Academic Tutor The Perks of Being an English Major (and a Drawback)

Here at Cambridge Coaching (a company entirely run by former English or Comp Lit majors), we take a very dim view of the â€Å"good luck landing a job with that degree† brigade. You know who I mean: people who cannot so much as carry on a conversation with an English, History, Philosophy, or Psychology major, etc., without saying something like, â€Å"so what's it like living in a cardboard box under a bridge?† Today, I'd like to offer a retort to that (and one very significant caveat, something I wish someone had told me five or six years ago). English, Anthro, Psych, History, Philosophy, Art History, etc. I had a mathematician friend who used to group these disciplines as the â€Å"feelings majors.† It's a term my Philosophy-major-turned-International-Economist-for-the-US-Treasury fiancee and I still use, but it's, you know, our term. Of all the Feelings majors, one of the most popular, if not the most popular, is the B.A. in English, like the one held by yours truly. For that reason, it's become a shorthand for â€Å"unprofitable major.† And I won't lie to you—it's not all that easy to parlay a degree in English into a $65,000-per-year job with full benefits right out of school (unless you want to go into consulting, which is a proud recruiter of feelings majors because—believe it or not—communications skills actually count for something. But for consulting you have to be at least marginally functional in math, and have a high pain tolerance). But here's the thing: The vast majority of people in America are inconceivably bad writers. What do grant applications, press releases, advertisements, memoranda, instruction manuals, and fundraising letters all have in common? They can all be ruined by a single grammatical error. An â€Å"it's† instead of â€Å"its.† A misplaced semicolon. So important is the written word throughout the service industry (which dominates America's economy) that companies have come to place considerable (though not excessive; let's not get carried away) value on ensuring that their employees can actually write properly. Many companies subscribe to the notion that while specific skills can be taught (understanding their software, managing their products), writing cannot. That's why writing samples are so commonly requested with resumes. An English major learns to write quickly and economically (by that I mean, at the last minute), with nuance and intelligence, and in a country rotten with writers so wretched they routinely bungle â€Å"they're† and â€Å"their,† th is skill has value. What does this mean? It means that writing can be as important and marketable a skill as Excel or even Stata. And if you can actually use Excel (which you should seriously learn, for real), well! You just might end up with visual and dental! But probably not. Let's be realistic. But of course, you didn't get an English major degree to make money. There are a variety of reasons why people get into it: dreams of academia, of publishing, of teaching...and there's the big one: writing. Here's the big irony about being an English major (especially given what I've just written about how the writing skills it confers are ever-so-useful in the job market): there's one profession it utterly fails to prepare you for: Being a writer. That's right, boys and girls. This is the caveat I was talking about. The major whose nominal purpose—one could even say sole purpose—is to steep young minds in the great works of literature, in hopes that they might go on to perpetuate the literary tradition, utterly fails at preparing them to do any of that. A Former English Major and His Sweetly-Disposed Editor I have been a practicing, card-carrying novelist these past four years, and teetering ever on the lip of success. And if there is one thing I've learned in four exceptionally eye-opening years, it's that every English degree should come stamped with the following warning label: Beware: the things that your professors have valued and emphasized for four years are not by any means the same things that the publishing industry values and emphasizes, so good luck with that, don't forget to return your library books. What do I mean? I mean that publishers, especially when one is starting a career in writing, do not care particularly about your leitmotifs, your free indirect discourse, your structural intricacy, or even particularly about your Big Idea. And this is not a complaint. It is a simple fact of the industry. What editors care about is what readers care about, which is, unfortunately, the one thing that academia takes so utterly for granted that it never even comes up in seminars: the story. The vitality of your characters. Do these editors want to care about your leitmotifs and technical wizardry? Sure! They were English majors too! But what they need is to sell books, and to do that, they need the book (or essay, or piece of travel writing) to be sellable. And while there is often a relationship between a book's literary quality and its marketability, these are two very different things—and the latter always wins. Once this is understood, things will go easier. But it's a truth so obvious that it can take a writer years of frustration to learn it. But if there's one thing that everyone, from publishers to professors to potential employers, can agree on, it's that knowing how to write well is a vital skill. ;

Limiting Reactant Definition in Chemistry

The limiting reactant or limiting reagent is a reactant in a chemical reaction that determines the amount of product that is formed. Identification of the limiting reactant makes it possible to calculate the theoretical yield of a reaction. The reason there is a limiting reactant is that elements and compounds react according to the mole ratio between them in a balanced chemical equation. So, for example, if the mole ratio in the balanced equation states it takes 1 mole of each reactant to produce a product (1:1 ratio) and one of the reactants is present in a higher amount than the other, the reactant present in the lower amount would be limiting reactant. All of it would be used up before the other reactant ran out. Limiting Reactant Example Given 1 mol of hydrogen and 1 mol of oxygen in the reaction:2 H2 O2 → 2 H2OThe limiting reactant would be hydrogen because the reaction uses up hydrogen twice as fast as oxygen. How to Find the Limiting Reactant There are two methods used to find the limiting reactant. The first is to compare the actual mole ratio of the reactants to the mole ratio of the balanced chemical equation. The other method is to calculate the gram masses of the product resulting from each reactant. The reactant that yields the smallest mass of product is the limiting reactant. Using the Mole Ratio: Balance the equation for the chemical reaction.Convert the masses of reactants to moles, if needed. If the quantities of reactants are given in moles, skip this step.Calculate the mole ratio between reactants using the actual numbers. Compare this ratio to the mole ratio between reactants in the balanced equation.Once you identify which reactant is the limiting reactant, calculate how much product it can make. You can check that you selected the correct reagent as the limiting reactant by calculating how much product the full amount of the other reactant would yield (which should be a larger number).You can use the difference between the moles of non-limiting reactant that are consumed and the starting number of moles to find the amount of excess reactant. If necessary, convert the moles back to grams. Using the Product Approach: Balance the chemical reaction.Convert the given quantities of reactants to moles.Use the mole ratio from the balanced equation to find the number of moles of product that would be formed by each reactant if the full amount was used. In other words, perform two calculations to find the moles of product.The reactant that yielded the smaller amount of product is the limiting reactant. The reactant that yielded the larger amount of produce is the excess reactant.The amount of excess reactant may be calculated by subtracting the moles of excess reactant from the number of moles used (or by subtracting the mass of excess reactant from the total mass used). Mole to gram unit conversions may be necessary to provide answers for homework problems.

What I Want About Washing Clothes - 995 Words

We all do it; it just depends on how and where. I m talking about washing clothes. You do it yourself at home, go to a Laundromat or have them professional cleaned. One way or the other it has to be done because we like to look and smell good. I wash my clothes at home on a weekly basis. I do this so that I can take my time and pace myself because, washing clothes is very time consuming. The tricky part of it is that your way may not be my way, but since this is my story, it s my way, so here we go. WE start first with the products. We have to make sure we have all the products we need. We need dirty clothes of course, detergent, fabric softener, bleach, dryer sheets, spray wash, a basket, water and of course a good washing machine. These are the main products that are used in washing, but like I said this is my way, so we are going to element some of things. I have eczema which means my skin is very sensitive, so we will element the fabric softener. Once, we get all of ou r products we are ready to start the process. The first thing is gathering all of the dirty clothes. Most dirty clothes will be found in the hamper, but like I said, my story. We will find clothes on the floor, under the bed, bottom of the closet, draped over a chair, or just about anywhere, but very few in the hamper. Take all the clothes and dump them in one big pile. Next we will separate by color. We will have light, dark and white color piles. Just to make matters a littleShow MoreRelatedA Speech On History Of Laundry947 Words   |  4 Pages Central Idea: In this speech I will discuss the evolution of laundry, how to wash your clothes, and how to dry your clothes. Introduction Once upon a time, around the mid-1800’s a new invention known as the metal washboard became very popular in many parts of the world. The washboard, used for washing clothing made doing laundry easier for many families. As time progressed, so did technology. Today, most American families use Washers to wash their clothes. I was taught to do my own laundryRead MoreThe Impact of the Washing Machine on Society981 Words   |  4 Pagesability to not only influence the way individuals conduct their lives, but also the way society functions as a whole system. This essay will explore the impact of the washing machine on society, and how the technology changed the lives of Women. By focussing on how society functioned prior to and after the mainstream introduction of the washing machine, it is possible to draw some conclusions on the effect of the technology. Societal change is complex and there are other, less visible, effects of the technologyRead MoreClean Your Slacks Dry Cleaned Is Hell ! Essay1496 Words   |  6 PagesHaving your slacks dry cleaned is hell! It takes days for them to be cleaned, you pay, on average, $4-$5 per slack, and on top of that you don t always get back what you give them. I don t even want to talk about how poorly some dry cleaners handle your slacks. Starting today, you ll no longer have to deal with cleaners. You won t have to be that person who spends a chunk of their salary every year just to get their slacks back in poor conditions. Now, you can walk into your pantry and grab simpleRead More`` This Is Water `` By David Foster Wallace944 Words   |  4 Pageshard we try to deny it. I learned this by listening to the speech â€Å"This is Water†, by David Foster Wallace. In the speech, Wallace discusses that if we actually think about what we think about, then we can make our lives better. He also talks about how the exact same experience means two different things to two different people based on their beliefs. Another thing he talks about is that we are all self-centered and tend to interpret life just thinking about ourselves. I completely agree with Wallace’sRead MoreUnit 4222 249 Principles Of Supportinlg An Individual To Maintain Personal Hygiene1450 Words   |  6 Pageshygiene (LD 206) Understand the importance of good personal hygiene 1.1 Explain why personal hygiene is important It is important to have good personal hygiene because people feel better if they are clean and of good appearance. If a person feels good about themselves they will enjoy life more. It lifts their self-esteem and self-respect. If good personal hygiene practices are followed then there is less chance of infections developing. 1.2 Describe the effects of poor personal hygiene on health andRead MoreInvestigating the Temperature at Which Soap Powder Will Perform Best At1050 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction I am going to conduct an experiment in the controlled environment of a laboratory. The experiment will consist of placing a stained piece of fabric into water with a fixed concentration of a biological washing powder (Wizzo) in it. I will try this experiment several times trying different temperatured water and leaving the it for a fixed period of time to find the best possible temperature that the Wizzo works at. Plan: Enzymes Biological washing powder hasRead MoreSymbolic Elements in Desiree’s Baby by Chopin and Sweat by Hurston856 Words   |  4 Pages I choose symbolism for the stories Desiree’s Baby and Sweat. For Desirees’ Baby , I choose the stone pillar, Armand’s bonfire, the yellow nurse, and L’ Abri. The stone pillar symbolizes Desiree’s unknown past and future; Armand’s bonfire symbolizes Armand’s act of erasing everything of Desiree and their baby; the yellow nurse symbolizes the color of the mixed baby; and finally L’Abri, symbolizes the secrecy of the plantation and of Armand’s past. The symbols I choose for Sweat are white clothesRead MoreSmart Home Essay1403 Words   |  6 Pagesstage it was when the energy was lost. Therefore, with the new technology Samsung created the Samsung French Door Refrigerator with Family Hub. This is a huge emergency because, it have a camera,food organizer, reminder of when the food is about to expire. Not only that, it’s a good system that helps keep everything in order, this can work outside the home all controlled by an app.Technologist says † this type of quality can last decades around this period of time. Its saves lot of electricRead MoreCreative Writing : Chapter On Laundry981 Words   |  4 Pageswanted to clean the dorm, so we settled down with a chance circle. Everyone spun the circle and I landed on Laundry. Laurens end up cleaning the bathroom. Lafayette end up with dishes, and Hercules ended up organizing. Ughhh...Dishes. We havent done the dishes since last week, Lafayette whined, I liked eating in an aluminum foil bowls. Youre lucky Lafayette, Hercules scoffed, Organizing? I bet Im going to find a dead rat under the pile of trash that we didnt disposed since...like lastRead MoreHelen In the movie â€Å" The Diary of a Mad Black Women†, Helen is a beautiful black women. IN the600 Words   |  3 Pagesdresses in only named brand clothes and wears diamonds and pearls with nice heels. She wore clothes that was tailored to her body and seemed to only wear expensive clothes to impress her husband. By the end of the movie she relaxed a little bit, smiled more , and looked as though she wore Sunday’s best. She dressed more colorful, comfortable, and happy. Seeing Helen in the beginning of the movie you would think she came from a wealthy family, big house, and nice clothes, but no she grew up in a place

The Arch of Titus The Triumph of the Emperor Essay

One of the most striking uses of architecture for glorification of a Roman emperor is the Arch of Titus. Built specifically upon the highest point of the Via Sacra, or Sacred Road, this arch is a lasting monument to the glorification of Titus. The Arch of Titus was built by Emperor Domitian to honor the capture and siege of Jerusalem by Titus and his apotheosis, or deification. This arch is an outstanding example of one of the most celebrated ways used by the Romans to express the honor and glory of their emperors. The Arch of Titus is known for its depictions of the spoils brought back to Rome after the destruction of Jerusalem. As a result of the Jewish attacks on Roman installations and the start of a revolt against Roman rule in 66†¦show more content†¦Titus, backed by four legions, began his assault on the beleaguered city in the spring of 70 CE. In less than four weeks, he had breached the walls of Jerusalem, and by that August, the outer Temple court had been reached, the Temple burned to the ground and its captives killed. With the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the revolt, Titus was hailed as imperator, or commander, by his troops. This was a necessary step in order for a general to apply to the Senate for a triumph, which Titus shared with his father Vespasian when he returned to Rome. A triumph was both a civil and religious ceremony in Imperial Rome; it was used to pay tribute to a military commander, or an imperator, for a successful foreign war campaign and to display the booty captured in the war. The ceremony was a parade showcasing the captured gold and silver and slaves from the war. The triumph followed a precise route through the streets of Rome, culminating in the march up the Via Sacra into the Roman Forum. To better celebrate a triumph, a triumphal arch was often erected to march underneath during the procession or as a commemoration to the triumph itself. The role and history of the triumphal arches in Rome is a little murky, as they are not mentioned by most Roman historians, and most notably they are left out by Vitruvius, the first century BCE writer on Roman architecture. However, Pliny the Elder does discuss the role of triumphal arches and points out thatShow MoreRelatedArch of titus Essay1445 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ The Arch provides one of the few contemporary depictions of Temple period artifacts.[6][7]  The seven-branched  menorah  and  trumpets  are clearly depicted. It became a symbol of the Jewish  diaspora. In a later era, Pope  Paul IV  made it the place of a yearly  oath of submission. Jews refuse to walk under it.[citation needed]  The menorah depicted on the Arch served as the model for the menorah used on the emblem of the state of Israel.[citation needed]However, when the existence of modern State of IsraelRead MoreThe Arch Of Titus, An Architectural Monument And Sculpture Built Around C. 79-811086 Words   |  5 Pages The Arch of Titus is an architectural monument and sculpture constructed around c. 79-81 CE. by Domitian in the Forum Romanum, Rome, notable on the plaza for its huge scale and central position. The arch includes three outstandingly elaborated reliefs, two on both passages, which depict the martial victory of Rome under the leading of the Roman emperor Titus, and one on the vault, which displays Titus carried by an eagle to the heaven. The monumental, geometric arch and the detailed, naturalisticRead MoreArt Piece 2 : Arch Of Titus Essay1525 Words   |  7 PagesArt piece 2: Arch of Titus Dated: This art piece was dated Basic outline: Titus emperor who died Built by his bro, Domitian Triumphal arch Passageway on Sacred Way Inscriptions, friezes telling war stories. Details: The domitian built this arch on the road leading into the Roman Forum to honor his brother, the emperor Titus, who became a god after his death. Victories fill the spandrels of the arcuated passageway. Freestanding/ triumphal arch Material: The concrete and white marble, (originallyRead MoreComparison Between Roman Arches And The Arch Of Titus2388 Words   |  10 Pagespaper I attempt to admire the spectator’s experience while viewing the Arch of Titus, and bring to the forefront why I find the Arch of Trajan to be underappreciated. I will compare the two by first analyzing the meaning of the Arch of Titus, and then analyzing and summarizing the Arch of Trajan. The source I used for the Arch of Trajan may be among the outliers of most scholars, but I find that I agree with their analysis of the arch in that it was not simply a list of Trajan’s accomplishments, but ratherRead MoreAncient Roman Buildings Influence The Modern Architecture Essay1828 Words   |  8 PagesRoman buildings with to the modern architectures: the Colosseum and Beijing National Stadium, Pantheon and Thomas Jefferson Rotunda, Arch of Titus and Arc de Triomphe, to investigate study how the ancient Roman buildings influence t he modern architectures. The Colosseum and Beijing’s National Stadium The Colosseum is, a grand amphitheatre built by the Flavian emperors in the first Century CE. It was used to stage various forms of fighting events such as gladiator combats and wild animal hunts.Read MoreA Short Note On The Arch Of Constantine887 Words   |  4 PagesArch of Constantine Constantine’s the Great was one of the strongest and most important rulers in late Roman Empire and the founder of the Byzantine Empire. His legacy is known for his bold changes and accomplishments in uniting the empire making it become more powerful once again and his outlawing of paganism, and curbing Christians from persecutions. The Arch of Constantine was erected between 312 and 315 AD., in Rome adjacent to the Coliseum to commemorate Constantine’s triumphRead MoreMidterm 3 History Essay8024 Words   |  33 Pagesand Cleopatra were raised by Octavia so that Octavian could keep tabs on possible future threats.  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Which title did Augustus prefer to use?   Why? o   Ã‚  Augustus preferred to use the title of Princeps (â€Å"leading man†) rather than Imperator (â€Å"emperor†). o   Ã‚  Princeps dictated an emphasis towards senatorial leadership rather than military leadership.  ·   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How long after Actium was the First Constitutional Settlement?   Ã‚  Main goals?   What specific things happened during this event? o   Ã‚  The FirstRead More Four Styles of Roman Wall Painting and Mosaics Essay examples2687 Words   |  11 Pagesmarble sculpture 34’5† tall and 38’ long. It commemorates the triumph of Augustus’ return after the Civil War. This major type of monument features ox heads and garland with mythical figures representing peace, prosperity, and motherhood. One the side, a family is depicted in imperial procession, with the royal family in high relief. The frontal figures are higher with the emphasis on the children. Constructed during the reign of Emperor Augustus, in Campo Marzio, the Ara Pacis was a great work to

Too Much Thankfulness - 674 Words

I’ve been hearing a lot about this thankfulness thing. I can’t get away from it. It started with Thanksgiving. Before digging in to a big Thanksgiving feast at my daughter’s house, we all took turns saying something for which we were thankful. My grandkids loved the idea so much, that they have continued the practice of naming something they are thankful for every night before dinner. They look forward to it. Then one day last week, while driving home during rush hour traffic I heard a story on the radio about a monk named David Steindl-Rast who believes that gratitude is the key to happiness. He was quoted as saying, â€Å"We all know people who have lots of misfortunes that we ourselves would not want to have, and they are deeply happy, they radiate happiness,† he says. Why are they like this? â€Å"Because they are grateful. It is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.† I had just finished reading a book set in World War I, in which one of the characters was a soldier who served as an ambulance driver. His job was to drive into the middle of the battlefield, pick up wounded soldiers, and take them to the army field hospital. In the midst of all the horror, pain, and death of war, this man tasked himself with finding beauty in the otherwise bleak and dismal landscape of war. When he found something beautiful, he wrote it down in a notebook he carried. He had noted a flower struggling to poke through the trampled earth, a soldier’sShow MoreRelatedThe Christian Conduct : Thankfulness1549 Words   |  7 PagesConduct: Thankfulness If Christians are to obey, follow, and love God, thankfulness or gratitude, as it is so often called, must be a key part in how they worship and live their lives. Christians are told numerous times in the Bible to be thankful, but one verse in Thessalonians sums it up, telling Christians to â€Å"give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.† (Thessalonians.5.18) In the Bible, there are more than eighty references to thankfulness and gratitudeRead MoreThe God s Promised Land1064 Words   |  5 Pageshave never been Israel and Palestine area, by seeing the picture that had taken by many, I can tell that people do live by farming but it looks like just city in the desert. It does not look like milk and honey are flowing all over. Kansas would be much more fit on God’s description on promised land. In that case, some of you may wonder that, â€Å"Does God had lied to them?† To understand this correctly, we must understand what had happened to the Israelites. When the Middle East area was drought heavilyRead MoreRobinson Crusoe : An Admirable Character1337 Words   |  6 PagesRobinson Crusoe is an admirable character while others disagree. Robinson Crusoe is an admirable character for three reasons. He devotes himself to growing his spiritual life, he is resourceful and a diligent worker, and he cultivates a spirit of thankfulness and contentment. The first reason that Robinson Crusoe is an admirable character is because he devotes himself to growing his spiritual life. First, he asserts, â€Å"My duty to God, and the reading scriptures, which I constantly set apart some timeRead MoreCan You Imagine America Being Non Religious?920 Words   |  4 Pagespeople becoming less religious is because they are being drawn to show more gratitude and thankfulness, also not accepting the rules or beliefs that many religions have, and Jonathan Edwards found that most important benefit of worship was to obtain the knowledge of ourselves and God. Correspondingly people are being less drawn to be religious since, they are finding and giving more gratitude and thankfulness. Many of the people at least say that they go once a week to give thanks and show gratitudeRead MoreChinese Thought Patterns And Its Cultural Roots1402 Words   |  6 Pagescollege. I know all students must study English. English students Version: When I went to college, I knew/learned that all students are required to take an English course. There is no deny that the latter example written by the English students is much better in terms of sentence structure. As what we can see in the latter one, one of the syntactic features of English writing is that English native students will use some transitional words such as â€Å"when† and â€Å"that† to indicate logical relationshipRead MoreEssay on Personal Credo1623 Words   |  7 PagesI would want nothing more than the same thing to happen to them. There are also actions that I believe to always be wrong no matter what. One of the actions that I believe be wrong is stealing money from the company you work for. This happens so much in the world today, and the majority of the time when it happens the people who are stealing money are already rich. A person should not live beyond their means, and if they do decide to do so the company they work for should not help keep up theirRead MoreIs The Principal Over All Things And Is?1418 Words   |  6 Pages thanksgiving for blessings conferred; laudation to God; worship expressed in song, or the object, ground, reason, or subject of praise. Praise is a part of worshipping God. We should express our approval, thankfulness, and respect for God by offering praises to Him. This kind of thankfulness is a form of our worship that ascribes worth to God because of who he is what He does, what He has done, and what he will do. David had been given total victory and he wanted to express his gratitude to theRead MoreReview: Who Packs Your Parachute?1636 Words   |  7 Pagessleep that night as he thought about the man who possibly saved his life. He wondered if he had been nice to him when they were in the army.   He was a fighter pilot and he was just an ordinary sailor so in most likelihood, he would not have thought much of the lowly sailor back then. Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor must have spent in the bowels of the ship, carefully entwining the shrouds and compacting the silks of each chute, holding in his hands the destiny of someone he didn’t knowRead MoreSignificance And Significance Of The Passage Of Colossians808 Words   |  4 Pagesof verse 9, he prayed for the knowledge of the Lord’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. It would be beneficial to keep the state of mind that there is always more knowledge to be obtain through prayer and study of the Bible. There is a much greater possibility of being influenced by false teaching when one lacks wisdom and understanding. Modern day Christians should always pray and seek to determine the Lord’s will and to have a greater spiritual understanding in their lives. In verseRead MoreThanksgiving Day By Melanie Wallendorf And Eric J. Arnould857 Words   |  4 Pages Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together and start the holiday season. People tend to make lots of food and the objective is to eat as much as you can. We will reflect on â€Å"Consumption Rituals of Thanksgiving Day† by Melanie Wallendorf and Eric J. Arnould. We will also take a look at how Thanksgiving tends to contain family rituals. Thanksgiving is a special time of year where people get together to see family and to indulge in food and good times. Wallendorf and Arnould’s book talk

Concept of Human Resource Management and Method

Question: Discuss about the Concept of Human Resource Management and Method. Answer: Introduction: The following study has focused on two journals for analyzing evidence based human resource management, such as- Evidence-based human resource management practices in three EU developing member states: Can managers tell truth from fallacy?, The Very Separate Worlds of Academic and Practitioner Periodicals in Human Resource Management: Implications for Evidence-Based Management. Therefore, it has discussed about the useful human resource strategic values for CERA. It has used crap test for evaluating the two sources used in the article. Evidence based human resource management refers to the practice in which human resource professionals of any organization consult best evidence and expertise before making any decision (Kehoe Wright, 2013). According to the article Evidence-based human resource management practices in three EU developing member states: Can managers tell truth from fallacy? management is one of the oldest human practices. The study has focused to analyze the evidence based human resource management. The author of the article has conducted survey among the HR professional of three European Union countries, such as- Poland, Croatia and Malta to show that HR professionals often access required information from the relevant sources. The study reveals that it combines Art and science as it requires evidence-based decisions in the organization. (Bezzina et al., 2016) Another Article The Very Separate Worlds of Academic and Practitioner Periodicals in Human Resource Management: Implications for Evidence-Based Management has stated that many organizations implement those practices within the organization those are shown by any research work as a positively associated with the employees and financial growth of the organization. One of the best ways for the HR professional is to study formal management from the various books, journals and articles that are available. The research showed that the managers are not aware of the trends (Rynes, Giluk Brown, 2007). Human resource strategic planning signifies the procedure that is used to fulfill the current and future human resource requirements of any organization (Marler Fisher, 2013). The main objective of these strategies is to manage the people elements of an organization. The study is to discuss about the strategic planning of CERA. CERA is an organization that deals with sanitary ware, tiles, and faucets. It was started its journey in 1980. Headquarter of CERA is situated in India ("CERA Sanitaryware, Faucets, Tiles, Wellness and Bathroom accessories", 2017). The HR manager of CERA has to establish a well-planned strategy of HR function, which will help the organization to perform well. Useful strategies for CERA: CERA needs to give importance and focus on the development of their work force. They must pay attention while recruiting or reducing them. The talented and efficient workers will always be beneficial for the organization because of the productivity level they can achieve. Training and development is very essential for all the employees. It helps the new employees to be introduced with the objectives, policies and work type of the organization (Laureiro?Martnez et al., 2015). The old employees can learn about the new technologies and ne procedures of the organization through training program. CERA must conduct training and development program within the organization. It will be useful for the growth of the organization. The management of CERA must pay attention to the recruitment procedure of the organization. They must recruit those people who possess skills and quality of hard work. They have the capacity to influence the growth of the organization. They will help the organization to survive in the race while competing with other leading organizations. CERA must apply reward and recognition strategy for the employee. This short- term appreciation program will enhance the employee engagement to the organization. CERA must be involved in some Social awareness campaign or it must include some CSR policies in their strategy. It will help the organization to establish a bright image in the society. It will influence the long- term growth of the organization. The article Evidence-based human resource management practices in three EU developing member states: Can managers tell truth from fallacy? has published in 2017. It has been published in last 10 years. It is a combination of primary and secondary source. The article has researched various resources and conducted survey then come to the conclusion. It is relevant to the topic of the article. The authors of the article are Frank Bezzina, Vincent Cassar, Katarzyna Track-Krupa, Sylwia Przytula. Authors have addressed the HR managers of the organizations. Their purpose of this article is to inform the managers about importance of evidence based human resource. The article The Very Separate Worlds of Academic and Practitioner Periodicals in Human Resource Management: Implications for Evidence-Based Management has been published in 2007. It is a combination of primary and secondary source. The article has researched various resources and conducted survey then come to the conclusion. It is relevant to the topic of the article. The article is written by SARA L. RYNES, TAMARA L. GILUK and KENNETH G. BROWN. The purpose of the article is to inform about the need of consulting relevant source and publication while making the managerial decision. The study shows the lack of knowledge and belief among the managers. Conclusion: As per the previous discussion, it can be concluded that every managerial decision need to be based on proper knowledge and evidences from the relevant and authentic source. As evident in the article, HR managers need to concentrate on many issues while making any strategies for the organization, such as- current strategy, requirement of the organization and so on. The evidence based HR practice helps to avoid any future risk that may occur due to wrong and inefficient decision. Reference: Bezzina, F., Cassar, V., Tracz-Krupa, K., Przytu?a, S., Tipuri?, D. (2017). Evidence-based human resource management practices in three EU developing member states: Can managers tell truth from fallacy?.European Management Journal. Camisn, C., Villar-Lpez, A. (2014). Organizational innovation as an enabler of technological innovation capabilities and firm performance.Journal of Business Research,67(1), 2891-2902. CERA Sanitaryware, Faucets, Tiles, Wellness and Bathroom accessories. (2017). CERA Sanitaryware Limited. Epstein, M. J., Buhovac, A. R. (2014).Making sustainability work: Best practices in managing and measuring corporate social, environmental, and economic impacts. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Kehoe, R. R., Wright, P. M. (2013). The impact of high-performance human resource practices on employees attitudes and behaviors.Journal of management,39(2), 366-391. Laureiro?Martnez, D., Brusoni, S., Canessa, N., Zollo, M. (2015). Understanding the explorationexploitation dilemma: An fMRI study of attention control and decision?making performance.Strategic Management Journal,36(3), 319-338. Marler, J. H., Fisher, S. L. (2013). An evidence-based review of e-HRM and strategic human resource management.Human Resource Management Review,23(1), 18-36. Rynes, S. L., Giluk, T. L., Brown, K. G. (2007). The very separate worlds of academic and practitioner periodicals in human resource management: Implications for evidence-based management.Academy of Management Journal,50(5), 987-1008.

Employee Recognition and Employee Retention

Question: Discuss about theEmployee Recognition and Employee Retention. Answer: Introduction Human resource management is an important component of the organization, which includes activities such as recruitment and selection of employees. Through human resource management, organizations are able to drive the realization of organizational goals and objectives. This argumentative essay considers human resource management within the context of McDonalds as presented in the case study. The essay answers three questions related to the case study about McDonald's use of recognition as a key driver of its corporate culture and strategy. The main argument advanced is that McDonald's human resource approach is consistent with many of the human resource practices that are recommended in the literature and that it is a highly effective approach. The Importance of Employee Recognition Towards Employee Retention Employee recognition is an important avenue towards the retention of employees. This is because employee recognition plays an important role in ensuring the employees are satisfied with their current jobs. In fact, recognition is one of the factors that has been explicitly identified in the literature as contributing to employees dissatisfaction with their job positions and their consequent decision to exit an organization (Gregory, 2011). Thus, by having a recognition scheme, organizations are able to reduce the rate of labour turnover in their organizations. As shall be discussed in the ensuing paragraphs, the retention of employees is essential for a wide range of reasons, which include the retention of key talent. In the case of McDonald's the significance of retention is corroborated by its indication that up to 80% of its business managers began as crewmembers with the company. This high proportion is also evidence of McDonalds ability to retain its employees, which can partly be attributed to its practice of employee recognition, The recognition of employees contributes to employee retention by increasing the satisfaction levels of employees. Employee satisfaction is one of the most commonly discussed paradigms within the business literature. In the context of employee retention, employees dissatisfaction with their jobs is one of the most commonly cited reasons for high rates of labour turnover(Tracey Hinkin, 2008). Typical issues that employees will be dissatisfied with include their relationships with supervisors, the job content, job conditions and pay practices amongst other factors. Employees dissatisfaction with their jobs leads to outcomes such as lowered productivity, which in turn curtails the ability of the organization to realize its objectives. This is because employees who are dissatisfied tend to be unmotivated and non-committal, and are thus counterproductive to the organization (Gregory, 2011). It is therefore in the best interest of organizations to ensure that their employees are satisfied , as this will lead to an increase in motivation and in turn, enhance the productivity of employees. Ultimately, the positive effects will translate into the realization of organizational objectives. For McDonalds, one can argue that the company is able to satisfy its employees, given its high retention rates. However, rather than merely inferring McDonalds ability to satisfy employees, one can also demonstrate that this is the case, by analysing McDonalds practices from the context of theories of motivation. One of the ways in which employee satisfaction can be understood is through theories of motivation. Coomber Barriball (2007) highlight Maslows hierarchy of needs and Herzbergs two-factor theory. Maslows theory presents needs in a hierarchical form whereby lower level needs must first be satisfied before higher-level needs are satisfied. This theory is discussed in the next paragraph. With regard to the job satisfaction/dissatisfaction paradigm and the role of recognition, the two-factor theory presents a more explicit exemplification. The approach categorizes job factors into dissatisfiers and satisfiers. Dissatisfiers are those factors whose absence leads to job dissatisfaction, but whose presence has little impact on job satisfaction. They include factors such as pay and benefits, organization policies and the work environment (Coomber Barriball, 2007). Indeed, it has been noted in the previous paragraph that these are some of the factors with which employees tend to be dissatisf ied. Alternatively, job satisfiers include recognition and achievement, as well as self-satisfaction(Coomber Barriball, 2007). Evidently, recognition practices such as those exercised by McDonalds are vital in promoting retention, since, in their absence, employees will not be satisfied with their jobs. At the same time, McDonald's also astutely manages the dissatisfier components which otherwise have the capacity to cause employees to be dissatisfied. The other important theory is Maslows hierarchy of needs. Unlike the two-factor theory, whose moderating effect on employee retention occurs through the satisfier-dissatisfier paradigm, Maslows hierarchy considers the various levels of need that employees have, and the ability of the company to meet these needs. Thus, according to Coomber and Barriball (2007), the key activity within a Maslowian approach is to identify what needs and values need to be realized so that an employee is satisfied. The hierarchy is presented in the form of a pyramid, whereby the number of needs at each successive level reduces, but the needs increase in their complexity (Dubrin, 2011). The five levels of needs are further classified into the two categories of physiological and psychological needs. Factors such as recognition are related to the psychological level of needs. Employee recognition contributes to the satisfaction of self-esteem and self-actualization needs of employees. The satisfaction of the se needs contributes to employee job satisfaction, which in turn enhances the ability of the organization to retain its employees. Employee retention provides important support for organizational cultures such as that of McDonalds, which seeks to secure its talent and have them serve in top positions. Another manner in which McDonalds employee recognition supports its culture and programs is through employee empowerment. Employee empowerment is an important feature of performance management, which enables organizations to get the best out of their employees. According to Meyerson and Dewettinck (2012), there is a direct link between employee empowerment and issues like performance, job satisfaction, and commitment. As has been noted, employees who are satisfied with their jobs are likely to be more productive, and less likely to want to leave a company. Klidas, van den Berg and Wilderom (2007) highlight four features, which they contend, are antecedents to empowered employee behaviour. The first of this is training, which commences with the selection and recruitment of the right candidates for the job(Klidas, van den Berg, Wilderom, 2007). The assertion by Gregory (2011) that where there is a poor fit between an employee and a particular job, then dissatisfaction is most certain to follow, underscores the importance of proper selection. Secondly, there is reward practices, which play an important role by embedding particular practices and attitudes in employees. These include responsibility and innovativeness(Klidas, van den Berg, Wilderom, 2007). The third and fourth antecedents are the organizational culture and management practices. These antecedents are now considered in the context of McDonalds. A review of McDonalds practices reveals a consistency with the aspects of employee empowerment that have been outlined above. The first factor is training. McDonalds engages in an extensive and elaborate training of its employees, with the company being a registered training organization. Moreover, the company has an annual training budget of above $40 million. Further aspects of training include the significant amount of time spent by Frank McManus on training and development. Specifically, this senior vice president spends about 30 to 40 percent of his time on executive development and talent management. Secondly, there is reward practices, which McDonald engages in an elaborate reward scheme, which involves not just the payment of employees, but further, recognizing them for their exemplary performance. Employees receive a gift voucher as well as formal recognition in front of their peers. Also related to reward practices is McDonalds endeavour to guarantee transparency by ensurin g that its employees have a proper understanding of its pay decisions, and ensuring that there is equity between various roles. Here, there are two important aspects to note. One is the endeavour by the company to ensure fairness, and the second is its endeavour to communicate these practices to employees. Both of these aspects are important since according to Gregory (2011), they have the capacity to lead to employee dissatisfaction. Organizational culture and management practices are closely interrelated features, which affect employees motivations and job satisfaction. The corporate culture of a company influence the companys strategic direction and its ability to meet its strategic objectives. According to Rugman and Collinson (2012), human resource managers usually utilize organizational culture to embed certain practices such as innovativeness in their workforce. The organizational culture is closely linked to the management style adopted in a particular organization. According to Mosley and Patrick (2011), leadership styles contribute to a particular organizational culture, while conversely, the organizational culture tends to reinforce a particular leadership style. The management approach, through the leadership style adopted, is an important antecedent of employee empowerment. Certain leadership styles tend to empower management, while others tend to empower employees. Employee empowerment has been linked to those leadership approaches that are participative in nature (Bass, 2008). In particular, the transformational leadership approach is closely associated with employee empowerment, through its dimensions such as individualized consideration(Harms Cred, 2010). McDonald's corporate culture is one that places emphasis on people. While there is no clear-cut evidence that the company offers individualized consideration to its employees, one can nonetheless contend that the leadership approach is a transformative one. This is as opposed to a transactional leadership approach. This contention can be corroborated by considering the fact that transformational leadership approaches emphasize on people, while transactional approaches emphasize on tasks(Bass, 2008). Consequently, given McDonalds recognition of people as part of its culture, it is evident that the management approach conforms to a transformative leadership style. One of the most compelling challenges for organizations in the contemporary world is the attraction and retention of talent. This is the case for business institutions as well as non-profits such as the Spastic centre. One of the ways through which organisations cope with this challenge is using compensation packages. According to Tangthong, Trimetsoontorn, and Rojniruntikul, (2014), this use of compensation packages and benefits is a viable strategy. The approach by McDonalds, however, does not rely on compensation packages or benefits and is instead embedded in the use of practices such as recognition. While the use of recognition is successful within a business setting, it is unlikely that the direct application of such an approach would suffice for the retention of volunteers within a non-profit. This is because of the significant differences in the structure of a not-for-profit organization and that of a business organisation. For starters, the motivations that drive volunteers to enlist in a non-profit organisation are likely to be different from the motivations that drive individuals to apply for employment positions. While seeking volunteer opportunities, individuals may either be driven by altruistic motivations or by egoistic inclinations(Shye, 2010). Consequently, it is imperative that non-profit organizations first understand the motivation behind the decisions of individuals to volunteer. If individuals are driven by altruistic inclinations, then it is unlikely that recognition will further increase their level of satisfaction with the organization. According to Tomazos and Butler (2012), the motivation belying the engagement of deep or altruistic volunteers is an affinity to satisfy the psychological and altruistic needs. Alternatively, there are also shallow volunteers, whose main motivation behind volunteering is personal self-development. Such volunteers may seek rewards that can be translated into monetary value(Chen Chen, 2011). Consequently, it is imperative that non-profits first understand the nature of volunteering individuals. They can then classify these volunteers and assign them different roles according to their needs. In this way, they will satisfy the needs and expectations of volunteers and enhance the chances of volunteer retention. Conclusion Organizations today face the prospects of increasing competition at both ends of the supply chain, meaning that they not only have to contend for a space in the market but also, have to engage more aggressively when seeking resources. One such resource is the human resource component, which is an important source of competitive advantage. Organizations can enhance the retention of top employees in a number of ways, including the use of compensation packages and through astute management practices. The most important consideration for organizations, however, is to ensure that they guarantee the satisfaction of employees, and reduce employee dissatisfaction. This is because employee satisfaction/dissatisfaction has a great capacity to prompt an individual to either stay at or exit and organization. References Bass, B. (2008). The Bass Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research, and Managerial Applications (4th Edition ed.). New York: Free Press. Chen, L.-J., Chen, J. S. (2011). The motivations and expectations of international volunteer tourists: A case study of Chinese Village Traditions. Tourism Management, 32(2), 435-442. Coomber, B., Barriball, K. L. (2007). Impact of job satisfaction components on intent to leave and turnover for hospital-based nurses: a review of the research literature. International journal of nursing studies, 44(2), 297-314. Retrieved December 09, 2016 DuBrin, A. J. (2011). Human relations for career and personal success: concepts, applications, and skills. 9th ed. , . Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall/Pearson. Gregory, K. (2011). The importance of employee satisfaction. The Journal of the Division of Business Information Management, 29-37. Harms, P. D., Cred, M. (2010). Emotional intelligence and transformational and transactional leadership: A meta-analysis. Journal of Leadership Organizational Studies, 17(1), 5-17. Klidas, A., van den Berg, P. T., Wilderom, C. P. (2007). Managing employee empowerment in luxury hotels in Europe. International Journal of Service Industry Management, 18(1), 70-88. Meyerson, G., Dewettinck, B. (2012). Effect of Empowerment on Employees Performance. Advanced Research in Economic and Management Sciences (AREMS), 2, 40-46. Mosley, D. C., Patrick, D. K. (2011). Leadership and Followership: The Dynamic Process of Building High Performance Cultures. Organization Development Journal, 29(2), 85-100. Rugman, A. M., Collinson, S. (2012). International Business (6th ed.). Harlow England: Palgrave. Shye, S. (2010). The motivation to volunteer: A systemic quality of life theory. Social Indicators Research, 98(2), 183-200. Tangthong, S., Trimetsoontorn, J., Rojniruntikul, N. (2014). HRM Practices and Employee Retention in ThailandA. International Journal of Trade, Economics and Finance, 5(2), 162-166. Retrieved December 09, 2016 Tomazos, K., Butler, R. (2012). Volunteer tourists in the field: A question of balance? Tourism Management, 33(1), 177-187. Tracey, J. B., Hinkin, T. R. (2008). Contextual factors and cost profiles associated with employee turnover. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 49(1), 12-27. Retrieved December 09, 2016