 2002). Peter Singer, Animal Liberation (2nd Ed, 1991). Peter Singer, One World: the Ethics of Globalisation (2002). Peter Singer, ââ¬ËTools of Researchââ¬â¢ in Writings on an Ethical Life (2000). Research Papers on Jurisprudence Essay - Ethics and Philosophy PaperMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andPETSTEL analysis of IndiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesDefinition of Export QuotasPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyBringing Democracy to AfricaGenetic EngineeringAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito
Monday, November 4, 2019
Employment Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2
Employment Law - Case Study Example Starting with the application of the contract law, it is apparent that the employment of Jami Jensen was done in contravention of the laid down employment contract laws, where the employer is supposed to grant the employee a written contract of engagement, the moment the employee is hired by the employer. In Jami Jensenââ¬â¢s case, she was hired but a written contract was not offered by the employer. This situation makes her case complex, considering that it becomes difficult to establish the basis of her engagement with the employer, and the terms and conditions of the engagement, especially regarding the issues of salary increment, promotion and demotion. As a result of lack of a written contract of engagement, the organization just demotes Jami Jensen arbitrarily and reduces her salary from $80,000 to $40,000, while she is also relinquished of her position, and demoted to that of a supervisor. Another issue that arises in the Jami Jensenââ¬â¢s case, which falls under the contract law, is the issue of leave. Considering that she was not granted a written contract of engagement with the employer, Jami Jensen is not aware of the terms and conditions that are applicable in requesting for a leave, which should be clearly and precisely stipulated in the written contract of engagement. Thus, when she seeks for leave, she is told she has to offer a two week request in advance, and she does not have a basis of disputing the same, since she does not have a written contract to that effect. Sexual harassment law is applicable in this case, since Jami Jensen has been discriminated against, in matters pertaining to employee benefits such as leave, due to the fact that she has refused to yield to the sexual advances made to her by Mr. Clark, who is the vice president of the company. However, for the law of sexual harassment to apply, there are certain thresholds that must be met, which
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Estate Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Estate Management - Essay Example Short-Term (1-5 years) Action Plans 2. CHA must include the target of achieving 100 % tenant profile within the year in order to allow for a more thorough assessment of the organizationââ¬â¢s performance in terms of providing Equality of Opportunities to all tenants, by the next reporting period. 3. Based on the available 81 % of Tenant Profile, there is a need to produce a set of questionnaires that will enable the Staff to gather feedback from each of the categories. The feedback ought to be about how well CHA performed the expected and prescribed services for customers. This will then result in a summary according to each category. 4. Within the first round of releasing, following up, and collecting, summarizing, the management should publish informative materials that every tenant should know so that all tenants will be aware of the opportunities made available to them by the government and CHA. This will at least give the Staff a chance to answer YES to the Self-Assessment Qu estionnaire that inquires if the organization has ââ¬Å"published documents that clearly and specifically set out our commitment and approach to equalities issuesâ⬠as found in the website of the SHR. However, the publication should be very careful not to communicate any hint of discrimination to any category of tenants. 5. In order to meet its moral obligation to every tenant under each category, another set of Survey Materials that are relevant to each category should be developed for the purpose of clarifying the perception or tenants. It will enlighten the management when it is able to find any discrepancy against the perception of the management concerning the way a category of tenants can be satisfied with products and services. 6. To expedite the gathering of survey results, providing restricted, online questionnaires would be a workable recommendation. Tenants should be emailed their Username and Password to access the survey questionnaires. This will prevent just anyb ody from being able access the private questionnaires. 7. But even before the formulation of questionnaires, the Staff should know under what category each tenant will fall under. There should be a more specific set of questions meant for each category. For example, if a tenant is gainfully employed, questions related to Equality of Opportunity may be phrased based on the assumption that the tenant can afford to spend for a higher end design, and will have options to choose loans to access. Those available financing facilities should be communicated to the gainfully employed tenant. If the tenant is unemployed, CHA can offer grants made available by the government. And the options for these people would be the more affordable designs. Equal opportunity should be defined as the relative chance to have a home that complies with the Decent Home Standards with the available means that tenants can afford to utilize. It should not be made to mean that everybody will be offered grants, sin ce grants are limited. If the people who are employed are the tenants notified about grants and they avail of it, what can be utilized for the unemployed to refurbish their homes in order to comply with the Decent H
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Pyramid Business Structures In China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words
Pyramid Business Structures In China - Essay Example This essay explores the basics of the pyramid business structure and checks how far the business model has deep rooted in the Chinese environment. It also analyses whether the pyramidal structure is beneficial or harmful to the Chinese economy through a case study on CITIC. Introduction A pyramid business structure has one person who is a sole controller and owner of one or more organizations. The person and his firms control a chain of other business structures in various industries. Thus the person at the top of the pyramid is the indirect controller of several small firms owned by a handful of his companies. This structure is widely prevalent in all the developing countries especially China. The owner at the top of the pyramid is capable of controlling the actions of every other company under their firms with little investment through this method. Such type of business structure is important for the massive growth of huge corporate in the developing economies. But, developed count ries like the USA efficiently controlled this model as early as the 1930's as it curbed the growth of small entrepreneurs and entrusted too much profit into sectored groups. The US government used various strategies like double taxation to control pyramidal business sector (Marck et al, 2005). ... Claessens, Djankov and Lang (2000) confirm nearly 38.7% huge public firms in East Asia are managed through pyramid ownership. The pyramid business structure enables the ultimate owner to invest less and control massive cash flow. Another main advantage in this system is the firms controlled and the controller firms can share their resources in terms of capital, labour as well as revenue similar to business groups. But, the owner will be free from paying heavy taxes to the government for the small firms as only a handful of major firms are under his direct control. These controlled firms are used for the benefit of the owner in various ways. They can be discouraged from showing profits as the owner might need them to show losses to evade tax. These firms are run by the money invested by the common public or the shareholder who lack any control over these structures. This gap between control and cash investment paves way for tunnelling or which reduces the firm's total value. ââ¬Å"Tu nnelingâ⬠generally defined as the passing of assets or profits from the smaller country to the bigger companies for the ultimate benefit of the huge groupââ¬â¢s owner. Research done by various scholars in the western countries as well as the growing eastern market suggests the same. Research done by La Porta, Lopez-de-Silanes, Shliefer and Vishny (2002) confirmed pyramid business structures paved way for tunnelling more than the other business structures after studying the top 27 economies in the western world. Claessens et al (2002) research in East Asian economies confirms the same. Classens et at (1998) claims there are three main problems in pyramid business structure. They are
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Describe the functions of managers Essay Example for Free
Describe the functions of managers Essay Good management and leadership are critical for organisations to function and also for the organisations to thrive. When organisations are well managed just like Barclay, they can operate effectively and they can operate efficiently. Managers have very good and clear plans, mangers have organised structures, systems, and they also evaluate results. When organisations are well led, they adapt to changes in the environment and develop cultures that inspire commitment and innovation. Both good management and good leadership are necessary to sustain organisational performance. Mangers are responsible for getting work done usually through other people; the term manger may also refer to a number of different people within a business. Some job titles include the word manager, such as a personal manger or managing director. Other jobholders may also be mangers even through there titles do not say it. * Mangers act on behalf of the owners in a company, senior management are accountable shareholders * Mangers set objectives for the organisation, for example, they may decide that a long-term objective is to have a greater market share than all of the companys competitors. * Managers make sure that a business achieves its objectives, by managing others. * Managers ensure that cooperate values which means the value of the organisation are maintained in dealings with other business, customers, employees and general public. When an organisation is managed well mangers effectively perform four essential management functions Henry Fayol the French management theorist listed a number of functions or elements of management these are: * Planning * Organising * Commanding * Coordinating * Controlling Planning This involves mangers setting objectives and also the strategies, policies, programmes and procedures for achieving them. Planning might be done by line mangers who will be responsible for performance. However advice on planning may also come from staff management who might have expertise in that are even if they have no line authority. For example, a production may carry out human recourse planning in the production department, but use the skills of the personal manager in planning recruitment for vacancies that may arise. In general, planning involves defining organisational goals and proposing ways to reach them. Managers plan for 3 reasons: * To establish an overall direction for the organisations future, such as a target say for example to increase profit, expand market share,, etc, etc. * To identify and commit the organisations resources to achieving its goals. * To decide which tasks must be done to reach those goals. * Barclays mangers set up objectives * Barclays bank makes up smart plans to achieve set objectives. * Manpower planning * Production budgets * Cash budgets * Sales targets Organising Mangers set task, which need to be performed if the business is to achieve its objectives. Jobs need to be organised within sections or departments and authority and authority needs to be delegated so that jobs are carried out. For example: the goal of a manufacturing company may be to produce quality goods that will be delivered to customer on time. The tasks such as manufacturing, packaging, administration, etc. that are part of producing and distributing the goods, need to be organised to achieve this goal. For example in Barclays within Barclays managers, supervisors must lead the employees with the delegated job. After mangers have prepared plans, they must translate those relatively abstract ideas into practice reality. Organising is the processes of creating a structure of relationships that will enable employees to carry out managements plans and meet organisational goals. By organising effectively. Mangers can better coordinate human, material, and information resources. An organisations success depends largely on managements ability to utilise those resources effectively and efficiently. * Organise working procedures * Organisational structure, chain of command needs to be established. * Organising which member of staff in Barclays does what. * Distribution channels. * Quality systems Commanding This involves giving instructions to subordinates to carry out tasks. The manger has the authority to make decisions and responsibilities to see tasks carried out. For example in Barclays plc the management team must put plans into action by allocating the best use of resources to achieve the plan. To make sure the plans are achieved mangers use their delegation skills. Coordinating This is the bringing together of the activities of people with the business. Individuals and groups will have there own goals, which may be different to those of the business and each other. Management must make sure that there is a common approach, so that the companys goals are achieved. * Mangers coordinate the work force * Mangers in Barclays bank direct employees what they are doing. * Delegating tasks * Mangers resolve conflicts of interests in the different functional areas of the business. * This helps mangers to motivate their staff. Controlling Mangers measure and correct the activities of individuals and groups to make sure that their performance fits in with plans. Control is the monitoring of evens and progress within each department. For example within Barclays the organisation a range of departments for example the finance department they will monitor there budget and performance. The process by which person group or organisation consciously monitors performance and takes corrective action this is called controlling, another example would be that Barclays finance department will be controlling and monitoring customers transactions, etc, etc and they will keep a history and they will keep a record file of that customer. Management control system sends signal to managers that things are not working out as planned and that corrective action is needed. * Barclays bank monitor and measure what is being archived in each of their department. * Barclays control, monitor there sales performance. * Barclays control and monitor their cash flow against their budget. Leading After management has made plans, created a structure of work practice, and hired the right personal, someone must lead the organisation, leading involves communicating with and motivating others to perform the tasks necessary to achieve the organisations goals. Leading is not done only after planning and organising end, it is a crucial element of these functions.
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