Human Performance Technology Model Essay

The journal I had chosen is â€Å"Minding the gap , identifying performances issues using the Human Performances Technology model (HPT) . † The purpose of this journal is to main a useful model for identifying and addressing employee performance issues in academic libraries , specifically in a Learning Commons . As we know , assessing and improving employee performance , especially library services are always challenging . However , HPT provides methods for evaluating human performances , such as the performance of employees at a service point , and , and provides method in fixing problems that are identified . Most of the time , training is always assumed solution for many performances issues , but HPT suggests that the training is not always the answer and provides a variety of the other solutions referred to intervention . The HPT model created by the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI , 2010 a ) was used to evaluate employee performance at the service point in a newly created Learning Commons . Various interventions are also discussed the address performances issues in libraries. The HPT model may help librarians create measurable performance indicators which can be used to set standard of performances for employees. This model is useful for a combination of student workers, paraprofessionals and librarians. The HPT model comes from field of HPT , which is the combination of education , psychology and business . So , HPT is the process of identifying and analyzing the gap between current performances ( where one is ) and ideal performance ( where one wants to be ) using various tools such as models . Closing the gap can be done through a recommend solution called an intervention. â€Å"Intervention† in HPT refers to a course of action taken to improve performance . Each stage of the HPT process helps one understand the behaviors of people in an organization and of the organization as a whole . HPT aims to analyze observable behaviour both individually and collectively. HPT ensures a through of a variety of areas within an organization in order to understand the performance gap. An analysis of values, norms, culture, structure, performance, and environment is recommended . Through an organization analysis , environmental analysis , gap analysis , can cause those who using HPT analysis determine the performance problem or opportunity . Without careful analysis , inappropriate intervention could be implemented . Intervention should be long term , evolutionary and progressive. Learning Commons in Randall Library at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW ) was using HPT model to evaluate employee performance. The Learning Commons provides a variety of hardware and software, a centralized service point is included in the middle of the Learning Commons. This service point staffed by librarians who are full time faculty members at UNCW and university’s Technology Assistance Center (TAC) student assistant who are hired to work part time at multiple service points , including the Learning Commons service point , in Randall Library . The primary user group of the Learning Commons is UNCW students . The learning Commons applied HPT after three months opens . The performances issues identified after three months after opening . While some performance issues may ‘work themselves out ‘ overtime , if using the HPT model early in the operation can identify the problems immediately and prevents the problems . Application of the model can helps to identify the root of the causes and helps pinpoint appropriate solution for those issues. An assumption that training is always the appropriate solution for all performances problems can be corrected using HPT . As noted in the HPT model , there are several phases of analysis which are performance analysis , organizational analysis , environmental analysis , gap analysis and cause analysis . A â€Å"cause analysis† follows the performance analysis helps to identify a â€Å"lack of environmental support† or a â€Å"lack of repertory behaviour†. â€Å"Intervention selection ,design , and development† follow all analysis phases . That is because after identify all the gaps or problems , then only can select the appropriate intervention to fix the problem . Main Body and Discussion Human Performance Technology (HPT ) is a systematic approach to improving productivity and competence , it is a strategy for solving problems and for realizing opportunities related to the performance of people . It uses a wide range of intervention to improve individual and organizational performance . There are three fundamental processes to go through . There are performance analysis ,cause analysis and intervention selection . It can be applied to individuals , small groups ,and large organizations . Without identified the causes of the issues , the appropriate intervention impossible to created . Learning Commons in Randall Library at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) was using HPT model to evaluate employee performance at the service point . First stage of the HPT model calls performance analysis . The â€Å"performance analysis† is to determine if a performance problem exists . A performance analysis includes an organizational analysis , an environmental analysis ,and a gap analysis . The first step in the performance analysis , the organizational analysis , calls for an examination of an organization ‘s vision , mission , values ,goals and strategies . It is important to define the boundaries of the organization before performing this phase in the model . It is useful to examine all departments or offices that closely related to the specific area under examination. The next component of HPT model is environmental analysis . The environmental analysis examines four important factors which are organizational environment, work environment, work, and the worker. In the HPT model, the â€Å"Work Environment† refers to the â€Å"resources, tools, human resources, and policies† of an organization, or in this case, of the Learning Commons. â€Å"Work† is described as â€Å"work flow, procedure, responsibilities, and ergonomics†. â€Å"Worker† refers to the â€Å"knowledge , skill , motivation , expectation and capacity† of an individual . The â€Å"Gap analysis† requires an examination of the actual performance versus the optimal , or desired performance . The information collected through the organizational and environmental analysis . The HPT model shows that the gap falls between the â€Å"Desired workforce performance† and the â€Å"Actual state of workforce performance†. It is important to identify the gaps , then analyze the causes of those gap happens. In Learning Commons , there has a temporary service desk was constructed , new furniture was not yet installed and a formal staff training program was not yet implemented . The performances of Learning Commons service was not optimal and causes a â€Å"gap† between optimal and desired performances . Next is causes analysis . As the HPT model suggests , after the performances gap was identified ,the â€Å"cause analysis† should be completed . The cause analysis can determine why the performance gap exists . Once a cause is identified, one or more interventions can be selected that will be able to close the performance gap . There are some causes for the performances issues . First , data , information and feedback . Initial training and communication of clear roles , responsibilities and expectations were not provided when the Learning Commons initially opened . Second , environment support , resources and tools . Detailed in Learning Commons employee did not exist . The conflict among workers will be happened . Third , consequences , incentives , reward . There were no consequences , incentives or rewards related to performance at the Learning Commons service point . Forth , skill and knowledge . A deficiency in general knowledge of the library services and the role of the librarians at the service point existed among TAC student assistants . Fifth , motivation and expectations . It is unclear what motivates Learning Commons employees and what they expect from themselves . After knowing the causes of the issues , intervention selection , design and development is needed . Closing the performances gap can be done through recommended solutions called interventions. HPT suggests that training is not always the appropriate solution because training will not solve issues related to motivation and expectation . However , an incentives and rewards will address motivation . There are some interventions existed after knowing the causes . There are job description intervention , document and standards intervention , training intervention , performance appraisal intervention . A job description specifically for employment in the Learning Commons would define each position’s duties , responsibilities , working conditions , and job activities , which would help employees understand their own job and the role of the other employees at the Learning Commons services point . Besides that , to remedy problems related to lack of information for job duties and procedures , the recommendation is a documents and standards intervention . The standard operating procedures(SOP) manual would include the job description , expectations , policies , guidelines , and procedures for each position at the service desk . Training intervention is training librarians and TAC students . Training employees would provide expectations for each employee . Performance appraisal intervention show staff that there will be consequences for poor performance and rewards for good performance . On the other hand , feedback should be encouraged in Learning Commons . Positive feedback should be provided and given from all the employees . Negative feedback is also important to correct everyday issues . After implemented all the intervention that suggested, must evaluate their success based on further analysis of performance . In my opinion , HPT is a very good tool to evaluate the individual performance or organizational performance . As we see the problems in Learning Commons , HPT had given a good solution for it in fixing the problem . HPT begins with a comparison of the of the present and the desired levels of individual and organizational performance to identify the performance gap. Once the performance gap and the causes have been determined, the appropriate interventions are designed and developed. These may include measurement and feedback systems, new tools and equipment, compensation and reward systems, selection and placement of employees, and training and development. The interventions are then implemented and the change process managed. After implemented all the intervention , The employees in Learning Commons will clear about their roles , responsibilities . At the same time , The Learning Commons is already providing to be a great resource at UNCW . HPT model must be applied cyclically and systematically over time to evaluate employee performance . However , I do not agree that HPT is always the best tool in solving problem . This is because it might identify wrong data or information during performance analysis . If it is wrong in the beginning of the process , inappropriate intervention might created . This will make the decision maker make the wrong decision . While doing wrong analysis , there might insert a high cost and it’s will be a waste of time if the analysis is wrong . Moreover , HPT has mentioned a few intervention to fix the problems . It’s hard to implement all those intervention at the same time . If cannot implement successfully , the more problem might exists . But if whole process is running smoothly , nonetheless , HPT is a very tool in solving problem . I had compared two models which are HPT model and ADDIE model . The ADDIE model is a systematic instructional design model consisting of five phase which are analysis , design , development ,implementation and evaluation phase . There are a few similarities between HPT model and ADDIE model . They both use process of analysis to look the problem and seek for the solution as well . However , they have a key different between the model . The ADDIE model addresses the â€Å"gaps between desired outcomes or behaviours and the audience’s existing knowledge and skills†. The ADDIE models mainly focus on the individual needs and then design and develop objectives and processes help the individual . Evaluation and implementation do not just happened at the end of the design and development . They are ongoing to inform the designer . So if there any changes, the necessary solution can be made quickly . The HPT model is different because it more focus on the causes of â€Å"performance† gap . The success of the organization is depend on its employees . HPT will look what causes the employees unable to perform the job . HPT’s goal is to increase the bottom line of the company by increasing the individual’s ability to perform the job . In addition , it is important that the HPT is look â€Å" what caused the problem† ,while the ADDIE model looks at â€Å" solving the problem exists † . HPT model design seem to also behaviourist approach because the focus is more changing individual behaviour . The HPT model will look at evaluation of the problem and how it was addressed long after the process . The HPT model has its own advantages . In my view , because HPT model is focused on how the people perform on the job . In my opinion , the workers or the people of the organization is the assets for its organization . So , the performance of the individual affect overall success of the organization . This model takes many variables into the account , that there will affect performance . It humanizes the work place because the individuals are allowed to address their problems. At the same time , it may be necessary to provide training course if the individual unable to perform the work is because of lacking information or unknowledgeable . Beside that , HPT model never ignore the reward or motivation . If they have a good performance , incentive or reward will be given to motivate the employees . Every model has its own disadvantages as well , disadvantage I see is how the technologist ensures lifelong working and the successful using the collected information. Because they wait a while before evaluating. It would seem to me that the worker would want to know immediately if they are doing better so that changes can be made more quickly. Feedback is so important to workers feeling successful and competent. If there is too much focus on negative feedback, it may have a negative impact on the individual. Where as in the ADDIE model, the worker’s deficiencies or the causes problems are not the major focus, and you get feedback at various stages rather than only at the end of the process. If I were a human resource professional in any area , I would use HPT model . As I was also a worker before , I see that would be beneficial for all the subordinates or primary worker . If workers feel supported, they’ll do better than if they’re not supported. It provides a guide to helping individuals be successful in their work. I think someone who feels successful and competent in their work is more likely to suffer less burn out than those individuals who have no one in their corner to mentor or help them solve whatever issue is keeping them from doing their best on the job. I might also use HPT when talking to friends or children about getting jobs and being successful on the job. I can apply it to my own career and be my own trouble shooter as well as look for solutions. This puts a little more power over what I do in my hands because at least I would know that I can change me to help the organization do its job better too. On the other hand , as I mentioned employees are a part of assets of the organization . I think it is the responsibility of the human resource department to choose an appropriate system of performance appraisal . Effective appraisal system motivate the employees all the time rather than joining training . Conclusion In conclusion, HPT model has been described as the systematic and systemic identification and removal of barriers to individual and organizational performance. Nonetheless ,HPT model is an effective tool for uncovering performance issues . The model can be applied to any area in the library where employees must perform and is not limited to public service . In any new service , some performance issues may â€Å" work themselves out† overtime while some may not . In some cases , problems left unidentified or unsolved , it may be quite difficult to fix after an extended period of time . It is same like our daily habit or problems , if a parent identified that a child is beginning to pick up a bad habit , it is certainly easier to change the child’s behaviour when the parent first notices their child’s behaviour . If the parents did not take action to stop their child in the beginning , it is hard to stop their child after maintain a long bad habit . Similarity to any other service , if identify the problems early , then can find out the causes and fix it as fast as possible . The model does require extensive analysis . Without this analysis , a full picture cannot be taken , assumption will be made , and issues or problems cannot be identified . Optimal employee performance is critical in any organization . From the journal , Learning Commons in UNCW is using human performance technology (HPT ) . It is a library . With libraries needing to demonstrate their value and provide assessment data and administration . The HPT model serves as one more useful tool for libraries to accomplish this . I had read a journal , which is about ADDIE model and I had also compared both ADDIE and HPT model . I found that there have many similarities . But when I go deeper for the journal , I found that there is a big differences . ADDIE model focus more on training building program , while in HPT model , training is only one of the tool . HPT model is not only useful in organization , but also useful for every individual . If did not find out the causes properly , a appropriate solution is impossible to created .

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Economic of Beekeeping Essay As we know wax comb forms the environment in which the honeybee colony exists. The cells in the comb are used to rear brood, workers, drones and queens and also to store honey and pollen. The configuration of the wax combs provides insulation and channels the ventilation within the hive. To produce this fixed asset the honeybees must convert some of their liquid assets. The weight of wax within a BS deep brood frame is approximately 150g and therefore in the eleven frames making up a full national brood box there are 1650g of wax. The rate of exchange of honey to wax is 6. 25:1 [1]. In other words 6. 25 kg of honey is required to produce 1kg of wax. Therefore it can be seen that the wax within a brood box is equivalent to 10. 3 kg of honey. Feral honeybees, where possible, use new wax comb to rear brood and then reuse the wax comb to store pollen and honey. The practice of framed comb beekeeping has led to brood comb being repeatedly used to rear brood, cells being recycled six or seven times a year and then used similarly over many years. This is in contrast to the traditional beekeeping in skeps and the Warre hive beekeeping which have, as a fundamental feature, the annual regeneration of new comb for brood rearing. Evolution ensures that natural systems are energy efficient, so we might ask why bees in a natural environment do not so readily reuse brood comb. Brood combs can become reservoirs for pathogens and it appears that honeybees have evolved with behaviour patterns that recognise that the cost of new comb is less than the cost of disease. This could explain why EFB and AFB only became apparent as problems with the introduction of framed comb beekeeping.

History Of The Nigerian Mass Media Media Essay

History Of The Nigerian Mass Media Media Essay The emerging trend in Nigerias broadcast industry after the doors were thrown open for private participation has been a success story. The Nigerian nation, contrary to initial governments apprehensions, has not collapsed. There has not been any case of the use of the private stations to foment trouble nor subvert the country. Rather, what Nigerians seemed to have witnessed is the opportunity to choose. Competition in broadcast programming brought about by private stations has created some vitality and vibrancy in the broadcast sector such that even many government owned stations that were almost sinking in boring and monotonous monologues of what the government said and so on have been forced to abandon their slumber. It has been a tremendous advantage for the Nigerian airways for the deregulation of its airways. The governments fears became unfounded with the exemplary courage of General Ibrahim Babaginda (administration) who on August 24, 1992, threw open the gates to allow private individuals and groups the opportunity to own, control and operate broadcast stations. However, for a long time, government held on to its exclusive monopoly of the broadcast media because it felt it could not trust the professional discretion of private individuals to protect public interests or safeguard the nations security. It would be recalled that successive military adventurists found it a convenient strategy to execute their coups on the airwaves of the nations broadcast media. The government probably felt the nation was not ripe for private ownership of broadcast stations. Meanwhile, decades later the former governments realized they have been wrong because the deregulation expanded the industry and improved the efficiency and effectiveness of broadcast stations in the country. Deregulation in Nigeria has not only helped the country but boost the freedom of expression and also promote the quality of broadcasting in Nigeria. Furthermore, they have also stimulated social and economic growth and development in the country. In fact, if not for anything, it has provided more employment opportunities for Nigerians and a medium for advertisers and advertising practitioners. With the coming of private television stations, the face of television broadcast in Nigeria has been changed permanently for good. For one, it has raised the stake in the industry, as stations, both public and private, now competition is getting keener by the day. Today, viewers have more stations to choose from, unlike in the past when NTA and state stations held sway. This has translated to more programmes. One of the fallouts of broadcast deregulation is the upsurge in the thriving activities of independent producers. Because of the options and latitude provided by a deregulated broadcast market, independent producers, most of who had been frustrated out of civil service media stations have new opportunities to showcase their talents. Besides, the employment market in the broadcast sector, in the wake of deregulation, offered better prospects as employers lured the few available talents with better remunerations. Poaching soon became the order of the day as most government stations that failed to appreciate the worth of their on-air talents and other professionals in the news, programmes, and engineering directorates lost them to the upcoming outfits. In addition to the benefit of deregulation in Nigeria, the ownership of broadcast media stations by individuals craves way for true democracy. It is fact that a government owned broadcast station would not want to broadcast anything that would jeopardize or tarnish the image of the government. Hence, workers in such media house would find it difficult to broadcast unscrupulous stories of the government because of the fear of losing his job. However, the presence of private media houses gives room for easy publication of governments unscrupulous stories. The purpose of mass communication as a watch-dog for the masses becomes effective in this aspect because a case study of Nigeria reveals that a private media house will not hesitate to broadcast any news story that would or not tarnish the image of the government. This they would do more than a government owned station. Furthermore, it is conspicuous that deregulating the airways as been one of the strategic decisions the Nigerian government has taken. Another advantage of the deregulation of the airways is the act of broadcast on-line. The private media houses in Nigeria facilitate the growth and increase of web-casting. In Nigeria today, almost all private media houses have their programmes broadcast on-line through web-casting. All these advantages of deregulation of the airways in Nigeria have contributed immensely in improving the economy of the country. It has improved the economy because so many individuals have set up so many media houses which have also increased the numbers of the employed especially those who had gone to school to study in the specified field of mass communication and journalism. Moreover, as the standard of the industry improves, it makes the industry to be capable of competing with other countries industries. Also, another advantage which a broadcast station has is the capability of educating its listeners. Deregulation in Nigeria which gives room for the rush in of more media houses make viewers have choices of been educated. It increases the ability of media houses to make its audience educated and conscious of where they live in. Advertisement on broadcast stations also create awareness to the masses, so many broadcast stations even when individuals owned stations have dominated the airways advertise lots of products and services. Most importantly, it serves as a medium where manufacturers or entrepreneurs reveal their products or services to the people. Also, it serves as a medium the audience gets to know about new products and new development. Finally, based on the emphasis of the relevance and necessities of the deregulation of the Nigerian airways, it is a fact that the deregulation of the airways was necessary and has benefited the country tremendously. There is also a bright prospect ahead of the industry even as these individuals who keep on thronging into the industry keep on imbibing fresh and well innovating ideas which would improve it to its peak of standard. So therefore, indeed the sky is a stepping stone for the industry.

Teaching Status Report :: JPE Education Teaching Teachers Essays

Teaching Status Report A lot has changed since my last status report. I have essentially been teaching math lessons on my own since October 11th. It feels really good to have so much responsibility and to become an accepted part of the classroom. I am also realizing how lucky I am to have a cooperating teacher who I am so compatible with. In reference to classroom management and discipline, my cooperating teacher and I have become a team. When he is teaching I serve as another source of discipline, I can talk to students one-on-one who are causing trouble and I can provide help to students so my teacher can continue with the lesson. Furthermore, because I am still working on my authoritative side, when the class gets really out of control my cooperating teacher serves as a reminder that although I may be a student teacher I should be respected like the other teachers. In reference to my authoritative side, it is still a work in progress. I definitely have developed an ability to raise my voice and correct a student when they are misbehaving. However, I still have trouble when the entire class gets out of control and starts talking. Halloween definitely revealed this weakness, the Friday before this holiday was especially stressful because the students were so excited about their plans and had already began eating candy so they were very noisy and they did not want to learn. I tried my best to correct them but my cooperating teacher had to step in. Although I wish I could have handled the situation myself I know this skill of correcting the entire class will come with time and experience. My students’ behaviors and learning abilities are both disappointing and exciting to talk about. It amazes me that some students have the ability to work hard, regardless of their personal lives, and truly want to learn. However, there are some students who have absolutely no desire to be in school. My teacher is still working with the guidance office to see which students have IEPs and should not be in this classroom. I am really frustrated that no action has been taken yet, the school year is quickly going by and it is clear that some of these students need more help than my cooperating teacher and I can provide. Another interesting detail about this problem is that most of the IEPs are behavior related.

Philip Tompkins Organizational Communicatin Imperatives :: essays research papers

Philip Tompkins' Organizational Communicatin Imperatives INTRODUCTION In the book Organizational Communication Imperatives, by Philip K. Tompkins, we are introduced to a chapter that deals with an organization that is held under high prestige by not only those who are employed by it, but by a country as well. This American organization is NASA, (National Aeronautical Space Administration), and although a very prestigious place to work, it is not free of its share of wrongdoing and counter productive ways. Ten years ago (1986), NASA was faced with its biggest catastrophe, The Challenger Explosion. This preventable event , which claimed the life of a crew of seven, left many questioning the ability of communication throughout NASA. The idea that a crucial element of the space shuttle, O-Rings, would pass inspection, although many scientists doubted the success of these, would be the ultimate cause of the crew's demise shortly after lift off. It seems these scientists' doubts were overlooked by a higher authority who gave the go ahead knowing the risk at stake.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States Army, well known for its maintaining of order and conduct, has fallen into a most peculiar and shameful predicament due to lack of communication. The New York Times brought its readers to the attention that all was not right in the military. An organization that shares a similar prestige to that of NASA, an organization who has exemplified its leadership time and time again by becoming a force, so powerful, that it is sometimes considered to police the world, has fallen into a sex abuse scandal. It seems that several women have come forward to proclaim their mistreatment from various acts ranging from rape to verbal harassment instilled upon them by members of the military. These women feel, had there been a genuine form of organizational communication, the study of sending and receiving messages, they would not have fell victims' to such hideous crimes. Senator Barbara Boxer stated (New York Times 11/96) that the complaints made by the women who came forward immediately were lost somewhere along the line in an attempt to reach a higher authority, signifying a need for some type of restructure. STRENGTHS In the minds of many people today the United States Army Is considered to have one of the best structured organizational communication networks. This is based upon the specified code of conduct that the Army is underlyingly ruled by. This is upheld by the specific chain of command which is easily distinguished by rank and uniform. Strict punishment is carried out upon those who violate rules and conduct, commonly accepted by this organization. The authority figures, in the Army, set tasks, and relay a common purpose to all

Capital investment Essay

Capital investment:regardless of whether they involve a tangible or intangiable asset. The incestment creates wealth if the discounted value of the future cash flow exceeds the up front cost. The problem is what to discount- stick to these rules: 1. Only cash flow is relevant. Net present value depends on future cash flows it’s the difference between cash received and cash paid out. Cash should be recorded only when they occur and not when work is undertaken or a liability is incurred. Ex: taxes should be discounted from their actual payment date. 2. Estimate cash flows on an incremental basis. The value of a project depends on all the additional cash flows that follow from project acceptance. Some things to watch for when you are deciding which cash flows to include: a. Do not confuse average with incremental payoffs. you will sometimes encounter turnaround opportunities in which incremental NPV from investing in a loser is strongly positive. These benefits should be net of all other cost. b. Include all incidental effects. Sometimes a new project will help the firms existing business. c. Forecast sales today and recognize after-sales cash flows to come later. Many manufacturing companies depend on the revenues that come after their products are sold. d. Do not forget working capital requirements. Net working capital aka working capital is the difference between a company short term assets and liabilities. Most projects entail an additional investment in working capital, which should be recognized in your cash flow forecasts. e. Include opportunity costs. Is the cash it could generate for the company if the project were rejected and the resource were sold or put to some other productive use, which prompts us to warn you against judging project on the basis of before vs after or with or without. f. Forget sunk costs. They are past and irreversible outflows, cannot be affected by the decision to accept or reject the project and so they should be ignored. g. Beware of allocated overhead costs. We should include only the extra expenses that would result from the project. h. Remember salvage value. The salvage value represents a positive cash flow to the firm, but some have shut down costs in which case the final cash flows may be – 3. Treat inflation consistently investors that inflation into account when they decide what is an acceptable rate of interest, tax saving from depreciation do not increase with inflation. Discount nominal cash flows at a nominal discount rate. Discount real cash flows at a real rate. Never mix real cash flows with nominal discount rates or nominal flows with real rates. Operating cash flow= revenues-cash expenses-taxes Separating investment and financing decisions: we analyze the project as if it were all equity financed, treating payments as cash outflows as coming from stockholders and all cash inflows as going to them, we do this to separate the investment decision from the financing decision. Investments in working capital: working capital increases in the early middile yearps of the project. working capital summarizes the net investment in short term assets associated with a firm, business, or project- the most important components are inventory, AR,AP. Working capital= inventory+ ar-ap Working capital increases for several reasons: 1. Sales are increasing and customers are slow to pay their bills, A/R ^ 2. Age properly. As projected sales increase, larger inventories have to be held in the aging sheds. 3. Payments are delayed, which ^ A/P Additional investment in working capital=increase in inventory+ increase in A/R – increase in A/P

Employee Diversity Assignment Essay

The most fundamental of the definition of employee diversity are focus on race, gender, nationality, age. According to (Nancy R, June 2005), fast technological change, globalization, the demand for skills and education, an aging workforce and greater ethnic diversification in the labor market have greatly influenced the arrangement of diversity today. Today’s definition of employee diversity includes race, age, ethnicity, gender or personality and work style, secondary influence such as religion, socioeconomics and education. Nowadays, employee diversity is very population the work place. It has advantages also accompanied by the disadvantages. 2. Advantages of employee diversity to the organizations 2. 1. Advantage of Language diversity: In the organization if the employees are speaking different languages, it may bring some benefits to the organization. For example, in the one company if the staffs speak not only one language, when the company need some staff to go overseas to join some meetings or do some inspections and research. So the company can only pick up some staffs that can speak those countries’ languages and send them for the meetings or inspections instead of find out some translators or even spend money to hire some consultants. It really can save the expenditure for the company. Nowadays, if a company want to be succeed, it really need to be able to better integrate into this world and also need to broaden their horizons. The employees are the main force of the company; their performances are really affecting the company’s future. The employees’ language diversity can help the company to explore more overseas markets and make them more competitive. 2. 2. Advantage of Gender diversity Gender diversity also has its own advantages for organization. In an era, people change their ways of thinking the gender diversity in the work place. They realized that not only men can do every work in the work place. Now, women are becoming more and more important in organization. Nowadays women have the skill set for the new competitive demands of technical work. Companies agree that they need more technical leaders with varied skills such as interpersonal skills and business skills. 93% of technical leaders in a survey indentified the building of collaborative networks in an organization as a crucial component of leadership (White, B, 2006). Women have the skills to meet the new demands of technological work both in terms of technical and interpersonal skills (Tray, L, 2007). Of course interpersonal skills are really needed in the organization; it is very useful and helpful for running the organization. All those show that women are indeed more suitable for certain parts of organization. These are also the advantages of gender diversity. 2. 3. Advantage of Age diversity Age diversity has its own advantages in the workplace. Nowadays in the work place, there are many different age levels of workers. One part of them is old workers. More and more old workers in the work place are the current trend. Because now, people are retiring much later in life than before and their careers are extended in the present day. According to the research by United States Department of Labor shows that between 1977 and 2007 employment of workers 65 and over increased 101 percent, compared to a much smaller increase of 59 percent for total employment (16 and over). For those older workers they all worked long time in the work place, definitely they got more experience and knowledge than the young age workers. Those of them can transfer knowledge and experience to the new workers. It can help the organization save the expenditure for sending the new workers for training. And the old workers’ experience can help the new workers avoid some common mistakes. In the other hand, nowadays in the work place there are also many young age workers. They also can bring the benefits to the organization. Compare with older workers, younger workers are more creative and innovation. They can help the organization to make better decision and improve problem solving (Harvey, Carol P; M. June Allard, 2012). Nowadays, if the organization wants to remain competitive, it should encourage the staff to distribute a variety of ideas which leads to higher levels of innovation. This part of workers is really a new vitality of organization and they can help organization to keep up with the pace of the times. 3. The problems of employee diversity Consider the employee diversity in the work place. Besides the benefits, there are many problems come out as well. And all these problems may lead to loss for the organization. Below two problems are very common in the work place. 3. 1. Communication problem Communication barriers will lead to problems in the organization. For example, if a manager gives instructions about completing a task to a staff. But this staff fails to fully understanding the instructions because of the language barrier. And then the staff may make mistakes if he tries to complete the task without receiving clarify or even don’t know what the task it is. This problem will cause the delay of the task complete or even fail. It will really cause the losses for the company. And if during a team work, the staffs have communication problem. It will affect the efficiency of work and sometimes it will affect the relationships of the teammates. And also because of the employees may come from different countries, so they may have their own work styles and behaviors and those situations also can cause communication problems among the employees. And finally affect the organization’s benefit. 3. 2. Gender discrimination problem Gender discrimination is another very common phenomenon in the work place. According to the traditional thinking, women have been considered intellectually inferior to men and men are more capable than women at work. Thus, in the workplace, under the same conditions men will get more opportunity to be promoted than women. Same as in the management level, women’s suggestion and ideas sometimes will be ignored or unaccepted. Above phenomenon have also can led to the lack of teamwork and inefficiency work. And this is also a reason of pay-gap between male and female workers. Sometimes the gender discrimination even happened in the recruitment. During the interview men really get high chance to get the job than women. According to a survey conducted by the center for Women’s law and legal services of Peking University in 2009 (Women’s Law and Legal services, 2009). This survey researched 3,000 female employees over one year’s time and got the results by analyzing data interviewed some women employees. According to employers set different criteria in recruitment and women have to have excellent performance than their male competitors in interview to get the same job. More than 1/3 of those women said that male employees are easy to get promoted and priority is always given to male employees. This is fully illustrated gender discrimination really happened in the work place and it becomes a big problem in the workplace. . Solutions to the problem of employee diversity Regarding the problems of employee diversity in the work place, we need to get some solutions to avoid or solve them. In case of these problems damage the interests of organization. Solution to communication problem: ? Training: Employees could be provided proper training to receive in certain language courses if they have language barriers. They also need to be trained how to use the organization internally information system such as telephone system, e-mail system. Set a SOP for staff to check the work has been access properly: Communication problem always caused by misunderstanding and ambiguity and finally lead to loss for the organization. The organization leaders can set some SOPs for staff to make sure the work and information has been implemented properly. In the SOPs may include the instructions of work process and double check procedures. 2. Solutions of gender discrimination: ? Set the relevant regulation of gender discriminations: Make sure the employee handbook includes anti-gender discrimination policies. Create clear examples of gender discrimination to clarify any questions employees may have. And organize the staffs review and test regularly. ? Put reflected box in the work place: In the organization it can be set the reflected box in the work place to encourage and promote the staff to reflect any problems especially the gender discrimination. Once the phenomenon happened, the organization should resolve it quickly and given the appropriate punishment. 4. Conclusion The employee diversity is a reflection of a present trend of this times. Diverse work teams can bring high value and benefit to organizations.

Organizational Theory Final Paper Essay

Due to the recent and anticipated changes the U.S. government has made and continues to make in procedures regarding contract awards, as well as external market pressures from the economic downturn, I submit this proposal as a new approach to the existing organizational structure. Because talent and loyalty are at such a high premium in today’s workforce, I submit that the workforce be modified structurally rather than a full-scale reduction. This economic crisis will not last long and our current reaction and decisions will determine our longevity in the market. So the main objective of this restructure will be to make the best and most beneficial use of our employees that are committed to moving forward and to continue to build goodwill with our employees, shareholders, customers and suppliers. Changes in technology are not an issue for this particular proposal. The very nature of this company enhances flexibility in technological changes and even spear-heads changes in some aspects of industry. There may be mild behavior changes needed, but only to coincide with structural changes. The structural changes should prove to be positively accepted, as underutilization and overutilization issues should be resolved. The outcomes expected are: * reduced costs by realigning talent to appropriate duties * redefining merits for bonuses and certain benefits * offering more flexible working conditions for higher performance * creating diverse teams based on goals and projects * redesign Marketing division, re-evaluate goals, re-evaluate performance Forces Driving Change: * Characteristics of workforce have changed * The organizational structure of this company embraces military-like order. Modification of this approach is needed to empower team structure and welcome more civilian business approaches as â€Å"staff and middle management are better networked, more mobile, and smarter about their value and their options in the market.† (PWC) * Labor supply has changed * Much of the upper management and specialized employees are retired military, bringing them closer to a second retirement. While current conditions have delayed this trend it still exists. Competing companies aggressively recruit educated and experienced managers and industry specialists so we must create conditions that will foster satisfaction and loyalty. * Government contract allocation procedures have changed * More attention and emphasis must be put on other areas of the company’s businesses for wealth building. Government contracting has adjusted rates and opened the door for smaller companies to compete for Defense and Aerospace teaming contracts. * Economic downturns have caused readjustments in businesses and education * The Business Services company needs to update and integrate new business-to-business consulting approaches, enhancing and adding to our strict Six Sigma training. * The Advanced Visualization Solutions division needs to develop their products to serve beyond educational facilities, as most facilities are not currently able to invest in state-of-the-art technology. These products need to be streamlined to bring the cost of production and cost to customers down. * The Construction Company needs to focus on developing more domestic business. The international projects need to be managed by on-site managers via patriots or expatriate assignments. This will reduce expensive unplanned international travel as well as build goodwill with the natives of the country the project is based in. * The Marketing/Communications division has become obsolete, using old approaches of only upgrading the company website and only attending industry exhibitions and conferences. Marketing has become isolated from the energy that exists in the whole of the company, not working cooperatively or creatively with each subsidiary company. This is possibly due to absence of the sense of meaningfulness in the managers, thus lack of motivation. * The Core Divisions need more cohesion in their performance. Due to the overlap of duties between HR, Contracting and Accounting, there must be less antagonism and more cooperation between the managers. The executives rely on authoritarian leadership and â€Å"job-scare† tactics to motivate operations of these departments, thus the managers isolate themselves into their own responsibilities by not sharing information or working as cohesive teams to resolve challenges. Obviously, most of these problems have their origin in the culture that has been created in the company. While there are a few who remain loyal to the mission statement of the company and endeavor to sustain a family-like atmosphere, most managers and employees have become dissatisfied with not only the culture but with their own sense of meaning within the company. Thus, the owners and executives must be the first to revisit the mission statement and goals first set forth by the owners, create a more cohesive and safe culture and implement their own change of perspective. â€Å"Far too often, leaders ask everyone else to change, but in reality this usually isn’t possible until they first change themselves†. (De Smet, et al) One of the strengths to having retired military personnel in leadership and production is their ability to follow orders and to learn quickly. Most of their experience in military life was often being given an order (goal) and some of the necessary resources (most of the time), but little knowledge on how to execute it. Much of our nation’s greatest technology has come from such situations. For example, John Shergill itemized 10 American technological advances accomplished during wartime. One of the most outstanding was the development of a virtual environment, or the internet. â€Å"Conceived and designed in the late 1970’s during the height of the cold war as a defense against nuclear war. The thought was that if vital government information could be stored in a virtual environment, it would be impossible to take out communications at one location. The effect of this advancement is obvious to anyone reading this†. (Shergill) Necessity being the mother of invention was also observable when a young officer was given command over the technology department where he was deployed. Not only was the technology obsolete, but he had no idea how a computer worked. His order was to update and repair the system. Period. He quickly learned and implemented all he could and was successful in not only updating but enhancing new technology for that particular base. Today, as a retired Navy colonel, he is a professor of Networking, computer software and hardware at an outstanding US college. So the ingenuity and problem solving skills that exists within the retired military community is priceless, but their instinctive command-and-control leadership styles have become outdated and ineffective in a civilian business world, especially with civilian employees. Six Sigma approaches have been attractive to the Business Solutions department because it continues to embrace the command-and-control management skills; focusing on optimal production and very little on optimizing producers. Therefore I propose comprehensive and all-inclusive leadership-development training. I understand this may be especially opposed by our Business Services division, as these instructors consider themselves experts in the field of leadership. But it is vital that leaders stay ahead of trends in leadership especially if they train other leaders. Their expertise in traditional instruction of management mixed with the evolving principles will not only enhance, but possibly lead to more forward thinking and new approaches as they implement them. Again, it would be quite in character for the retired military leaders to take what they learn in this area and create even more valuable tactics and approaches that will enrich business leaders the world over. Thus creating a new benchmark for our company and creating a new competitive edge. In the April 2012 online edition of McKinsey Quarterly, three experts in the field of leadership training wrote of their findings in making leadership training the heart of large organizational change. The authors described the situation of one global company as â€Å"While the need for operational change was clear—the performance of the company†¦was inconsistent and in many cases far below that of competitors in terms of efficiency, productivity, and cost—so too were the organizational obstacles. Drives for improvement, for example, carried a stigma of incompetence; current performance was considered â€Å"good enough†; conflict tended to be passive-aggressive or was avoided entirely; and†¦employees felt that they were treated as cogs and that their supervisors were enforcers. The effect of all this on employees was disengagement, a lack of trust in senior management, and a pervasive fear of making mistakes—a worry reinforced by the company’s strong culture of safety and of risk aversion†¦ (So) the senior team had to look beyond technical improvements and focus on helping the company’s leaders to master the personal behavioral changes needed to support the operational ones. To that end, the company mounted an intense, immersive, and individualized leadership program† (De Smet, et al). The authors note that the program took four months for each participant, and included two week-long training programs and ongoing coaching to integrate what they learn with their work experiences. In the span of three years the return on investment in the participants has been tenfold for each leader. The program has increased the company’s income by almost $2 million, and the new leadership behavior has been crucial to the company’s success and is believed to have made the total organizational changes that were made more effective. So the development program I suggest needs to include: * Integrating leadership training with a BHG (big hairy goal). Without personalizing training it will be ineffective. Without an obtainable and desirable goal training will be a waste of time and effort. * Recognize the strengths and successes our company has and build on them. Bring in our strongest and most dedicated leaders (not necessarily formal managers) and train them in how to skillfully influence change by engaging everyone involved in the organization. These leaders may need to be considered as new or replacing current ineffective management or at the very least as team/discussion leaders. They are the bridge between corporate office and employee satisfaction. Use our Company Philosophy, found in our Employee Handbook, to employ our Core Competencies to realize our Vision Statement. * Any change in our organization must be based on honesty. Every employee of our company possesses, or at one time possessed, an expectation of good from us. Being a part of this organization was highly esteemed in the community and upon hiring, the employees felt important and distinct in their field because of our decision to employ. After being employed for about 3 years, the most common feature of the dissatisfaction that begins to set in is the irregular dispersion of information and a feeling that Corporate is not being honest or forthright with them. While this may be a military â€Å"need-to-know† approach to employee management, it is no longer efficient, as our employees are no longer military and they expect inclusion. The â€Å"leaks† and rumors that circulate on all of our job-sites and offices are much more damaging than the truth given from a trusted leader could ever be. * Common language and vocabulary used by leaders must be adopted. The language of a common vision is powerful, so leaders must be allowed to emerge and reassigned to influence the entire company. Success is contagious so the empowered managers will be able to empower employees. * Evaluate managers’ skills and interests and place them in the appropriate department. Technology can be learned, but it won’t be learned by a dissatisfied manager. * Modify benefits. Currently all employees derive their motivation from our bonus plan. Employees have been willing to accept the absence of sick leave, the infrequency of pay raises, and the absence of certain benefits in favor of expecting the year-end bonus. The Employee Handbook indicates that bonuses are â€Å"discretionary profit-sharing and performance-based rewards provided to employees base on a review of the factors previously mentioned in addition to management’s recommendations† (Our Company Handbook, pg. 11). It should be noted that every employee has different needs and motivations for working with us. We should modify our benefit offering by allowing them to make the decision of whether they would rather have a raise, receive a bonus or an enhancement to their provided benefits. * Subsidiary companies’ Business Development departments and company-wide Marketing/Communications must begin to work more cooperatively, beginning with information sharing and frequent interaction. Up to this point, these two departments have functioned exclusively of the other, relying only on each other for necessary information or for marketing tools for conventions/meetings. While BD has relied heavily on personal contacts networks, it must begin to utilize the principals and power of marketing. Marketing/Communications must begin to pursue the good of each BD department to enhance their efforts. The commitment to the structural changes, development of leaders and employee happiness must begin with the owners. It must also be an ongoing commitment, as sporadic attempts will only reinforce skepticism and heighten dissatisfaction. Leadership training must become a systemic process, not an event (Day, pg 8).

How does Golding build up to the final emergence of the beast on the island? Essay

In this essay, I will be covering the element of the novel, â€Å"Lord of the Flies†, in which the â€Å"beast† emerges and causes the spread of evil amongst the group of boys. I will also explain how this has significance throughout the novel, how the previous events build up to this moment, why William Golding included this section, and his reasoning for writing the novel. The novel â€Å"Lord of the Flies† raises controversial issues of morality, basic human instinct and society in general. William Golding, the author of â€Å"Lord of the Flies†, portrays very strong beliefs concerning the capacity for evil, inborn into every human being, and these beliefs are portrayed throughout the novel in the way that the learned morals of civilisation and society gradually slip away from the group of boys, and they degenerate into savages, to eventually represent the â€Å"beast† on the island. This is what Golding believed was the â€Å"capacity for evil†. He suggested that, once all learned morals of society have slipped away, leaving only the raw nature which humans first possessed, there is a space where civilisation used to lie; the capacity for evil. He calls it this because he believed, that when all morals are non-existent, and human beings have absolved themselves from responsibility, there is nothing to prevent humans from committing evil deeds. Golding served as a naval officer during the war and through his experience, and through what he saw, he gradually learned that human nature was, perhaps, not as civilised as he previously perceived. He was appalled by how people were ready and willing to harm their fellow men knowing that that there would be no consequences and no reprimand for their actions; the Nazi concentration camps, where Jews were exterminated like rats, the way that the Japanese mistreated their prisoners, the mass bombing of civilians by Britain and America, and even some of the actions that he himself carried out upon people who were not even responsible for the situation. People would do things that they would never have contemplated, had the responsibility been theirs. People justified their actions by holding the belief that â€Å"right† was on their side; however, Golding soon began to question whether people actually believed this, or whether they were just trying to convince themselves that they were not doing wrong. He learned that without rules and boundaries, all human nature could turn savage and unrepentant. In a psychological experiment carried out in America, to observe the limits of human nature, it emerged that, if people were absolved of all responsibility for their actions, and if the responsibility for their action lay with somebody else, then a person was capable of doing things to their fellow human beings that they would’ve previously never have contemplated, had they been limited by the confinements of civilisation and the responsibilities of society. This is shown in the book, by the boys’ capacity for evil rising in proportion to the loss of moral confinements and civilisation. Throughout the novel, the evil on the island is represented by the idea of the â€Å"beast† which is eventually unleashed from within the boys, after all traces of the morals of civilisation have vanished. Throughout the novel, Golding uses strong images and underlying implications to build up to, and prepare the reader for the moment that the â€Å"beast† emerges and causes the ultimate destruction of everything that represents civilisation on the island. The setting for the novel is on a tropical island, often associated with paradise. This is a parallel with R.M. Ballantyne’s â€Å"Coral Island†, where a group of boys are deserted on a desert island, and work together to from a society in which they can function. When reading â€Å"Lord of the Flies† the immediate images that are conveyed, are ones of a tropical paradise, and the immediate conclusions drawn, are that the boys will be able to function correctly. However, in order to convey his deep concerns regarding human nature and the capacity for evil, Golding creates images very early on in the book, that suggest the island is not quite the paradise that we initially perceived it to be. Weaved intricately amongst the descriptions of the island as a paradise is imagery suggesting a malevolent presence; â€Å"witch-like cry† and the religious inferences of the fruits, such as in the Garden of Eden, which actually makes the boys ill, and gives them diarrhoea, all suggest the somewhat sinister undertones of the novel, which unfurl to a greater level as the novel progresses. We are introduced to Ralph and Piggy very early on in the novel, and we become immediately aware of the social divide between the two, a factor that will unite the boys later in the novel. Ralph is a well spoken and considers himself to be superior to Piggy, because Piggy speaks with poor grammar in comparison. This creates an outsider early on in the novel, and Piggy becomes a subject of ridicule, somebody that doesn’t matter, and someone who provides an easy target for murder, once the boys have degenerated into savages. In the first chapter, after Ralph has blown the conch and all of the boys have gathered, we are given our first impression of the choir as a â€Å"beast† or a creature. â€Å"Something dark was fumbling along†¦the creature stepped from mirage onto clear sand†. The choir has a military style of discipline, which is more apparent than the disciplines of their religion, and they obey Jack when he gives orders. We become aware instantly of Jack’s desire for power, and of the authority that he can command. When Jack comes forward, he â€Å"vaulted onto the platform with his cloak flying† which gives the impression of a creature of mythological evil, such as a vampire. This is where we first become aware of the prominence of Jack, and it hints at the possibility of Jack becoming some sort of dominating, evil presence in the novel. There is also the connection between Piggy, and the hunting of the pigs, which are considered to be of a lower standing in the food chain on the island; they are inferior, as is Piggy. From the beginnings of the novel, Jack sees Piggy as almost below human, and uses him as a target, when in reality, it is Jack who is the first to descend below humanity. There is a theory, regarding the degeneration into a tyrannical society, that, for this descent to begin, it is necessary to find â€Å"an inferior†, which is what all of the boys, with exception possible to Simon, find in Piggy. This provides a base, very early in the novel, for society on the island to degenerate into tyranny and savagery. The boys begin with an idea for the island of paradise; they will form a civilised society, and begin by having a vote on who should be the Chief. The idea of a vote excites them; it is an â€Å"adult† thing to do, a symbol of democracy, as is the conch, but is also a symbol of their old life and of society in general, an aspect which all of the boys wish to recreate on this island. Jack is adamant that he should be the chief, again confirmation of his desire for power. He justifies his claim with â€Å"simple arrogance, â€Å"because, I’m chapter chorister and head boy. I can sing C sharp.† His claim to chieftaincy are all physicality’s, he does not have leadership qualities, and his desire for physical power emerges further as the novel progresses, e.g. the whipping to initiate people into his tribe etc. Jack cares deeply about what the other boys think of him, and when he is not chosen as chief, Jack’s face disappears â€Å"under a blush of mortification† which implies that, for the rest of the novel, Jack may always have this deep jealousy of Ralph, and eventually try to displace him as leader. As this tension build up through the novel as the morals of society become less apparent, Jack’s attempt to displace Ralph completely ends with him ordering the killing of Ralph, when the taboo’s of the old life have completely disappeared. When Ralph tells Jack that the hunters are his to be whatever he wants them to be, he is quick to decide that they should be hunters, almost like some primitive tribe, which is eventually what the boys shall become, beginning with pigs and then eventually other members of the group. The hunter’s capacity to kill living things increases as the rules of society that are etched in their minds are forgotten. We are given subtle hints by Golding, that there is something particular about Jack, which leads him to express the evil side or the â€Å"beast† in his personality more so than other characters. Once Jack has degenerated to this level, it enables others to do so, as it absolves them from the responsibility and consequences of their actions, being part of on mass rather than being an individual. Firstly, Jack is shown to dislike democracy, when he â€Å"started to protest† at the idea of a vote for the Chief. He is more in favour of a dictatorship than a democracy, and with the formation of his own tribe, he becomes more than a leader, â€Å"†¦ painted and garlanded, sat there like an idol.† He doesn’t really care what others want, so long as he is happy. Jack is more likely to forget the rules and regulations of society if he were to benefit from doing so. Despite losing out in the vote, Jack and Ralph still wish to work together, â€Å"Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking† symbolising the need for cooperation in society, an image that is still firmly imprinted on the mind of every boy on the island. We become aware of the destruction on the island caused by the boys, very early on. The first instance of this is the mark made by the passenger tube of the plane on the island, which is described as a â€Å"scar†. The boys have already to destroy the island even with the civilities of their old life, and the boys, Jack, Ralph and Simon, commit their first act of intentional group destruction, by pushing the boulder down the mountain, whilst they investigate the island. We are then led to question, with this amount of destruction caused by the boys when they are still bound by the invisible limitations of society, what are they capable of when the taboo’s of their old life have broken down? This is answered when the beast finally emerges as the basic human nature of the boys, and climaxes with the death of Simon, who symbolises the pure side of human nature. In the early part of the novel, the limitations of society are clearly apparent, for example, when Jack cannot bring himself to kill the pig, â€Å"what an enormity that downward stroke would be† he tries to make excuses for himself, he cares about what the other think, â€Å"I was choosing a place†¦I was just waiting†¦to decide where to stab him.† However, it is obvious to the reader that he could not kill the pig, because, etched in his mind, is the firm image that killing is wrong, and that in his society, it is not acceptable. When the boys get back to the rest of the group, the begin to make plans for the island, â€Å"We’ll have rules†¦Lots of rules†¦Then when anyone breaks ’em—–.†They want a democratic society, the conch symbolises this democracy, they all want to recreate the civilisation that they knew at home, even Jack. The boys compare their situation to books regarding paradise islands where they can form a society of their own. However, Golding has already hinted that things may not be quite so perfect as the boys have perceived. The boys want to have fun on this island, and enjoy themselves, which could be seen as the eventual downfall of the boys and of the society that they try to create. As their society becomes forgotten, rescue, the most important thing in the beginning, becomes less important, and having fun dominates the agenda of most boys. When Ralph talks about the island, he says that things need to be done, and that they need to be rescued, but until then, they shall have fun. â€Å"It’s a good island. Until the grown-ups come to fetch us we’ll have fun.† This is ironic because, in Chapter Eight, when Simon is talking to â€Å"The lord of the Flies†, it says to him, â€Å"We are going to have fun on this island. Understand? We are going to have fun on this island!† implying that the beast within each boy is ultimately their desire for â€Å"fun†, and when the taboo’s of the old life have vanished, the beast can fully emerge and enable the boys to become absolved of all remorse that their old life would have made them feel. The first instance of â€Å"the beast† being manifested from the human mind as a physical thing is when the small boy is urged forward, and speaks to Piggy. He has ideas of a â€Å"snake thing† and a â€Å"beastie† of which the older boys are dubious of at first. However, the general mood of the boys changes, â€Å"There was no laughter at all now and more grave watching.† Despite Ralph’s being adamant that the beast does not exist, many of the other boys are not sure, and this is the first time in the novel that the beast becomes a real prospect. When the boys first decide that they need a fire, all of the boys are keen to join in. They are working as one. Jack takes pride in his civilised world, â€Å"we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything.† This is also ironic, for it is in fact Jack who degenerates into such a savage, capable of unspeakable deeds when not bound by the rules of society. When the fire rages out of control, it is another symbol of the destruction caused by the boys. It is describes almost as an animal, â€Å"a bright squirrel† â€Å"began to gnaw† â€Å"a kind of wild life, crept as a jaguar†¦Ã¢â‚¬  this is also referring to the possibility of the group of boys again causing destruction as one body, as an animal, which later becomes apparent when all of the boys, including Piggy and Ralph, become absorbed in the primitive dance as one body, which ends with the death of Simon. Ralph begins to see the capacity for destruction on the island, â€Å"the beginnings of awe at the power set free below them†¦the awe made him savage.† This is ironic because it is Ralph who, despite becoming involved in the dance that kills Simon, does not descend to savagery. The third chapter begins with Jack, crouched down on a hunt, and acting as a true hunter would, following a trail, examining a cracked twig etc. We are introduced to a side of Jack that is more animal-like, he is described as â€Å"dog like† and this is a reflection on how he begun the gradual descent to savagery. Whilst he still bears the majority of the social qualities imprinted on his mind, it is now very easy to believe that he may have lost the social factor which prevents him from harming another creature, and that the prospect of Jack killing a pig, is now very possible. When he fails to catch the pig, he join the others on the beach where Ralph and Simon are attempting to build the shelters, without the help of the others, who have all gone off to play. This is a reminder of the desire for fn, they don’t want to work, and this desire for fun, part of a series of events that will ultimately lead to the emergence of the beast. This is also the first incident in which we see the conflict of ideas from Ralph and Jack, and we see the conflict of interests as Jack’s moral values deteriorate. Ralph ants to get the shelters finished, whereas Jack wants to hunt, â€Å"They were both red in the face and found looking at each other difficult.† When they change the subject, it eventually leads to the beast again, how the â€Å"beast† frightens the â€Å"littluns† and how they are beginning to doubt the island themselves, and the luxuries that they once thought is gave them. When Simon suggests that it is â€Å"as if the beast ie†¦or the snake thing was real.† this causes a slight apprehension amongst the boys, and, whilst they attempt to disregard the thoughts of the beast, the presence is undeniably felt. When Ralph talks about being rescued, we are given another subtle hint of Jack’s gradual loss of civility when â€Å"Jack had to think for a moment before he could remember what rescue was.† His priorities have changed, he no longer cares so much about being rescued, but he is being consumed by the will to hunt and have fun, he is being consumed by the beast from within himself. Throughout the novel, Simon is portrayed as an almost prophetic figure, with an ability to see the truth of situations. His refuge is in the forest, in an area surrounded by bushes adorned with flowers similar in appearance to candles, he seeks nature. A bush with candles on it is a symbol of the church, and this imagery further confirms his role as a prophetic figure. There is also the religious inference at Simon’s death and the manner in which he was killed; a prophetic figure murdered by his own people. At the beginning of Chapter Four, it become clear that the boys have now adapted to the natural method of time keeping; the Sun, as opposed to traditional methods, which would have been prominent in their society. This is again symbolic of the loss of the influences of their old way of life, which in turn leads to the descent into savagery. Despite this, many of the boys still felt the ties with their old way of life very strongly, as if it was etched deeply into the far reaches of their minds, and despite the gradual descent suffered by the vast majority of the boys, many had not descended to the extent that Jack had. For example, when Roger and Maurice kicked over the sand castles built by some of the younger children, this is symbolic of the destruction of the society that they knew. However, when Maurice kicked sand in the young child’s eye, he â€Å"still felt the unease of wrong-doing†¦formed the outlines of an excuse.† Also, when Roger throws stones at one of the young children, he threw to miss, because, â€Å"there was a space around Henry†¦into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of old life†¦the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law. Roger’s arm was conditioned by civilisation.† The next stage in Jacks deterioration is when he absolves himself of responsibility, and liberates himself behind the mask. It became a new face, he became â€Å"an awesome stranger† and Jack’s â€Å"laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling†¦the mask was a thing on it’s own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self consciousness.† The snarling is symbolic of Jack’s descent to his basic animal instincts, to hunt and survive, and now that he has been liberated from shame, it suggests that he could now be capable of anything without remorse. It is also this chapter in which Jack’s hunters let the fire out in order to go hunting, when there is a ship on the horizon and the possibility of rescue is more real. However, with no signal, they are not rescued. This is what finally portrays to the reader Jack’s loss of morals, when he has killed his first pig and is confronted by Ralph for letting the fire out. Jack is â€Å"vaguely irritated by this irrelevance but too happy to let it worry him†. It is clear from this that Jack has forgotten the importance of the fire because the civilisation of his previous life has been forgotten, and he is also incredibly satisfied at killing his first pig, something that he would not have contemplated doing had the morals of his old life been present. We can see from Jack’s actions that the lack of civilisation has allowed him, gradually, to lose all morals and this has allowed him to degenerate to the level of a savage. The group, as a whole, have not lost the morals of their old life to the extent that Jack has, and this can be seen in stages of the dance, when they mime the killing of the pig. The first stage is symbolic of the slight loss of morals, which has enabled them to hunt. When Maurice enters the ring as they chant, the mimed the actions, â€Å"pretended to beat him.† Later in the novel, when Robert plays the part of the pig, the actions of the group are a lot more sinister, and they cause real pain to him. After wards, they try to justify it as â€Å"a good game† nothing more. The final stage of the groups decline is when they perform the dance that ends with the death of Simon. In Chapter Five, Ralph calls a meeting and we see all together, the extent to which the society has diminished, due to the loss of morals. He talks about people getting frightened, again symbolising the indisputable presence of the beast on the island. Jack takes this opportunity to exert his authority, he could hunt the beast, and he knows that if he can make the others rely on him to keep them safe from the beast, they will trust him. One child, who wished to speak, begins to tell Piggy the information that had been drummed into his head from his old life, his name, address and telephone number. When he cannot remember, we are reminded of the gradual loss of civilisation, which was once firmly imprinted into the minds of all children on the island. When he says that the beast comes from the sea, the other boys begin to doubt their own belief that the beast does not exist, and the meeting descends into disorder. When Simon speaks, he tries to convey his own interpretation of the beast. His interpretation of the beast is that is something that comes from within people, but he lacks the articulate vocabulary that he needs to express his views, and nobody can understand what he means. Simon is the most perceptive of the boys on the island, and he has the ability to see the truth of the situations, but he does not have the means to convey his thoughts. At the end of the chapter, Ralph prays for a message from the grown up world, and in Chapter Six, they receive one. However, no boy is awake to see what it really is, and it becomes, for the boys, the embodiment of the beast, when, as the reader knows, this is not the case. It is Sam ‘n Eric who are first to spot the â€Å"beast†, whilst they are manning the fire. The boys became united in the need to rid the island of this beast, but the opposing characters of Jack and Ralph are shown again. Jack sees this as a real hunt, whereas Ralph is more realistic about the prospect of hunting the beast. This brings the two to argue again, and they eventually decide to go up the mountain. When Ralph goes on his own, he sees the sea, describes as â€Å"some stupendous creature†¦the sleeping leviathan† as a horrible monster, or almost as a beast. It is as if the beast has begun to swallow the island, and become part of everything around the boys. Ralph begins to long for the luxuries of his old life, to â€Å"cut this filthy hair right back to half an inch†¦have a bath†¦with soap†¦a toothbrush would come in handy too.† He is the only boy who is consciously remembering the ways of his old life, and yearning for them. When Simon speaks to him, he tells him â€Å"I just think you’ll get back all right.† Notice the use of you’ll and not we’ll, it is almost as if Simon has foreseen his own death. There is evidence that, despite Ralph never actually descending to the level of a savage, he does feel compelled to join in with the hunters, and actually becomes part of their society, albeit only temporarily, to join in with some of the deeds that are incomprehensible as an individual. For example, he joins the other boys on a hunt, and hits a pig with the spear. He gains a great deal of joy out of doing this, which symbolises the overall demise of everything that good and civilised on the island, and not even Ralph can escape it. After this, the hunters, including Ralph, re-enact the hunt, with Robert playing the part of the pig. Whereas before, the dances such as this were not violent, all of the boys become absorbed in this primal dance, gaining satisfaction out of hurting another human. â€Å"Robert was screaming and struggling with the strength of the frenzy.† â€Å"Ralph too was fighting to get near†¦The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.† Ralph uneasily tries to justify what he just did. He knows that it was wrong, but as a member of the hunt, he was no longer an individual, and became capable of causing harm to another. This shows how the beast has become an overwhelming power amongst the boys, even Ralph. When Jack sees the â€Å"beast† on the mountain, he is absolutely terrified, which makes us remember that he is only a child, despite what he has done on the island, due to his loss of morals and ethics. The â€Å"beast† is â€Å"something like a great ape† a simile used often in the novel to symbolise evil. When they tell the other boys, Jack comes to the conclusion that the beast is a hunter, which reaffirms his â€Å"age old tremors in the forest† and the feeling that he had, when he was hunting, of being the hunted. Jack becomes insulted by Ralph, and tries to turn the other boys against him. He tries to displace him as chief, and fails. His concern for what others think of him causes hi great embarrassment, â€Å"Slowly, the red drained from Jack’s cheeks, then came back with a painful rush.† He decides that he can no longer remain under Ralph’s Chieftaincy, and left to form his own tribe, inviting others to join him. Initially, nobody does, but gradually, more and more of the boys leave to join Jack’s tribe. Jack has the ability to unite the boys against a common enemy, for most of the part this was Piggy, an obvious outsider, and this ability to unite the group is similar to the fascist leaders in the Second World War. Because Golding wrote the novel shortly after World War Two, after the devastation had swept through the world, he was able to witness the power of the fascist leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini, and the effect they had over the people who they ruled. Golding depicts the power of the leaders in the book, and Jack’s character resembles the fascist powers of the war. The way in which Hitler came to power is similar to the way that Jack eventually displaces Ralph. The situation in Germany after the First World War was one of devastation and despair. The reparations that the Germans were forced to pay and the Wall Street Crash crippled the German economy and people rebelled against the government. Hitler used this as a way to gain support and become powerful, promising Germans that he would make their country strong again, and provide them with the things that they needed. People joined him out of desperation, needing the things that he was promising. This is similar to the way Jack gained support, because he was aware of the doubt and fear that was spreading through the boys. He promised them meat and fun, which they gratefully accepted, leaving Ralph to join Jack’s tribe. Simon suggests climbing the mountain, to see the beast. But nobody else agrees. Climbing a mountain is one of the oldest symbolisations of the struggle and the search for truth. When Simon does climb the mountain on his own, he does find the truth, and we are led to the moment where the beast is finally unleashed within the boys, and Simon is killed before he can tell them the good news. When Jack has formed his own tribe, and they go to hunt together, we see that Jack has now become a savage with no remorse, just barbaric cruelty. This is inferred when they kill the sow, for not only will she die, but the piglets also, who would have fed them in the future. It is no longer about hunting for food, but for pleasure and satisfaction of hurting another living being. Jack insists on leaving the head as an offering for the beast, he sees it as a superior hunter, almost as a god, and that they should worship it. Jack’s tribe, towards the end of the novel, are described as savages, which suggest they have completely abandoned all civilisations, and lead the lives of animals. The reasons for this can be linked to the theories held by Charles Darwin, who formed the theory of evolution, in which the fittest survive, creating a species of increasing strength. A prime example of this occurrence is in groups of wild animals, such as lions. Only the strongest male is allowed to mate with the females, and must fight off competition from other males. Although there were no females on this island, Jack displayed natural urges such as this, because the basic instinct in humans is the same as the basic instinct in animals, and that this basic instinct to lead and be powerful is still present. The language that Golding uses when the boys hunt, suggests that the sexual desire to hunt and be the leader is still present, even thought there are no females on the island. The boys follow the pig, â€Å"wedded to her in lust† which shows natural sexual instinct, which is present in nature; the male lion wants to become the leader of the pack in order to produce offspring. Once Jack had gained control of the group, he began to create fear amongst the boys. He reinforces the idea of the beast by leaving an offering for it. This makes the boys fear more extreme; if Jack believes in the beast, then surely it must be real. The tension, which builds up to the point when the beast emerges, is symbolised by the weather. â€Å"There were no shadows under the palms†¦only this strange light†¦among the bulging clouds thunder went off like a gun.† This tension builds up as this section of the novel progresses, and is constantly symbolised by the build up of the weather, which climaxes with the storm as the actions of the boys climax with the killing of Simon. As Simon speaks the Lord of the Flies, (which literally translates as Beelzebub, or the Devil), he hears the Lord of the Flies say what he already knew, deep down, but could not convey to the others. â€Å"I’m the Beast†¦You knew didn’t you? I’m part of you?†¦I’m the reason why it’s no go.† Simon is aware that this represents the beast that is present in all of the boys. â€Å"You know perfectly well you’ll meet me down there – so don’t try to escape!† This symbolises the fact that the beast is now everywhere, surrounding the island, it is part of everything, and has destroyed the limitations of society. The beast tell Simon that they shall have fun, no matter what, which corresponds with Ralph saying in the beginning of the novel that they shall have fun. It is this, the beast, the desire for fun that has brought about the destruction of society and the loss of morals. â€Å"We shall do you. See? Jack a nd Roger and Maurice and Robert and Bill and Piggy and Ralph. Do you. See?† It is almost as if Simon has foreseen his own death. The build up of tension continues, â€Å"the build p of clouds continued†¦until the air was ready to explode.† When Simon finds the parachutist on the rock, he freed him, and realises what the boys have all been afraid of, he resolves to go down the mountain, and tell the others. â€Å"the thunder exploded again†¦big drops of rain fell among them†¦the flickering light became brighter and brighter and the blows of the thunder were only just bearable.† The boys have become not a group, but a tribe, and they can think of nothing else to do, than their tribal dance. Even Piggy and Ralph take part in the dance, â€Å"under the threat of the sky, found themselves eager to take part in this demented, but partly secure society.† Ralph feels that he would rather become part of this savage society, than be completely excluded, he find some comfort in the knowledge that he is not an individually but part of a larger body. â€Å"the ring yawned emptily.† As if it needs to be filled by something. The beast is beginning to emerge, as the tribe becomes one creature, totally absolved of all responsibility for their actions, which would not apply, were they individuals, â€Å"the throb and stamp of a single organism.† the organism in effect, being the beast. The ring becomes horseshoe shaped a Zulu hunting technique, as the tension continues to build up. As Simon stumbles into the ring, the narrator refers to him as the beast, symbolic of what the boys think he is. However, in the next few lines, the narrator refers to him as Simon, suggesting perhaps that there is something in the boys that do still recognise him. It also uses the word â€Å"him† not â€Å"it†, which is very specific. If they had truly believed Simon to be the beast, then the gender would be irrelevant. The narrator then goes back to using the work beast, to imply Simon, which implies there is now no knowledge of Simon, and the boys, â€Å"screamed, struck, bit, tore†¦tearing of teeth and claws† The boys are now described as animals, they are, as one the true beast, and it has been unleashed on the island, as all traces of morals and ethics have vanished. The lack of humanity left in the boys causes them to see Simon as the beast. However, in the passage concerning Simon’s body being washed out to sea, he becomes Simon again, as the boys become themselves again, not one giant organism. Simon is made â€Å"silver† and dignified, marble like, by the sea taking him back to nature, the very thing that he originally sought after. Simon’s death symbolises the death of belief, of decency and compassion, and the ability to see the truth. It has led to the total demise of good and decency on the island. Also, now that they have seen the parachutist, they believe in the beast more than ever, and now Simon is dead, there is nobody who can tell them the truth, and Jack uses this fear of the beast to control his tribe. Ralph is the only boy who can admit to what they have done to Simon, even Piggy tries to justify what they did, but only Ralph admits that it was murder, which symbolises the fact that Ralph has not quite succumb to the beast, as the majority of the other boys have done. The final taboo on the island was to kill another human, and now that this taboo has been broken, there is nothing to stop Jack from doing whatever he desires. Not only has Jack degenerated to this level, but also other members of his tribe have, and we see this later in the novel, when Ralph and Piggy go to see Jack at the other end of the island, for it is Roger, not Jack who drops the boulder, killing Piggy, and smashing the conch. With the destruction of the conch, democracy is destroyed, which is symbolic of the fact that democracy is a fragile thing, and can only work when everybody believes in it. In this novel, Golding was questioning the capacity for evil in all humans, and whether the basic instinct of all humans is evil, where they will stop at nothing for the basic desire for power, but that civilisation prevents this from being exposed. Throughout the novel, we can see that, in Golding’s opinion, human nature has the ability to turn savage, under the right conditions. The boys begin with a glorious image, similar to that of Coral Island of a beautiful island paradise, which they can inhabit and live happily and have fun until they are rescued. In the beginning we see that the boys have a strong desire to recreate a society similar to the one that they have just left. They want rules and regulations, and all of the things that make a civilised society work. Despite this, we see that, in Golding’s opinion, without the moral restraints that are present in a civilised society, the basic human nature to survive will kick in, causing all traces of morals and ethics to be forgotten, until the human has degenerated into a primeval savage, capable of doing anything in order to survive. They become not human, but animals, beasts, and this emerges as the morals of their old life disappear. He believed that it was society that gave you an identity, without society, and therefore identity, humans would become absolved from all responsibilities and could therefore commit un-comprehendible deeds without remorse. I believe, that there is the basic capacity in all humans for evil, a capacity to hurt and kill descending from the days where it was necessary for humans to hunt and kill in order to survive, yet I believe that the capacity for evil is not as extreme as Golding portrays in his novel. For Golding implies that, without the presence of civilisation, humans would act in a way that they would have been required to behave in order to survive, and degenerate until they are no more than animals, or beasts. By this he implies that, led by their desires and needs, and absolved of responsibility, the natural instinct for humans is to behave in an evil manner. I disagree that humans are evil, because otherwise how could civilisation have developed in the first place? If everybody acted in an evil way, then this behaviour would have been considered acceptable, and â€Å"normal† and nobody would feel the need to say what was right and what was wrong, because everybody would behave in the same manner. If this was the case, actions such as murder would be accepted as any other essential impulse would be such as eating or sleeping, however, this is not the case, because society has taught us that these things are wrong. This shows that there is an even larger capacity in human nature for good and decency, which overcomes the capacity for evil and enables humans to form a civilisation. So human nature is not basically evil, despite people that do evil things, when absolved of responsibility, people do what they feel is necessary at any given moment, which may be an evil deed, such as those seen by Golding in the war. This does not mean, however, that these people are evil, merely that they are doing what they feel is necessary at that given time, in their case, to save their country. Of course it is undeniable that there are people who do murder, without justification, and people who do commit evil deeds without necessity, but it must be remembered that these are part of a vast minority, and this is not present in the basic human nature, which has a far greater capacity for good than evil.