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

MLA - Essay Example Michael scores rather good grades in the primary classification of Need for Achievement. He is consistently idealistic and exceptionally independent. He is independently employed, does his own cooking, fixes his car, and keeps up a nursery. In any event, when he is confronting a hardship, he has the forward-looking drive to oversee his arrangements and let nature run its course. For instance, at whatever point he accomplishes something, in the case of preparing a cake or fixing a vehicle, he generally makes a special effort to take care of subtleties that are practically trifling. However, that is the stuff to be an ambitious person. He is a stickler and an over achiever that is only here and there influenced from the job needing to be done. In the subsequent classification, Need for Independence and Autonomy, Michael would be considered amazingly venturesome. He is independently employed in a small time business and consistently accomplishes all the work himself with no outside or recruited help. He is resolved and never gets shook by pressure or surprising occasions. He loathes taking requests, however I have consistently ascribed that to his short stretch in the military. Michael does whatever him might want to do as per his own calendar. Michael additionally has the Creative Tendencies required to be an effective enterpriser. He composes verse, short stories, and is chipping away at a novel. What's more, he plays a few instruments and has composed more than 200 tunes. Each time I see Michael, he is educating me regarding some new thought for an item whose patent will pick up him acclaim and fortune. In any case, while his composing is generally excellent, he has truth be told, restricted achievement. His melodies mope in his brain and never make it into the studio or before the record makers. His thoughts are before long overlooked as he proceeds onward to the following blockbuster. Michael has the imagination to be ambitious, yet something must keep him down. Michael is a daring person, however is mindful so as not to risk a lot without a moment's delay. While I have seen him leave a great job to

Episode Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Scene Analysis - Essay Example The Host, Dr. Richard Jackson, MD, MPH is a pediatrician by calling, worked with the CDC before turning out to be seat at the UCLA division of wellbeing Sciences. Jackson accepts that America was worked in a way that didn't cook for the wellbeing needs of individuals. Doing the examination in nature and human wellbeing, Richardson understood that individuals are not doing what's necessary to acknowledge what impacts in the ecological are influencing their wellbeing. The writer built up the TV arrangement and composed the book as a stage to help make mindfulness on the impacts the present condition individuals have made has on wellbeing. In the scene, the storyteller gives data on the connection among weight and Type 2 diabetes. Individuals become corpulent predominantly because of undesirable ways of life. Because of weight, there are high odds of such a person to create Type 2 Diabetes. As indicated by CDC (2014) kids encountering corpulence have higher probabilities of creating pre-diabetic conditions. A comparable research found a connection among stoutness and Type 2 Diabetes in Norway (Hjartaker, Langlesh, and Weiderpass, 2008). Most general medical issues confronting the American Society is identified with their ways of life. The most widely recognized general wellbeing danger is the reliance of Americans on vehicles. The separation between home, shopping center and the work environment is huge to the degree that numerous individuals need to drive each day. Individuals spent numerous hours driving subsequently diminishing their opportunity to work out. Notwithstanding the absence of activity, reliance on quick nourishments is another wellbeing peril confronting general wellbeing and the American people group. Unfitness and eating of low quality nourishment is the fundamental explanation clarifying the high pace of stoutness among Americans (Jackson, 2013). Poor urban arranging, Poor dietary patterns and way of life are a portion of the components coming about to expanded paces of constant infections among a great many people. Be that as it may, as per

Climate, Copenhagen, and Columbia COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Climate, Copenhagen, and Columbia COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The following was prepared by SIPA Student Joshua Huneycutt, a second year MIA student concentrating in Energy and Environmental Policy. Image Courtesy of suburbanbloke via Flickr As the world prepares for the upcoming global climate summit in Copenhagen this December, there’s a flurry of activity here at SIPA and Columbia.     Following British climate economist Lord Stern (link here) and controversial Danish environment minister Connie Hedegaard’s (link here) visits to the 15th floor of SIPA last month, there have been a number lively debates, lectures, and events surrounding the question of whether or not the US and the rest of the world can forge agreements and pass legislation to prevent a global climate catastrophe. Columbia’s establishment of the Columbia Climate Center (link: http://climate.columbia.edu/) this past spring reaffirmed the university’s commitment to comprehensively tackling the issue.   With Columbia Law School’s hiring of leading climate law expert Michael Gerrard and SIPA’s appointment of Scott Barrett, a lead author of the IPPC’s second assessment report, to the SIPA faculty, climate policy issues have been put in the spotlight on campus. On top of stellar new faculty and engaging events, SIPA gives students the opportunities to engage directly with agenda-setting organizations on matters related to climate change.   For example, I participated in a consulting workshop group that advised the World Bank on incorporating climate adaptation considerations into their lending mechanisms and helped to overhaul a computer-based climate risk analysis tool. Regardless of what happens in Copenhagen, SIPA and the Columbia community will continue to expand their offerings to help those dedicated to finding viable solutions to these great challenges.   Check out a few climate-related events that took place: __________________________ 10/29 What is the Global Warming Intensity of a Vehicle Fuel?   Uncertainty, Life Cycle Analysis, and Time in the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard and Beyond. We have the pleasure of welcoming Michael OHare, Professor of Public Policy in the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC-Berkeley, for an informational lecture and discussion on his research regarding the use of alternative fuels. A few months ago, the Air Resources Board of the State of California adopted a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), a 10% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2020, and Professor OHares team at Berkeley was responsible for a large amount of the policys supporting research. This groundbreaking legislation was passed with the notable inclusion of indirect land use change (LUC), the conversion of land used to grow food into land used to grow corn specifically for ethanol, as a source of emissions, overcoming the intense lobbying efforts of the ethanol biofuel industry with indisputable research on the effects of LUC. Professor OHare will share many of his teams discoveries, as well as comment on their potential and actual impacts on local, state, and national climate change policy.   Join us for a lively discussion of an important facet of the current climate change debate. Thursday, Oct. 29th at 3 pm Location: 1512 International Affairs Building This event is being co-sponsored by The Earth Institute, the Columbia Climate Center, the Master in Public Administration program in Environmental Science and Policy, and the Master in Public Administration in Environmental Policy Studies Energy and Environment Concentration program. 10/30 LDEO Earth Science Colloquium: Assessing Resilience of Past Societies to Climatic Change: the Case of Angkor’s 15th Century Collapse and Reorganization Speaker: Dan Penny, Australian Research Council (ARC) Fellow, University of Sidney Friday October 30 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Location: Columbia University, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Monell Building Auditorium Web Site: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/news-events/earth-science-colloquium/2009-2010

television addiction Essay - 1578 Words

Addicted to Television nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The temptations that can disrupt human life are often caused by pure indulgences. That which we most desire may ultimately harm and destroy us. For example, no one has to drink alcohol. Realizing when a diversion has gotten out of control, such as alcohol, is one of the greatest challenges of life. These excessive cravings do not necessarily involve physical substances. Gambling can be compulsive, leading to great financial distress; sex can become obsessive, often altering a persons mentality and behavior. However, one activity is repeatedly over-looked. Most people admit to having a love-hate relationship with it. It is America’s most popular leisure past-time, the television. It is†¦show more content†¦What causes our profound interest in the television? The amount of time that people spend watching television is astonishing. The average individual will devote three hours a day to watch television. At this rate, a person who lives to be 75 would spend a total of ni ne years in front of the television. Based on polls taken in 1992 and 1999, two out of five adults and seven out of ten teenagers said they spend too much time in front of the television; roughly 10 percent of the adults called themselves television addicts. To study the physical and mental reactions to television, scientists have conducted experiments monitoring brain waves, skin resistance and the heart rate of people watching television. After analyzing the data, scientists discovered that people viewing television reported feeling relaxed and passive. More relaxed than while reading a book. Studies have also shown that the relaxation caused from watching ended once the television was turned-off, but the feelings of passivity and lowered alertness continued. Viewers reported having difficulty concentrating after viewing than before. After playing sports or engaging in hobbies, people repot improvements in mood. After watching television, people report that their moods are about t he same or worse. One of the reasons that we are so attracted to the television is our â€Å"orienting response†. First described by Ivan Pavlov in 1927, â€Å" †¦ the orienting response is our instinctive visual or auditory reaction to anyShow MoreRelated Television Addiction Essay1004 Words   |  5 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;For roughly sixty years television has been a part of most Americans lives. For some, it is mainly a source of information. For others, television takes on a much more significant role. Many Americans spend hours of their daily life in front of the tube, but are the people entwined in the plot of the average sit com., or are they trapped by the clutches of perpetual, mind- numbing entertainment. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Addiction is a strong word. It is now even consideredRead More Television Addiction Essay1028 Words   |  5 PagesTelevision Addiction Marie Winn makes a convincing argument that watching too much television can be considered an addiction. Television has become a way of life for most families. Television viewing is so overwhelmingly prevalent nowadays that living without TV is often considered an extreme deprivation. TVs are everywhere, whether you are in a hospital, auto shop, or in the dentist’s office, there’s always a television by the waiting area. It’s a useful tool to help you from the boredom ofRead More Television Addiction related to Children Essay703 Words   |  3 Pages According to Rita Dove, the author of â€Å"Loose Ends,† and â€Å"Television Addiction,† by Marie Winn. Both authors often share the same the views about television. But television addiction is more expressed in Ms. Winn’s essay. However, Ms. Dove speaks of a more personal experience with her daughter, and how the television is an issue in her household. Although, Ms.Dove says in her essay, â⠂¬Å"For years the following scene would play daily at our house: Home from school, my daughter would have her backpackRead MoreReview of Television Addiction is no Mere Metaphor Essay examples603 Words   |  3 PagesTelevision Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor Have you ever heard the expression love hurts? Sometimes its the things that we want most that can hurt us. In Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor, an article published in Scientific American on February 23, 2002 by Robert Kubey and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, we see how this expressions meaning has some truth to it. The things that we are addicted to are not necessities but are desires instead. Kubey and Csikszentmihalyi give the best exampleRead MoreTelevision Addiction1606 Words   |  7 PagesAddicted to Television The temptations that can disrupt human life are often caused by pure indulgences. That which we most desire may ultimately harm and destroy us. For example, no one has to drink alcohol. Realizing when a diversion has gotten out of control, such as alcohol, is one of the greatest challenges of life. These excessive cravings do not necessarily involve physical substances. Gambling can be compulsive, leading to great financial distress; sex can become obsessive, often alteringRead More The Negative Impact of Exposing Children to Media Violence Essay1448 Words   |  6 Pageswill limit the definition of (mass) media to television, and, subsequently, violent (mass) media to television programs that contain violent acts. By children, I will be referring to people of age 18 and below who live in the U.S., since this group is the focus of the majority of the research data that I have used. I will begin my argument by acknowledging a counter argument to my position. I will then go on to disc uss the negative effects of television on children. These effects include an increaseRead MoreThe Importance Of Television In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury997 Words   |  4 PagesYour average American spends 5 hours a day watching television. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a science fiction novel where the characters spend a majority of their time in their tv parlor. Taken as a whole, television is a source of evil in 2017. First, television poses a distraction from real life both in Fahrenheit 451 and in present 2017. In the chase scene, Montag demonstrates that people are so caught in television they forget or don’t know reality. It says on page 131,† With an effortRead MoreHow Technology Has Changed Our Lives1217 Words   |  5 Pageswatched a television. Televisions are so familar to many people. It is one of the blockbuster inventions of all time. Back in ten years ago, the television is how people get the news, and how they entertain themselve, not a computer. Computers in ten years ago were a comlicated machine to use. Even in the twenty first century, the computers or many other high technology machines have much more advance features than a television, but they can be seen as present-day duplicates of televisions. MostlyRead MoreViolence in the Media Essays684 Words   |  3 PagesFarnsworth was the true inventor of television in 1927. He had no idea that thirty-five years later his inventions would not only be in ninety percent of Americans homes, but also strongly effect everyone that watched it. Following the introduction of television into the United States, the annual homicide rate increased by ninety-three percent(Journal of the American Medical Association). With the invention of television came the job of broadcasting shows on to the television. Broadcasters soon found whatRead More Affluenza: An American Epidemic Essay examples852 Words   |  4 Pages affluenza is a compulsive addiction to shopping, which can be cured by spending less time consuming and more time enjoying life. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As the majority of parents work longer hours then other parents did in the past to support their families, children are left at home under the supervision of a television set. The television set constantly teaches children how to be good consumers. Advertisements which appear on television are designed to make children

A Final Defense Of Utilitarianism Essay - 746 Words

A final defense of Utilitarianism: In regard to Mill’s Proof of utility, N7 disputes claiming that it commits the fallacy of composition. He is not the first to do so. â€Å"Such allegations began to emerge in Mill’s lifetime, shortly after the publication of Utilitarianism, and persisted for well over a century.†(1) It is important to note however that â€Å"the tide has been turning in recent discussions.†(1) Necip Fikri Alican’s even wrote an entire book on this entitled, â€Å"Mill’s Principle of Utility: A Defense of John Stuart Mill’s Notorious Proof.† Several others have also rejected the claim of fallacy. â€Å"Hall and Popkin defend Mill against this accusation pointing out that he begins Chapter Four by asserting that questions of ultimate ends do not admit of proof, in the ordinary acceptation of the term and that this is common to all first principles. According to Hall and Popkin, therefore, Mill does not attempt to establish that what people do des ire is desirable but merely attempts to make the principles acceptable. The type of proof Mill is offering consists only of some considerations which, Mill thought, might induce an honest and reasonable man to accept utilitarianism.(2) N7 claims that â€Å"all I need to do is show that there is another value which we desire.† Utilitarianism covers this. â€Å"Virtue, according to the utilitarian doctrine, is not naturally and originally part of the end, but it is capable of becoming so; and in those who love it disinterestedly it hasShow MoreRelatedKantian Ethics vs. Utilitarianism Essay1190 Words   |  5 Pages 1.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Explain Onora O’neil’s argument for preferring Kantian ethics to Utilitarianism. 2.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;How would Richard Taylor respond to O’neil’s defense of Kantianism? In the following questions, Onora O’neil defends Kantian ethics while Richard Taylor agrees more with the Utilitarian ethics view. To fully understand both views and why each author defends their view, a brief introduction of each author and who they are is necessary. Onora O’neilRead MoreScandal and the government1248 Words   |  5 Pagescharacters have within themselves and the government. Capitalism, Tyranny, Elitism, and Utilitarianism are all present in the political drama Scandal. An example of capitalism in the popular show scandal comes from a secret organization called B613. In the show the organization is similar to the secretive C.I.A however, Instead of answering to the President, B613 answer to no one . Mr. Pope controls everything and has final say on all. He works coincide with the republic party. Whether or not informationRead MoreMoral Theories Of Utilitarianism And Deontological Ethics1266 Words   |  6 PagesBeidong Zhang Philosophy 108 Prof. Meredith Gunning Final Examination December, 6, 2014 Section A Moral theories of Utilitarianism and Deontology Utilitarianism and deontological ethics are two major theories of ethics, specifying and justifying moral principles. Utilitarianism has been clarified by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-1873). Bentham proposed that actions are based upon the consequences (Moreland, 2009), and ongoing work on his theory will help in providing groundsRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Thomson1678 Words   |  7 Pagestakes precedence; an unborn fetus’ life or its mother’s right to her body? Anti-abortionist argue that the life of an unborn fetus has priority, and thus abortion is morally impermissible as it violates the fetus’ right to life. In her article â€Å"A Defense of Abortion†, Judith Thomson argues that abortion is morally permissible under the certain conditions where the rights of the fetus fail to surpass a mother’s right of choice. For the sake of her argument, Thomson allows the assumption that a fetusRead MoreLifeboat Dile mm The Queen V. Dudley And Stephens903 Words   |  4 PagesLifeboat Dilemma ¬ Final CASE: The Queen v. Dudley and Stephens FACTS: A boat with four men aboard took on water after being hit by a large wave resulting in boat sinking, during the summer of 1884. All four men boarded a lifeboat however the only provisions were two cans of turnips. The four people were Dudley - Captain, Stephens -  ¬ First Mate, Brooks -Sailor and Parker - Cabin Boy. The foods in the hopes of being rescued before the rations were used. They consumed no food or waterRead MoreGun Control Is Necessary, And Delay Means More Death And Horror1305 Words   |  6 PagesDictionary offers that a handgun is â€Å"a small gun that you can hold and fire with one hand.† I view the phrase ‘private ownership’ as ownership by people who are not officially associated with the state. The affirmative will support the value of utilitarianism, which as defined as â€Å"the belief that the right course of action is the one that will produce the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people.† In order to achieve my value premise, the affirmative offers the criterion of cost benefitRead MoreEvaluating The Ethical Principles Of An Axis And Identifying Concrete Points At Which Certain Values Outweigh Others?1549 Words   |  7 Pagesdifferent principles are considered separate lines whe n determining ethics. Field and Caplan make a decision that mandatory vaccination is ethical based on the overlap of autonomy and utilitarianism. The four principles that slope in the same direction could be considered additively, as all contribute some weight to the final decision about the ethics of compulsory vaccination. Where Field and Caplan apply situational weight to competing ethical theories, Jessica Flanigan argues that mandatory vaccinationRead MoreMy Philosophy : Critical Thinking1858 Words   |  8 Pagesmakes up an object, such as the bricks in a building. The efficient cause examines the preceding force that pushes an object into existence. This is comparable to a God creating life. The last cause is called the final cause. This cause examines the ultimate purpose of an object. A tree’s final cause is to reproduce, so another tree may flourish as well. Aristotle’s metaphysical theory was historically important because it profoundly shaped the early beliefs of science. His work is regarded as beingRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Ethical Theory920 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Stuart Mill believed in the ethical theory (utilitarianism). Everyone should act in such way to bring the largest possibly balance of good over evil. The goodness of an act may be determined by the consequences of that act. Consequences are determined by the amount of happiness or unhappiness caused. A good man is one who considers the other man s pleasure as equally as his own. Each person s happiness is equally important. Mill believed that a free act is not an undetermined act. It isRead MoreThere Are Three Majors Of Ethical Study In Philosophy.1824 Words   |  8 PagesThere are three majors of ethical study in philosophy. Based on three important pieces, which are â€Å"Nicomachean† by Aristotle which talks about virtue ethics, â€Å"Utilitariani sm† by Mills which talks about Utilitarianism, and â€Å"simplified of Kants Ethics† by Onara O’neill, we can compare three types of ethics that is important to learn in philosophy of ethics. Starting with Aristotle idea of virtue ethics, which was written in Nicomachean Ethics. In the first book, Aristotle talks about the Human Goods

Midterm Congressional Elections Free Essays

On 7 November 2006, the United States midterm elections were held. Results of the said elections show that the Democratic Party got the majority in the gubernatorial seats as well as the United States House and Senate seats. This feat was dubbed as the â€Å"Democrat Revolution† as the Democratic Party mustered enough seats in both houses of the legislature for the first time since 1994. We will write a custom essay sample on Midterm Congressional Elections or any similar topic only for you Order Now Traditionally speaking, the US midterm elections was seen as an assessment of the incumbent political leaders – whether their political and economic policies are acceptable to the American people, whether conditions of living has markedly improved during the President’s administration. This 2006 elections is no different from that traditional viewpoint. In fact, social critics did hope for a Democrat victory as a clear and concrete manifestation of the disgust of the public on how President Bush administers his office. In a sense, it concretized the past negative net satisfaction that America has been giving the incumbent president. Given that the recently held elections was an assessment of the Republican President and its supportive Republican Congress, let us take a look at how the voters appraised their leaders. I agree at how political analysts gave the remark that the Americans voted through the issues of national and international import rather than of the local affect. The global image of America was at stake with the manner of handling of the Bush administration with Iraq. Yes, the US invasion of Iraq proved to be a quagmire for President Bush. Two years after he had declared that the war was over and we have brought â€Å"democracy† to that side of the middle east and even after the capture of Saddam Hussein, US troops continue to be maimed and die in the fronts of Iraq. Though until now, the supposed weapons of mass destruction are yet to be found in Iraq while its neighbors and other countries are the obvious ones that harbor these weapons. Honesty is an issue here as the public believes that they were led to support a war that could prove to be a bigger blunder in the contemporary world history. Americans felt they were deceived,  and this perception was shown in the past surveys. Only, it was concretized in the recent midterm elections. The Democrats promised reforms in the Iraq policy, and it also mirrored their platform for changes in the present international policies of the US government, i.e. war on terror. However, this is just one side of the idea running in the heads of Americans on Election Day. The other half, which stems from the â€Å"war on terror† policy, is homeland security. The haphazard management of President Bush on the Iraq war, including war crimes and economic costs, did trickle down to the manner of homeland administration. The people can very well remember how the Bush administration mismanaged its disaster and security measures during Hurricane Katrina. Still related with the national and international policies, the immigration policy of the Bush administration has been highly criticized. Though the Americans understand that the issue of security is a factor in the hard-line immigration policy, most believe also that it must not go overboard to even create an environment that fueled anti-America. To the general public, that is a no-no, of course. Homeland security policies must not fuel another rage of racial discrimination in this free country. What then should we expect with a Democrat Congress and a Republican President?   Some pessimists say: not much. While the more optimists say that there will be marked changes built on the former, but the running current may most likely pull the same efforts as before. Clashes between the Iraq issues will have to happen, and this might be good for a democratic country in the name of the highly-regarded principle of check-and-balance. The situation, though, is that President Bush still has the final say in the arena of international security policies like that of Iraq.   In the end, we are always hopeful that this will improve the lives of the Americans here and abroad. We are always hopeful that the changes will be done. How to cite Midterm Congressional Elections, Essay examples

Strategic Human Resource Management at Sears

Introduction The following research paper shall try to assess the issue of strategic human resource management at Sears. The main focus of the paper willl be on the key human resource infrastructure that Sears has implemented and which has proven to be a success. Use shall also be made of the various human resource approaches and theories in discussing the case.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Human Resource Management at Sears specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, the research paper shall also attempt to formulate possible research questions that could be asked in a bid to address the challenges facing Sears as the company tries to remain competitive. Understanding of the case The following research paper is an attempt to examine the issue of strategic human resource management at Sears. In particular, the research paper shall attempt to examine the nature of HR management systems implemented at Sears. Therefore, the writer shall try to evaluate the significant transformation that the organisation has undergone under the leadership of its CEO, Arthur Martinez. As a result of this transformation, the management at Sears has paved way for the adoption of high impact HR policies by the organisation. The management at Sears has realised that one way of transforming and turning around the organisation is by developing and communicating the company’s corporate vision, mission, and goals to its workforce. Before the organisation could arrive at this decision, it had to first experiment with the more ‘traditional’ vision and mission statement. However, when this could no longer work, the management saw it fit to drop the idea and instead, adopt a more integrated conceptual model of organisation performance that connects employees, shareholders, and customers. This was because the traditional approach showed minimal direct effect on employee behaviour. Through this experimentation, Sears has also realised that by transforming the organisation into an environment worth shopping, the company is in effect helping to improve the behavior of its employees and by extension, increase customer retention and sales revenues. By executing this process, it also emerged that very few employees of the company were aware of the operation and financial aspects of Sears’ business (Kirn et al. 334). Once the organisation had realised this, the management deemed it necessary to come up with an intervention strategy that would help to enhance the economic literacy of its employees. In addition, the intervention strategy that the company developed was also geared towards reinforcing its vision and mission, and integrating these elements with the three Cs model.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The three Cs models that Sears has adopted entail creating an ideal environment where the company’s employee can go about their job-related activities. This is aimed at changing employees’ attitudes towards their jobs and the company in general. The other C involves creating a compelling place where customers can shop. This is aimed at increasing customer retention and satisfaction. The third C involves creating a compelling place for investment. By creating an ideal environment for investment, the company is looking forward to increasing its growth revenue, increasing its return on assets, as well as increasing its operating margins. In other words, the three Cs connect employees with the shareholders and customers. To further reinforce the three Cs, Sears has since developed Learning Maps that touches on such diverse areas as the company’s ownership, the company’s performance indicators, and customers, among others. This helps to inform and engage the workers. In a bid to reinforce its mission, vision, values and goals, Sears has also developed the Sears University. The goal is to enable employees to integrate the company’s leadership dimensions with the aforementioned three Cs. Teaching at the university is conducted by the company’s managers as they are more knowledgeable about the company’s desired leadership dimension. Classes are normally conducted in the form of team or work groups. Such an arrangement has been deemed necessary as it is an ideal way of facilitating the transfer of knowledge. It is important to note that this project has largely been successful due to strong ties between Sears’ strategy, the curriculum, as well as the company’s senior management buy-in (Kirn et al. 336). The impressive turnaround at Sears can also be attributed to the incentive compensation and performance management systems that the organisation has put in place. In a bid to achieve this goal, multi-perspective performance appraisal, hitherto only directed at the company’s managers, has now been implemented en masse by the organization. This has played a key role in increasing employees and managers accountability to the organisation’s shareholders. The remuneration that the employees and the management at Sears earn is usually pegged on the company’s performance. As such, both the employees and the management have a duty to ensure that the company succeeds as they are also likely to benefit in the process. At the same time, there has been an upward improvement in incentive pay levels. This is aimed at retaining employees with high potential and also attracting potential employees with similar qualities. Sears has also improved its performance competency by improving its employee selection system. This system include among others, the use of selection tools that can detect the dependability and customer service aptitude of an applicant.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Human Resou rce Management at Sears specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Analysis of human resource theories and concepts applicable to the Sears case study The management at Sears has approached its management issues from a broad spectrum perspective by focusing mainly on strategic HR issues and processes. A high number of organisations are now opting to address this issue. For a long time, financial and economic issues of an organisation have been instrumental in shaping the business process of an organisation. However, many organisations are now realising the need to also address their human resource issues and policies as well, as these have been seen to have a direct impact on the firm’s well-being and financial status. Majority of the organisations tend to adopt a reactive approach in dealing with their human resource issue. What this means is that issues only get to be deal with after they have already happened. Other firms though tend to be more proactive (Thompson and Richardson 19). In this case, they are able to forecast the likelihood of certain issues happening and so they put in place the necessary mechanism well in advance to deal with such issues. In the case of Sears, the company’s transformation under Martinez has also seen it embrace a more proactive approach to issues (Kirn et al. 332). This is evidenced in the choice of employee selection system and in the company’s decision to improve employee behaviour as a way of improving customer retention and also increasing sales. The way an organisation manages its human resources will undoubtedly have a bearing on its performance. So far, numerous studies have been carried out with the intention of identifying specific management practices that when successfully implemented are bound to result in more proactive, satisfied, as well as motivated employees. On the other hand, it is not until recently that focus has shifted to there has been a focu s on how employee relations and people management affects the firm’s bottom line. In a research study conducted by Guest and Conway (27), the findings of this particular research revealed that one of the fundamental aspects of good people management practice is skills development, job design, as well as creating an environment that affords both employees and the management regular and systematic involvement in the activities of the firm. In the case of Sears, the organisation has realised the need for skills development and in a bid to ensure that its employees have better skills in running the affairs of the company (Guest and Conway 27). The management has deemed it necessary to open the Sears University where managers can impart knowledge about the organisation’s corporate vision, mission, and goals.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Berndt (16) notes that there is a positive correlation between work performance and an organisation’s culture that allows employees to believe that indeed, their employers have their best interests at heart. Perhaps it is for the same reason that Sears has developed a plan to assess and change the attitude of its employees towards their jobs and the company as well. Guest and Conway (28) talks of an association between the performance of a business and the application of sound human resource management practices. Towards this end, Guest and Conway (29) argue that such an association is largely determined by the commitment as well as the quality of the workforce. In a bid to improve the quality of its workforce, Sears has developed competency in the area of employee selection system. To do so, the organisation has had to develop and execute a number of selection tools for its employees (Pfeffer 20). There is also a detailed employee interview guide in place to assist with this exercise. The organization has further made it a company policy that selection tools be administered to all potential applicants. Theoretical approaches According to Thompson and Richardson (11), the key fundamental approaches namely, the best practice approach, the configurational approach, and the contingency approach are best suited to summarise the relationship between business performance and people management. According to the best practice approach, any organisation that wishes to realise improved performance must implement key management polices to facilitate this. Pfeffer (11) contends that the success of an organisation is largely dependent on the manner in which such an organisation treats its employees. Pfeffer (1998) observes that such practices include job security, ensuring that only the right candidates are recruited for various positions, increasing employee remuneration and pegging it on organisational performance, sharing knowledge and information. In the case of Sears, the company has linked employee and managerial compensation on performance. Another incentive that Sears gives its employees in a bid to bolster its performance is annual stock option grants. The employee selection system that Sears has employed emphasizes on an applicant’s â€Å"dependability† and â€Å"customer service attitude†. This helps to improve customer retention and improve revenue collection. Another theoretical approach worth of consideration is the contingency approach. Proponents of this approach contend that human resource practices and polices ought to be integrated with other organisational factors so as to realise improved performance (Berndt 18). In a bid to achieve this particular goal, the management at Sears has seen it fit to implement a strategy that would help to reinforce its values, vision, mission, goals, as well as the aforementioned three Cs. The adoption of suitable human capital architecture would also go a long way toward s enabling an organisation like Sears to implement its desired strategies. In this case, Sears should ensure that they select and hire employees in a manner that is consistent with the organisation’s operational goals and competitive strategy. At the same time, the reward system that Sears has adopted should be a pointer to the components of a successful implementation of compensation and appraisal systems. There is also need to ensure that the strategies developed emphasize performance management system and training in line with the firm’s business objectives. Challenges Even as Sears may have realised an impressive improvement in its business over the past few years, however, it is important to note that lately, the company has started to experience a slowdown in such key areas as customer satisfaction ratings as well as decline revenues. In addition, there has been a reported change in attitude of the company’s associates. It is important to address this chal lenge as it might affect the competitiveness and profitability of the company in the long run. Could Sears have reached its saturation point in terms of profitability? Was the management right in reducing the number of divisions that the firm operates, as a cost-cutting measure? Are there employees who are not able to connect with the company’s three Cs? Is there the likelihood of some of the current Sears associates opting to shift their focus elsewhere as the company is no longer in a position to maintain the organizational environment as an ideal place to invest, shop, and work? Should the management and employees be motivated in other more effective ways that the current forms of motivation? Has the human resource department at Sears exposed all options that would enable the company to scale greater height of success? How best can the momentum to improve be sustained or improved? All of these are potential questions that the management and CEO of Sears need to think about if at all the company is to realise its set of goals, vision, mission, values, and goals. Conclusion The above case study reveals the importance of human resource functions in the success of a business entity. The ability of Sears to develop and execute viable human resource policies, practices and strategies has proven to be the magic formula that the firm needed to make a positive turnaround. By embracing a human resource strategy that integrates the company’s values, vision, mission, and goals with its employees, shareholders and customers in the form of the three Cs, Sears has managed to record significant gains in employee behavior, customer retention, and increased profitability., the firm has also improved employee recruitment system by incorporating an assessment tool that evaluates the potential candidates’ dependability and attitudes towards customer service. In addition, the firm has pegged employee remuneration on the company’s performance. All thes e strategies have seen the firm realise tremendous growth in profitability and market share. However, there has been a slowdown in customer satisfaction ratings, revenue collection, and in the attitude of employees, customers and shareholders as regards Sears being an ideal place to work, shop, and invest. There is need therefore to take appropriate action in a bid to get to the root cause of this problem and hopefully, salvage the situation. Works Cited Berndt, Adele. Customer relationship management customer service, New Delhi: Junta and Company Ltd, 2004. Print. Guest, David and N. Conway. Employee Motivation and the Psychological  Contract, London: Institute of Personnel and Development, 1997. Print. Kirn, Steven, Anthony, Rucci, Mark, Huselid and Becker, Brian. â€Å"Strategic Human Resource management at Sears.† Human Resource Management 38.4(1999): 329 335. Print. Pfeffer, Jeffrey. The Human Equation: Building Profits by Putting People First, Boston, MA: Harvard Bus iness School Press, 1998. Print. Thompson, Mac and R. Richardson. The Impact of People Management  Practices – A Review of the Literature, London: Institute of Personnel and Development, 1999. Print. This report on Strategic Human Resource Management at Sears was written and submitted by user Briana Warren 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.