Wood Surname Meaning and Origin

Wood Surname Meaning and Origin WOOD Surname Meaning Origin: 1) Originally used to describe a person who lived in or worked in a wood or forest. Derived from Middle English wode, meaning wood. 2) Possibly derived from the Old English wad, meaning crazed or crazy, the name was sometimes used to describe someone considered mad or violent. 3) An ancient Scottish surname, first called De Bosco, because the family bore trees in their coat of arms. Wood is the 75th most popular surname in the United States. Ward is also popular in England, coming in as the 26th most common surname. Surname Origin: English, Scottish Alternate Surname Spellings: WOODE, WOODS Genealogy Resources for the Surname WOOD: 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their MeaningsSmith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census? WOOD Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Wood surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Wood query. FamilySearch - WOOD GenealogyFind records, queries, and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Wood surname and its variations. WOOD Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Wood surname. Cousin Connect - WOOD Genealogy QueriesRead or post genealogy queries for the surname Wood, and sign up for free notification when new Wood queries are added. DistantCousin.com - WOOD Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Wood. Looking for the meaning of a given name? Check out First Name Meanings Cant find your last name listed? Suggest a surname to be added to the Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins. - References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, 2005. Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia. Avotaynu, 2004. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. Back to Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins

Eight things super powerful women NEVER do

Eight things super powerful women NEVER do Everyone could benefit from a little more power and confidence in the workplace, but studies have shown that women in particular tend to be more hesitant about wielding the kinds of skills and behavior typically associated with leaders. If you’re looking for a way to boost your own presence at work and feel more in control of your career, here are some of the things that badass, powerful women never do. 1. They don’t downplay their achievementsMany women feel like talking openly about their achievements is arrogant or braggy. On the contrary, owning your success (and the steps you took to get there) is one of the most effective ways to advance your career. Being open about your success gives you concrete accomplishments you can point to in job interviews or raise negotiations.2. They don’t avoid confrontationOpenly disagreeing with someone (like a colleague or superior) may feel aggressive and out of line, but debate can be healthy- and someone else isn’t necessarily right simply because they’re saying it in public. If you disagree, or have a differing perspective, don’t be shy about saying so (in a professionally appropriate way, of course).3. They don’t trash others to get aheadWhat was true in high school is still true in the workplace: smack talkers always get caught up in the drama in the end. Spreading rumors or denigrating others just so you might look better is not a good look for anyone. And if others know or think you can’t be trusted, you can expect the same treatment from others. Power comes from succeeding- not from stepping on other people.4. They don’t let criticism derail themAt some point, everyone comes up against some harsh criticism, a bad review, or a professional rejection of some sort. That doesn’t have to define you or your career. Powerful people take the criticism for what it is, learn what they can, make adjustments, and move on.5. They don’t let abusive behavior go uncheckedWhether it’s something as serious as harassment or simply not standing up to inappropriate behavior at work, calling it out doesn’t make you a snitch or a weak-looking victim. If you see or experience behavior that makes you uncomfortable, it’s on you to decide how to best approach it- whether that’s reporting through a Human Resources process or voicing your discomfort with the person directly.6. They don’t internalize mistakes as personal failingsIf something goes wrong at work, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your personality or skills are defective. The power move is to acknowledge what happened (â€Å"This was a choice I made, and this is why it was wrong.†), correct the course, and move on. Work fails are not necessarily personal fails.7. They don’t fear failureFailing at something is demoralizing for everyone, no matter how confident you normally are. But truly powerful people have confidence in their skills and abilities, and understand that failure isn’t a game-ender. Instead, think of it as a game-changer. It’s a chance to regroup, rethink, and be better.8. They don’t let self-doubt run the showEveryone has self-doubt sometimes. Every. Single. Person. The trick is not letting that derail your progress by hesitating and overthinking what your next steps are. Sometimes you have to overrule your doubting brain and go with your instincts. You have skills and experience that are guiding you- don’t let that get pushed out by that little voice saying, â€Å"But what if I’m wrong/not talented enough/not prepared?†Confidence and power are within reach for all of us- all personalities, experience levels, and walks of life. At the root of all of it is knowing who you are, what you bring, and what you want to achieve. You know better than anyone what youâ €™re capable of achieving. Don’t be afraid to be bold!

JP Morgan Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

JP Morgan - Case Study Example These laws are meant to regulate the financial markets in US. Impact of Federal interest rate hikes may deter investment because it costs more to borrow. Interest rates in USA remained in between 4%-5% in 2009. Strong dollar may make exporting more difficult because it may raise the price in terms of foreign currency. Declining personal savings rate.In September 2005, the personal saving rate as a percentage of disposable income was negative implying US consumers spent more than 100% of their monthly income. 3. Social Factors determine the way the society in groups behaves because of cultural factors. In US Increasing minority Population, increasing retiree Population, have their impact on the financial behaviour of the US saving and expenditure rate and ways. Customer Loyalty is very much determining sustenance of a business for long. J P Morgan has built this customer loyalty by strong brand equity.. 4. Technological Factors: The fast changing financial world of US and UK such as highly computerised service, online banking, insurance and IT integration of lending institutions have sizeable impact on the financial services of JP Morgan. 5. Ecological: Every business today is responsible for maintaining the ecological balance directly or indirectly. J P Morgan is active in taking up and investing in environmental projects to carry out this responsibility 6.Legal framework of US, UK and other countries where J P Morgan function has undergone fundamental changes on account of introduction of stringent law after sub-prime lending debacle having impact on the financial services of the company. Impact of insurance industry after deregulations has strong effect on the business operation US Financial Services Industry: An Analysis www.researchandmarkets.com/.../us_financial_services_industry_an_analysis.pdf SWOT analysis is to make a long list of every factor that defines the company's situation. JP Morgan as financial global company has several strength that sustained the company against tough competition. Strengths JP Morgan is a leading global financial brand with recorded revenues of $71,372 million during the fiscal year ended December 2007, an increase of 15.1% over 2006. The operating profit of the company was $22,805 million during the fiscal year 2007, an increase of 14.7% over 2006. The net profit was $15,365 million during the fiscal year 2007, an increase of 6.4% over 2006. They have extensive retail distribution network, high quality asset investments and Capital strength. Weaknesses Sub-prime exposure in the US and UK shook the entire financial world. Several months before the U.S. sub-prime mortgage crisis surfaced, JP Morgan had detected accumulated such sub- prime risks associated with mortgage securities. The company dumped those risky assets and could avoid being trapped deeper. Opportunities J P Morgan diversified in banking and brokerage global

Financial Crises Presentation PowerPoint Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Financial Crises - PowerPoint Presentation Example The purpose of this study is to explain the main types and causes of crises in financial markets and analyse the responses (such as quantitative easing QE) to them by the governments. The types of financial crisis can be primarily classified into banking crisis, international financial crisis, wider economic crises, and speculative bubbles and crashes. Crisis in banks occur due to sudden withdrawals by depositors probably due to unexpected panic looming over the market. The basic business model in any bank will reveal that the main earnings of the bank are generated from the difference between interest earned from investment in profitable projects and the interest paid on deposits. As the banks lend out the majority portion of cash they receive on deposits in avenues of optimum investment, any sudden demand for pull back of money by the depositors will make the bank insolvent because of the fact that no banking organisation has the liquidity to repay their demand and time deposits at the same time. This causes some customers to lose their money on deposits and the panic quickly spreads over the market causing depositors in other banks to pullout money from banks. This creates a cyclical chain reaction in the financial markets that adversely affects investor sentiments and thereby creating banking financial crisis. This phenomenon is also called the ‘bank run’. Example of such banking financial crises or bank run includes the Northern Rock bank run in 2007 and the legendary run on banks of United States in the year 1931. International financial crises occurs when a country that previously maintained fixed exchange rate regime is abruptly forced to adopt floating rate system. This generally requires devaluation of currency due to market speculation. This type of crisis is also known as the balance of payment crisis or the currency crisis. The origin of the crisis lies with the difference in relative exchange rate between the

Community Response to a Community Problem Essay Example for Free

Community Response to a Community Problem Essay The youth gang problem in Southern California has reached epidemic proportions, and it calls for immediate action. However, any meaningful response on a social concern must be made with an understanding of the root causes of such an issue. Here we identify possible key causes of gang involvement and draw out implications for possible solutions to the problems involved. The key solutions require going beyond the individual, towards taking community action. Solving Californias gang problem, as in any â€Å"issue† or social problem, would not be easy. As a social problem, it must be studied systematically and would invariably require a social response. This social response means the involvement of many if not all community members, not just those directly concerned with the issue. It also means tapping significant community resources. At a practical level, community response is key as some possible solutions would entail a lot of resources, such as increasing self-esteem among youth at risk, stressing the importance of education, and providing training services. Gangs, Youth, Class and Violence: Reasons to Act Los Angeles County in particular has been called the gang capital of the world. Gang activity in the place accounts for a significant amount of violent crimes with approximately 6617 gang-related crimes committed in 2006 (House of Representatives, 1993). Gang members were believed responsible for 19 percent of the robberies, and 10 percent to 12 percent of the total felonious assaults in the southeast division of Los Angeles (Joint Committee on Organized Crime and Gang Violence). Today, in the City of Los Angeles alone there are more than 250 active gangs with over 26,000 members, while in the entire LA County there are around 950 gangs with more than 100,000 individuals (www. lapdonline. org). The most unfortunate aspect of this development perhaps is that more and more young people are involving themselves in gangs and are being exposed to or are themselves causing a lot of violence. Juvenile offenders are the nations fastest growing crime problem. While adult violent crime rates have remained fairly steady over the past decade, juvenile offenses have soared. It appears that the catalyst for this violence is the presence of gangs in low-income, urban areas. A study by the Office of the Attorney General of the State of California reveals that in 2006 approximately 5,168 arrests were made per 100,000 juveniles (age 10-17) compared to 5,283 arrests per 100,000 adults. (http://ag. ca. gov) In low-income, urban areas of Southern California, much of the increase in youth violence can be traced to gangs, usually in confrontations between rival gang members. As one expert witness has testified, â€Å"Drive-by shootings, turf wars, and homicides are mostly tied to gangs† (http://www. lapdonline. org).

The Minister’s Black Veil Essay -- Literary Analysis, Nathaniel Hawtho

In his various works, Nathaniel Hawthorne addresses the religious themes dominant in colonial Puritan society. For example, the beloved Mr. Hooper of Hawthorne’s parable The Minister’s Black Veil dons a black veil, a mysterious change which the Puritans believed â€Å"could portend nothing but evil† (Hawthorne 630). As a result, the Puritans isolate their minister. Even though the parable does show the Puritans’ harsh and superstitious reaction to the vagary of the minister, the veil itself symbolizes both the minister’s isolation from society and his connection to society through original sin. This veil and other symbols in Hawthorne’s works illustrate the universal truth that â€Å"all art is paradox.† Hawthorne approaches this notion in his novel The Scarlet Letter by placing contradictions at the heart of his art. The female protagonist, Hester Prynne, bears the societal burdens of adultery as she wears the scarlet letter â€Å"A. † Because of her suffering and struggle to find her place in society, Hester Prynne eventually receives redemption. However, Hester’s crime alters the lives of two others: Minister Dimmesdale and the physician Chillingworth, who both seek salvation, and by the end of the novel, all three redeem themselves. Nonetheless, the three would not have redeemed themselves had they not sinned. Through the contradictions of the true Christian model and his characters’ personalities, Hawthorne reveals that redemption is still possible even after one falls. Nathaniel Hawthorne paradoxically depicts Hester Prynne as the Christian model even though she is considered immoral. In Christian theology, Jesus is the physical representation of God and exemplifies the characteristics needed to attain salvation, so the way one could tel... ...this literary art to offer hope to the reader that redemption can be achieved after sin, and he effectively conveys this message through the contradictions of the Christian model and the personalities of his characters. In both The Scarlet Letter and The Minister’s Black Veil, Hawthorne explores isolation from society and connection to society by original sin through vagaries in religious characters, such as Dimmesdale and the minister Mr. Hooper. Through this paradox and those in his novel, Hawthorne reveals that life and human nature are paradoxes, for a person must struggle and face disappointment before he or she can truly find success and happiness. Moreover, a person can only redeem himself by understanding the consequences of sin through experience, and through these contradictions in his art, Hawthorne inspires his readers to find clarity from confusion.

Midsummer: Mind and Impulsiveness Physical Attraction Essay

The story’s plot (if there is any) was light. It was just about a guy (Manong) who took care of a bull and eventually met a girl (Aning) on the road. It was obvious that Manong was attracted to Aning mainly because of her figure, â€Å"The underpart of her arm is while and smooth†¦And her hair is thick and black.† The bull in the story served as a connection of the two persons. It was like in Chekhov’s â€Å"The Lady with the Pet Dog† (I just realized that I often cite this story in my commentaries. What can I do? I love this story). When Manong was having a meal with the bull on his side, he found the girl fetching water on the well and it was obvious that Manong grew â€Å"conscious† in her presence which leads to the idea that he likes the girl. But on my reading, he just likes the girl due to impulsiveness – physical attraction. His noticeable thoughts of the girl’s â€Å"breast† was the proof that he was just another normal guy who does this thing. Oh, I’m sounding crappy. Their conversation when they talked about their meals made their official connection toward each other (the one Aning confessed that her meal were just rice and salt), â€Å"They laughed and felt more at ease and regarded each other more openly† and â€Å"the while he gazed up at her and smiled for no reason.† And when the bucket of water fell they started teasingly blaming themselves. Manong volunteered to fill the empty buket with water because he thought that he was â€Å"stronger† than her (I found a sexist tone in this part though). Anyway, when Aning offered him to drink water from his fetched bucket he seemed to be more â€Å"conscious† than ever, â€Å"A chuckling sound persisted in forming inside his throat at every shallow. It made him self-conscious. He was breathless when though, and red in the face.† Aning also offered Manong to stay in their house foor some shade and to have some rest. Of course, Aning mentioned the â€Å"bull† to at least express a reason for the offer (a very common technique. Lol.) But I stopped when I read the line, â€Å"We have no neighbors.† I thought that the ending of the story was somewhat mysterious but it came to tme that maybe I was just over reacting about this one. Anyway, back to the issue, I think there was a great possibility of them being lovers. The closing lines though made me feel a creepy feeling, â€Å"He felt strong. He felt that he could follow the slender, lithe figure ahead of him to the ends of the world.† It felt awkward.

Global Staffing Strategies and Starbucks Essay

Starbucks Corporation (Starbucks) is a specialty coffee retailer of hot and cold beverages, coffee-related accessories, complementary food items, teas, and other non-food related products. Starbucks has retail stores in 39 countries and about 146,000 employees. The company operates primarily in the United States (U.S.) with headquarters in Seattle, Washington (Starbucks, 2007). In the early 1970s, Starbucks was established and the first location was in Seattle’s Pike Place market in 1971. By 1982, Starbucks began supplying coffee to restaurants and coffee shops. Starbucks expanded the business in 1996 to new locations in Japan, Hawaii, and Singapore. Other locations in Taiwan, New Zealand, Thailand, and Malaysia were created in 1998. Starbucks continued to expand globally in 1999, by reaching locations in China, Korea, Kuwait, and Lebanon (Starbucks, 2007). In a hypothetical situation, Starbucks will acquire a similar business in Mexico. The company will explore locations within Mexico and identify the human resource (HR) challenges that will arise from this expansion. Mexico has unique cultural and regulatory factors that need consideration for the development of Starbucks stores. The organization’s effectiveness to succeed in Mexico is dependent upon solving any issues that result from the growth of Starbucks in a new country. Starbucks will address recruitment and selection practices to use in the newly acquired company. Another HR decision is determining the appropriate mixture of expatriates and nationals to ensure the acquisition is successful. The skill and abilities of employees, along with training and development practices, are an essential part of the company’s organizational strategy to achieve goals. The HR department of Starbucks has a considerable amount of research and decision making to ensure this acquisition successful. Mexico’s DemographicMexico is prepared to become the wealthiest country in Latin American between 2008 and 2010 in basic gross domestic product (GDP). The middle class is expanding with employment growth and rising incomes. Mexico has the second highest population in Latin America after Brazil. The  population is young, with the average age of 27.5 years in 2006 (Country Insight, 2007). A survey in 2006 found, in the United States, that 30% of new customers are college graduates and the average age of a new Starbucks customer is 42 (Harris, 2006). Retail investors view Mexico as a major attraction because of the large size of the Mexican market (Country Insight, 2007). Tourism in Mexico plays an important role in the economy. Past presidential elections and hurricanes have steadily declined tourism, but latest indications show that the industry is marketing toward higher-end tourists who are willing to spend more (Country Insight, 2007). The increase in tourism with high-end vacationers will produce a good market for Starbucks. Human Resource ChallengesUnder the Mexican labor laws, an employee’s daily minimum wage must be at least U.S. $4.50, and includes minimum statutory fringe benefits. Very few Mexican residents receive this low minimum daily wage. The fringe benefits include annual vacation compensation of at least six working days at 125% of the salary, an annual bonus of at least 15 days of salary, a profit sharing program that equals 10% of pre-tax earnings distributed among all employees except high officers, and variable payroll contributions for Social Security and worker’s housing. Social Security contributions can be as high as 22.57% of the payroll salary. Worker’s housing contributions are 5% of the payroll salary (Abogados, 2008). The basis for severance payments for termination cases is the actual daily salary of the employee. Salary can consist of any type of bonus, commissions, and any other payment that provides additional economic benefit and may include cars or club fees. To calculate the severance compensation, divide the total of all these services in the last calendar year by 365 or the actual period worked in the year. Severance payments are also dependent upon the type of termination (Abogados, 2008). The three types of termination are termination with fair cause, termination without fair cause, and termination by mutual agreement. Termination without fair cause allows the employee to collect three month’s salary, 20 days of  additional salary for each year of employment, a seniority premium equal to 12 days for every year of employment, prorated vacation, annual bonus, and profit sharing for the year of termination. These additional salary requirements continue to accrue after the date of termination until the date of payment. Termination with fair cause permits the employee to many of the same benefits except the three’s months salary and additional 20 days. Employees generally do not consent to a mutual agreement unless termination compensation exists. This payment usually equals less than the termination without fair cause (Abogados, 2008). Many of the employment laws in Mexico are similar to the United States. The right to form unions, the right to worker’s compensation, the right to safety, the right to be free from forced labor, and the right to be free from discrimination. Mexicans must consist of at least 90% of the employees in a Mexican company. According to the Commission for Labor Cooperation (n.d.), the most important Mexican labor and employment law to realize is â€Å"there is a single court in every state that deals with most labor and employment disputes, including collective labor relations, unjustified terminations, disputes about whether an on-the-job injury occurred, and equal pay problems†(p. 1). In Mexico, to discriminate against workers because of sex, their social status, political opinion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, or age, as well as other grounds, is illegal. Overtime pay in Mexico must equal twice the amount of regular wages (Commission for Labor Cooperation, n.d.). In 2007 and 2008, the government is pushing for a new labor market bill to reduce the strictness in employment legislation. Congress must obtain a two-thirds vote to pass this bill and that will be complicated. Shortages of skills remain an issue in Mexico (EIU Viewswire, 2006). All the regulations in Mexico that differ from those in the United States will present challenges for Starbucks. Hiring a consulting firm or a group of attorneys who are well versed in the Mexican labor and employment laws will aid Starbucks in understanding and interpreting these laws. Going global can be risky if performed improperly and leaves no room for wrong interpretations of the laws and regulations. Understanding the daily wage  versus an hourly wage, discrimination policies, along with the termination packages can affect the profits of Starbucks immensely. Starbucks must evaluate the turnover, labor, and skills availability in the Mexican market. The need for multilingual employees is a necessity to serve the members of the community and the tourists. Scarcity of workers who speak English is a common problem for investors. Mexico, a country much ridiculed from those critical of the United States trade agreement because of its lower labor costs, has observed companies adjust investment decisions. Skilled labor is an issue receiving more attention as companies seek low-cost sourcing programs and workers with a high competency in English (Jackson, Houdard, & Highfield, 2008). As Starbucks and other companies look to venture into Mexico, the need to understand cultural differences and to study different management practices proves critical. Attention to human resource management is necessary when making strategic choices in the various business avenues available in Mexico. Researchers believe that most companies do not give enough attention to human resource issues. To maximize performance issues such as recruiting, selection, training, compensation, and performance management that require thorough planning and organizing human resources, strategic management is a requirement. Understanding these human resources issues contributes to employee motivation, performance, satisfaction, and empowerment. These factors are critical aspects to an organization’s effectiveness. The common personnel problems that companies encounter are in the areas of loyalty, staffing, decision-making, promotions, compensation, and performance management. Human resource management practices can be the most challenging undertaking for companies, especially when handling cultural changes (Rao, 2001). Mexicans view joint ventures as an opportunity to increase their economic status and as a career opportunity. As more companies move to Mexico, U.S. practices are becoming more acceptable. The ideas of quality circles, flat organizations, teamwork, pay-for-performance, and a careful selection process are more customary. In Mexico, the cultural view of work and  personal life activities intermingles. Because of this attribute, hiring and recruiting mix both personal and work activities (Rao, 2001). Commonly multiple interviews for managerial level positions are performed in an effort to select a candidate who demonstrates a good fit. Hiring qualified personnel with joint ventures will achieve the company’s objectives. Developing a strategic recruitment practice to generate a qualified labor source to ensure effective employee selection is recommended. Employees with adequate technical, organizational, and interpersonal skills should be selected. Bilingual skills are very important in the selection process. Social referrals are widely used in Mexico in the selection process. According to Rao (2001),Social referrals are used. However, the credentials are looked at only as a courtesy. The credentials are not looked at close enough. I specifically know a couple of social referrals, known to the upper hierarchy, who did not perform up to the company standards. These employees had to be removed, taking care, that no disruptions were caused in the social hierarchy. Social referrals are both good and bad. On the positive side, employees are sometimes the best recruiters (p. 16). Mexicans have a strong sense of loyalty toward their bosses. The idea of corporate loyalty is not part of the culture. This results in high employee turnover. To increase organizational loyalty, frequently conducting company-oriented training sessions assists in conquering this issue. The training sessions help develop and instill a sense of commitment, loyalty, and understanding of the company. Orientation programs should provide information on the company’s mission, goals, and strategies that provide the employees with opportunities for socialization, which is valued, by the Mexican employees. Rao (2001) states that U.S. companies usually placed low emphasis on such training programs and invest little. Both U.S. and Mexican companies consider training costly, but many joint ventures have found training programs to have considerable benefits. Ford’s executives believe the joint venture with the Hermosillo plant in Mexico concerning the training and development programs are the main reasons for increased commitment, satisfaction, and a reduction in employee turnover. Starting  with selection and all the way through retention practices, human resource policies can influence employee satisfaction and motivation and consequently the performance of the organization (Rao, 2001). Based on the research of human resource practices and polices in Mexico, the recruitment and selection process can be based on social referrals. Using the existing employees acquired through the purchase of a similar company, Starbucks will continue using the social referral policy. At least two expatriates with Spanish speaking abilities will be sent to each Starbuck’s coffee shop to oversee the transition. This will allow coverage for all shifts. All other employees will be nationals. An assessment of skills necessary for the positions will completed to ensure all skills are identified. Goldstein’s model, which consists of the assessment phase, the training and development phase, and the evaluation phase, will be used (Dreher & Dougherty, 2001). The employee skills necessary will be bilingual, with good interpersonal and communication skills. The employees must possess a cheerful attitude. The ability to read and follow directions in making different items on the menu is another necessity. Establishing relationships with local colleges will prove beneficial in hiring personnel with these abilities in conjunction with the social referral method. Training sessions on the procedures will be offered with face-to-face, hands-on sessions. In auditing the effectiveness of the human resource management, the collection of data will be performed. The data will include hiring statistics such as the acceptance rate, hiring rate, and hiring projections, turnover ratios, exit interviews, employee complaints, and the human resource budgets and expenditures. The level of complaints will consist of, but not limited to, discrimination, harassment, and safety. Another method for auditing will be internal interviews asking what are the perceptions of the company and its goals, the strengths and weaknesses of management, the relations with coworkers, what HR functions work well and what needs improvement, and any other issues the employees cares to discuss. Customer satisfaction cards will be available at all Starbucks locations to obtain results concerning customer service. A legal audit of personnel files and recordkeeping, pay equity, job descriptions, legal postings, Equal  Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Workerâ⠂¬â„¢s Compensation, and other Mexican legislature is a requirement. Conclusion As Starbucks moves into Mexico with the recent acquisition, many human resource management obstacles will be observed. Understanding the difference legislation Mexico has compared to the United States will be a large undertaking. Complying with these laws while being profitable, will determine the market prices for the coffee products. Reducing turnover, hiring the right people, offering a high-level of training and development is a critical factor for Starbucks. Understanding the culture, along with the skills and abilities necessary to provide excellent customer service will determine the success of the company. Audit results will provide the HR department with information to improve the process. If Starbucks follows the guidelines of Mexico, while instilling U.S. policies, a successful and profitable business should develop. Working in a foreign country can be successful or a failure. Understanding the culture and values of the country, as well as the people, will provide opportunities for Starbucks, the Mexican government and the Mexican people. References Abogados, V. (2008). Mexican labor relationships. Retrieved , from http://www.solutionsabroad.comCommission for Labor Cooperation. (n.d.). Foreign Worker’s Guide to Labor and Employment Laws. Retrieved , from http://www.naalc.orgDreher, G. & Dougherty, T.W. (2001). Human Resource Strategy. [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-text]. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Retrieved , from University of Phoenix, rEsource, MMPBL530-Human Capital Development Web site. Harris, C. (2006). Starbucks wants to open 40,000 new stores. Seattlepi. Retrieved , from http://seattlepi.nwsource.comJackson, M., Houdard, F., & Highfield, M. (2008). Room to grow: business location, global expansion and resource deficits. Journal of Business Strategy 29(1), p. 34-39. Retrieved , from EIU Newswire database. Mexico an expanding consumer market. (2007). Retrieved , from Country Insight database. Mexico: Business environment at a glance. (2006). Country overview. Retrieved from EIU Viewswire database. Rao, P. (2001). Human resource issues: US-Mexico joint ventures. Retrieved , from http://www.usmcoc.orgStarbucks. (2007). Starbucks Corporation overview. Retrieved , from MarketLine Business Information Center database.

Free Essays on Clara Schumann

Very often, the music of women composers is condemned to particular concerts â€Å"For Women Composers Only†. Rather than promoting their creativity, this practice gives the impression that women composers need special assistance, that their music is inferior, and that they require affirmative action. Instead, their music should be allowed to stand on its own, interdependent with music of men composers, especially their colleagues: those with whom they interact and share influence. Clara Schumann performed extensively and studied piano, voice, violin, instrumentation, wrote, and published music. Her playing was characterized by technical mastery, interpretation, and a depth of feeling. All her compositions date from 1853 or before, including twenty-nine songs, three partsongs, four pieces for piano and orchestra, twenty pieces for solo piano, and three piano concertos by Beethoven and Mozart. Only her love for her husband Robert Schumann surpassed her passion for music. Clara Schumann was as a champion and interpreter of the music of her husband Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms, and was a direct influence on their music. Clara Schumann Clara Schumann was born September 13, 1819 to Marianne and Frederick Wieck (pronounced Veek), in the German city of Leipzig. Frederick chose the name Clara for his child, a name that means bright, or shining. From the time of her birth, Frederick made a decision that Clara would one day grow into a great musician, a virtuoso. Clara’s father was a music teacher, and in the nineteenth century, since there were no radios nor televisions, at night families would entertain each other with conversation, â€Å"parlor games† like cards or charades, and music. In a city with so many music lovers, an ambitious piano teacher like Frederick found no shortage of students. All day long, â€Å"proper† young men and women streamed in and out of the Wiecks’ house. Clara’s mother, Ma... Free Essays on Clara Schumann Free Essays on Clara Schumann Very often, the music of women composers is condemned to particular concerts â€Å"For Women Composers Only†. Rather than promoting their creativity, this practice gives the impression that women composers need special assistance, that their music is inferior, and that they require affirmative action. Instead, their music should be allowed to stand on its own, interdependent with music of men composers, especially their colleagues: those with whom they interact and share influence. Clara Schumann performed extensively and studied piano, voice, violin, instrumentation, wrote, and published music. Her playing was characterized by technical mastery, interpretation, and a depth of feeling. All her compositions date from 1853 or before, including twenty-nine songs, three partsongs, four pieces for piano and orchestra, twenty pieces for solo piano, and three piano concertos by Beethoven and Mozart. Only her love for her husband Robert Schumann surpassed her passion for music. Clara Schumann was as a champion and interpreter of the music of her husband Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms, and was a direct influence on their music. Clara Schumann Clara Schumann was born September 13, 1819 to Marianne and Frederick Wieck (pronounced Veek), in the German city of Leipzig. Frederick chose the name Clara for his child, a name that means bright, or shining. From the time of her birth, Frederick made a decision that Clara would one day grow into a great musician, a virtuoso. Clara’s father was a music teacher, and in the nineteenth century, since there were no radios nor televisions, at night families would entertain each other with conversation, â€Å"parlor games† like cards or charades, and music. In a city with so many music lovers, an ambitious piano teacher like Frederick found no shortage of students. All day long, â€Å"proper† young men and women streamed in and out of the Wiecks’ house. Clara’s mother, Ma...

An Overview to Chaos Theory in Sociology

An Overview to Chaos Theory in Sociology Chaos theory is a field of study in mathematics; however, it has applications in several disciplines, including sociology and other social sciences. In the social sciences, chaos theory is the study of complex non-linear systems of social complexity. It is not about disorder but rather about very complicated systems of order. Nature, including some instances of social behavior and social systems, is highly complex, and the only prediction you can make is that it is unpredictable. Chaos theory looks at this unpredictability of nature and tries to make sense of it. Chaos theory aims to find the general order of social systems, and particularly social systems that are similar to each other. The assumption here is that the unpredictability in a system can be represented as overall behavior, which gives some amount of predictability, even when the system is unstable. Chaotic systems are not random systems. Chaotic systems have some kind of order, with an equation that determines overall behavior. The first chaos theorists discovered that complex systems often go through a kind of cycle, even though specific situations are rarely duplicated or repeated. For example, say there is a city of 10,000 people. In order to accommodate these people, a supermarket is built, two swimming pools are installed, a library is erected, and three churches go up. In this case, these accommodations please everybody and equilibrium is achieved. Then a company decides to open a factory on the outskirts of town, opening jobs for 10,000 more people. The town then expands to accommodate 20,000 people instead of 10,000. Another supermarket is added, as are two more swimming pools, another library, and three more churches. The equilibrium is thus maintained. Chaos theorists study this equilibrium, the factors that affect this type of cycle, and what happens (what the outcomes are) when the equilibrium is broken. Qualities of a Chaotic System A chaotic system has three simple defining features: Chaotic systems are deterministic. That is, they have some determining equation ruling their behavior.Chaotic systems are sensitive to initial conditions. Even a very slight change in the starting point can lead to significant different outcomes.Chaotic systems are not random, nor disorderly. Truly random systems are not chaotic. Rather, chaos has a send of order and pattern. Concepts There are several key terms and concepts used in chaos theory: Butterfly effect (also called sensitivity to initial conditions): The idea that even the slightest change in the starting point can lead to greatly different results or outcomes.Attractor: Equilibrium within the system. It represents a state to which a system finally settles.Strange attractor: A dynamic kind of equilibrium which represents some kind of trajectory upon which a system runs from situation to situation without ever settling down. Applications in Real-Life Chaos theory, which emerged in the 1970s, has impacted several aspects of real-life in its short life thus far and continues to impact all sciences. For instance, it has helped answer previously unsolvable problems in quantum mechanics and cosmology. It has also revolutionized the understanding of heart arrhythmias and brain function. Toys and games have also developed from chaos research, such as the Sim line of computer games (SimLife, SimCity, SimAnt, etc.).

Global Issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Global Issue - Essay Example In the same cases, there is a reduction in the consumption and the ultimate increase in the savings as a share of GDP. The weakening in the rates of growth in the richest countries, and in parallel, the improvements in the rate of growths in the countries that are regarded as developing, automatically leads to a reduction on income inequality on the global scale. The inequalities between individuals within every country have a significant impact on a global level of inequalities. It is the degree of life’s variation including various levels of biological organization. Biodiversity considers several diversity existing among various species of plants and animals that live in a particular place. Biodiversity is necessary for the biological cycle in earth. Therefore, its existence is of great concern to humans. Humans should get concerned on biodiversity because the system is like a â€Å"chain creation†. If one part of the cycle goes wrong, then it puts the entire ecosystem in jeopardy, and the whole food web can be destroyed. Man is found at the top of the food chain, and if all other species below get affected or extinct in the process, the ecosystem will be hard for a man to survive. Therefore, biodiversity should be preserved in the environment. The use of rebel organism as an alternative source of energy seems the disastrous to the earthed ecosystem. The organism utilizes the nutrients that are underused thus shifting the environment away from the usual state that man has adapted. Climate change is very real in the modern world. Over several years, the climate of the earth has been changing throughout. Most of the variations seen in the global climate are linked to small variations in the orbit and accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The evidence indicating global changes of climate is compelling and includes the rising sea levels by approximately seventeen centimeters, global increase in temperatures, the ever warming of the oceans,