An Executive Summary - the Social Responsibility of...

Respond to the position made by Milton Freedman on corporate social responsibility at this site (if this does not connect directly please copy and past on a separate web page on the URL line): http://www.ethicsinbusiness.net/case-studies/the-social-responsibility-of-business-is-to-increase-its-profits/ Do you agree or disagree with Friedmans position? Why? What is most positive about his position? What is most negative about his position? This was written in 1970, does it apply in todays global/high tech economy? Why or why not? The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits * An Executive Summary – The Social Responsibility of Business it to Increase its Profits The Social Responsibility of Business is to†¦show more content†¦He ma}. feel impelled by these responsibilities to de ­vote part of his income to causes he regards as worthy, to refuse to work for particular corpo ­rations, even to leave his job, for example, to join his country’s armed forces. Ifwe wish, we may refer to some of these responsibilities as â€Å"social responsibilities.† But in these respects he is acting as a principal, not an agent; he is spending his own money or time or energy, not the money of his employers or the time or energy he has contracted to devote to their purposes. If these are â€Å"social responsibili ­ties,† they are the social responsibilities of in ­dividuals, not of business. What does it mean to say that the corpo ­rate executive has a â€Å"social responsibility† in his capacity as businessman? If this statement is not pure rhetoric, it must mean that he is to act in some way that is not in the interest of his employers. For example, that he is to refrain from increasing the price of the product in order to contribute to the social objective of preventing inflation, even though a price in crease would be in the best interests of the corporation. Or that he is to make expendi ­tures on reducing pollution beyond the amount that is in the best interests of the cor ­poration or that is required by law in order to contribute to the social objective of improving the environment. Or that, at the expense of corporate profits, he is to hire â€Å"hardcore†Show MoreRelatedProfitability Analysis Essay1556 Words   |  7 PagesBAE Business report on Woolworths Limited Student name: Can CAO (Phil) Student number: 32174 Class: BAE 5 Date: 18 June 2013 Word count: 1307 Table of contents Executive summary--------------------------------------------------------1 1 Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------2 2 Evaluation of ethical behavior---------------------------------------3 Read MoreThe Financial Impact of Corporate Ethics: Positive for Some, Not for All1059 Words   |  4 PagesTable of contents Executive summary...1 Introduction...1 Changing attitudes towards corporate responsibility...1 Corporate responsibility and ethics...2 Case study: Starbucks...2 Conclusion...3 The financial impact of corporate ethics: Positive for some, not for all Executive summary This paper provides a general overview of changing attitudes towards corporate ethics, along with a specific case study of the Starbucks Corporation. Although corporations remain profit-making institutionsRead MoreThe Ethical Standards Of Corporate Social Responsibility1126 Words   |  5 Pagescompany in corporate social responsibility for the fifth consecutive year (Orwell, 2014). Known for its exorbitant executive salaries, â€Å"golden parachutes†, and lavish management perks during the infamous financial bailouts of 2009, AIG still struggles to regain consumer confidence (Orwell, 2014). Multiple corporations grapple with how to meet the ethical standards of corporate social responsibility in today’s global economy. Becoming a triple bottom line company would help a business meet its ethicalRead MoreEvaluation: Ethical Perspectives on Social Responsibility Essay1143 Words   |  5 Pageson Social Responsibility This paper evaluates Cohen’s article on social responsibility and considers how his perspective and ideas align in comparison with other management experts including Drucker and Friedman. Some key components that are included in the evaluation are: †¢ A definition of the concept of social responsibility. †¢ What Cohen identifies as the social responsibility of a business to the workers, stakeholders, and society as a whole. †¢ How Cohen’s perspective of the social responsibilityRead MoreMGT 623 Week 1 Assignment Essay example785 Words   |  4 PagesFriedman  advocates the classical theory of business, which essentially holds that businesses should be solely devoted to increasing profits as long as they engage in open and free competition devoid of fraud. Friedman was an advocate of free market forces, he would recommend that let the market forces operate freely and the executive compensation will reach the right levels. The high performing executives will command higher salaries and poor performing executives will receive lower salaries or simplyRead MoreCorporate Ethical and Social Responsibility2423 Words   |  10 PagesBusiness Research Report Corporate Ethical and Social responsibility Presented to: Western Governors University Assessment Code: RWT1 – Competency 318.2.2 Student Name: Richard P. Shields Student ID: 92502 Date: August 7, 2009 Mentor Name: Rungrudee Suetorsak, Ph.D. Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 Introduction 4 Research Findings 5 1. Organization Environmental responsibilities: 5 2. Organizational image: 5 3. Organization Increase profits: 6 Recommendations 7 ConclusionRead MoreCsr Audit : Brico Devices Essay883 Words   |  4 Pages â€Æ' CSR Audit – BRICO Devices Table of Contents I. Executive Summary p. II. Introduction p. III. Findings p. IV. Conclusion p. V. Recommendations p. VI. References p. VII. Appendix p. â€Æ' CSR Audit – BRICO Devices Executive Summary This report evaluates Brico Devices’ Corporate Social Responsibility performance. In particular, it explores the governance of corporate responsibility, which relates to structures and processes through whichRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility : Csr Essay1064 Words   |  5 Pages â€Æ' Table of Content Executive Summary 3 Introduction 4 Understanding the Importance of CSR 4 Corporate Social Responsibility Audit 6 Findings 6 Conclusion 7 Recommendations 7 Reference List 8 Executive Summary After investigating the current situation, I found that the poor working conditions and underpayment reduce loyalty and employees’ satisfaction, employees feeling pressure with high workload and poor working conditions, substandard waste disposal methods causedRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Sarbanes Oxley Act1703 Words   |  7 Pages In the past, many corporate executive have committed various forms scandals in their organizations. Such fraudulent arts are unethical and immoral behavior. This led the US government to form legislation in order to control fraudulent activities; mostly performed by senior officers in the organization. In view of this, this paper will address the following: historical summary on SOX enactment, the key ethical components of SOX, social responsibility implications regarding mandatory publicationRead MoreExamine the Key Influence on Operations Which Contributes to the Business Success1601 Words   |  7 PagesExecutive Summary This Report will examine how the major influences on Operations which contribute to the success of the business with focus all of the major eight influences, these include Globalisation, Technology, Environmental Sustainability, Legal Regulations, Corporate Social Responsibility, Quality Expectations, Government Policies and Cost based Competition. This report will also examine the impact of the influences on businesses such as Billabong, Westpac, Holden, Woolworth and Coca-Cola

Human Resource Development Free Essays

string(130) " recognized standards which offers effective and quality to customers and better guarantee of a job candidate’s competency\." Table of Content Assignment Brie Introduction2 1. 0Task 013 2. 1 Role of UK Government in training development3 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Human Resource Development or any similar topic only for you Order Now 2. 1 NVQs and competency movements in the UK4 2. 2. 2 NVQ Levels of UK5 2. 3 Contemporary trainings initiatives in Sri Lanka6 2. 3. 1 Vocational Institute of Sri Lanka6 2. 3. 2 Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC)6 . 3. 3 National Apprentice and Industry Training Authority (NAITA)7 2. 3. 4 The Ceylon German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI)7 2. 3. 5 NVQs in UK and Sri Lanka8 3. 0. Task 039 3. 1 Training and Development9 3. 2 Identifying Employee Training Needs10 3. 3 Importance of Employee Training for the Bank10 3. 4 Factors for Training and Development11 3. 5 Importance of Evaluation11 3. 6 The Way of Evaluation Needs To Be On Going12 4. 0 Conclusion13 5. 0 Reference14 1. 0 Introduction Human Resource Development is a process and planned activities designed, such as use of training, organization, and career development efforts by an organization to improve individual, group and organizational effectiveness. The development process builds up major competencies that facilitate to execute current and future job demands and enable the organization to meet its strategic objectives. Human resource management (HRM) includes many roles and Human resource development (HRD) is just one of the functions within Human Resource Management. Functions of the HRD are Training and development, Career development and Organizational development. HRD manager’s role towards this is incorporate HRD with organizational goals and strategies while modify HRD to corporate needs and budget, Promotes HRD as a profit enhancer and employee performance enhancement. According to the theories of learning in HRD, is important to recognize how do people learn and thus there are six main theories comes under learning styles; such as behaviorism, cognitivism, social learning theory, social constructivism, multiple intelligences and brain based learning. NVQs and competency movements are established in the UK government in order to enhance occupational skills of employees. These are based on national occupational standards. Standards are statements of performance describe what capable people in a particular occupation are expected to be able to do. HRD include ways and methods of identifying training and development needs and how training contribute to achieve of business objectives and the role a training and development policy for a business organization. Evaluations on factors are significant which are important for planning a training and development. Human Resource Development is vital towards achieving company objectives and need to be aware of when training and development need to be. 1. 0 Task 01 2. 1 Role of UK Government in training development United Kingdom government is identify occupations for which skills and training required, recognizes the significance of training and provide incentives to attract and retain the employees. And discover the issues in manpower planning, development and determine that government can execute to promote training. The Department of Employment and Learning-UK This department provided wide range of training and development programmes to the people around the United Kingdom. Aim of the department is to promote learning and skills, to prepare people for work and to support the economy. Objectives are to support economic, social and personal development through high quality learning, help people into employment, research and skills training and offer good employment practices. Major activities of the department * Develop the demand and condition of learning skills, entrepreneurship, management, enterprise and leadership skills. * Maintain and increase the level of research and development, innovation and creativity in the Northern Ireland economy; * support individuals to find jobs, including self employment, and improving the relationship among employment programmes and skills development; * The development and maintenance of the framework of employment rights and responsibilities. Skills solution service offers a single point of contact for employees, departmental trained skills adviser is available to meet employee to discuss training needs and advice to accomplish his/her necessities, help progress an application, assist with applying for financial support where appropriate. 2. 2. 1 NVQs and competency movements in the UK National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are based on skills, knowledge and understanding of an individual possess which are related to specific area of work. Reason for the Introduction of NVQs was to address weaknesses in current systems of vocational qualifications in United Kingdom, 1986. According to the publication of the White Paper Working together, education and training, the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) was set up. Then NCVQ developed as a framework of NVQs which include five levels and 11 occupational areas. the government funded for NVQs are based Industry Training Organizations to develop the occupational standards , with awarding bodies developing the assessment and quality assurance arrangements to criteria set by NCVQ. In 1994 White Paper Competitiveness, a majority of employers were either using or expected to benefit from NVQs and 40,000 managers were responsible NVQs as proof of lifetime learning. And NVQs continue up to date and the content and structure of all NVQs reviewed by April 1996. These qualifications are based on national occupational standards (NOS). NOS standards are define the abilities, knowledge and understanding required for a given occupation, and identifies outcomes that can be assessed. NOS are cover almost every occupation, existing as units and form the basis of all National Vocational Qualifications. NVQs are diverse from traditional qualifications on what people can do and demonstrate at work place. Traditional qualifications are just part of the curriculum is learned and assessed. According to NVQ, everything that is specified in the qualification must be achieved and assessed, encourage and support the candidate to gain knowledge of how to do the remainder and evaluate what the candidate can do at the work place. NVQs offer benefits for individuals such as Recognition of job competencies regardless of how they were acquired Certification as having met national standards for an occupational role, improved employability and transferability a flexible route to becoming qualified. Employers can have advantages an effective way of developing staff that has internationally recognized standards which offers effective and quality to customers and better guarantee of a job candidate’s competency. You read "Human Resource Development" in category "Essay examples" For the national level, NVQs are assured workers’ skills on goods and services produced and making the country more competitive and enhances the attractiveness of the labor force to foreign investors by providing certification of occupational competence. 2. 2. 2 NVQ Levels of UK BTEC Higher National Diplomas (HND) provides greater strength and specialization, Edexcel is one of the main awarding and examining organization in the UK and right through the world. NVQs have developed for five levels of competencies, Level 01 – Entry level Foundation Skills – This level identifies capabilities of different work activities performed in a variety of perspectives. Activities are simple and especially significant supervision is needed throughout the initial steps and early months. Level 02 – skilled occupation – Identifies competence in various work activities and performed in different contexts, some of activities are complex and non – routine, some are responsibility and autonomy. Guidance is required throughout the work. Level 03 – Technician and supervisory occupations Recognizes capabilities in a broad range of complex, which are related to technical or Professional work activities execute in wide variety of contexts. The individual should be competent of self-directed application, exhibits problem solving, designing, planning and supervisory capabilities. Level 04 – technical specialist and middle management occupations This level recognizes competencies involving the application of fundamental principles and complex techniques on wide area of perspectives. Level 04 is Equivalent to diploma, First degree, Higher National Diploma and nursing or teaching qualification. Level 05 – chartered professional and senior management occupations Level identifies the ability to use of personal professional responsibility for development, designing, product growth, process, system or services. And this level recognizes technical and managerial competencies at the highest level and people who are occupied in the highest responsibility and made outstanding contribution to the promotion and practice of their occupation. This level is equivalent diploma, Master’s degree, PhD and PGC 2. 3 Contemporary trainings initiatives in Sri Lanka 2. 3. 1 Vocational Institute of Sri Lanka Under the provisions of the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka Act No: 12 of 1995, Vocational Training Authority (VTA) was established in Sri Lanka which is operating under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Developments. This has 6 National Vocational Training Institutes with 22 District Vocational Training Centers and 232 Vocational training centers. VTA is implementing the skills development programs and offer skills training for rural youth according to various fields. The Exposure of training for rural youth to information technology and other areas develop their skills and entrepreneurship. Functions of the VTA as follows, * Conduct research development (RD), career * development workshops and counselling programmes, * Offer Vocational Training and coordinate with the other institutions * Arrange final assessments, trade tests, final assessments and issue NVQ certificates through the Tertiary Vocational Education(TVEC) * Organize trainer training programs in order to manage the vocational training programmes effectively and efficiently. Assist the youth who have undergone for trainings and reward supplementary trainings, place employments and for self employment. 2. 3. 2 Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) TVEC setup and it introduced national certification structure for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector of Sri Lanka, which is called the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) frame work which effect from January 2005. TVEC of Sri Lanka is associated with the Skills Development Project (SDP) and funded by the Asian Deve lopment Bank. Purpose of NVQ for Sri Lankan is in order to make globally competitive workforce Industry specific, through a standardized Technical and Vocational Education system. 2. 3. 3 National Apprentice and Industry Training Authority (NAITA) Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority of Sri Lanka (NAITA) was established in 1971 by an Act of Parliament. The functions of the organization towards people provide distance education, Curriculum Development, Monitoring Progress Instruction offer distance Education, Trade Testing and Certification. NAITA focus on small, medium and large scale enterprises and conduct island wide training programmes . Assistant is gained from the United Nations Development Programme and International Labor Organization. 2. 3. 4 The Ceylon German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI) This is incorporated as a separate training body by an act of parliament, established in 1959 and integrated to Develop modern Technology Training Centre (MTTC) at the CGTTI to meet future industry requirements. CGTTI providing training on technology related to Automobile and other technical trades and to be properly prepared to perform at the highest level of acceptance in the field maintains the standard. . 3. 5 NVQs in UK and Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Main objectives for setting NVQ are to recognize locally and internationally, create an internationally competitive workforce in Sri Lanka, match and provide Vocational training/ skills with market demand and recognize the certificates those possessed through the NVQ system. NVQ Sri Lanka is aligned with More proactive training, National goals, aware of responsiveness to Ind ustry training needs, enhance of linkage with Industry and other stakeholders and Collaboration and rationalization among the training agencies. The Sri Lankan NVQ framework comprised of 7 levels of upward mobility UK government is providing Education Maintenance Allowances, Undergraduate, Postgraduate courses and supporting the career and development aspirations of learners. ABC PLC can use of Edexcel NVQs. In the UK Edexcel NVQs determine for a huge variety of careers and Commitment to excellent customer service, Edexcel NVQ external verifiers also provides support, advice and guidance to Edexcel-approved centres. NVQs programs are provide an opportunity to ABC Plc enhance and overcome the problems occurred in performance. Conduct research development, Offer Vocational Training and coordinate with the other institutions, Assist the youth who have undergone for trainings and reward supplementary trainings , And this facilitate to ABC Plc forecast that will achieve business benefits. According to the NVQs ABC Plc reduce waste and improve its productivity therefore company can be expected their rate through business improvement techniques in NVQs. UK based NVQ programmes provides significant benefits for employer as well as employee. 3. 0. Task 03 Commercial Bank of Sri Lanka is known as benchmark private sector bank in Sri Lanka. Over decades the bank has created its own identity with the clear vision, set standards and unique trend in banking sector. 3. 1 Training and Development Commercial Bank is providing training and development programmes to its employees and objectives for training are in order to better performance, economical reduce wastage and improve quality of the service, motivation and lesser staff turnover. Bank is using ADDIE model as systematic approach to training and development. Functions of TD in the bank are, designing and developing programmes after identifying training necessities and developing a comprehensive training programme. Train the trainer programme, Outbound training activity, Credit Programme, Junior Executive Officer Programme, Behavior Modification. And also managing and conducting training in technical and soft skills, facilitating the management of overseas training and Publication of official newsletter ‘Compulse’. The bank has identified Advantages of training development as follows, better performance of employees usually shows a greater increase in and a higher quality of work out put than the untrained group. And when the employees are given proper training, supervision responsibility is lesser as well as increases the self-esteem and confidence is increased. Trained personnel will be able to make better and economical use of materials and equipment and service will be quality. Staff is motivated and feels sense of recognition when they sent on training. TD have a favorable impact on staff turnover lesser staff turnover due to better training. TD has drawback as well such as Information and learning areas might change day by day, therefore need to do the training all over again and this may waste the time and money. Diverse learning and training styles for those being trained can cause to be bored due to too basic or it may cause some to be frustrated because complicated. Some employees may leave the company after the training and this would be waiting of time and money of the organization. Time allocation might be not sufficient for covering all the training areas therefore some important tasks may neglected. Sometime losing control of the training content and the wrong person might do the training without knowing the mmanagement. 3. Identifying Employee Training Needs Identifying the people who need the training and requirements is vital for each and every organization to reduce wasting money and time. Commercial Bank HRD division is usually conducting a job task analysis of the employee in order to recognize the people who require trainings. It’s important to know exactly what the prospects are for the job to provide effective training. Identify the discrepancies and areas need to impr ove by comparing employee performance to the job expectations and by performance appraisals. HRD Managers recognize the reason for the discrepancy those are may be due to personnel issues, work process issues, such as not knowing how to complete a specific task, or ignorance of the specific task. Work process issues can be identify by employee training, while personnel issues can be addressed by an employee review process. Schedule departmental meetings with all employees and discuss and ask them to raise and make list of suggestions that which areas they consider to be more training is needed. Evaluate legal requirements such as health and safety training. Bank is get feedback from customers of the bank, such using interviews or surveys in areas such as customer satisfaction. And also use tests such as computer base, trials and observations. 3. 3 Importance of Employee Training for the Bank Employee training contributes to the achievement of business Objectives of the bank. Employee training increases the stability and flexibility of the bank and best available methods of performing the work can be standardized and made available to all employees. They are decrease wastages of resources and work both efficiently and effectively towards bank’s targets. Trained employees will be able to better use of materials and equipments whilst improving the quality of the service. Such as providing IT training to the prospective employees may cause to achieve more targets and make Bank profitable and can work adapt to the changing technology. Better training enables the organization to face competition from the other banks. Trained people decreased workplace stress and increased employee effectiveness which leads to satisfaction for the customer of the bank and keep up Bank’s image around the world. 3. 4 Factors for Training and Development According to the Commercial Bank training and development planning, one key aspect is to consider is each employee’s abilities which means should match the abilities of the employee suitable to corresponding training programme otherwise there will be a problem. For an instance bank is sending an employee to an accounting course , be competent of doing the accounting and HRD manager should ensure he/she good at accounting and numbers. Cost incurred for T D process is very much considerable factor; management should be aware of minimize wastages and conduct the process. Time is another aspect which is specially significant for the Bank, saving time and money will gain profits. Techniques are another factor for planning the training and development process. Bank is exercise diverse methods to address the employees. Most of the time HRD department is using presentations, role plays, speeches, and using internal and expertise. Bank is also considered about number of trainees going to be train, culture of the bank and attitude among the employees. 3. 5 Importance of Evaluation TD process is comes under specific objectives of the bank and spent ore money and time on analyzing, designing, development and implementation process, therefore it’s important to ensure training is successful or not. The response of the trainees can be acquired through questionnaires, smile sheets. To assess the amount of learning, Bank considers using of pre tests and the post tests. Tests determine how far people have developed skills, knowledge and attitudes. There eval uating the effectiveness of the provided training. Such as observations, interviews, self diaries. Evaluation can be carried out at the end of the training and can be compared with the objectives of the training and outcomes. Finally evaluation determines week points of training programme and in future such things can be taken care of and at the last it helps to discover whether organizational benefits has yielded. 3. 6 The Way of Evaluation Needs To Be On Going Evaluation process includes according to the ADDIE model, Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. According to the analysis process identifying training needs, assess the learner’s existing capabilities, identify the audience and their characteristics are crucial to make training programmes. Recognize the training materials will develop and make budgets and time frame for the programme. Training requirements and needs for the staff can be identified as the difference between estimated level of performance and definite level of performance. Training areas can be recognized through the performance appraisals and tests. Next step is design, according to this, design materials and plan the strategy to be used for the training programme. This may also include design of a class or demonstration, depending on how the programme will be delivered. The development phase involves development of training programme. And gather the training programme, all associated materials necessary for a successful training programme, in this phase is testing and clear up procedures. During the process of implementation a procedure for training the facilitator and the learner is developed and delivered, conduct the trainer training programmes, installation of training modules, activating modules and establishing logins. At the end of the training it should be evaluated; questionnaires can be use in the training programme in every week or month and tests , observations, evaluation forms can be use for one day training ctivities. And it’s important to assess the training effectiveness, enhance initiatives and programmes. 4. 0 Conclusion Human Resource Development module reviewed and analyzed the framework influencing the role of government in training and development and the growing emphasis on continuous development and lifelong and constant development. Evaluated on NVQs, MCI and competency movement in the selected organization. Module is examined modern-day training initiatives introduced by the Sri Lankan Government and compared with the Government of UK. According to Task two, explore the differentiated theories of learning and explained their contribution to the process of planning and designing of organizational learning events. Tasks three critically evaluated and explained current approaches of the training and development of the organization and discussed about drawbacks. Explained how training contributes to attain company objectives and the role of a training and development policy, importance of evaluating factors of planning, training and development. Discussed the importance of evaluation and how it helps to market the contribution of training and development to the organization. The knowledge and experience enhanced throughout the Human Resource Development module and learnt how it’s important in the organization for achieve business objectives. 5. 0 Reference * Wikipedia (2012) ‘human resource development’ human resource development. [accessed 22 May 2012], available at http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Human_resource_development. * Hotel mule (2012) ‘the key role of training and development in tourism and hospitality’ Understanding the context: national level responses to training. [accessed 25 May 2012], available at http://hotelmule. com/showthread. php? 49-the-key-role-of-training-and-development-in-tourism-and-hospitality. * Pearson Education Ltd (2012) ‘NVQ and competence-based qualifications (QCF)’ qualification [accessed 28 May 2012], available at http://www. edexcel. com/quals/NVQ-competence-based-qcf/Pages/What-are-NVQs. aspx. * Department for Employment and Learning (2010) ‘About the Departmentâ₠¬â„¢home. [accessed 28 May 2012], available at http://www. delni. gov. uk/index/about-the-dept. htm. * TVE Council (2003 – 2009) ‘how NVQs differ from other certifications’ home. [accessed 29 May 2012] available at http://www. tvetcouncil. com. bb/compare. tml. * Vocational Training Authority Sri Lanka (2011) ‘about us’ Overview [accessed 29 May 2012] available at http://www. vta. lk/index. php? option=com_contentview=articleid=55:overviewcatid=36:about-usItemid=28. * Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC (2012) ‘Our Training Programme’ Careers. [accessed 29 May 2012], available at http://www. combank. lk/newweb/info/105? oid=57. * e how money(2012) ‘Instructions Identify Employee Training Needs ‘how to identify employee training needs. [accessed 29 May 2012], available at http://www. ehow. com/how_2076444_identify-employee-training-needs. html. How to cite Human Resource Development, Essay examples

Financial Risk Management For Dynamic Hedging - Free Sample

Question: 1. Calculate the delta hedge updates, adjustments and forward contract valuations in Appendix 2. 2. Do you think Scout Finch would view delta hedging as more or less risky for Dayton than an ordinary forward contract or purchased option hedge? Justify your answer with reference to literature. 3. How would you respond to the accusation that delta hedging is very subjective in its approach to viewing both the direction of an exchange rate movement and the proportion of hedge cover? Discuss with reference to literature. 4. If you were Scout Finch, what recommendation on the use of delta hedging would you make to your CFO? Justify your recommendation.? Answer: 1. Delta hedge updates: Following are the inputs for the initial delta, as given in the case. Table 1: Inputs Inputs Spot rate $1.3309/Euro Strike price (same units as Spot) $1.335/Euro volatility (annualized) 10.00% domestic interest rate (annualized) 3.30% foreign interest rate (annualized) 2.00% time to maturity in days 92 Put option value $0.0265/Euro Delta Calculation: Here delta is calculated using the formula S0: Spot rate. X: Strike rate. r: domestic rate. q: foreign exchange rate. Sigma: annualized volatility. t: time to maturity. Delta calculation is done as illustrated by Jorion, (2009) in the book Financial Risk Manager Handbook. The following gives the formula for put delta: The initial vale of delta using this formula is (-0.4859). The negative sign indicates a put delta. Using the above value of delta as initial value, proportionate hedging is done by buying forward contracts, while some part of the portfolio is kept uncovered. When 86 days to maturity are left, the delta is recalculated for the new spot price and time to maturity. The portfolio is re aligned with new values of delta. The process is repeated every week till maturity. Table 2 below lists down the deltas and forward contracts bought and sold at updated values of delta. Table 2: Daytons Delta Hedging Analysis US Dollar /Euro Spring 2005 Update number Number of Days to maturity Spot Rate Delta Optimal hedge Hedge adjustments Remaining uncovered Sold or bought Forward Forward rate Forward proceeds. 1 92 1.3309 -0.4859 -485900 0 514100 -485900 1.3353 648822.27 2 86 1.2956 -0.6986 -698600 -212700 301400 -212700 1.2996 276424.92 3 78 1.2893 -0.7455 -745500 -46900 254500 -46900 1.2929 60637.01 4 71 1.2908 -0.7501 -750100 -4600 249900 -4600 1.2941 5952.86 5 64 1.2926 -0.754 -754000 -3900 246000 -3900 1.2956 5052.84 6 57 1.3068 -0.6784 -678400 75600 321600 75600 1.3095 -98998.2 7 50 1.2919 -0.7917 -791700 -113300 208300 -113300 1.2942 146632.86 8 43 1.2834 -0.8594 -859400 -67700 140600 -67700 1.2854 87021.58 9 36 1.2643 -0.9513 -951300 -91900 48700 -91900 1.2659 116336.21 10 29 1.2555 -0.9817 -981700 -30400 18300 -30400 1.2568 38206.72 11 22 1.2568 -0.9909 -990900 -9200 9100 -9200 1.2578 11571.76 12 15 1.2227 -0.9992 -999200 -8300 800 -8300 1.2234 10154.22 13 8 1.2128 -0.9996 -999600 -400 400 -400 1.2132 485.28 14 1 1.2239 -0.9999 -999900 -300 100 -300 1.2239 367.17 15 0 1.2200 Table 3 calculates the final value of the portfolio at the end of the period. The uncovered proceeds are added to the forward proceeds, bought at different updates: Table 3: Delta hedge results Delta hedge results Net Proceeds from forwards 1308668 Proceeds from uncovered 122 Total dollar Proceeds 1308790 The four hedging strategies are compared in table 4. Here forward contract is used as benchmark and value of the portfolio at the end of the period using each of the strategies are compared. Table 4: Hedging Alternatives Comparison with Simple full forward covered. Hedging Alternatives Comparison with Simple full forward covered Remained uncovered 1220000 -115300 Forward covered 1335300 0 Put Option Cover 1308500 -26800 Delta Hedge 1308789.5 -26510.5 Performance of Delta hedging in the current context: Table 5: Dollar movement Scenarios and strategy performance comparison: Dollar Stable Dollar Strong Dollar Strong Dollar Strong Strike Rate 1.75 no 1.75 yes 1.9 no 1.335 no Volatility 5.06% 5.06% 10% 10% Domestic interest rates 6% 6% 3.30% 3.30% Foreign Interest rates 8% 8% 4% 2% Forward Rate Range 1.754 1.7612 1.754 1.7371 1.905 1.8286 1.3353 1.2239 Spot Rate Range 1.764 1.7618 1.764 1.735 1.9111 1.8311 1.3309 1.22 Remained uncovered 1761800 2792.00 1735000 -10522 1831100 -41577 1220000 -88789.5 Forward covered 1754000 -5008.00 1754000 8478.00 1904960 32283.00 1335300 26510.50 Put Option Cover 1734625 -24383.00 1734635 -10887 1863818 -8859 1308500 -289.50 Delta Hedge 1759008 0.00 1745522 0.00 1872677 0.00 1308790 0.00 Note: here Delta hedge is kept as reference and other strategies are compared with that. The above table compares the performance of Delta hedge with respect to 4 different strategies. The green indicates money is made and red indicates the money is lost with respect to the Delta hedge strategy. The comparison is done in the 4 scenarios given in the case. Case1: Stable Dollar- In case of Stable dollar, the forward contract loses money. For the Put option, as discussed by John H, (2013), the cost of purchasing a put option is very high and hence the strategy looses the highest in this case. Here delta hedging is the closest to the opening spot rate conversion of the accounts receivable for Dayton, which is by definition the motive behind hedging as discussed by Longo J (2009). This value of portfolio minimizes the uncertainty in portfolio performance with change in underlying value change. For stable dollar, uncovered strategy pays the most, as the exchange rate moves around a pegged value. Case2: Dollar Strong- In scenario 2 as given in the case study the dollar is going to be stronger and thus taking a forward position on the entire portfolio is the best strategy. Put Option Cover and uncovered both losses a big sum of money, with respect to Delta hedge and forward rate contract. The same thing repeats in the scenario 3 and scenario 4 as well. Riskiness of Delta Hedging for Dayton Manufacturing: In the current context, if we compare the 4 scenarios as given in the case study and rank the strategies: Delta hedge ranks 2nd best in all 4 cases. This makes the delta hedging strategy as the best of 4 strategies. Table 6: Rank wise comparison of the 4 strategies: Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3 Scenario 4 Dollar Stable Dollar Strong Dollar Strong Dollar Strong Remained uncovered 1 4 4 4 Forward covered 3 1 1 1 Put Option Cover 4 3 3 3 Delta Hedge 2 2 2 2 2. Justification for delta hedging to be better than other strategies: In the case study given, in 3 out of 4 scenarios, dollar was going to be stronger. While in only one case the dollar was predicted to be stable. Delta hedging similarity to forward contract: Delta hedging uses linear hedging (forward covered options) for hedging the position as discussed at optiontradingtips. Delta value tells the amount of the portfolio that should be covered to the total portfolio to make the risk of the portfolio to zero as discussed by Giovanni B (June 1987). Delta here is borrowed from the Black and Scholes model basics. So in a way, delta hedging is forward covered hedging, but a part of portfolio is forward covered, and the part is decided by delta. Continuous update of delta for best performance: Delta is kept to be updated, as the value of the underlying, (here the spot rates) changes the delta value changes, and the portfolio is no longer a risk free portfolio for new value of the delta. Hence the delta value needs to be updated and the value of the portfolio under the forward cover needs to be changed. When the number of the updates is increased the performance of the portfolio improves further, and in fully dynamically updated delta hedging, the portfolio delta is changed every day to achieve best results. The same thing is discussed by Rajiv S. (2014) in the book Derivative and Risk management. When the movement of the underlying of the portfolio is known, then it is better to not to go for delta hedging, but simply go for a forward contract. The forward contract will fetch the best results, if the dollar is predicted to go stronger and uncovered contract if the dollar to go weak. But such kinds of cases are hardly available. Minimal cost of Hedging: Secondly, every hedging scheme comes with a cost, while delta hedging suggests a value of optimum value of hedging required to make the portfolio risk free. This makes delta hedging a better strategy than standard forward contract hedging for 100% portfolio or buying put option cover. The cost of hedging is minimized by the Flexibility: Delta hedging increases the flexibility for the hedgers. The losses made by delta hedging can be considered as reasonable price for the level of flexibility offered by delta hedging. Conclusion: For any arbitrary context, when the movement of the underlying is not predictable, Delta hedging, with the most number of updates is the most suitable strategy. Delta hedging takes a position making the portfolio risk free for that particular value of spot price, which is tuned by updating the value of delta every time, making the overall performance of the delta hedge better. Also the hedging cost is minimized by using delta hedging strategy. 3. Subjectivity of Delta hedging in its approach to both the direction of an exchange rate movement and the proportion of hedge cover: Delta hedging is a selective forward rate hedging technique, with a part of the portfolio only covered with forward contract, while remaining part uncovered. To compare the subjectivity for the delta on either side changes in the underlying (Here spot price of the stock is the underlying.), Let us consider the following graph, which shows the put delta values for the underlying price. Figure 1: Delta values w.r.t. change in underlying values The curve is a symmetric curve on both the sides with the value of delta changing the most in the middle and saturating at the ends. This clearly shows that the delta is not specific to the movements on either side of the exchange rates. The curve is taken from Dynamic Hedging. (2015) from riskencyclopedia.com Now as delta hedging used these values of deltas, delta hedging is also symmetric for either side of exchange rate changes. Sometimes, by observing the movement of the delta with respect to the change in the spot rate, it may seem that delta is changing more on one direction with the change in value of spot rate. The reason for this is the delta is a function of time and volatility, in addition to the spot rate. So as the time to maturity reduces, delta tends to move towards 0 in stable dollar case and -1 in stronger dollar case. This movements in delta with respect to time curtails the opposite side movement of delta due to exchange rate moving in opposite direction then the normal trend. Thus it is clear that Delta is not subjective on the movement directions of the underlying spot rates. With symmetric delta, the hedge cover also becomes symmetric with respect to the movement in interest rates. 4. Recommendations of Delta hedging for Dayton manufacturing: A scenario based hedging strategy, would be recommended to the CFO, where in for some predicted spot rate changes, forwards rate hedging would be suggested, while in case of times when exchange rate is moving randomly, a delta hedging strategy will be suggested. Exchange rate against Dayton manufacturing (Dollar getting stronger): As we saw in scenario 2, 3 and 4 in table 5, whenever the exchange rate is moving against the company, forward rate hedging becomes the best strategy. Forward rate hedging clips the losses happening due to domestic currency going stronger. So, whenever the domestic and foreign interest rates and other macroeconomic parameters are indicating strengthening of the dollar, than a plain forward rate hedging would be suggested as given by Banks (2006) in his book for a exporting form like Dayton. Exchange rates moving randomly in a bounded region around a pegged value: But, when the exchange rate movements are totally unpredictable and may go up and down from its center value, as in case of the scenario 1, where exchange rates were stable, Delta hedging would be recommended. Moreover, more number of updates would be recommended for the delta hedging. The frequency of the updates will be decided by the volatility of the underlying spot rate. As being delta hedged, the spot rates movements are not affecting the portfolio because the delta hedging is making it risk free every time whenever delta update is made. But as discussed by Antonio C. (2009) higher the value of volatility of spot rate, faster and larger is the movement of the spot rate. With every movement of spot rate the delta equilibrium is disturbed and an update is required. Greeks like Vega can be used to monitor the movements of the volatility. Exchange rate movements favorable to Dayton Manufacturing (Dollar getting weaker): When it is expected that dollar is going to be weaker. As discussed by Alok D (2012) this condition is favorable for the company with receivables in the foreign currency; the dollar returns are going to be higher. In that case an uncovered portfolio will be the best option.Thus, a balanced mix of 3 strategies should be used for different kind of movements if exchange rate. References: Jorion, Philippe (2009).Financial Risk Manager Handbook(5 ed.). John Wiley and Sons. Rajiv S. (2014). Derivatives and risk management. New Delhi: OUP India. Alok D, Surendra Y, P.K. Jain. (2012). Derivative Markets in India: Trading, Pricing, and Risk. India: McGraw Hill Education. Greeks/delta. (2015) Option Delta. [Online] Available from: https://www.optiontradingtips.com/greeks/delta.html [Accessed: 7th June 2015]. John H, Sankarshan B. (2013). Options, Futures and other Derivatives. India: Pearson. Dynamic Hedging. (2015) Dynamic Hedging. [Online] Available from: https://www.riskencyclopedia.com/articles/dynamic_hedging/ [Accessed: 7th June 2015]. Longo J, Cfa. (2009). Hedge Fund Alpha: A Framework for Generating and Understanding Investment Performance. World Scientific Publishing Company. Antonio C. (2009). FX Options and Smile Risk (The Wiley Finance Series). John Wiley Sons. Derivative pricing. (2015) Currency options pricing explained. [Online] Available from: https://www.derivativepricing.com/blogpage.asp?id=22 [Accessed: 7th June 2015]. Giovanni B, Robert E.W. (June 1987).Efficient analytic approximation of American option values.Journal of Finance42(2) Banks, Erik, Siegel, Paul (2006). The options applications handbook: hedging and speculating techniques for professional investors. McGraw-Hill Professional Suma John. (2015) Options Greeks: Delta Risk and Reward. [Online] Available from: https://www.investopedia.com/university/option-greeks/greeks2.asp [Accessed: 7th June 2015].

Pauls Case Theme

Willa Cather’s story, Paul’s Case, revolves around the life of a young man named Paul. This story brings out the life of this young boy as one that is full of desires and dreams but he cannot work to fulfill them. The author has employed the use of character, action and imagery to bring out the three themes, viz. harm of relentlessness to achieving ones dreams, the danger of misunderstanding money and wealth, and the effect of materialism in one’s life.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Paul’s Case Theme specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The main character in the story is Paul. He comes from a poor background which moves him to have a desire for a more luxurious and wealthy living. In order for someone to acquire such a lifestyle, he/she should be industrious just as the saying goes, â€Å"nothing comes on a silver plate.† Paul only admires other peoples’ work but he does no t want to do much to achieve the life he desires. He is obsessed with art, music and theatre; the main factors that enhance his passion as an usher in the Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh. At one point he decides to forego supper in order to arrive at the hall in time. When he finds that the hall is not opened he decides to go to the picture gallery where he spends a lot of time admiring the great works holed there. Despite his passion for arts, Paul does not do anything in the field of arts to improve his standards of living; on the contrary, he keeps admiring other people’s work. Cather states that, â€Å"He had no desire to become an actor, any more than he had to become a musician. He felt no necessity to do any of these things; what he wanted was to see, to be in the atmosphere, float on the wave of it, to be carried out, blue league after blue league, away from everything† (32). This is evident that Paul did not want to work despite his desire to live a good life. Mis understanding money and wealth as the necessities to living a good life is an issue that the writer explores deeply. She brings out Paul as a character who holds that, in order to have a luxurious life one needs to have money. However, Paul violates the very basic principle that, in order to get money one needs to work and work hard. In illustrating this, Cather brings out the life of a certain young man who has climbed up the ladder by embracing his work as a clerk. Lack of understanding makes Paul to live a miserable life since he cannot do anything substantial to enhance income generation. For instance, Cather notes, â€Å"Paul bounded upstairs, scrubbed the greasy odor of the dishwater from his hands with the ill-smelling soap he hated† (27). What a disgusting situation! Paul looks down upon the people in his neighborhood including his own teachers. This is because he feels that he is the only one with the knowledge on how to build wealth. All along Paul knows that he nee ds money but he does not work at getting it.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The writer says, â€Å"He had not a hundred dollars left; and he knew now, more than ever, that money was everything, the wall that stood between all he loathed and all he wanted† (16). It is thus evident that one has to put efforts to better his/her life rather than fantasizing about good lives that he/she might never achieve; if anything, Cather insinuates that, fantasy never mimic the reality. Cather employs imagery to underscore the harm of relentlessness towards achieving one’s dream in what many would call the pursuit of the American dream. For instance, he uses Paul’s addiction to art as a form of hindrance to hard work. His obsession occupy much of his time that he does not even realize that it has become as a form of an addictive drug to him. He cannot see and exploit o ther ways, which he can utilize to yield a lot other than pleasure. The author explores food as an imagery to bring out the distinctive gap between the rich and the poor. When Paul follows the soprano to the hotel, he begins to ponder about the good food that the soprano will enjoy. â€Å" He reflected upon the mysterious dishes brought into the dining room, the green bottles in buckets of ice, as he had seen them in the supper party pictures of the Sunday World supplement †(Cather 17). This is the type of food that Paul desires but he cannot afford due to his poor standards of living. Just as a poor man’s food that is not appetizing to many, the Cather likens Paul’s life to such food referring to it as a flavorless, colorless mass of everyday existence (19). The terms that the writer uses to describe the food represents Paul’s tasteless and meaningless life. Paul is poor thus his constant desire for wealth. The red carnations that Paul wears in his butto nhole represent Paul’s continued defiance to his teachers. Paul constantly goes against the teachers’ expectations. Later on in his life, Paul brings red carnations that are wilted as he walks to the train tracks. The wilting of the red carnations helps him to realize that, it takes only a short time for the beauty of life to disappear. Paul buries one of the red carnations in the ice before leaping in front of a train. In this act, the writer brings out the eventual death and disappearance of Paul. The writer’s use of action also helps in bringing out the theme of laziness in the story. In the beginning of the story, the writer tells us that the boy had gone to sleep on a certain warm afternoon. This shows that Paul is a lazy boy. His laziness is evident in the story because despite his ambition to obtain wealth, he is not involved in any activity to generate money. Paul goes to New York in search of a better way of living.Advertising We will write a custo m essay sample on Paul’s Case Theme specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In conclusion, the writer employed character, imagery and action to pass her message to the readers. She puts it clear that people need to work towards their dreams instead of constantly fantasizing about them. It is also important to note that, ‘Paul’s Case’ warn that people should have a clear understanding of the difference between money and wealth/ work. One has to work in order to get money hence wealth. The writer insinuates that materialism should not be our drive towards good life. This is because it can lead one to do things he/she did not intend to do. Works Cited Willa, Cather. Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament, 1906. Web. https://www.shsu.edu/ This essay on Paul’s Case Theme was written and submitted by user Melissa Buck to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Antarctic Explorer-Richard Byrd

Antarctic Explorer-Richard Byrd Richard Evelyn Byrd was born in Virginia in 1888. He joined the United States Naval Academy at the age 20 and joined the navy in 1912. He learned to fly in World War I during his tour with the United States Navy. He became an expert in flying and was appointed to plan the flight path for the US Navy's 1919 transatlantic crossing.On May 9, 1926, Byrd and Floyd Bennet attempted a flight over the North Pole. They claimed to have completed the trip but evidence from their diaries has placed doubt on their claim. Even though the made enough money for Byrd to explore the South Pole.In 1928, Byrd began his expedition in Antarctica. A base camp was setup on the Ross Ice Shelf. Scientific expeditions by dog-sled, snowmobile and airplane began. Photographic expeditions and geological surveys were done during summer. After the first winter, expeditions resumed and on November 29, 1929 the flight to the South Pole was launched.USS Preble approaches Richard E. Byrd during reple...Byrd flew the Fl oyd Bennet to the South Pole and back in 18 hours and 41 minutes. After further exploration, the expedition returned to America on June 18, 1930.Byrd went on three more expeditions to the South Pole from 1933-1935 and 1930-1941, taking part in Operation High Jump from 1946-1947, the largest Antarctic expedition to date. Byrd also commanded Operation Deep Freeze which made permanent Antarctic bases at Mc Murdo Sound, the Bay of Wales and the South Pole in 1955.Richard Byrd died on March 12, 1957. He had got twenty-two awards and special awards, nine of them were for bravery and two for heroism for saving the lives of others. He also earned the Medal of Honour, the Navy Cross, the Congressional Life Saving Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Flying Cross.

Activities Coordinator

Along with the views of Human Motivation, Psychological Behavior, Environmental Factors and Quantitative and Qualitative Strengths, Social Influence and Capabilities play important roles in achieving certain objectives (Brehm, 2004).   Activities intended for social interactions credit a big help in creating personal relationships for the reason that the triggering of an individual’s interest will eventually make it easier for one to be persuaded to adhere with one’s desire and expectation (Cialdini, 1998). Changing the Community’s Lifestyle Take for example having a goal within a community to change the lifestyle, or perhaps the view of people towards a healthy lifestyle.   In order to achieve this certain goal, development psychology clearly defines that change does not happen in an instant.   It follows a step-by-step process, wherein keen observation and analysis on the behavior and interests of the community must be taken consideration on to be able to identify the level of motivation and techniques shall be imposed to (Brehm, 2004). Instilling Physical Activities Benefits Positively The differences of each individual and the complexities of the differences may be hard to specify for in every community, there would always be those who would not conform to the general masses.   Ã‚  Learning psychological strategies to eliminate anyone’s unhealthy beliefs in anyone or anything’s perspective on to realigning values in any area of life, is considered an intellectual way in making the subjects follow (Grottke, 2006). Information Dissemination Indulging the subjects of the advantages and benefits taken from physical education and enlightening them with the disadvantages caused by the opposite or disregarding such way of living will make them realize the essence of the activity. The information can be disseminated in a form of flyers, advertisements and door to door consultations citing people who suffered illnesses and sickness due to inconsistent physical activities.   In that sense, by capturing their sympathy and instilling a form of fear in their minds, it will be easier for them to be persuaded. Fear and Risk Taking Fear, being one of the highest factors in emotion and a bug in motivation, serves motivation strategy to prospects.   Inculcating the horrors of an unhealthy lifestyle will horrify the living daylights of their life (Lieberman, 2005).   Making them realize that taking physical exercises will deprive them from living longer and thus will lose everything which they have sown earlier than those who are healthy.   Eventually, since most are busy in their jobs, they will grab the most efficient way in gaining a healthy lifestyle, which implies that the Center shall gain generous support from those who have been persuaded to help not only their selves, but a deeper sense of sympathy to those who need their assistance. Door-in-the-face Technique A kind of persuasion with an arrogant form of approach which is then most likely not to be accepted, hence, the persuader at hand a slighter and more levelheaded appeal which eventually the real gist of the negotiation.  Ã‚   It is a subliminal way of slightly fooling subjects to have them trapped in one’s desire.   It could be effective, but a feeling of guilt will later lurk in the scene. Foot-in-the-door Technique   A related trick of persuasion, a little similar on the first, but somehow degrading if realized, since that is a kind of method which tends to amaze the receiving party which then makes it hard for him to refuse such offer given that the offer was ascending.   Effective though, but then again, it’s like tricking the receiver still over one’s benefit. Essence of Techniques The use of door-in the face technique, foot-in-the-door technique and the art of persuasion are by study proven to be effective in dealing with social interactions.   The gift of persuasion or influence is considered as the most valuable one, which if further developed and enhanced will not only reach the hearts of those inside the vicinity of the Center’s jurisdiction, but the nation as well. Conclusion Concluding such, in this massive form of competition in the complex world of business, being wise by evaluating effects of every move taken must be clearly specified and analyzed.   Characteristics of an effective Activity Coordinator must know what to take (Williamson, 1995), when to take and how to use effectively what is taken (Hughes Beatty, 2005), what to sacrifice and what to throw away (Straker, 2007), when to commence and when to leave (Segil, 2002) – but never to abandon, instead, to save and develop what had been started (Hesselbein, Johnston, Foundation, 2002; Runde Flanagan, 2006). References: Brehm, S. S. (2004). Social Psychology (6th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Cialdini, R. B. (1998). Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Revised ed.). New York: Collins. Grottke, R. L. (2006). All I Needed to Know in Life I Learned Selling Door to Door. New York: BookSurge Publishing. Hesselbein, F., Johnston, R., Foundation, T. D. (2002). On High Performance Organizations: A Leader to Leader Guide (1 ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Hughes, R. L., Beatty, K. M. (2005). Becoming a Strategic Leader: Your Role in Your Organizations Enduring Success (Lst Ed ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Lieberman, D. J. (2005). How to Change Anybody: Proven Techniques to Reshape Anyones Attitude, Behavior, Feelings, or Beliefs New York: St. Martins Press. Runde, C. E., Flanagan, T. A. (2006). Becoming a Conflict Competent Leader: How You and Your Organization Can Manage Conflict Effectively. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Segil, L. (2002). Dynamic Leader Adaptive Organization: Ten Essential Traits for Managers (1 ed.). Toronto: Wiley. Straker, D. (2007). Leadership styles (Publication. Retrieved June 28, 2007, from Changing Minds: http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/leadership_styles.htm Williamson, O. E. (1995). Organization Theory: From Chester Barnard to the Present and Beyond (Expanded ed.). New York: Oxford University Press, USA.

Clinical Mentorship in Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Clinical Mentorship in Nursing - Essay Example Standards for Nursing mentorship includes the question of 'What makes a good nurse' followed by a debate about how such standards can be developed through theory and training. Traditionally clinical students learn skills through the experience of being supervisees, taking on the model presented to them by their supervisor, or by adapting the therapeutic skills learned in their training as therapists. While these methods have some merit they also have considerable limitations like bad practice can easily be handed down from generation to generation without some new import from an external source. While emphasising on teaching clinical setting, I would focus on one-on-one relationship initiated at the behest of the protege. This relationship is marked by high ethical standards and clear boundaries as both parties experience mutual benefits and personal and/or professional growth. Mentoring functions are carried out within the context of an ongoing, caring relationship between the mentor and the protg so I suggest that mentoring is not a single task or training episode, a group experience, or a preassigned relationship that is unidirectional in benefit. The relationship task would help me to lead the professionals towards engaging in the process of self-assessment. Self-assessment has the potential to empower both the mentor and the protege because each may recognise personal strengths and weaknesses and understand how these characteristics may affect the mentoring relationship. Furthermore, it allows mentors and proteges to appropriately and confidently establishes relationsh ips with other like-minded professionals. (Black et al, 2004) If mentoring is to be successful, faculty members must be willing to participate in the relationship and to be informed about the responsibilities of it. For mentors the matter of concern is that they must balance the demands of their positions e.g., clinical caseloads, program responsibilities, teaching, research and service requirements with their availability to students as the impact of these factors affects the ability and desire of some mentors to form meaningful relationships with students. (Black et al, 2004) An analysis of the environment can alert mentors and proteges to the social and political norms of a setting. Conducting a systematic assessment will empower mentors and proteges to recognise and align their abilities, expectations, and responsibilities. Both can actively gauge their compatibility for this type of relationship based on factual information rather than on speculation. (Black et al, 2004) Clinical psychology graduates were surveyed and 38 per cent of trainees reported a major conflict with their supervisor, which inhibited their ability to learn from supervision. Therapeutic orientation, style of supervision and personality issues were the main areas of conflict. (Fleming & Steen, 2003) The Teaching/Learning Task Mentors need to be clinically competent and knowledgeable, and have good teaching and interpersonal skills, that's why I consider myself helpful in supervisory behaviours by giving direct guidance on clinical work, linking theory and practice, joint problem-solving, offering feedback, reassurance and role models. Trainees need clear feedback about their errors; corrections must be conveyed unambiguously so that

For an organisation with which you are familiar and drawing on Essay - 1

For an organisation with which you are familiar and drawing on scholarly sources, critically evaluate the value of social networking technologies to knowledge sharing, integration and creation - Essay Example Also, various organizations have now been recruiting experts in the field to carve out an incisive social media strategy to avoid complications and clarify the rules of order regarding information sharing and integration beforehand. This is especially true for big organizations where the procedures are bureaucratic in nature, and thus a systemized way of running the communication paradigms is regarded (Goertz, shortle & Bergestorm 2005: 177). For this reason, the paper will explore the utilization of social media technology in the United Nations Organization to integrate communication paradigms for effective advocacy and awareness campaigns. Lately, the organization has been focusing on developing blueprints on how social media tools and techniques can be used to enhance the output of communication and advocacy campaigns. It can be argued that the United Nations organization utilizes the social media technology as a product of interpretive flexibility over various relevant social gro ups. In other words, technology in social media and its utilization for various social groups in driving the organization to take leaps while the organization in itself isn`t leading the process, rather it is being led by interpretive flexibility processes. Also, the conceptualization of the social media technology differs over the scope and role, thus in turn changing the structural systems. Thus, observing the organization, it can be precisely states that the variables in social media technology tends to dictate how the UN designs communication strategies while the strategies tend to in turn impact structural change and thus, the process takes place in a circular manner which is dynamic and progressive. United Nations has missions and offices all around the globe, and thus it would be ignorant to perceive the social media communication paradigms at all levels integrated and similar in nature. Thus, for the purpose of determining a holistic

The managerial ideas of Taylor and Fayol Essay Example for Free

The managerial ideas of Taylor and Fayol Essay Classical Management comprises three different approaches: Scientific Management (associated with the work of F W Taylor); Bureaucratic Management (hierarchical structure associated with the work of M Weber); Administrative Management (associated with the work of H Fayol). The Human Relations approach is associated with the work of E Mayo and F Roethlisberger. Immediately, we can see a difference between the ideas of Taylor and Fayol and those of Mayo as they are even classified differently. In order to explain how these managerial ideas differ, I will first explain what those ideas were. Taylor Taylor developed the four scientific principles of management: 1. Development of a true science 2. Scientific selection of the worker 3. Scientific education and development of the worker 4. Intimate and friendly cooperation between management and workers. The focus was on the individual rather than the team, aiming to improve efficiency through production-line time studies. Each job was broken down into its components and the quickest and best methods of performing each component were designed. There could be only one best way of maximising efficiency, developed through scientific study and analysis. Rewarding productivity was encouraged as money was seen as the one true motivator. Employees did the physical labour and management did the organising and planning. Through standardisation, worker specialisation and tight  managerial control, Taylor promised increased efficiency. Although Taylors methods did not allow scope for individual workers to excel or think for themselves, they were widely adopted. Fayol Fayol laid down 14 principles of management to be applied in any situation: 1. Specialization of labour. Specializing encourages continuous improvement in skills and the development of improvements in methods. 2. Authority. The right to give orders and the power to exact obedience. 3. Discipline. No slacking, bending of rules. 4. Unity of command. Each employee has one and only one boss. 5. Unity of direction. A single mind generates a single plan and all play their part in that plan. 6. Subordination of Individual Interests. When at work, only work things should be pursued or thought about. 7. Remuneration. Employees receive fair payment for services, not what the company can get away with. 8. Centralization. Consolidation of management functions. Decisions are made from the top. 9. Scalar Chain (line of authority). Formal chain of command running from top to bottom of the organization, like military 10. Order. All materials and personnel have a prescribed place, and they must remain there. 11. Equity. Equality of treatment (but not necessarily identical treatment) 12. Personnel Tenure. Limited turnover of personnel. Lifetime employment for good workers. 13. Initiative. Thinking out a plan and doing what it takes to make it happen. 14. Esprit de corps. Harmony, cohesion among personnel. Fayol divided managerial activities into five functions: planning organising commanding coordinating controlling The emphasis was on rational, central planning, looking at the whole picture, managing from the top down. Like Taylor, Fayol looked upon organisations as machines, viewed money as the one true motivator and emphasised maximum efficiency and productivity through standard operating procedures. Mayo Mayos Hawthorne studies are a landmark in management thinking. They followed preliminary illumination experiments, which studied the affect of light on productivity. The Hawthorne studies examined the affect of fatigue and monotony on productivity and experimented with the introduction of rest breaks, changes in work hours, temperature and humidity. Two key aspects of the Human Relations Approach are employee motivation and leadership style. Mayo learned that: Job satisfaction is increased through employee participation in decisions, rather than through short-term incentives; Leaders are able to positively influence employee motivation and productivity by showing concern for employee relationships; Work groups establish their own informal group performance norm, what it considers to be a fair level of performance, punishing those who perform above and below the norm; Pay can only motivate lower-level needs, once they are satisfied, non-monetary factors such as praise, recognition and job characteristics motivate human behaviour. Differences Classical Management (CM) attempted to apply logic and scientific methods to management of complex organisations. Human Relations Management (HRM) focused on working relationships to improve productivity. Fayol and Taylor both emphasised the production process and adjusted humans to this process, whereas Mayo emphasised the coordination of human and social elements in an organisation through consultation, participation, communication and leadership. CM emphasised the work of the individual, HRM viewed work as a group activity. Although moving in the right direction, Mayo merely replaced rational economic man with emotional social man, shifting the blame for poor performance from structural to personal attitudes and emotions. Both approaches mistakenly held that there was one best way to manage all organisations. Relevance of Classical Management theorists today Taylors work saw the introduction of time studies, work studies and industrial engineering, making an important contribution to the central procedures of many organisations. The modern assembly line is just one legacy of Scientific Management. Its efficiency techniques are applied to many non-industrial tasks, such as fast food service through to training surgeons. However, Taylors methods did not allow scope for individual workers to excel or think for themselves. Innovation is vital in order to maintain a competitive edge. Taylors belief that workers are solely motivated by money has since been proven wrong. Furthermore, his methods emerged from a negative bias against workers, whom he viewed as lazy and uneducated. Nowadays, the extent of command and control over workers that Taylor believed necessary would never work. For one thing, people are better educated nowadays! Taylors methods were also hostile to trade unions and labour organisations, which are widespread nowadays and were heavily relied upon during the 1990s to gain workforce stability, helping attract foreign investment. On the other hand, some of Taylors theories still ring true today, such as: increased output leads to fewer workers; poor incentive schemes and hourly pay rates that are not linked to productivity result in inefficiency (the introduction of Benchmarking confirms such an approach); poor job design leads to poor performance. The concept of separating planning from execution is still in use to some degree, however, workers are now considered to know best how to do their own job and are encouraged to think for themselves. Fayols ideas about central planning set the basis for many modern management techniques, such as Management by Objectives and PPBS. However, motivation is considered a key element in modern management. A third approach to Classical Management is the Bureaucratic approach of M Weber. The hierarchically structured organisation that emerged from CM still bears much relevance today and is widespread amongst large corporations and government departments. However, a mixture of hierarchical and inter-departmental coordination is now considered the way forward. Contemporary management builds on the Classical and Behavioural approaches and goes beyond them. The Systems approach of different strokes for different folks finally put the one best way theory to bed and has dominated modern organisational analysis since the 1980s. The Contingency approach views the organisation as an organism, segmenting as it grows, each segment specialising in knowledge and activity, all of which must cope with their external environment and integrate harmoniously. The main difference between Classical and Contemporary approaches is the modern belief that it is futile to search for one best way to manage an organisation. Instead, managers must take into account the internal and external environment and match the appropriate management practices to the surrounding circumstances for an effective outcome. In my own work, I find myself using a combination of Classical and Contemporary approaches to management. The hierarchical structure is necessary to a certain degree. For one thing, the prospect of promotion motivates staff to do better. However, teamwork definitely gleans better results from the workforce as a whole. Worker specialisation has its uses when certain jobs require particularly high efficiency and speed, however, if used on a permanent basis they would lead to monotony and dissatisfaction. Workers tend to produce good ideas about how best to do their own jobs, however, the policy of the organisation as a whole is often separated from the motivation of individual workers, indicating the need for managerial planning, organisation, coordination, command and control.  Balance is key.

Australian Immigration And Its Effects Essay -- Australia Environment

Australian Immigration and Its Effects   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Australia is an island continent which is geographically isolated from the rest of the world. This has resulted in the evolution of many unique plants and animals and the development of a very fragile ecosystem. This ecosystem has been influenced by human immigration for many thousands of years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The original immigrants were the Aborigines who are thought to have migrated to Australia from Asia between 50 and 100 thousand years ago. These primitive people learned to live in the inhospitable environment of Australia with very little effect. Their major environmental impact was from the use of controlled burning of the land. Over the years they had learned the benefit of periodic fires to control pests and to clear debris before it accumulated and led to large uncontrolled disastrous fires. This also returned nutrients to the soil which helped to grow back new vegetation. Unlike those who followed, the Aborigines had very little impact on the environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Following the Aborigines, Asian seafarers are believed to have traveled to Australia to trade on the north shores. Experts are not sure, but they believe that these seafarers are the ones who first introduced the dingo into Australia almost 3,500 years ago. The dingo rapidly became the top predator and is probably the cause of the disappearance of the Tasmanian wolf and the Tasmanian devil from Australia. They will hunt down almost anything but they are not known to attack humans. They will attack kangaroos, wombats, rabbits, and even lizards. After the settlers arrived and the sheep were brought in, the dingo started to hunt the sheep. The sheep were much easier for them to get. As a result of this the sheep grazers built a 3,307 mile long fence to separate the sheep from the dingo. A $20 US bounty is now placed on the pelt of each dingo.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  European immigrants did not come to Australia until after April 29, 1770 when captain James Cook landed in Botany Bay and made the first claim for England on the eastern part of the island. He called it New South Wales.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1787, England started their first colony in Australia which was a penal colony since England's prisons were very overcrowded. That year, on May 13, eleven ships carrying almost 1,500 people, 800 of them convicts, left England for the new colony. The ... ... to spawn.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The European immigrants had specific ideas regarding the beauty of nature. The Australian landscape did not fit these standards of beauty. They therefore began to landscape by first clearing native plants and replacing them with imported ones. The list of these plants grew year after year. Some failed while others thrived and overcrowded the native plants. One of these plants is the Prickly pear. It was originally imported as a hedge plant but eventually took over 120,000 square miles of land.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The effects of immigration on the Australian environment over the last few centuries has been devastating. The original European immigrants could not foresee the major impact their transplants and traditions would have on the environment. Even if they had, conquering the land was necessary for their survival. In many areas the environmental degradation may have past the point where it can be restored and is now beyond repair. However, with greater understanding and knowledge of the Australian ecosystem it is hoped that further degradation can be stopped or even reversed. What is needed now is the commitment of people and resources to make it happen.

Drowned Out

Ivana Aleksich November 1, 2012 Film Review: â€Å"Drowned Out† The way this documentary was filmed shows the people who contributed to the film to living and working alongside the villagers and I found this helped capture the candid interviews and the honest and realistic impact of the way villagers of living in India due to the government dam project. Not only do people have to make a choice of whether they Move to the slums in the city, accept a place at a resettlement site or stay at home and drown. This place is not just a piece of land where they live but it is their home, their identity.This reminds me personally of my connection with Serbia. My family has to leave their homeland because of war and invasion. My family did not see this as moving to a better place, but saw it as their homeland being destroyed. Who they are as people dead in a place that no longer exists like it once had. This is how I see the people in the villagers, they are being forced to say goodbye t o a certain part of them, their family, and ancestors forever. In the student presentation relating to the world bank and dams refers to something very important to villagers. Non-material things are what are important to the villagers.After the dam is built, I will drown out the cultural traditions of the villagers, create development of affected communities in isolation, and cultural shift, new lifestyles and attitudes. The documentary follows the villagers of Jalsindhi. This village is in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the Narmada River about ten miles upstream from the Sardar Sarovar project. The 76 villages struggle through a battle against the dam. The lead character is Luharia Sonkaria, who is the village’s medicine man, a role that was his father’s and grandfather’s before him. The government provides them no viable alternatives.The government offers unusable land a hundred miles away or a small sum of money in compensation for their river-side land. The film documents hunger strikes, rallies, and a six year Supreme Court case, and finally follows the villagers as the dam fills and the river starts to rise. The documentary features Arundhati Roy, who has been an outspoken activist bringing international attention to the controversy. Government aims to provide electricity, irrigation and drinking water to tens of millions of people. Government is confident in this claim. The government has a completely difference views of the impact of the dam.They believe the dam will help the people and make them happy. But the government has nothing to lose from this dam project because the people in government do not live in the area that the dam is supposed to floor. The villagers have everything to lose and millions of them did. This brings up the struggle between the rich and the poor/the powerful and the less powerful. The big question that is stated in this documentary is, â€Å"For whom is this development for? † The government trie s to convince the villagers that this is for them and their benefit, but in reality the villagers are not being taken into account for this dam project.This dam development is solely for the purpose the one thing that is universally valued: money and the power of government. Villagers and poor people are not at level in society where they can rely on money and power. They believe in things that the government and money could never find important. Villagers value their traditions and their old lifestyle. The government and the world bank is working to become more modern and to gain more money. For this reason alone, the government is aware of what will happen to the villagers but the government could not understand how hard this project will hurt the villagers and their lives.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 25

â€Å"Sleeping in the storage room with every wal covered in Post-it Note amulets,†added Meredith grimly. â€Å"If we have enough. I got another packet, but it doesn't go very far when you're trying to cover a room.† â€Å"Okay,†Elena said. â€Å"Who's got Shinichi's key?† Matt raised his hand. â€Å"In my – â€Å" â€Å"Don't tel me!†exclaimed Elena. â€Å"I've got hers. We can't lose them. Stefan and I are one team; you guys are the other.† They half-led and half-supported Misao out of Stefan's room and down the stairs. Misao didn't try to run away from them, to struggle, or to speak to them. This only made Matt more suspicious of her. He saw Stefan and Elena glance toward each other and knew they were feeling the same way. But what else was there to do with her? There was no other way, humanely, or even inhumanely, to restrain her for days. They had her star bal , and according to books that was supposed to al ow them to control her, but she was right, it seemed to be an obsolete notion, because it didn't work. They'd tried with Stefan and Meredith holding her tightly, while Matt got the star bal from where he'd been keeping it in a shoebox on the upper shelf above the clothes in his closet. He and Elena had tried to get Misao to do things while holding the almost empty sphere: to make Misao tel where her brother's star bal was, and so on. But it simply didn't work. â€Å"Maybe when there's so little Power in it, it doesn't apply,†Elena said final y. But that was smal comfort at best. As they took Misao to the kitchen, Matt thought that it had been a stupid plan of the kitsune: imitating Stefan twice. Doing it the second time, when the humans were on guard, that was stupid. Misao didn't seem as stupid as that. Matt had a bad feeling. Elena had a very bad feeling about what they were doing. As she looked around at the faces of the others, she saw that they did too. But nobody had come up with a better plan. They couldn't kil Misao. They weren't murderers who could kil a sickly, passive girl in cold blood. She figured that Shinichi must have very keen hearing, and had already heard them walking on the creaking kitchen floorboards. And she had to assume that he knew – by mindbond, or just logic, or whatever – that Misao was right above him. There was nothing to lose by shouting, through the closed door, â€Å"Shinichi, we've got your sister here! If you want her back you'l stay quiet and not make us throw her down the stairs.† There was silence from the root cel ar. Elena chose to think of it as submissive silence. At least Shinichi wasn't yel ing threats. â€Å"Okay,†Elena whispered. She'd taken a position directly behind Misao. â€Å"When I count to three, we push as hard as we can.† â€Å"Wait!†Matt said in a miserable whisper-shout. â€Å"You said we wouldn't throw her down the stairs.† â€Å"Life isn't fair,†Elena said grimly. â€Å"You think he doesn't have some surprise for us?† â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"Leave it, Matt,†said Meredith quietly. She had the stave ready in her left hand and with her right was ready to push on the panel for opening the door. â€Å"Everybody ready?† Everyone nodded. Elena felt sorry for Matt and Stefan, who were the most honest and sensitive of al of them. â€Å"One,†she whispered softly, â€Å"two, three.† On three Meredith hit the concealed wal switch. And then things began to happen in very slow motion. By â€Å"two†Elena had already begun to shove Misao toward the door. On â€Å"three†the others joined her. But the door seemed to take forever to open. And before the ending of forever, everything went wrong. The greenery around Misao's head spread twigs in al directions. One strand shot out and snagged Elena around the wrist. She heard a yel of outrage from Matt and knew that another strand had gotten him. â€Å"Push!† Meredith shouted and then Elena saw the stave coming at her. Meredith whisked with the stave through the greenery connected to Misao. The vine that had been cutting into Elena's wrist fel to the floor. Any remaining misgivings about throwing Misao down the stairs vanished. Elena joined in the crowd trying to push her through the opening. But there was something wrong in the basement. For one thing, they were shoving Misao into pitch-darkness†¦and movement. The basement was ful of – something. Some things. Elena looked down at her ankle and was horrified to see a gigantic maggot that seemed to have crawled out of the root cel ar. Or at least a maggot was the first thing she could think of to compare it to – maybe it was a headless slug. It was translucent and black and about a foot long, but far too fat for her to have put a hand around it. It seemed to have two ways of moving, one by the familiar hunch-and-straighten method and the other by simply sticking to other maggots, which were exploding up over Elena's head like a hideous fountain. Elena looked up and wished she hadn't. There was a cobra waving over them, out of the root cel ar and into the kitchen. It was a cobra made of black translucent maggots stuck together, and every so often one would fal off and land among the group and there would be a cry. If Bonnie had been with them, she would have screamed until the wineglasses in the cupboards shattered, Elena thought wildly. Meredith was trying to attack the cobra with the stave and reach into her jeans pocket for Post-it Notes at the same time. â€Å"I'l get the notes,†Elena gasped, and wriggled her hand into Meredith's pocket. Her fingers closed on a smal sheaf of cards and she tugged it out triumphantly. Just then the first glistening fat maggot fel on her bare skin. She wanted to scream with pain as its little feet or teeth or suckers – whatever kept it attached to her – burned and stung. She pul ed a thin card from the sheaf, which was not a Post-it Note but the same amulet on a smal rather flimsy note card, and slapped it on the maggot-like thing. Nothing happened. Meredith was thrusting the stave into the middle of the cobra now. Elena saw another of the creatures fal almost onto her upturned face and managed to turn away so that it hit her col ar instead. She tried another card from the sheaf and when it just floated away – the maggots looked gooey but weren't – she gave a primal scream and ripped with both hands at the ugly things attached to her. They gave way, leaving her skin covered with red marks and her T-shirt torn at the shoulder. â€Å"The amulets aren't working,†she yel ed to Meredith. Meredith was actual y standing under the swaying, hooded head of the maggot-cobra, stabbing and stabbing as if to reach the center. Her voice was muffled. â€Å"Not enough amulets anyway! Too many of these grubs. You'd better run.† An instant later Stefan shouted, â€Å"Everybody get away from here! There's something solid in there!† â€Å"That's what I'm trying to get!†Meredith shouted back. Frantical y, Matt yel ed, â€Å"Where's Misao?† The last time Elena had seen her she had been diving into the writhing mass of segmented darkness. â€Å"Gone,†she shouted back. â€Å"Where's Mrs. Flowers?† â€Å"In the kitchen,†said a voice behind her. Elena glanced back and saw the old woman pul ing down herbs with both hands. â€Å"Okay,†Stefan shouted. â€Å"Everybody, take a few steps back. I'm going to hit it with Power. Do it – now!† His voice was like a whiplash. Everyone stepped back, even Meredith who had been probing the snake with her stave. Stefan curled his hand around nothingness, around air, and it turned to sparkling, swirling bright energy. He threw it point-blank into the cobra made of maggots. There was an explosion, and then suddenly it was raining maggots. Elena had her teeth locked so as to keep herself from screaming. The oval translucent bodies of the maggots broke open on the kitchen floor like overripe plums, or else bounced. When Elena dared look up again she saw a black stain on the ceiling. Beneath it, smiling, was Shinichi. Meredith, lightning quick, tried to put the stave through him. But Shinichi was faster, leaning out of her way, and out of the next thrust, and the next. â€Å"You humans,†he said. â€Å"Al the same. Al stupid. When Midnight final y comes you'l see how stupid you were.†He said â€Å"Midnight†as if he were saying â€Å"the Apocalypse.† â€Å"We were smart enough to discover that you weren't Stefan,†Matt said from behind Shinichi. Shinichi rol ed his eyes. â€Å"And to put me into a little room roofed with wood. You can't even remember that kitsune control al plants and trees? The wal s are al ful of malach grubs by now, you know. Thoroughly infested.†His eyes flickered – and he glanced backward, Elena saw, looking toward the open door of the root cel ar. Her terror soared, and at the same time Stefan shouted, â€Å"Get out of here! Out of the house! Go to somewhere safe!† Elena and Meredith stared at each other, paralyzed. They were on different teams, but they couldn't seem to let go of each other. Then Meredith snapped out of it and turned to the back of the kitchen to help Mrs. Flowers. Matt was already there, doing the same thing. And then Elena found herself swept off her feet and moving fast. Stefan had her and was running toward the front door. Distantly, she heard Shinichi shout, â€Å"Bring me back their bones!† One of the maggots that Elena batted out of the way burst its skin and Elena saw something crawling out. These real y were malach, she realized. Smal er editions of the one that had swal owed Matt's arm and left those long, deep scratches when he pul ed it out again. She noticed that one was stuck on Stefan's back. Reckless with fury, she grabbed it near one end and ripped it off, yanking relentlessly even though Stefan gasped in pain. When it came free she got a glimpse of what looked like dozens of smal children's teeth on the bottom side. She threw it against a wal as they reached the front door. There they almost col ided with Matt, Meredith, and Mrs. Flowers, coming through the den. Stefan wrenched the door open and when they al were through Meredith slammed it shut. A few malach – grubs and Still-wet flying ones – made it out with them. â€Å"Where's safe?†snapped Meredith. â€Å"I mean, real y safe, safe for a couple of days?†Neither she nor Matt had released their grip on Mrs. Flowers and from their speed Elena guessed that she must be almost as light as a straw figure. She kept saying, â€Å"My goodness! Oh, gracious!† â€Å"My house?†Matt suggested. â€Å"The block's bad, but it was okay the last time I saw it, and my mom's gone with Dr. Alpert.† â€Å"Okay, Matt's house – using the Master Keys. But let's do it from the storage room. I do not want to open this front door again, no matter what,†Elena said. When Stefan tried to pick her up she shook her head. â€Å"I'm fine. Run as fast as you can and smash any malach you see.† They made it to the storage room, but now a sound like vipvipvip – a sort of high-pitched buzzing that could only have been produced by the malach – was fol owing them. â€Å"What now?†Matt panted, helping Mrs. Flowers to sit on the bed. Stefan hesitated. â€Å"Is your house real y safe, do you think?† â€Å"Is anywhere safe? But it's empty, or it should be.† Meanwhile, Meredith drew Elena and Mrs. Flowers aside. To Elena's horror, Meredith was holding one of the smal er grubs, gripping it so that its underside was turned upward. â€Å"Oh, God – â€Å"Elena protested, but Meredith said, â€Å"They look a lot like a little kid's teeth, don't they?† Suddenly Mrs. Flowers became animated. â€Å"They do indeed! And you're saying that the femur we found in the thicket – â€Å" â€Å"Yes. It was certainly human but maybe not chewed by humans. Human children,†Meredith said. â€Å"And Shinichi yel ed to the malach to bring back our bones†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Elena said and swal owed. Then she looked at the grub again. â€Å"Meredith, get rid of that thing somehow! It's going to pop out as a flying malach.† Meredith looked around the storage room blankly. â€Å"Okay – just drop it and I'l step on it,†Elena said, holding her breath to hold in her nausea. Meredith dropped the fat, translucent, black thing, which exploded on impact. Elena stamped on it, but the malach inside didn't crush. Instead, when she lifted her foot, it tried to skitter under the bed. The stave cut it cleanly in two. â€Å"Guys,†Elena said sharply to Matt and Stefan, â€Å"we have to go now. Outside are a bunch of flying malach!† Matt turned toward her. â€Å"Like the one that – â€Å" â€Å"Smal er, but just like the one that attacked you, I think.† â€Å"Okay, here's what we figured out,†Stefan said in a way that immediately made Elena uneasy. â€Å"Somebody has to go to the Dark Dimension anyway to check on Bonnie. I guess I'm the only one to do that, since I'm a vampire. You couldn't get in – â€Å" â€Å"Yes, we could,†Meredith said. â€Å"With these keys, we could just say ‘Take us to Lady Ulma's house in the Dark Dimension.'Or ‘Take me to wherever Bonnie is.'Why shouldn't it work?† Elena said, â€Å"Okay. Meredith, Matt, and Mrs. Flowers can stay here and try to figure out what ‘Midnight'is. From the way Shinichi said it, it sounded bad. Meanwhile, Stefan and I go to the Dark Dimension and find Bonnie.† â€Å"No!†Stefan said. â€Å"I won't take you to that horrible place again.† Elena looked him straight in the eye. â€Å"You promised,†she said, indifferent to the other people in the room. â€Å"You promised. Never to go again on a quest without me. No matter how short the time, no matter what the cause. You promised.† Stefan looked at her desperately. Elena knew he wanted to keep her safe – but which world was truly safe now? Both were fil ed with horror and danger. â€Å"Anyway,†she said with a grim smile, â€Å"I have the key.†