Labour Problems in UK Economics

Changing Nature of Employee Relations in the UK Evident from previous research and casual empiricism, there has been increased tension and work strain across many work places, a problem often attributed to pay discipline and flexibility. It has often been perceived that increasing work strain is directly linked to changing working hours and the expected minimum wage.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Labour Problems in UK Economics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The obvious fact is that work force occupies important part of both economical and psychological needs of the labour contract and its intensification triggers welfare effects on employees. It’s been argued that changing work intensity is likely to have substantive negative figures on productivity change. Work force relations in the UK continue to receive intense criticism for the obvious fact that managers are unable to effectively control their em ployee’s performances in relation to pay, discipline and flexibility. In this paper, I intent to explain the intellectual, moral and policy arguments in relations to labour problems, job regulations and trade unions in attempt to capture the triangular relationships of the three. Labour relations involve both work and employment relations and involves management and employees in coordination with policies of a country, for this instance the UK, dynamics of capital markets and relationship between paid work and work load. In my analysis, I will look are various research ranging from the past, present and the future of labour problems. Labour Problems Many organisations in the UK consider downsizing and restructuring of their work force to be â€Å"a quick fix† to their company’s inefficiencies. This strategy temporary improves the organisation’s output hence demoralizing the surviving employees. Recent studies conducted by Green (2000, p.5) indicate that w ork intensification has increased competitive pressure which is often offloaded to workers. One would assume that work intensification in UK is accompanied by rising real wage which is not the issue here. Job insecurity and work intensification has also been extended to include reward system and the unexpected benefits. With Effort intensification, workers are subjected to longer working hours with large volumes of work in the anticipation of income expansion which is never the case. Here, structural changes including facility employment to measure workers performance, motivation and discipline are inaccurately measured hence unsatisfied employees (Kersley et al 2005).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Redirecting our focus from work and effort intensification to technical change, there is a strong indication suggesting that technical change is often effort-biased. For example , technique measured by employers on employees’ performances is dominant in most work places which are attributed to decline of union influence. Companies have refused to acknowledge the relationship between company human resource policies and work effort thereby increasing job insecurity. While human resource policies and work force skills have initiated the impact of organisational and technical change, widely seen as efficiency improvement, there is evidence that suggest that the techniques applied are effort-biased. The Standard competitive model of effort determination requires firms to turn up the wages of high effort workers contrary to the UK employment practice (Green 2000, p.7; Burchell Wilkinson 2002, p.10). Today’s technology has provided new techniques that efficiently evaluate both new products and more efficient production process. The new production methods include; Just-In-Time (JIT) and Total Quality Management (TQM). These two techniques have been a pplauded for stimulating the expansion of new information technologies and improving production process. Though their effect is to extract greater work effort, no remuneration package has been negotiated alongside the package to award hard working employees. The techniques have improved the supervision of material flows and allocation of work schedules and enhanced management capacity. In this case, managers have been able to efficiently allocate work hence the rise of call centres in the 20th century. While in the comfort of their office, managers can easily monitor and measure employees output accurately with the advent of new technology. Evidently, increased work flow via technical co-ordination has greatly enhanced external effects, but needless to say, labour saving technologies have failed to liberate those high effort workers (Green 2000, p.9). Guided by the framework of employees needs and the management, basic pay remains the main component of compensations used alongside f ringe benefits, cash incentives as well as some intrinsic and extrinsic reward packages. In this regard, I position my interest in labour problems in work places in relation to pay and performance. Pay represents the most important and critical element in the employment relationship between employers and employees for a number of reasons; 1) it represents a significant part of employers costs and its used to measure performances and competitiveness which determines employees ability to recruit and retain quality labour forces 2).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Labour Problems in UK Economics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Pay and performances measures value of services and performances. A great majority of employees become enthusiastic when they start a new job, but their morale sharply decline after their first few months in the company that continues to deteriorate for years afterwards. These findings are b ased on a survey conducted by Gielen et al (2006) in 2001 through 2004 on 52 primary fortunate companies that stipulated that poor policies and procedures provided by managers in managing their work forces greatly increase tension between managers and the managed. Pay and performance are important in work places as they stimulate labour productivity by collecting information about worker’s abilities and efforts that can be used to induce them to apply maximum efforts in executing their duties. Controlling performance is also important as it helps managers screen workers performance and recruit the most able workers. When incentives are in place, employees will be more focused on activities that are more rewarding and ignore those that are not. At-least according to research conducted by Gielen and his colleagues (2006), use of performance-related pay in Netherlands increased by 39% in 2001 from 30% in 1995. Gielen and his colleagues (2006) analysis affirms that pay performanc e increases labour productivity due to the incentive effect in place, balances and provides sustainable economic development. Change of labour market structures In contrast to the emphasis that inefficiencies of labour process is the main source of effort intensification, the change of market structures does not accurately represent the intensification of product market competition, the disassociations of labour unions and the existence of power shifts in work places. Studies conducted by Green (2000, p.15) dispute that work effort has pressured firms to reduce costs and increases work forces resulting to increased pressure on employees and reduced unions legal powers. We understand that unions play a crucial part in ensuring employees welfares in work places are taken into considerations, and their disassociations would have negative impact on the labour force. In the lean mean production, firms are forced to streamline their production and downsize their work force, a strategy tha t reduces payroll costs. While it may seem to work for some Europe countries, it has proven to be ineffective in countries such as the United States as many complain that is does not effectively account for how the increasing wages alongside work intensification relate. Employee oppressions are often associated with greater effort and lower wages (Blyton Turnbull 2004).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Managers Perspective Managers need to control pay performances so as to achieve equity, efficiency and macro-economic stability. On equity pay determination, managers try to increase wages of lowest pay workers so as protect real wages. While on efficiency aspect, managers try to link wages to productivity, individual performance, and employees’ application of skills to a variety of tasks. And lastly, Gielen et al (2006) argues that high minimum wages could have negative impacts on employment levels that could adversely affect macro-economic stability by increasing inflation levels. Employment contracts The capacity of employers to monitor employees’ conformity against employment contracts has constituted additional consequences in the new productions techniques and management methods. This is to mean that computerisation of workflows, like that experienced in call centres enables managers to effectively allocate work tasks and monitor their executions while measuring employees work rates. The two techniques, TQM and JIT, have enabled managers to easily trace the deficiencies in work quality on individual work stations with the aim of raising efficiency by removing poor practices and eliminating low effort workers. Another model known as the efficiency wage model, credited to reduce supervision, companies implicit ways to improve employees welfares on emphasis on wages and effort intensification should be taken into account. It has also been argued that efficiency wage models increases job loss due to machine replacements in turn reducing wage replacement ratios and market uncertainty. Britain for example has experienced decline in replacement ratios for the last two decades since its implementations (Green 2000, p.18). Previous research conducted by Barham Begum (2005, p. 6) in 2003 estimates that costs associated with employee absence in the U.K totalled to  £11.6 billion excluding indirect costs. The huge numbers of sickness absence overbur dens the management with the cost of managing absences and trainings hence negatively affecting the organisation’s output. Recent research show that employees in the UK were more likely to take sickness leave in the week of financial intermediation followed by other industries such as the health and social work whiles the workforce in the hotel and restaurants experienced low sickness absence leaves. The research also indicated that public sector industries experience lower sickness absence rates compared to the private sector due to the well structure policies put in place. The lower numbers in sickness absence rates in the private sectors may also be attributed to lower provision of sick pay compared to public sectors. Statistics also indicated that employees working lower hours a week are more likely to take sickness absence compared to employees who put in less time (Barham Begum2005, p.10). Pollert and Charlwood (2009, p.343) argue that more generic factors in work plac es are those that are stress induced attributed from abuse and exploitation by employers. Of particular interest, the research continues that low skilled paid and low skilled workers representing the majority of migrant workers were subjected to a number of abuses including dismissal of pregnant women and disabled employees, non-payment of wages, bullying linked to discrimination, maternity denial rights, late or non-payment of wages and non-compliance of national minimum wage and non payment of statutory sick pay among others (Salin 2003, p. 1215: Hoel Beale 2006, p.240) In response to a survey conducted by Green Donna (2004) to measure employee skills levels alongside their performances, it was concluded that different perceptions of the skills used in work places were attributed from qualification held by employees, their problem solving skills and planning skills. Its evident that skills are reasonably a good match between perception of job managers and those of employees and the biasness in the work place exist in a situation where employees may be deemed to posses higher skills compared to their line managers. This theory is consistence with the hypothesis that stipulates that skills are socially constructed, and therefore managers are often the male workers and the females are perceived to be employees and there is often a tendency for the boss to underestimate the skill levels of people working under him. Due to this shortcoming of the labour employment theories, skills have been over the years proven to be a barrier to progress in work places. Such shortcoming may first be attributed from inability to accurately measure employee job skills and pay determinations across different genders. Labour markets should therefore provide accurate measurement of skills in the determination of job description and the associated reward packages. Job skills measurement requires both complexity and sensitivity but even with the understanding of both employee and em ployer perceptions in different settings, experts have not yet discovered better modules in evaluating jobs. Job knowledge often improves with longer acquaintance, and employees in this case have better knowledge of jobs than their line managers hence perception bias (Green Donna 2004, p.65; Noon Hoque 2001). The relationship between the managers and the managed is more problematic. Labour problems are linked to management and policies and practices of managers. The focus on executive management tends to overlook management objectives and often concentrate on activities at managerial level or even in their line of supervision, overlooking the societal and institutional environment. This particular module failed to put into consideration the goals of employment relationships and its dynamics for managing tensions in work places. Today’s employment relationships are often characterised by cooperative motto of ‘win-win’ solution. Conflicts such as strives and abse nteeism have significantly increased in today’s workforce compared to a decade ago. The typical stereotyping of male employees being the bread winners has long been outdated and the distinction between white and blue collar jobs has become distinct (Barham Begum 2005, p.10; Noon Hoque 2001). In this regard, Gielen and his colleagues (2006) analysis highlight the benefits of pay and performance to include; They help an organisation achieve is business objective Enhances employees compensation through improved performance Attract and retain competitive staff Rewards good performance without necessarily increasing labour costs Reduce redundancies in times of economic downturn through flexible compensation packages Orientates organisation performance towards quality and productivity Managers flexible reward packages are able to absorb downturns and reduce labour costs. Pay performances has not been without controversies. First, it has been claimed that cash compensations as m otivation packages have a limited time-span. In this regard, workers have not completed welcomed the strategy due to; Managers’ ability to measure performances and compensation criteria are not adequately understood, accepted or even communicated to employees. Some organisation have inappropriate appraisal systems that contract with objectives of the reward system. Managers fail to provide regular feedback on employee performances Wrong quantum of pay that determines performance criteria Managers inability to provide both intristic and extrinsic rewards criteria Lack of regular evaluation of pay performance scheme Unrealistic goals set by managers (Gielen et al 2006). Trade unions Unions have particularly known to have the utility function that seeks out to improve the welfare of employees. It is assumed that unions in the United Kingdom have more bargaining power and it is for this reason that we assume their association in labour relations would improve the wage bargainin g power. Contrary to that belief, unions bargaining power in the UK have been shocked into weaker stance since the 1980s. Unions wage differentiation has fallen steadily and workers rights have not been attended to effectively. It is for this reason we believe that unions should take a more active role in workers welfare by raising their performance and effort and provide more active voice for workers (Green 2000, p.17). Collective bargaining has stimulated the recognition of fundamental social rights embodies in labour legislation. Change of focus of industrial relations from collective bargaining to labour rights has attempted to address the inequalities and discrimination including those affecting the minority group such as women, reasonably in Britain, with its increased cases of Employment Tribunal cases (Edwards 2003, p.4). System of employee representations has radically fallen over the years due the failing membership of trade unions. Today, there exist only two product of e mployee representation known as the ‘Unite and Unison’, representing over 40 percent of UK membership and also extended its linkages to international borders. Tentative research reported by Green (2000) concluded that unions have transformed their policy orientations and even recruited some employers to represent the gap between their own structures and employee participation. The UK has also incorporated European law such the collective channels independent of the employer, European Works Council and statutory mechanism into its trade union policies to improve the employees’ welfare. But needless to say, employees with work force problems have been turning to private organisations such as the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and local community group for dispute settlements. One may be deceived to think the transformation of policies and practices of employers may improve labour union policies which is not the case here. The UK labour union international linkages of product markets, product organization and supply chains have proven it difficult to identify owner of capital and companies as employers of labour. And also, since shareholding represent dominant part of ownership; companies have turned it into complicated equity ownership relations making it totally impossible to know what employees or companies own (Green 2000, p.5; Rose 2008). Organisations in the UK are employing maximum efforts in ensuring the achievements of diversity in their workforce are achieved by conceptualization of equity in its legislation. With the British legislation in place, one may assume workers will be treated the same, which is not the case here, race and sex discrimination have continued to be embodied in the symmetrical social problems to the extend that few minority of the social group like the women and BM workers are discriminated against compared to white and male workers. Although the legislation has positively impacted the disadvantaged groups, the effects of past discrimination have been ignored. Another shortcoming of the British legislation is that its application is limited to only few instances. For Example, hardworking employees are only compensated for through extra training and improvement of their current position while concept of equality has not been applied sparingly in different groups such as the male, white and heterosexual norms. The new legislations should recognize and value work group differences (Dickens 2007, p.465). Conclusion Changing economic and social context of employee relations has accelerated labour problems in workforces resulting to poverty, inequality and social exclusions. The UK government continues to seek ways to bridge this gap by reconstructing a concept of citizenship and social inclusion through the implementation of new policies that will attract more people in employment relationship, increase employment rates and prolong working lives. Effective government policies will increase emp loyment opportunities, productivity and competitiveness of work force. Clarke et al (2002, p.6) adds that growth of individualism and consumerism have weaken the collective bargaining at work weakening the appeal of trade unions (Clarke et al 2002; Noon Blyton 2007). List of References Barham, C., Begum, N., 2005, ‘Sickness absence from Work force in the UK’,  labour Market Trends, 149,1-10 Burchell, B., Lapido, D. Wilkinson, F. (eds.) 2002, Job Insecurity and Work  Intensification. Routledge, London. Blyton, P. and Turnbull, P.J. (3rd ed.) 2004, The Dynamics of Employee Relations, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke. Clarke, L., Donnelly, E., Hyman, R., Kelly, J., McKay, S., 2002, ‘What’s the Point of Industrial Relations?’ British Universities Industrial Relations Association., 5, 1-11 Dickens, L. 2007, ‘Thirty years of equality legislation in Britain’, British Journal of  Industrial Relations, 45(3), 463 – 494 Edwards, P. (2nd ed.) 2003, Industrial Relations Theory and Practice, Blackwell, Oxford. Gielen, A., Kerkhofs, J., Jan, O., 2006, ‘Performance Related Pay and Labor Productivity’, Institute of Labor studies, 5455, 1-17 Green, F. 2000, ‘Why has work effort become more intense?’ Industrial Relations  Journal, 43(4), 1-48. Green, F., Donna, J. 2004, ‘Assessing skills and autonomy: the job holder versus the line Manager’, Human Resource Management Journal, 13, no.1, 63-77 Hoel, H. and Beale, D. 2006, ‘Workplace Bullying, psychological perspectives and industrial relations: towards a contextualised and interdisciplinary approach’, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 44 (2), 239 – 262 Kersley, B., Alpin, C., Forth, J., Bryson, A., Bewley, H., Dix, G. and Oxenbridge, S. 2005,’ Inside the Workplace, First Findings from the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey (WERS 2004). Noon, M. and Blyton, P. 2007, The Realties of Work: Experiencing Work and  Employment in Contemporary Society, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke. Noon and Hoque 2001, ‘Ethnic minorities and equal treatment: the impact of gender, equal opportunities policies and trade unions’, National Institute Economic  Review, 176,105 – 116 Rose, E. (3rd Ed.) 2008, Employment Relations, Financial Times Prentice Hall, Harlow. Pollert, A. and Charlwood, A., 2009, ‘The vulnerable worker in Britain and problems at work’. Work, Employment and Society, 23(2), 343 – 362 Salin, D., 2003. ‘Ways of explaining workplace bullying: a review of enabling, motivating and precipitating structures and processes in the work environment’. Human Relations, 56(10), 1213 – 1232. This essay on Labour Problems in UK Economics was written and submitted by user Trinity Osborne 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.

Degree and Certificate Options for Business Majors

Degree and Certificate Options for Business Majors A business degree, diploma, or certificate is one of the most practical options for individuals wishing to pursue higher education. Business majors can apply their education to almost every facet of the workforce. Business is the backbone of every industry, and every industry needs trained professionals to manage operations. If you arent sure what you want to do after graduation,  business is a great option. Program Options for Business Majors There are many different program options open to aspiring business majors. Those who have a high school diploma can choose to enter a business diploma or business certificate program. Another good option is an associate program in business. For business professionals who already have work experience and an associates degree, a bachelor degree program with a focus on general business or a business specialty is a great choice. Business majors who already have a bachelors degree are a good candidate for a masters degree in business or an MBA degree. Both options will help to propel an individual forward within their career. The final program option for business majors is the doctorate. Doctorate degrees are the highest level degrees that can be earned in business study. Business Diploma and Certificate Programs Business diploma and certificate programs offer aspiring business majors a chance to earn an undergraduate diploma or certificate in a short period of time. Coursework is often accelerated, allowing students to learn a great deal in a one or two semester time frame. Programs can usually be taken online or at an institution of higher learning  and can focus on anything from general business to accounting to some other specialization. Associate Degree Programs in Business Associate degree programs are the perfect starting point for aspiring business majors. The education gained in an associate degree program can lead to a good job in the business arena  and will also help to lay the foundation needed for the pursuit of a bachelor degree and beyond. On average, it takes anywhere from 18 months to two years to complete an associate degree program in business. Bachelor Degree Programs in Business A bachelors degree program in business ought to be considered by anyone who wishes to climb the corporate ladder quickly. A bachelors degree is often the minimum degree required for many positions within the field. Most business programs last two years, but certain universities over accelerated programs that can be completed in one years time. Masters Degree Programs in Business A master degree program in business can greatly enhance career prospects. A masters program will allow you to focus specifically on one topic. The right program can train you to be an expert in your field. Most business programs last two years, but accelerated programs are available. MBA Degree Programs An MBA degree, or Master of Business Administration degree, is one of the most sought after and respected degrees in the business world. Admissions are often competitive, and most programs require a bachelors degree and at least two to three years of formal work experience. MBA programs last anywhere from one to two years, and usually result in a higher salary for graduates. Doctorate Degree Programs in Business Doctorate degree programs in business are the final step in the academic ladder. Students who earn a doctorate in business are qualified to work as a consultant, researcher, or teacher in the field of business. Most doctorate programs require students to choose a specific area of financing, such as finance or marketing, and last anywhere from three to five years.

17 Best Fine Arts Colleges in the US

17 Best Fine Arts Colleges in the US SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re interested in attending a fine arts college, your college search may be trickier than the average student's. It’s relatively simple to compare standard undergraduate degree programs, but fine arts schoolscan be so different: they have different specialties, different facilities, and different curricula. How do you know which fine arts colleges are the best, and how do you know which ones would be good fits? I’ve taken the first step for you by compiling a list of some of the topfine arts colleges and bachelor's programs in the country. Each one offers something a little different, making this ranking list a bit more unique (and a bit more interesting) than your average college ranking list. Because it’s difficult and perhaps unhelpful to give these schools a definite ranking on this list, I’ve separated them into school type. I’ve also prepared some strategies for figuring which schools best meet your own personal needs. But before all that, I’ll answer a more basic question: what is a fine arts college, exactly? What's a Fine Arts College? Put simply;a fine arts college is a school that educates students in the visual or performing arts. These schools offera couple of different degree options: Bachelor of Fine Arts: If you get a BFA, or Bachelor of Fine Arts, the majority of your undergraduateeducation willconsist of practical studio work instead of more traditional lecture or discussion classes. For example, a typical BFA program might have students in fine arts courses 2/3 of the time and general education courses 1/3 of the time. Bachelor of Art: aBA, or Bachelor of Art, is the most common undergraduate degree - most people with BAs didn't study fine arts. If you choose this type of degree program, it just means that you'll take more general education courses than if you chose a BFA. For example, you might spend 1/3 of the time in fine arts courses and 2/3 of the time on general liberal arts studies. Once you choose your degree type, you'll most likelyhave to choose an arts specialty. This is like a major that helps you hone in and excel within a particular field or area. Many fine arts colleges have a wide variety of specialties to choose from, including acting, musical theater, ceramics, computer animation, creative writing, dance, sculpture, and drawing (just to name a few). The standard fine arts schoolonly offers degree programs that focus on, well, fine arts. But you can also getthe BA in fine arts, or even a BFA, at some liberal arts colleges or universities.I'll present the top degree programs at both fine arts colleges and other colleges and universities in the following rankings list. How Are These Schools Ranked? Fine arts colleges are generally either specialized stand-alone institutions orprograms embedded within a larger university. Because fine arts programscan come in various forms, they’re a bit difficult to compare - they’re not necessarily standardized.So,I used a combination of aggregated ranked lists and industry opinions to compile a list of the top fine arts colleges in the country. Because colleges thatspecialize solely in fine artsare pretty different fromlarger, liberal arts universities, I separated the schools into lists based on this distinction. Once I separated them into these two groups, I arranged them in alphabetical order. Although there are a few stellar, stand-out institutions (which I make note of at the beginning of each section), fine arts schools rankings are difficult to standardize because they can offer such different resources to students. Because of this, I encourage you to look for schools that best fit your own artistic goals and preferences when considering these lists. As for the actual factors deciding whether I included a school on this list? I considered things like quality of facilities, program faculty, alumni network, industry opinion, aggregated ranking lists, and program offerings. If you're interested in any of the schools listed below and want to get admissions stats, just click the school name. Let's get to the rankings! Fine ArtsSchools I imagine you'll be moving way beyond primary colors at any of these schools. The following schools are primarily dedicated to art and design education. The real standouts here - the schools that tend to be ranked at the top of lists year after year - are the Rhode Island School of Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Savannah College of Art and Design.You may notice when you review the list that these schools tend to be relatively larger than some others, with a wider variety of program offerings. California College of the Arts This school is primarily dedicated to educating students in the arts. It offers 21 undergraduate programs in fine arts, including an "individualized major" option for students who may have extremely niche interests. California College of the Arts alsoretains strong faculty members and supplements the offerings of core educators with a rotation of visiting artists, designers, and writers. Finally, the student-faculty ratio is an impressively low 8:1. Degrees offered: BA, BFA Read more about CCA's undergraduate offerings Maryland Institute College of Art Maryland Institute College of Art offers 16 different art majors, including several interdisciplinary options like "interactive arts" and "interdisciplinary sculpture." In addition to these options, students also get to choose from a wide range of studio concentrations. The school's faculty includes 219 professional artists, designers, art historians, poets, and writers. The student-faculty ratio stands at a low 10:1. This school is particularly strong in graphic design, painting, and drawing, so it may be a good option for students who wish to pursue any of those artistic concentrations. Degree offered: BFA Read more about MICA's undergraduate offerings Pratt Institute At the Pratt Institute, students can choose from degrees in Art Design Education, Digital Arts, Film, Fine Arts, and Photography. The school also offers several associate's degrees in fine arts if you're not sure whether you want to commit to a bachelor's program. Overall, this institution is ranked consistently well for their fine arts, design, and studioprograms. Degree offered: BFA Read more about fine arts at the Pratt Institute Rhode Island School of Design The Rhode Island School of Design, or RISD, is one of the most well-known and well-celebrated fine arts schools in the country. It offers16 undergraduate majors and state-of-the-art facilities and tools. RISD prides itself on providing students with opportunities towork collaboratively with faculty mentors. And the faculty it retains are impressive - many are renowned artists like Chris Van Allsburg, a famous children's book illustrator. One of RISD's most impressive appeals, though, is its location: Providence is one of the most artisticallycultured cities in the country. Degree offered: BFA Read more about RISD's programs RISD also comes with free natural inspiration. Savannah College of Art and Design SCAD is one of the most prestigious art and design institutions in the countryandhas an impressive variety of fine arts specializations for undergraduates. Students can get a degree inalmost anything you can think of, including animation, visual effects, fibers, and furniture design. The school also has an impressive faculty and alumni network, a big plus when it comes time for applying to grad school or jobs. Degree offered:Depends on your specialization Read more about SCAD's fine arts programs School of the Art Institute of Chicago The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the largest art schools in the US. Because of its size, it can offer some more unique specializations, including things like art therapy, time arts, and visual communication. Ithas over 550 faculty members, which might make it easier to find a professor or mentor who shares your interests and passions. Finally, this school is affiliated with one of the best art museums in the country. Degrees offered: BA, BFA Read more about SAIC's program offerings The New School The New School is primarily dedicated to the arts; it offers many flexible degree programs to artistically-inclined students. ItsBFA program in fine arts is offered through the Parsons School for Design in NYC. Degree offered: BFA Read more about The New School's fine arts program Fine Arts Programs at Other Colleges Universities What could be more fun than a studio course? Some strong fine arts programs aren't offered at art-specific institutions, but instead through art departments at colleges or universities. The real standout on this list isYale,which offers one of the best art programs in the country as well as a top-notch general education. These options arelikely better for students who are seeking more of a balance between a fine arts education and a general or liberal arts education. Columbia University Columbia offers a prestigious fine arts program that's located in the heart of the art world: New York City. The program boasts a long list of notable alumni and faculty members, which means it's easier for students to make and develop professional and personal connections in the field. Students who attend Columbia's School of the Arts can concentrate in Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking, or Video. Degree offered: BA Read more about Columbia's fine arts program Cornell University Cornell offers a BFA program at its School of Art, Architecture, and Planning. The program emphasizes artistic training, contextual preparedness, critical thinking and expression, practical understanding of the contemporary art world, and sustainable practice. Because of the program's broad aims, you may get more of a liberal arts spin with this BFA. Degree offered: BFA Read more about Cornell's fine arts program CUNY Hunter College Hunter College offers a program that’s geared towards students who want to work professionally as an artist, particularly if they want to go on to grad school. This is a â€Å"fifth-year† program that gives students aprolonged, intense focus on studio practice, contemporary art, and theoretical issues - this extra year might help give you an extra boost in the professional world. Degree offered: BFA Read more about Hunter's fine arts program. Princeton University Princeton's Program in Visual Arts combines a liberal arts education with a fine arts education. Students can take courses in a range of subjects, includingpainting, drawing, graphic design, media, sculpture, photography, filmmaking, and film history criticism. Degree offered: BA Read more about Princeton's fine arts program Alfred University Alfred’s College of Ceramics provides an education that combines visual fine arts, design, and the science of ceramics, glass, and materials. It's more specialized than many of the other fine arts schools on this list, but an awesome choice if you’re interested in working with any of the above materials. Degrees offered: BFA, BS (in art history) Read more about Alfred's fine arts program Alfred: A great place for potters Tufts University A joint School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts BFA program means you get the benefits of a top liberal arts education in combination with studio art training. Students are fully enrolled at both schools, with access to resources offered by both institutions. This program is a good option for students who prioritize flexibility: the studio curriculum is entirely elective, so you can pick and choose the courses that most interest you. Degree offered: BFA Read more about the SMFA/Tufts program UCLA UCLA, one of the best public schools in the US, is also home to one of the country's best art departments. Students encouraged to explore different mediums to discover the best way to express themselves, making this program pretty flexible. Courses are offered inpainting and drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics, art theory, and new genres. Degree offered: BA Read more about UCLA's fine arts program. University of Pennsylvania UPenn offers an undergraduate fine arts program through its school of design. Its fine arts educationblendsstudio practice, seminar courses, and interactions with visiting artists and professionals. Degree offered: BA Read more about UPenn's fine arts program Williams College The art department at Williams is one of the largest at the prestigious liberal arts college, and the department itself shares space with the Williams Museum of Art. The school itself is pretty small, so the majors offered are broad and limited in number - they include art history, studio art, and art history practice. Degree offered: BA Read more about the fine arts program at Williams Yale University Last but not least, the School of Art at Yale offers a variety of art and media courses. It's also one of the top-ranked MFA programs in the country,which points to the strength of the school. The faculty ishighly lauded - most of them have been published and/or awarded for their work. Finally, the facilities themselves are sure to impress, as students have access to art galleries, a silk screening print shop, photo labs, several theaters, and a digital media center. Degree offered: BA Read more about the fine arts program at Yale How to Choose the Right Fine Arts Program These tips will help you think about which schools might be best for you. In order to be successful in a fine arts program, you should strive to make sure that the school closely matches your needs. Fine arts programs are often pretty small - you’ll be doing a lot of studio work, and will be collaborating closely with peers and faculty. Because of the collaborative nature of the work you'll be doing, it's important that you feel comfortable with the program, students, and faculty. Before you settle on target schools, here are some factors to consider when thinking about what schools may be right for you. Program Specialties and Curriculum If you work pretty exclusively with a specific medium, you’ll want to attend a school that has extensive resources available so that you can work with that medium. For example, if you work with ceramics you might not want to focus your attention on Columbia University because Alfred might be a better fit. Alternatively, if you’re open to exploring different artistic mediums, you might seek out a more flexible program - like the one Williams College offers, for example. Faculty You'll want to find a school with qualified faculty who can serve as knowledgeable mentors. Look into whether schools retain faculty members whose work you’re interested in. You might also consider whether a school brings in fresh and exciting faces via visiting artist programs. Finally, check out the student to faculty ratio: is it low enough that you’re confident you’d get individual attention? Location A big part of a degree in fine arts will often be working in the art world via internships. Is the school located somewhere that will facilitate these internships, or have programs that will help you get internships in art and cultural centers? Notable Alumni If you’re impressed with aschool’s alumni network and number of successful grads, that’s a good sign. This indicates that it'll be easier for you to make and utilize professional connections through the school. What's Next? If you're artistically inclined but aren't dead-set on a fine arts program, you should check out our list of the top 10 art schools in the US - these might offer a bit of a broader scope than the schools listed above. If you want to end up on the west coast, you'd probably be interested in our list of the top art schools in California. To prepare the best fine arts application possible, you definitely need to read about how to prepare a stellar art portfolio. Finally, you'll want to be able to pay for all of this, right? Check out the top art scholarships in the US. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Solar Power Generation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Solar Power Generation - Essay Example This is by far the primary consideration in the operation of power electronic devices. In Solar power generation, light from sunshine is converted by photovoltaic (PV) Solar panels into direct current (DC) electricity. For power electronics (in today's world and in the future) to enhance Solar power generation, this aspect (efficiency) is a vital consideration. Solar panels generally have a conversion ratio or Solar panel efficiency, which is an indication of their energy-conversion capability. PV enhancement strategies must include design considerations that improve their current efficiency level, which is presently estimated at a maximum of about 17.5% (Greenpeace, "Solar Generation"), and a minimum of 6% (IEA, "Renewables for Power Generation"). The thickness of crystalline silicon used in PV production however needs to be carefully balanced against the desired increment in efficiency. This is due to the fact that efficiency tends to decrease with the thickness of the Silicon mate rial. Perhaps some attention could be paid to optimising the spacing and inclination of PV panels (Geuder, Norbert et al). It might also help to look closely at enhancing PV efficiency through more focused use as ground receiver to capture maximum irradiation, with permanently varying solar angle (Geuder et al).It is also a vital aspect of power electronic-for-solar power strategy to consider the enhancement of the absorption efficiency of the PV solar panels. Energy conversion wastage is not acceptable in solar power generation, as there is relatively little power to waste- the largest PV plants have a capacity of just under 60MW. Power transfer losses may also be minimised by specifying the voltage capacity(Guidelines for Solar Power Generation) as a means of reducing availability of wastable voltage . Grid strategies Solar generated power can be harmoniously used with grid (conventional) electricity, through proper incorporation of power electronics. In the increasingly environment-conscious world, as less of conventional energy consumption is desired, less grid electricity will feature in mainstream power supply. Hence hybrid systems can be enhanced, supported by power electronics- the grid system can act as a storage system receiving excess power generated by the photoelectric systems during the day and exporting needed energy back into the PV system during a shortfall period, such as night time. Through Inverters converting DC to AC for the grid, for instance, there can be significant augmentation and increase of solar power generation; likewise stand-alone systems can benefit from Inverters and batteries applied for AC usage systems. The grid-connected PV systems need a wide range (Greenpeace, "Solar Generation") of power classes to be properly adaptable to the flexibilities of grid power app lication. Power capacity The power capacity of PV solar panels can be enhanced for greater output in solar power generation. By paying close attention the weather, suitable operating conditions can be exploited for PV arrays. Further, by choosing an appropriate time of day, PV

HR Planning Process Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

HR Planning Process - Assignment Example One such method is recognized as the personality test (Hill, 2007). This test is used in order to identify whether an applicant’s personality matches the personality that is required for a particular position. For example, a sales person is required to have an extrovert personality in order to easily communicate with other and persuade them to purchase organization’s goods and services. Personality test can even be used by organizations in order to identify whether the incumbent suits the culture of the organization. This will help in ensuring the there is no conflict between the employees and the culture of the organization and the organization operates smoothly. Another method for employee selection that can be used is the job sample test (Hill, 2007). In this test, applicants are required to perform a particular job or a particular part of a job. This selection method is used to ensure that the person being hired knows how to work in the position for which he/she has applied. This will help the organization in attaining the objective of decreased expenditure on training and development that an organization may have to spend to prepare an individual to perform that particular

Multicultural education Essay Example for Free

Multicultural education Essay From its early beginnings in the 1960s, multicultural education has since been in a constant state of evolution both in theory and in practice (Gorski Covert 1996). In the last four decades, it has undergone repeated transformation, focusing and conceptualization as challenges emerge one after the other from a rapidly changing population demographics and a significant growth in diverse multicultural groups. The result is a multitude of conceptualizations reflecting different foci but which basically share the same ideals rooted upon the need for transformation or change. Gorski (2000) defines multicultural education as a â€Å"progressive approach for transforming education that holistically critiques and addresses current shortcomings, failings, and discriminatory practices in education†. These shared ideals that include social justice, equity in educational opportunities, and the dedication to help students reach their full potential as learners and as socially conscious and active individuals provide the basis for understanding multicultural education. It is a process of action, through which adults achieve clarity about their condition in this society and ways to change it (Phillips, 1988). Multicultural education acknowledges that schools, among all other institutions, play a pivotal role in building the foundation and acting as major influencing factor for the transformation of society and the elimination of oppression and injustice. The realities of the times clearly speak for the growing importance and relevance of multicultural education. Cultural diversity in schools is indeed one considerable challenge but like any other, it can be a most welcome opportunity. History has shown us that nations are enriched by the ethnic, cultural, and language diversity among its citizens (Banks, 2001). Schools play a significant part in finding ways to harness and redirect cultural diversity into creating unity and progress in schools and ultimately to society in general. References: Banks, J. A. (April 2001). Diversity within unity: Essential principles for teaching and learning in a multicultural society. New Horizons for Learning. Retrieved on May 28, 2009 from http://www. newhorizons. org/strategies/multicultural/banks. htm Gorski, P. Covert, B. (1996; 2000). Defining multicultural education. Retrieved on May 28, 2009 from http://www. edchange. org/multicultural/define_old. html Phillips, C. B. (1988). Nurturing diversity for todays children and tomorrows leaders. Young Children: 43(2).

Leaders and Businessmen of the Victorian Era Essay examples -- Victori

Uneducated Gentlemen: The Leaders and Businessmen of the Victorian Era Changing Intentions of Public Education The public education system in Victorian England was originally intended for the education of the poorer working classes, and the training of clergy (Landow, par. 2). The children of the upper classes were often educated at home by private tutors, and therefore it was assumed the public schools would be a place for members of the lower classes. Despite the original intentions of public education, the schools eventually became a primary means of helping to elevate the status of the middle classes. In fact, rather than being primarily concerned with the imparting of knowledge, â€Å"the whole educational process was designed to mold the student into a young Christian Gentleman† (Everett, par. 2). The middle and upper classes wanted to keep children of the working classes from being educated, perhaps as a means of social control, and thus according to Eric Hobsbawm, in 1897 less than 7% of academic secondary school students were members of the working class (qtd. in Landow, pa...

Yann Martel

Canongate reveals Martel's Holocaust tale Listen Select: : BOOK NEWS Canongate has exclusively revealed details of the forthcoming novel by Yann Martel, his first since the 2002 Man Booker-winner Life of Pi was published eight years ago. Entitled Beatrice and Virgil, the book is due for publication next June. It is being released simultaneously by Knopf Canada, Random House imprint Spiegel & Grau in New York, Text Publishing in Australia and Penguin India.The story follows Henry, who on being posed â€Å"a puzzle that he cannot resist† is pulled into the world of taxidermy, and the lives of the eponymous characters–a donkey named Beatrice and a monkey called Virgil. Canongate said the book, which tackles the topic of the Holocaust, â€Å"takes us somewhere truly unexpected and shocking†, asking â€Å"profound moral and philosophical questions about the nature of love and evil†.Jamie Byng, managing director and publisher of Canongate, said: â€Å"Life of Pi was always going to be an extremely tricky book to follow up, not least because of the expectations of Yann's many fans. â€Å"Thankfully, Yann has risen to the challenge by writing another exceptional novel, a wildly imaginative and multilayered story that engrosses from the first page and leaves you asking questions long after you have turned the last. I was stunned by Beatrice and Virgil and all of us at Canongate are enormously excited about taking this book to as many readers as we can. The publication will be supported by â€Å"an impressive PR and marketing campaign†, which will include consumer and social media advertising, widespread media coverage, author interviews, an extensive online campaign and events and festival appearances across the UK. Retailers are now being invited to pitch for signings. Canongate has â€Å"high hopes† for the book, as Life of Pi remains the most successful Booker winner ever. The publisher repackaged the title this July, whic h Canongate said trebled sales when compared with the previous year. ~~~~~~~~

Hsbc Strategy Essay

Proposal on HSBC’s strategic shift with the organization based growth model (410 words, 2011). Research topic: How HSBC’s changed its strategic direction using organization-driven growth model to achieve long-term economic and strategic success. Rationale and literature review The long-term economic success of an organization is dynamically associated with the organization’s ability to create new modes of production (Chandler 1990). A number of factors influence an organization’s ability to grow and achieve strategic success in today’s era of globalization. These are: * The dynamic processes that govern an organization’s operations are not uniform but diverse across different parts of the world (Martin & Verdier 2008). * Organization’s changes and the dynamic process that influence do not necessarily have a consistently progressive development phase. i. e they go through a phase of high-development and low-development (Martin & Verdier 2008). Organizations, like HSBC, who have recognized this, have invested resources to evolve their economic development over time. HSBC developed their organizational-driven growth model to successfully create a model for long-term sustainability, growth and profitability. The model is shown below: Figure: The HSBC organizational-growth model (Image source: Deans & Kroeger 2004) HSBC was founded by Thomas Sutherland in 1865 in Hong Kong and for many years was a small-sized bank that operated in Asia (Ahlstrom & Bruton 2009). In the 1980’s, the management developed the organizational growth-model to address the need for HSBC to become global and diversify in the long-term. This model led to the development of the ‘HSBC character’, which is the cornerstone of HSBC’s growth strategy today (Deans & Kroeger 2004). By implementing this model effectively across all areas of HSBC holdings, HSBC was able add scale to its business such as insurance, leasing and fund management and be cautious and thrifty while using their international experience to acquire or merge with a myriad of businesses (Syrett 2007). Using the model, training systems for employees were put in place that encouraged a growth culture within the organization (Syrett2007).

whaling essays

whaling essays A wondrous tale, could the rave old whale, Of the mighty deep disclose; Of the skeleton forms, of by-gone storms, And of treasures, that no one knows. He has seen the crew, when the tempest blew. Drop down from the slippery deck, As he shook the tide, from his glassy side, And sporting mongst ocean and wreck. Sea Song, from the Journal of a Sailor. The history of whaling embodies the American spirit in its absolute form. Expansion, industrialization, innovation, self-reliance and cultural contrast are all inter-woven in this tale of America's first manufacturing industry and the first opportunities presented to men of color and foreign origin. While America's native Indians first hunted whales in canoes during the early 17th century, it wasn't until fifty years later that whaling became a organic venture off the shores of Long Island Sound and Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. A the United States became the most important whaling nation of the world.@ (# 3) Look-out stations were set up along the beaches to spot Right Whales, which frequented the New England coast from October until June. When a whale was sighted, small boats carrying crews of six were sent into the waters to harpoon the whale and then Athe carcass would be brought back to the Commercial Wharf @ (# 2) where the whale blubber would be boiled and converted into crude oil. Whaling soon became a very important economic enterprise, as the oil was sold to brighten homes. Around 1690, the inhabitants of Nantucket Island recognized the likelihood economic rewards associated with the trading of whale oil. Located just 17 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, ...

Causes of the American Civil War

Causes of the American Civil War The United States maintain their position of the world as the strongest, most influential country for many decades. Observing their history closely, we can see that they had gone through many ups and downs, and harsh yet necessary battles within the nation and with other countries. In order to examine the Civil War and reconstruction of the United States, we need to understand the causes of the war, what happened during the war, and the changes that the war had brought. I believe that the Civil War of 1861 played a significant role in building the stronger nation; likewise, I will discuss three major causes of the war – which are the slavery, the conflicts between the North and South states, and the Presidential election of 1860 – describe how dreadful the war was, and how the slavery, the relationship among the states, and the economic and political situation changed after the war. Moreover, I will present my own views on the Civil war. First, the slavery was one of t he greatest causes of the Civil War. The Slavery in all across North America has had existed for 168 years. Eventually, by 1804, most of the Northern states abolished slavery institution, but the invention of cotton gin in 1793 increased the use of slaves in the South and the slavery became very important for the South. Before the Civil War, the tension between the North and the South was invested in Slavery. The North was insisting that America should become free country and need to industrialize the South. On the other hand, the South was opposing the North by being pro-slavery for their agricultural industry. The U.S. Constitution was clearly permitting slavery even though the document did not include the words slaves and slavery. For example, in U.S. Constitution Section 2 of Article IV said â€Å"held to Service or Labor in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another† (Constitution On Slavery). It shows the fugitive slaves must be returned to their owners. M oreover, the Bill of Rights in 1791 did not mention about slavery, yet on the Fifth Amendment, it says â€Å"Be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law† (Constitution On Slavery). According to the Fifth Amendment, the slaveholders were given an absolute right to take their property with them. Since the slaves were equaled properties, they could take their slaves even to the free Northern states. It developed into negative conflicts between the North and the South. However, America gained huge part of the West from the victory in the War with Mexico, including California, Utah Territory and New Mexico Territory. In Addition, the amount of gold that was discovered in California was huge and it led the Gold Rush in America, which did not last for long. The issue of whether the new states in the West should be opened to slavery or should be free from the slavery brought a big political confusion. The state of California was extremely important for the b oth powers. The North was asserting completely opposite opinions from that of the South. Since California got so much richer quickly, if the slavery in California got abolished, the South states would significantly lose their political and economic power. In contrast, if the slavery got permitted and protected by the federal government, the South states would be able to gain more power. The South was saying that they would leave the Union if California becomes a free state. â€Å"Eventually, the issue drove the South to assert their opinion, which was to elect two different presidents between the North and the South†

DQ1_Wk6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

DQ1_Wk6 - Essay Example The decisions are not always taken in the correct manner and hence at times there are serious issues as per their adherence. The standards and procedures need to be followed to the hilt so as to make adequate arrangements for liaising with the people who matter the most. These channel members could be the wholesalers, distributors, retailers or the middlemen who are involved under these channel dynamics. When it comes to branding itself, channel decisions take the front seat and thus become all the more important. (Paley, 2006) Bypassing middlemen in order to save costs and reducing on time constraints might just be the order of the day but then again if the same decisions do not bring in the much needed effectiveness and efficiency for the branding that has been done for a product, the manufacturer might just do away with this issue once and for all. He would resort to employing all the channel members to ensure that his branding ideology is manifested in the most righteous way and that there are no hiccups in the wake of achieving the targets set forth by the manufacturer or the parent organization. There are advantages and disadvantages alike of this bypassing middlemen scenario. Distribution channel model talks about the different retailers, wholesalers and distributors who make the process of transfer of products between the manufacturer and the customer possible. The different means and ways to get in touch with the customers is thus the responsibility of these channel members. The company’s m arketing as well as the distribution strategy is completely focused upon in this business model. There is more accessibility for the channel members that include the retailers, distributors, wholesalers and even the third parties. The relationships have changed between the channel members and are quite apparent by the fact that at many places within the distribution chain we find that there is horizontal and vertical