Major Challenges Facing Human Resource Management Essay

The rapidly transforming business landscape means that there are currently many human resource management challenges which will continue to evolve for years to come. Tom Marsden, Director of Professional Services at Alexander Mann Solutions says that HR departments really need to be adding real business value to their organizations. â€Å"Although the restrictions of the recession aren’t over yet, companies are recognizing that in 2010, they will need to take steps to retain their workforce. This could be through an increased emphasis on training and engagement programs or by investing in areas that will optimize expenditure, such as integrated technology systems or improved candidate attraction schemes. The signs are that HR departments are preparing to maximize their resources and staff as organizations look to grow.† Today’s Top 10 Human Resource Management Challenges Due to the fluctuating economy as well as local and global advancements, there are many changes occurring rapidly that affect HR in a wide range of issues. In the Survey of Global HR Challenges: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the World Federation of Personnel Management Associations (WFPMA), several challenges for human resource management were revealed. This survey, which concluded that â€Å"despite national and regional differences, there was remarkable unanimity,† disclosed the following top 10 human resource management challenges: Challenges % of Companies 1. Change management 48% 2. Leadership development 35% 3. HR effectiveness measurement 27% 4. Organizational effectiveness 25% 5. Compensation 24% 6. Staffing: Recruitment and availability of skilled local labor 24% 7. Succession planning 20% 8. Learning and development 19%  9. Staffing: Retention 16% 10. Benefits costs: Health & welfare 13% Taking a Closer Look at the Top 3 Human Resource Management Challenges 1. Change Management Since this is generally not a focal point for HR professional training and development, change management represents a particular challenge for personnel management. The WFPMA finds that â€Å"This may also be the reason why it is cited as the foremost issue as HR continues to attempt to help businesses move forward. An intensified focus on training may be needed to develop added competencies to deal with change management.† 2. Leadership Development As the second of the biggest challenges for human resource management, leadership development needs to be a critical strategic initiative. HR professionals are faced with being expected to provide the essential structures, processes, tools, and points of view to make the best selection and develop the future leaders of the organization. The WFPMA reports that, â€Å"Across the globe leadership development has been identified as a critical strategic initiative in ensuring that the right employees are retained, that the culture of the organization supports performance from within to gain market position, and that managers are equipped to take on leadership roles of the future so that the organization is viable in the long term.† 3. HR Effectiveness Measurement How can improvement happen without the right tools to measure HR effectiveness? As with many other areas of business, this profession also needs to be able to measure results in terms of transaction management, as well as in terms of the positive influence on business. â€Å"Utilizing metrics to determine effectiveness is the beginning of a shift from perceiving HR’s role as purely an administrative function to viewing the HR team as a true strategic partner within the organization,† the WFPMA says. â€Å"In fact, the next section reports that survey participants believe a critical future issue for HR will be organizational effectiveness – again supporting HR’s critical role as a strategic partner to management.† Read more:  Business Issue on Human Resource Management This world federation also notes that, â€Å"Where HR departments have traditionally focused on measuring their own effectiveness, there is an evolving recognition that they can provide organizational value by measuring the effectiveness of the entire business organization. The shift is significant as it represents movement from simply counting the numbers hired to determining the ROI of collective and individual hires on a long-term basis. Going beyond measuring turnover, this new approach considers ‘bad’ turnover and ‘good’ turnover along with the overall cost of replacement hires.† The Numbers Speak Volumes When you start looking at the numbers, you realize the significant impact of trends and challenges in human resource management. There are many variables that influence human resource management. To give you a glimpse at some of the upcoming changes, the HR Leadership Council has released the following statistics: One in four high potentials plans to leave their organization in the next year. By effectively developing employees, managers can be better coaches and improve performance by up to 25%. Three out of five organizations have either restructured or plan to restructure within the next six months. Recent declines in employee engagement further decreased overall productivity by 3 to 5%. Leaders with strong people development skills are 50% more likely to outperform revenue expectations. Delivering on critical onboarding activities boosts new hire performance by 11.3%. 77% of midsized companies use (or plan to use) wellness to reduce costs. 46% of midsized-company CFOs anticipate a merger or acquisition in less than six months. Expand Your Skills and Enhance Your Expertise To meet or exceed all of these human resource management challenges, you’ll need proven tools and strategies. The best way to gain the necessary expertise is by earning your Master of Science in Human Resource Development entirely online from U.S. News & World Report-ranked Villanova University. In Villanova’s online HR master’s degree program, you’ll learn how to: Implement strategic organizational change for increased quality, productivity and employee satisfaction Construct an effective training program Design a compensation system that motivates employees Structure benefit packages and measure their success Identify principles for developing, utilizing and conserving human resources Use data and statistics to make informed business decisions Leverage technology to enhance the contributions of the human resource function to an organization Develop financial management and budgetary skills

HRM Consultancy Report †BancRoyale Amsterdam Essay

In a survey undertaken by PWC of customers and outsourcing service providers cut across different advanced countries, over 80% customers noted that outsourcing activities delivered targeted gains provided for in the original business case. By implication therefore, it can be said that outsourcing and offshoring in the case of Bancroyale is a basic part of organizational strategy in a bid to maintain competitive advantage and staying ahead of other organizations. The need to outsource certain business processes by organizations over the years have been attributed to the recession that hit hard on world economies and businesses, it is also borne out of the need to reduce and contain costs while maximizing benefits and increased efficiency. As we speak and in coming years, process enhancement and productivity as well as governance, risk and security are other needs to be met by business process outsourcing. It is a trend that continues to emerge over time. Business processes such as IT and payroll management is of the essence to be outsourced due to their dynamic nature for the former and better efficiency in management by 3rd parties for the latter. Studies have shown that about 50% of clients are discouraged from outsourcing due to a lack of experience by service providers and their inability to justify the costs against benefits and therefore provided a justification for preference for in-house employees over 3rd parties while some companies do not have the skills to manage outsourcing activities and the service providers. Some are of the opinion that they require to put their house in order before outsourcing certain business processes. Banc Royale Amsterdam known and popular for superior and friendly customer service has taken steps to outsource its online customer service unit to a small South American company to handle due to increasing costs of maintaining this department. It is pertinent to take note of issues that may arise due to this change and its effect on the bank and also its customers. Majority of organizational change management systems fails as proven by research because employees who are at the core of these programs are not carried along and feel left out, this leads to low morale which results in demotivation and its consequences. Dawson and Jones (n.d), said that it is the people/employees that are subject to change and must adapt to change as against the organization adapting to change therefore human capital is the most important and critical element when instituting any form of change. People/employee and customer issues would arise and worthy of note is the language barriers already raised by the firm saddled with the responsibility of handling this unit. It is expected that most customers of Banroyale would speak Dutch or French and this should have been put into consideration while contracting this unit out to a South American firm. From the onset, management ought to have determined if this firm has Dutch speaking customer service consultants that would be able to communicate with their customers and also keep up with the standard of superior customer service set by the bank. The entire reason to outsource this unit is completed defeated if the bank cannot maximize benefits from this exercise as customers that are not pleased with services via the online customer service window are either completely lost or aggrieved thereby making the bank lose more money than it planned to save. The decision to outsource a key unit of the bank by the management is also likely to cause collective distrust amongst employees in spite of the fact that the decision is a strategic performance management decision that is expected to make the bank cut down on its increasing costs. According to Shawn 2008, the decision to outsource creates uncertainty for existing employees and it could make them to look elsewhere for employment, in cases where they do not leave, they most times do not cooperate with the new service providers to provide them with adequate information that would make the task easier to handle thereby causing also decreased efficiency in service delivery and bring in operational risk. Another major people management issue of outsourcing of this unit has to do with the customers to be attended to. In most cases, the service provider, that is the South American firm even though based on recommendation are highly professional most often than not would not be able to provide 100% banking services customers have always enjoyed because they have limited access to the bank’s customer database and hence, all they would be able to do while trying to serve the bank customers is to only take down messages and tell the customers someone would get back to them, these are customers that probably want to know their bank balance, ask questions regarding interest rates, cancel standing orders immediately etc. Only staff of the bank that has access to specific customer data base would be able to provide services to these customers. There is a very high likelihood that there would be a wide gap between management goals and eventual performance. One of the bank’s strategic capabilities and strengths is embedded in this unit that is customer service which is a major selling point for the organization; therefore it ought not be toyed or experimented with. In its quest to maintain a competitive advantage other areas should be looked at to reduce costs and expenses. HRM should seek to look at better ways to maximize the performance of this unit by determining unnecessary overheads are proposing to bank management to reduce, it could also develop more work challenges and deliverables to the managers of this unit in order to justify the increasing costs. Increasing costs accruable from this unit should provide increasing bottom lines for the entire bank, therefore performance management systems should be adopted to determine if these increasing expenses are justifiable and are actually increasing the bank’s bottom line. HRM could also propose to the service provider to hire some of the laid off bank customer service consultants and have them on their payroll on their own terms, this would ensure that these people are not so aggrieved for being laid off but also be able to still provide their services to the bank indirectly through the service provider. Lastly, if it is of great necessity that management outsource this unit then it is advised that it be done gradually and strategically in order to integrate the service providers into the system instead of a sudden transfer of this function thereby causing avoidable people management issues. SECTION 2- Organisational Solutions OB-HR Matrix Relationships The study of organizational behavior covers basically how knowledge about people, individuals, and groups are applied within an organization; and covers topics bordering on leadership behavior and power & politics, communication, group structure and process, learning & attitude development and perception, change process, conflict, negotiation and resolution, job design and motivation etc. Organizational behavior (OB) is a field of study devoted to understanding, explaining and ultimately improving the attitudes and behaviors of individual and groups in organizations. Therefore, the findings of this report are meant to be applied by managers to see how relevant they are to real world practical organizational challenges. The managers or HR professionals apply these organizational behavior theories and principles in solving problems that relate to human capital. For instance, while OB would explore the relationship between social recognition or employee motivation and job performance, human resource management would be examining the best ways to structure a perfect rewards system and performance management. In other words, the study of organizational behavior provides significant insights to human resource management when the principle and theories are effectively applied by HR professionals. Motivation and Diversity being very key and relevant organizational behavior concepts relevant to the change process being embarked upon by the organization would be the subject of analysis in this section. MOTIVATION – By making reference to the book ‘’Good to Great’’ by Jim Collins where he analyzed how Fortune 500 companies such as Wells Fargo, Walgreens etc transformed from just good companies to great companies. These companies were reported to have transformed into great companies basically by their commitment to hire the right people with emphasis on character, work ethics, intelligence, values and commitment and refusing to hire when such people were unavailable. This model was also adopted by Apple when they embarked on opening retail stores to serve their customers, they focused on hiring only very highly passionate individuals for their products i.e. highly enthusiastic about Apple products and this would only mean that, employees are first hand self motivated because they are passionate about what they are doing and so whether they are rewarded using the traditional reward systems or not, they are still happy doing what they are doing. However, Apple did not just stop at hiring passionate people, they created very unusual reward systems worthy of note is by not placing sales people on commission so as to ensure tension is completely eroded and employees maintain a very calm mien in dealing with customers. These hired sales people also go through rigorous trainings to acquaint them with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the Retail stores. Career growth opportunities for these sets of employees to grow through different opportunities are provided within the organization. Motivation in this context is therefore defined as an employee’s willingness to put in his maximum effort into his job to achieve organizational objectives while also being able to meet his personal needs and objectives. Motivation was defined by Baron, 1983 as a set of processes concerned with the force that energizes behavior and directs it towards attaining some goals. Simply put, motivation is the reasons why individuals behave the way they behave or do what they do, which implies in a workplace that an employee is said to be motivated on the job when he enjoys doing what he is doing and totally involved in it as against doing it for the sake of only remuneration to be received. A self-motivated employee implies that personal goals align with organizational goals most often than not therefore, employee satisfaction & retention, customer satisfaction & retention and accomplishment of organizational goals are guaranteed even in the long run. Human behavior is goal directed and it is motivation that drives an individual to behave in a particular way he does. Motivated employees are more self driven and autonomy-oriented than those who are less motivated ( Ryan and Deci, 2000), they also show interest in colleagues work more than less motivated employees which makes them more open to challenges and developmental opportunities. Motivation and HRM approaches for BancRoyale. Research and studies have shown and proven that motivation is positively related to employee performance and therefore HRM has a major role in this regard by implementing the concept of performance and reward management. Gungor, 2011 conducted a research on the relationship between reward management systems and employee performance with a major focus on motivation as a critical and intervening factor, he concluded that reward management systems application is significantly and positively related to motivation and employee performance which implies that financial rewards have great impact on employee performance and motivation (be it intrinsic and extrinsic). HRM has the duty to identify employee needs and goals through employee audit and other means that target employees’ individuality. The implementation of performance management systems by BancRoyale would make it benefit greatly from all its positive outcomes such as customer and employee satisfaction and retention and other additional benefits. Individuals have different needs as analyzed by Abraham Maslow in his ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ and theory of motivation where he stated that individual needs are arranged in a hierarchy of importance, he also added that all these needs are insatiable, however as one level of need is satisfied it no longer motivates behavior and therefore the next level is activated. HRM must be able to determine the level on which each employee is on to be able to strategically position the organization to meet such needs. It is important that HRM understands that unmet needs and expectations of employees over time leads to certain behavioral patterns that manifest in absenteeism, frustration, work stress and conflicts with its attendant effect on performance. DIVERSITY – Meanings According to the US Department of Interior, diversity refers to many demographic variables including but not limited to race, religion, color, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, education, geographic origin and skill characteristics. The Law Society of Scotland says that diversity is about recognizing that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non visible ways; and about creating a culture that respects and value uniqueness and difference in people in order to harness their potential in creating a more productive working environment. Diversity encompasses acceptance and respect of individual uniqueness and differences, exploration of these differences in a safe, positive and nurturing work environment, moving beyond mere tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity within each individual (University of Oregon, www.gladstone.uoregon.edu/) Diversity and HRM approaches for BancRoyale HRM is saddled with the responsibility of managing diversity, ensuring the organization conforms to the legal requirements related to equal opportunity. This process is managed with HR functions ranging from recruitment, selection,evaluation, job design, training, people management to workforce management in terms of placing the right people in the right location and position. Due to seeming economic and business realities in addition to demographic changes taking place within the organization, diversity management is an all-new challenge for HR and the entire bank. If HR performs its functions related in this context, it would save the organization from avoidable litigation, reduced employee costs and better bottomlines. In order to make diversity a strong point of the bank, the following HR processes should be considered: Recruitment and selection: HR must look to assembling teams of diverse backgrounds that would stimulate creativity and innovation with skill sets that complement each other. Technology: diverse workforce often includes virtual teams therefore the need for technological support. HR policy: need to take into cognizance cultural and ethical aspects in addressing equality standards prevalent in each location they are present. Training: Managers and employees need to be trained on leadership and teamwork as it applies in a diverse workplace. KEY HRM ISSUES WITH GREAT IMPACT ON THE TRANSITION FROM IN-HOUSE ONLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO 3RD PARTY SERVICE MANAGEMENT IN BANCROYALE Diversity Management Diversity Management – â€Å"Diversity management is the ability of an organization to maximize the advantages of organizational employee diversity and minimize the inherent problems. I.e maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of implementing diversity policy in the workplace† Benefits to Banc Royale Creating a competitive advantage (the business case for diversity) Better understanding of diverse customers. Increased productivity on complex tasks. Better problem solving as a result of inputs of diverse members. Increased innovation Potential issues that may arise in diversity management (Knouse 2008) Diversity members may show loyalty to background groups rather than the team. Potential for increased conflicts amongst employees with diverse background. Potential for exclusion of people different and more cohesion amongst similar groups within networks. Potential for non-cooperation when group members have different values. High potential for miscommunication among diverse organizations Proposed solutions HRM practices must be fair and equitable and take responsibility for the effective delivery of the policy Work groups and teams must be allowed to grow and develop in stages and be given time to fully develop Diversity plan must be well thought out and communicated to be effectively implemented. Change focus from social cohesion to task cohesion Reinforce a culture of diversity through continued management commitment Institute mentoring systems with bias for the diversity cause. Employing the right people to deliver best quality service based on equality of opportunity. Ensuring employees are able to contribute a diverse range of skills and experience. Ensuring Banc Royale harnesses and realises full potentials and performance of employees. Building and encouraging a culture of intolerance to discrimination. Eliminating barriers leading to discrimination and prejudice. Building a culture that fosters cooperation and respect amongst employees. Board of Directors is overall lead. All directors and line managers are responsible for full implementation of the policy. Employees are responsible for adhering and complying with the policies. Trainings, sensitization seminars and workshops are conducted and organized by HRM for employees to learn about the policy. Emergence of virtual teams Virtual teams came to the fore as evolving organizations saw the increasing need to go global and this was characterized by technological advancement. Organizations whose goals are to maintain a competitive advantage believe that creating effective virtual teams are necessary to achieve this goal. Global brands such as Coca cola, Microsoft, Citigroup, Ford, Toyota and even non-profit organizations have been able to lead the pack of their various industries as they have seen ahead that they require to be present across all parts of the world using people as their major resource. Symons et al (2007) have this to say about virtual teams being teams where its members are geographically dispersed and unified by one project. Which invariably means that there are 2 teams: physical teams and virtual teams unified by one organizational goal. While the physical team adopt face to face communication, the virtual team communicate using technology such as telephones, emails, conference calls, or other computer-mediated communication. The foregoing pre-supposes that in building or creating virtual/global teams, there would be a large involvement of a diverse workforce scattered all over the globe which comes with its attendant challenges and even more benefits if systematically harnessed. MIT Sloan School conducted a study in 2009 and concluded that virtual teams could outperform physical teams and provided a justification for their creation which amongst others include: Productivity day in day out due to time zone differences, Sharing of best practices, Reducing costs, Innovation and increased creativity as a result of highly diversed workforce. Bergiel et al (2008) said that such teams as virtual teams allow organizations to attract and retain top talents because workplace flexibility is seen as a crucial aspect of job satisfaction for many employees; for many companies, the use of virtual teams reduces costs and time of employee travel. However, inspite of all the benefits accruable from virtual teams, without proper structures and strategic planning, these benefits may not be harnessed. Trust is a crucial component required in building a cohesive and effective team and it even becomes more complicated when this trust needs to be built where distance is a barrier. In building trust, it is important for team members to have face to face interactions, this allows them to develop rapport, build friendship and relationships and also have a better understanding of the team goals. Frequent communication electronically between members also has a way of fostering relationships. Team training from time to time on technology that has to do with team interaction would also go a long way to promoting the understanding of team goals and objectives Virtual teams are very much likely to fail when organizations do not make appropriate investment in technology and training of team members. Team leaders must be taught how to provide leadership and direction with giving feedbacks effectively through unconventional methods while members should be trained and given guidelines on how to communicate with other team members to encourage team building. At the helm of all of these is the support and trust of company CEO and other management staff in promoting and deepening the activities of the virtual team without which it is bound to fail. The decision to create virtual teams is usually the idea of management and therefore they must be seen to support it by building the appropriate structures that would ensure goals are achieved. Symons et al (2008) concluded and postulated some key points that should be followed by virtual managers which is hereby recommended to the Customer Service Departmental Head in alliance with the South American company that is in charge of it and they are as follows: Communication is a critical component of virtual teams enhanced by the support and the introduction of technology, therefore virtual teams succeed when value are placed on the people than the technology. It implies that the manager must create a definite purpose in cooperation with his team members and effectively communicate it to them. Leadership style advised for virtual teams is democratic in order to get the best out people and promote creativity and innovation. This is the benefit obtainable from having a diverse workforce and it must be adequately harnessed by the leadership approach used. In this kind of work environment, each team member is able to voice his opinion irrespective of his background, language, status etc. The virtual manager is able to create a very high level of trust when conscious efforts are made from the outset to address trust issues and conflicts that might arise as a result of diversity. He therefore should employ essentially face to face interactions in conflict resolutions and better still create an environment of friendship where conflicts are minimal. In addition to these key points, virtual teams are disadvantaged by problems or challenges characterized by difficulties in communication caused by the absence of face to face interactions, lack of employee engagement to get the best out of team members, major trust and integrity issues etc all caused by inability to go through physical interactions. This is responsible for the slow pace of trust building in virtual teams however all of these disadvantages and more can be mitigated to have our dream ideal virtual team or better put, the ideal Customer Service Department by employing tested strategies. The Banc Royale virtual manager is hereby advised to adopt the following strategies in building a cohesive and effective team: Communication All team members must be kept closely via communication. Effective communication is essential from top to bottom and bottom to top ensuring free flow of information. Communication must also be frequent and the manager’s responsiveness to communication or information is also key to effective communication. Communication does not start or end with passing information, listening and being very attentive is also critical. He must be able to create awareness from time to time so that the team can achieve expected outcomes and results. His ability to make use of the technology resource provided also enhance communication and also train team members on how to optimize the benefits available in the resource. The team leader must seek to understand his members through and through including their cultures and background, this would help him in deepening his relationship and develop trust. Collaboration The virtual manager must be able to create a collaborative mindset in the entire team which harmonises the best of competition and fostering trust and respect amongst team members. Collaboration can only be achieved when divergent views are welcome are analysed to take decisions that would allow for goals to be achieved and eventually create a win-win situation. Defined team objectives The virtual manager must be able to make his team members know the reason for their existence. This reason must be well clarified and communicated, team members must understand the role and contribution of their team to the entire bank, what is expected from each team member, results that are expected from the team etc. This clarity of purpose ensures that employees are properly engaged. Success celebration Milestones and successes must be celebrated to motivate star performers and encourage other team members to do better. Finally, the Customer Service department head could also adopt an account/customer classification approach to structuring the new online customer service just outsourced. The Team lead is advised to divide his team across the types of clients that patronize the unit such as new customers, existing customers broken down into retail, commercial, borrowing and non-borrowing customers. It is also necessary to ensure multi-lingual Customer Service Consultants are hired to avoid complaints as a result of language barriers. Influence of Power and Politics Power is the capacity or ability to influence another and it is drawn from various sources such as formal authority, control of scarce resources, control of decision processes, control of knowledge and information etc Politics is the tactical use of power or practical exercise of power to retain or obtain control of real or symbolic resources† according to Bacharach et al (1980 p. 1). Politics in the workplace or organization is usually driven by personal interests and therefore tantamount to the achievement of organizational goals and objectives. This determines productivity within the organization. The influence of power and politics on Banc Royale Amsterdam as a result of the changes being made can be both positive and negative. Scholars such as Eisendhart et al (1988) believes that politics is linked with poor organizational performance creating inflexibilities, communication barrier, restricting information flow etc. while some scholars are of the opinion that politics is necessary for innovation, creativity and organizational change that are brought about by disagreements and conflicts. This decision as taken by the management has some political undertones to it due to the fact that this unit is a very key unit in the organization, it can be noted that other units also exist within the organization that could also have been outsourced to cut down on expenses. This decision definitely would have caused collective distrust amongst employees not affected by this decision and could lead them to seek for employment in other organizations. According to Shawn 2008, the decision to outsource creates uncertainty for existing employees and it could make them to look elsewhere for employment, in cases where they do not leave, they most times do not cooperate with the new service providers to provide them with adequate information that would make the task easier to handle thereby causing also decreased efficiency in service delivery and bring in operational risk. It would also bring about a situation whereby other existing employees of the entire department would lose confidence in the Manager of the department for allowing such a decision to be taken. They would lose confidence in his ability to provide leadership and therefore bring about a decline the department’s productivity and his ability to be in control. If an individual is perceived by others to have influence then such person holds power and such is arrogated to him. When his employees believe in his ability to control the distribution of rewards valued by others such as promotion, money or even his ability to influence management to retain the â€Å"online customer service unit†, then they believe he has power and influence and would respect his leadership. Power requires one person’s perception of dependence on another person and in this situation, existing employees of this department are beginning to think otherwise. In order to minimize power and politics which is not bad entirely except it is engendering an unethical culture within the organization, it is of necessity that HRM takes a very strong stand to tackle it and I would recommend that they look at HR processes that include Recruitment and Performance Management. In whatever HR process we want to look at, the sole aim is to ensure that negative power and politics is downplayed and HR plays a major role in ensuring that. It is important that structures are built that do align with the objectives of the organization based solely on Corporate Governance policies in order to have management buy in. Section 3: Conclusion ‘Human capital represents one of the last and the best sources of competitive advantage’ (Kaufman, 2010: 292). The strategic objective of Banc Royale is to provide â€Å"helpful banking† to its numerous customers who are mostly retail customers, therefore cannot afford to get customer service wrong so that customers would not lose confidence in the brand. Quick steps need be taken immediately to first address the language barrier issues that are existent between both customers-service providers-bank employees. It is recommended and advised that management should change the focus of this exercise from cost reduction alone to enhanced and improved productivity with greater emphasis on collaboration between the bank officials and the service providers to ensure seamless integration. We all know change is difficult, however, if we consider what we stand to gain as an organization we would be glad to embrace change. Globalization, the need to maintain competitive advantage and churn out good bottom lines at minimal expenses, economic downturn are amongst other justifications for the creation of virtual teams and the need to outsource certain units of an organization. Banc Royale intends to be at the forefront of this, therefore all employees are enjoined to understand the workings and the concept of virtual teams in order to give support as required. Virtual managers have the responsibility to acquaint themselves with the roles required of them which include and are not limited to: Providing strategic direction in alignment with corporate goals Motivating and empowering team members to achieve team goals Identifying and providing required resources to achieve team goals Developing and communicating a clear vision to team members Giving effective employee feedbacks etc. Performance management as it affects human resources is to ensure organizational goals are met by training, motivating and rewarding employees by adopting best practices to achieve competitive advantage. As it applies to Banc Royale at this point in time, there is a need for management to have meetings and round table discussions with existing employees that the organization require to retain and get them to understand the reasons for the decision taken and make them see reason, in addition to this, appraisal could be done for the existing employees so that promotion exercise can be undertaken or probably an increase in compensation so as to win their hearts. The human resource management department of any organization is charged with the responsibility of managing employees, employee welfare and employee performance in alignment to the organizational goals and objectives, it is however in the purview of HRM to direct and guide employees and management to behave in such a manner that would ensure both personal and organizational goals are aligned and delivered. This describes the link between organizational behavior and human resource approaches and concept all described in this report. Human resource management can be used as a tool by management for shaping organizational behavior. The relationship between organizational behavior and human resource management stems from the fact that human resource management can be used as a tool for shaping organizational behavior. The practice of performance management also helps in the integration of other HR practices such as talent management, training and development, reward system management that have been discussed in this report to ensure they are all interrelated and be able to complement each other to achieving overall organizational health goals and objectives. Performance management systems aid the integration and enmeshment of HR policies with overall business organizational goals. REFERENCES Aguinis, H. (2009),†Performance Management (2nd ed.)† Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Aguinis H. & Pierce Charles A (2007), â€Å"Enhancing the relevance of organizational behavior by embracing performance management research†, Journal of Organisational Behavior Bacharach, S. B. & Lawler, E. J. (1980),†Power and politics in organizations†, San Francisco: JosseyBass. Baron, R.A. (1983), â€Å" Behaviour in Organizations†,. New York: Allyn & Bacon, Inc. Bergiel B. J., Bergiel, E. B., & Balsmeier, P. W. (2008),†Nature of virtual teams: A summary of their advantages and disadvantages†, Management Research News, 31(2), 99-110. Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services (October 2003) – INDICATORS TO MEASURE THE COSTS EFFECTIVENESS OF DIVERSITY POLICIES IN ENTREPRISES- FINAL REPORT Dawson Mark J. & Mark L. Jones(n.d), â€Å"Herding Cats- Human Change Management† Eisenhardt, K. M. And L. J. Bourgeois (1988), â€Å"Politics of strategic decision making in high-velocity environments: Towards a midrange theory†,Academy of Management Journal, Eidson C., (2009) ,†The benefits and liabilities of virtual teams†, Available from ( http://expertaccess.cincom.com) Accessed on 31st July 2013 Equality and Diversity – Policy and Procedures http://www.grundon.com/PDFs/dutyOfCare/Equality%20Diversity%20Policy%20Procedure%20-%20Jun09.pdf (Accessed 1st July 2013) Gandz J. 2001, â€Å"A Business Case For Diversity† Copyright Queen’s Printer of Ontario Gà ¼ngà ¶r P. (2011),†The Relationship between Reward Management System and Employee Performance with the Mediating Role of Motivation: A Quantitative Study on Global Banks’’, 7th International Strategic Management Conference Greenberg J.(2005), â€Å"Diversity in the workplace† http://diversity.sdce.edu/content/diversity-workplace-benefits-challenges-and-solutions (Accessed 2nd July 2013) Heller R, A. Laurito, Kurt J., M.Martin, Fitzpatrick R. & K. Sundin(2010), â€Å"Global Teams: Trends, Challenges and Solutions†, Cornell Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies, New York. Kaufman, B. (2010), ‘‘SHRM Theory in the Post-Huselid Era: Why It is Fundamentally Mis-Specified’, Industrial Relations, 49 (2): 292. Knouse Stephen B. (2008),†Issues in Diversity Management†, DEFENSE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH, Internal Report No 05-08, pp 10-13 Maslow, A (1954). Motivation and personality. New York, NY:

The Problem with Eating Animals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Problem with Eating Animals - Essay Example Considering food intake should be in harmony with the natural order, it is okay to eat animal meat because that balances the ecological system by creating food chains which maintain nature. Too many animals conflict with humans and therefore resulting in undesirable natural order. Animals try to find their daily diets by grazing around and they might end up destroying plantations like it has been witnessed before where animals such as elephants invade plantations in search of food. This is due to their large numbers that have led to small grazing grounds. As described in the bible, animals are created to be ruled and eaten by man.Having feelings for animals implies that we regard them as humans which should not be the case since naturally humans were created to depend on animal meat as a source of food. Writers argue that eating meat violates animal rights, the reason being they have the life. I doubt that animals have the same feeling as humans and therefore eating animal meat is pe rfectly okay since they do not have a structured life as humans do. Eating meat does not compromise the integrity and stability of the human environment. It is therefore not wrong to eat meat since the order is still maintained-it is ethical. Humans do eat meat out of necessity and not pleasure, therefore, this is morally acceptable. This is a self-preservation mechanism which is meant to preserve life. Just like shooting someone in self-defense is not the same as killing someone for the sadistic reason.

Can the effect of engineering on poverty be measured Essay

Can the effect of engineering on poverty be measured - Essay Example It is projected that 20.5% of the globe’s population is living below the poverty line as these groups’ income is less than $1 dollar per day. Among the most favourable types of achieving revenue for all in the supply chain in the manufacturing of products that enhance the earning capacity of those people who are living in acute poverty, products like coconut oil presses, water drip irrigation and treadle pumps have ushered millions of dollars in revenue for poverty tormented nations and assisted over 12 million poor people to free themselves from the poverty. The aim of this research paper is to illustrate poverty eradication for those ensnarled in poverty with the capability to come over from it permanently and for this, sustainable development is required. However, sustainability is an intricate feature that encompasses social, economic, technological, political and environmental factors. In the 1970s, the engineering community started to ceremoniously address the mounting problem of poverty. Market-oriented development buttressed the issue of poverty eradication by " just not only planning and designing technologies ‘suitable ‘ to the downtrodden but also planning and designing technologies for the people in poor locality, which can themselves consider it proper and employ the same to promote their own interests. An understanding of the dynamics of the local culture is needed to develop products that can usher more income (Lewis et al 2010:252). This research essay will mainly focus on how the impact of engineering on poverty can be evaluated by focusing the impact of engineering on the dimension of poverty. This research essay will also discuss how can features of engineering will assist in relieving poverty across the globe. Further, it will discuss how engineering through infrastructure projects help the different communities which are in crises, and how they return to normal

Google Map Java Script ( produce a program code) Assignment

Google Map Java Script ( produce a program code) - Assignment Example ce for such data is Government of India’s census data available at census.gov.in .The last census being only completed recently it suits my application very well .The only preprocessing I had to do was obtaining the data for select cities and rank them according to population.There can be no other dataset better than this The architecture used was the simplest ,as I mapped only the population. It required only a web map with the locations marked and infowindows showing the population and rank. Next time I would like to put economic data ,religion data ,literacy and education data also .These data will be placed on different maps which can be selected from links in The toughest job was finding a java script with Google map API. A map has to be created , markers has to be generated for each location and info windows had to be filled with the data. I found Google map API V2 better suited for the purpose than the V3 as it offered a lot of flexibility with info windows. I obtained a suitable script at Mikes web pages(Mike Williams 2009) and modified it If I had more time I would have incorporated more cities and urban agglomerates and for each city other than population, religion, education and economic data would be included. If possible I would have given provision for searching the map for each kind of

Made In The USA Still Means Something Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Made In The USA Still Means Something - Essay Example Sirkin believes that public’s growing concerns need to alleviated and positive picture should be brought forward. Sirkin supports this view by informing the readers that US is still producing goods of 2.5 percent more worth than China, which is considered to be the biggest manufacturing industry today. Even in the last year, US reported to export goods worth $1.377 trillion (Sirkin, 2009). Sirkin concludes his article by providing the right course of action which involves effort on the part of the policymakers and managers. In order to understand Sirkin’s perspective, we must be aware that outsourcing is slowly killing the manufacturing industry of US since MNEs are interested in investing R&D in the outsourced countries. Sirkin is taking for granted the fact the certain figures have dropped drastically in the past year and China is quickly catching up despite being a developing economy. Also US, by focusing on manufacturing for only certain sectors such as chemical and aircrafts, is giving way to China as the world’s largest manufacturer. If we take Sirkin’s argument seriously, we should realize that now is the time to act when US is still the biggest manufacturing industry. If the pessimism continues, US will lose its power to the outsourcing countries and the manufacturing industry will be outdated in the true sense. Sirkin has provided a way forward by pointing out that the outdated manufacturing plants can easily be replaced with state-of-the-art manufacturing plants if we clo se the old ones down and make way through policies and actions for new

Career Aspirations Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Career Aspirations - Research Proposal Example This is my short-term plan for the next 5 years. An accountant must be very good at numbers, precise, analytical and willing to work in a flexible schedule. There are many occasions wherein one has to render overtime especially when a lot of transactions were made in a single day .It is a must for an accountant to have an over-all knowledge of accounting, finance, budgeting, cost control and the GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).It is also important for an accountant to be updated with existing financial regulations on the federal as well as national level. It is important for someone who wants to be an accountant to be very patient in handling details. But aside from the technical work, it would also be good if I have good interpersonal skills since I have to deal with different people inside an organization. I need to do a lot of explaining about finance which is sensitive topic for most people. Moreover, I believe I should be very, very objective. One of my strengths is the ability to persevere under trying conditions. I am a very patient person and this attribute would greatly help me in this career. For one, I have encountered a situation wherein I have to explain procedures that someone must follow. The incident happened when I was then assisting in my relative's small business during summer. They had a small grocery which had long-term customers. One grocer returned a box of milk since the date showed that it has already expired. I calmly explained that I need to keep the box as proof but I can't return her money since I do not have the authority to do so. She was insistent and started cursing me. I called my aunt on the cellphone and informed her of the situation. She immediately ordered me to refund the payment. At the end of the day, it was only then that I realized that I was patient and tactful in handling the old lady. I followed the procedure and asked for advice before I acted on the

Implementation of EMR System Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Implementation of EMR System - Term Paper Example It can be a complete decision support system with quality management and reporting method.But this implementation process of the EMR incurs a huge investment for the firm which cannot be afforded by many small scale companies. Government plays a vital role in the investment process to help the hospitals to adapt the system. In the year 1996 the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act i.e. HIPAA was passed at U.S to setup rules for the access and storing of patients information and auditing to electronic medical records. These rules set a standard for electronic records which is much more stringent than older paper work records. But there are some concerns about the different issues that arise due to the implementation process. The organization faces several challenges in the implementation process which the company needs to evaluate beforehand for a successful implementation of the EMR system. Identifying the key business areas, selecting the appropriate vendor for the so ftware development and implementing in a tactful manner are most important in the adaptation process. Rapid development in IT industry aided in the reduction of cost for setting up the information system and emerging device compatibility gives great flexibility to access the system. The information stored manually through paper work can also be accessed in a simple manner but this cannot be managed for a huge number of records. Networked EMR gives the litheness to connect the different departments and the laboratory data and prompt assistance can be received from the system in an effective way. Various other features like the e-mail and internet communication allows the specialist to take advice from remote organization or physicians. Storage of drugs and availability of the supplementary health care instruments can be tracked by the system. Lastly the report generation of different situational analysis can also be conducted through the system (Fraser, et.al., 2005, p. 84-85). This report is mainly concerned with the issues which arise in the adaptation of EMR system by the hospital administrator and the features of the different EMR systems available from different vendors. The report also will help in the decision process for selecting the right EMR system for the given hospital. EMR implementation process Why EMR implementation? Implementing an EMR system is not an easy task for the hospitals. Identifying the best EMR and deciding the one to buy are two main questions which arise before the implementation process. Identifying the clinical, administrative and the business needs are the very first step one should consider in the process. When searching for the best system one should understand what the process is all about and what can be the implementation process i.e. proper understanding of the systems available in the market are needed to be evaluated first so that there should not be loss of capital in the investment for the system. Proper knowledge of t he systems available and the business process and comparison between the two will help the implementation process much easier. Once the product selection is done the process identification and the analysis can be done and the clinic will surely benefit from that if the right product is selected. EMR system facilitates the processes than if done manually. The analysis, calculation and recording of data about the

FOUNDATIONS OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Coursework

FOUNDATIONS OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT - Coursework Example The office is small as it was the starting point of the business. The company had been trying to find a way to explore the potential clients at the sea side, but had been reluctant to work on a business plan or business strategy due to the presence of a huge number and variety of competitors already operating in that set up. Instead they have been focusing on building a brand name and customer loyalty through exceptional customer care. Due to this strategy the company had been fast in reaching their annual profit goal, in fact they have exceeded it. So, the board has decided that it is time to step in this potential market. The company’s resorts are already present there and are flourishing but research has shown that a small restaurant will attract a lot of foreign tourists and who could say no to a side profit. A business plan has already been made and approved, this plan includes financial planning, restaurant market research, cash flow forecast, competitor’s analysi s, human resource planning and a marketing plan. More than 70% of our surveyed foreigners focus group deduced having a liking to eat their homelands native food rather than trying new things even in foreign land. Due to already being able to deal with a lot of tourists our chefs are already specialized in foreign cuisine. This is a strength as compare to the potential competitors. Client satisfaction with services and the main menu has been and keeps on being of most extreme significance, yet our discoveries demonstrate that the lighting, bar, decor, and different alternatives to enhance the feasting experience are additionally figures in client choices and tourists are mainly attracted to such places. Cash flow for the next two year has been prepared starting from a huge outflow in the first three months in the preparation and setting up of the restaurant. Starting from cleaning of the already present

Case study 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

2 - Case Study Example a decision to edit the longer version of the movie was made in the interest of producing a shorter film that could be suitable for commercialization. This resulted in the film incurring greater losses. The major problem in the case is that there lacks proper teamwork. According to the teamwork effectiveness model, teamwork refers to a group of people who interact to influence each other, and are mutually accountable for the achievement of the common set goals and objectives (Mcshane & Steen, 2012). In this case, there was neither influencing of each other since the director worked on the film production singly nor was there common goals achievement, since the producer and the studio’s executives were working with objectives or realizing different goals. Despite the fact that most of all the financial requirements for producing the Conquistadors movie were effectively met, the final product was still not satisfactory. Teamwork was lacking throughout the whole process of filming the movie, such that the producer was left to make most of the decisions related to the film from the beginning to the end, including dictating the content of the final product. Teamwork requires cons ultations and negotiations at all stages of a project, to ensure that the interests of all parties are put into consideration (Mcshane & Steen, 2012). However, the Conquistadors majorly featured the interests of the film producer, Mark Frazier, while disregarding the interest of the Big Screen Studio. Consequently, the whole Conquistadors was produced and edited in the ideas and interests of the producer, with little or no studio contribution, resulting in its ultimate failure. Lack of proper communication is yet another problem in the case. Communication entails the process by which information is transmitted and understood by the parties (Mcshane & Steen, 2012). However, even though the producer and the executive’s of the Big Screen studio were communicating, they did not understand the

Promote Products Essay Example for Free

Promote Products Essay 1. 1 Choose a product or service that could be promoted. Explain how and why you would promote that product or service. Identify at least three types of personnel you could use to help you plan and organise the promotion. What role would they play? How would their skills and experience help you? At work we are currently promoting our GPS products. We have chosen to promote these via direct marketing and by targeting certain business types. I liaised with our sales consultants, who talk to these people on a daily basis, to advise on what language should be used and what information they felt was most relevant to put across. We needed a graphic designer to create and develop ideas for the letters and DL flyers being sent. I also needed to involve juniors in the business to assist with folding letters and stuffing envelopes as we had determined that this would be a cheaper option for the business than using a mail house. 1. 2 Make a list of resources you would need for the promotion and identify where you could get them. Explain any actions you would need to take in order to have the resources ready for promotion. The database we purchased contained 7,000 leads so we then needed to purchase paper, envelops, ink, return stamps and organise postage. Paper, envelopes and labels for return address were all ordered in advance from Staples. Ink was also pre-ordered to ensure we didn’t run out during the print job. We then liaised with Australia Post to determine the best way to post this number of letters. We chose their â€Å"clean mail† option which meant having to mark each envelope with a pre paid stamp before taking to the post office. This stamp was purchased through Australia Post.

My Trip to Muir Woods Essay Example for Free

My Trip to Muir Woods Essay Just about anyone can tell you of a trip they’ve taken that was truly memorable. If they were like me, perhaps they took family road trips in the summer when they were kids, or maybe they had the chance to visit a foreign country. Whatever the case may be, there were events that occurred on these trips that created memories that will be cherished for the rest of their lives. I have been fortunate because I’ve traveled many places and those trips have always been memorable. My trip to Muir Woods National Park in California is one good example, and it proved to be memorable because it impacted me in ways I did not expect. My first trip to Muir Woods National Park happened on Thanksgiving Day in 2009. My roommate and I had just moved to San Francisco in March of that year and this was our first Thanksgiving there. My younger sister had flown out from Minnesota to spend the holiday with me, and we all agreed that it might be fun to drive up to Muir Woods since none of us had been there yet. The day dawned bright and clear and rather warm, which is unusual for San Francisco in November. Usually it is very cold and foggy that time of year. We were on the road pretty early in the morning and I remember when we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge, the hills to the north were still wreathed in fog and the sun was coming up behind us. It gave the fog an ethereal glow and made the hills look so mysterious from that distance. Between the fog that still lingered in pockets and the sunshine peeking over the hilltops, I felt like we were riding through some mystical land in a fairytale. The drive held a little spice of fear for me as well. My roommate was the one driving and she could be a little reckless at times in the car. I am a somewhat anxious passenger even at the best of times, so when she would take the turns in the road so quickly, I would be biting my nails 3 and holding onto the door handle for dear life! For the most part though, I was so entranced by the landscape that I paid little attention to my roommate’s antics on the road. I kept searching for glances of the legendary redwoods we were to see, but although I saw many awe-inspiring vistas on that drive, I caught no hint of those ancient giants. It was not until we pulled into the entrance to the park that I got my first glimpse of the monstrous redwoods of Muir Woods. As we walked into the first groves past the gate, I was nearly overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of the trees around me. I couldn’t help but feel as though I was surrounded by hundreds of ancient sentinels that guarded some deep, secret knowledge of the world that I was far too young to comprehend. It was still early enough in the day that the sun had only reached the tops of these giants, so the forest floor was still dark and coolly moist. Wisps of fog wound through these enormous trunks like the ghosts of hunters past. I remember walking into one grove that is called the Cathedral and feeling like I had just stepped onto sacred ground. The weight of silence and age was almost a living, tangible thing and every single one of us spoke in reverent whispers. For me, standing in the presence of creatures that had witnessed the dawn of civilization on this continent was a humbling experience. I will never forget how small I felt standing in that ancient forest, nor will I forget the sense I had of walking in the presence of a being far greater and older than I. The majesty and wonder of the redwoods of Muir Woods captured my heart and my imagination, and that is why I consider this trip to be one of my most memorable.

The Stigma Associated With Mental Disorders Psychology Essay

The Stigma Associated With Mental Disorders Psychology Essay Many people believe that individuals with a disorder cannot function in society, whether its school, work, or relationships. Individual attitudes, judgments and beliefs play a hug role in reasons for stigma, mainly towards people with a mental disorder. Mental disorders are health conditions characterized by significant dysfunction in an individuals cognitions, emotions, or behavior that reflects a disturbance on the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning, and are not considered part of normal development of an individuals culture (American Psychiatric Association 2012). No one can be certain that there are direct stigmas, but the majority of individuals can identify with feeling a certain way towards those with disorders. It is speculated that there is a more negative than positive attitude towards the mentally disordered and may actually feel that way on an unreliable basis. In order to really understand the reasons behind this, we have to understand things like self-stigmatization and public awareness and knowledge. Key aspects, other than stigma, have to be understood in order to grasp the reasons behind negative judgments against others. Stigma, as defined by Link and Phelan, is the co-occurrence of its components- labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination-and further indicate that for stigmatization to occur, power must be exercised (2001). Power can come in many different forms, such as family, friends, media, and influential figures. Stigma is also most powerful when the disorder is considered as severe and is coupled with inappropriate environmental responses (ex. incongruous verbal remarks or erratic behavior) (Martin 2007). Stigma and its effects are distinguished into two forms, public and self-stigma. Public stigma perceives as individuals with a mental disorder as: being dangerous, being unpredictable, being difficult to talk with, having only themselves to blame, distrustful, being able to pull themselves together, an embarrassment, having a poor outcome and responding poorly to treatment (Crisp 2000; Martin 2007). In one study conducted through media influences, it was found that heavy exposure to the medias version of mental illnesses creates not only misinformation about crime and those who commit crime, but generates intolerance towards individuals with a mental illness and negatively impacts the publics opinion on mental health. Opposing this negative opinion, a companion study discovered that the majority of people with a mental illness never commit violent acts. Even though they are more likely to be the victim, the public overstresses their personal risk and the frequency of violence committed by individuals afflicted with mental disorders (Stuart 2006). It is this type of generalization that leads to self-stigma and distrust in those with mental disorders. Everyone has a different reaction to stigma. Some use it to empower their actions and apply it to treatment, while others are not affected by the stigma at all. Some people, on the other hand, internalize that stigma, and it becomes like a disease all its own. Stigma results in lowered self-esteem and self-efficacy (Watson, Corrigan, Larson, Sells 2007). Self-esteem is defined as varied and complex mental states pertaining to how one views oneself (Bailey 2003), while self- efficacy refers to a persons belief about ones ability to perform a specific behavior (LudÄ ne). To experience self-stigma, the person must be aware of the stereotypes that describe a stigmatized group (e.g., people with mental illness are to blame for their disorder) and agree with them. These two factors, though, are enough to be classified as self-stigma. The third factor that has to be included is application. The individual must apply stereotypes to ones self, I am mentally ill so I must be to blame fo r my disorder. This perspective represents self-stigma as a hierarchical relationship; a person with mental illness must first be aware of corresponding stereotypes before agreeing with them and applying self-stigma to themselves (Watson 2007). The public can view a person with a mental disorder in two ways, either positive or negative. During our research we predicted that there will be more negative thoughts than positive thoughts as the public views a person with a mental disorder. As previously defined, mental disorders are health conditions characterized by significant dysfunction in an individuals cognitions, emotions, or behavior. (American Psychiatric Association 2012). Mental disorders usually fall on Axis I of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual- IV (DSM). The goal of our study is to examine the publics perceptions of mental illness and to determine how individuals with these mental problems recognize and seek help. Studies have shown that more than two thirds of people experience mental health problems. It is thought that lack of knowledge about mental illness, the stigma of mental illness, and ignorance about effective treatments play an important role in lack of treatment seeking. The study of public attitude s toward mental illness and persons with mental illness has mostly been the domain of mental health professionals, namely psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers, academics in those related fields, and psychiatric programs directors and administrators. Deinstitutionalization, defined as replacement of long-stay psychiatric hospitals with smaller, less isolated community-based alternatives for the care of mentally ill people, and the problems associated with implementation of community-based mental health care brought mental illness into the public sphere. According to the survey results, a majority of Americans believe that the number of people with mental illness has increased over the past twenty years and that mental illness is a serious health problem in the United States. An impressive number of Americans report personal experience with mental illness and mental health professionals. Approximately sixteen percent of all survey respondents said that they have so ught the professional services of a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professionals. Americans believe that mental illness is caused by physical disturbances (such as a chemical imbalance in the brain) or environmental conditions (such as the stress of daily life or alcoholism/ drug abuse). Survey responses reveal that a majority of Americans agree that maintaining a normal life in the community will help a person with mental illness get better and that with treatment, most individuals with serious mental illness can get well and return to productive lives. In addition, pluralities of Americans do not agree that mental health facilities should be kept out of residential neighborhoods or that mental illness can never be cured. Furthermore, the vast majority of Americans do not agree that the best way to handle the mentally ill is to keep them behind locked doors. (Bornstein 1992). In conclusion, there is a lot of controversy over who has a mental illness and not, how people with mental illness should be treated in society, and if there should be locked up or not. Studies have stated that two thirds of people have a mental illness, but most will not seek help due to lack of knowledge or fear of being judged and labeled. This group of individuals lives healthy lives, have decent jobs, and most have healthy relationships. If these who have not labeled can, then some of the mentally ill that have been labeled should be able to also. But due to being labeled and judged they do not get the chance. If society as a whole would try to learn more about being mentally ill and how their judging and discriminating affects people with mental illness, society would work better together and the people who need professional help with their mental illnesses will no longer be fearful of being judged nor being locked up. Most Americans believe only people who have done something wrong should be locked up, but because of most mental patients being locked up in the past people are still fearful of this as being in their future if its known they have an illness. With knowledge and wiliness to be patient society can get lower the stigma and help reduce the fear of being ridiculed for being mentally ill.

Tips on Financing to Buy a Website :: Sell Websites Buy Websites

Tips on Financing to Buy a Website Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com If you're like most people buying a website, you'll probably need to borrow money to complete the acquisition. Although, you may obtain a loan from friends or family, most buyers turn to a commercial lender for financing. Although different lenders specialize in making certain types of loans, you should be aware of the common principles, steps and business terms you're likely to see when dealing with any commercial lender. The major issues of importance when you are seeking a loan include the amount to be loaned, the interest rate, the fees and expenses charged by the lender in connection with making the loan, the term of the loan, the obligations (covenants) you'll have to meet while the loan is outstanding, whether or not a portion of the principal must be paid back each month, and the need for security or a personal guarantee to be posted. All lenders have what are known as "underwriting guidelines". These guidelines set out the facts and circumstances that need to exist in order for the lender to make a loan. Obtaining these guidelines or a summary of them, at the beginning of the process can help you determine if you are dealing with a lender who is likely to loan you money for your acquisition. Some lenders only make loans up to the SBA guarantee limit, others focus on particular industries, require minimum cash flow coverage or certain levels of security or personal guarantees. If, after reviewing the guidelines of a particular lender, you think you'll be able to meet all of the requirements; it's probably a fair bet to proceed with the process. If not, you should probably look for a different lender. The underwriting guidelines will also identify what types of due diligence materials you'll have to supply. A credit check, financial statements, management backgrounds, insurance certificates, governmental licenses and corporate documents are some of the most common types of due diligence materials you'll need to produce. It's important to be well organized, and to deliver all of the materials in a timely manner. The longer it takes you to deliver these materials, the more questions it may raise in the lender's mind about your qualifications. These guidelines generally list a number of other criteria as well. Some lenders may require that your financial statements be audited. This means that you'll need an independent accountant to review and express an opinion on your financial records.

Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Essay -- Violence Against Childr

Child abuse is the physical or emotional mistreatment of a child by a parent, guardian, or other person. Information of child abuse, including sexual abuse, beating, and murder, have climbed in the United States and some authorities believe that the number of cases is under reported. Child neglect is sometimes integrated in legal definitions of child abuse to cover instances of starvation, abandonment, and insufficient care of a child's safety. When reported, child maltreatment cases are intricate by poor foster care services and a legal system that has trouble obliging to the susceptible nature of children(Child Maltreatment, 2015). Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than 6 million children. Behavior of the abuser has had only partial success and child safety agencies are weighed down (Lewitt, 2013). Recently, efforts have begun to focus on the primary prevention of child abuse. The leading prevention of child abuse m ust be executed on many levels before it can be triumphant. Prevention plans on the social level consist of growing the economic self-adequacy of families, disappointing corporal penalty and other forms of violence, making health care more available and inexpensive, intensifying and humanizing coordination of social services, improving the classification and conduct of psychological problems. Prevention plans on the family level include helping parents meet their basic needs, identifying problems of substance abuse and spouse abuse, and educating parents about child behavior, discipline, safety and development. Primary prevention is both the prevention of disease before it occurs, and the reduction of its incidence. In the case of child abuse, pri... ...buse_neglect.htm "Child Maltreatment: Prevention Strategies" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 15 May 2015. http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childmaltreatment/prevention.html "The Relationship between Domestic Violence and Child Abuse" Prevent Child Abuse America 2012 Web. 23 May 2015. http://www.vawnet.org/Assoc_Files_VAWnet/PCAA_DVandChild.pdf Lewitt, E. M.. "Reported Child Abuse and Neglect." Future Child April 2013: 233-242. McKay, Michael. "The Link Between Domestic Violence and Child Abuse." New York: Macmillan, 2010. U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. A nation’s shame: Fatal child abuse and neglect in the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. (1995). Rushton, Frank. "The Role of Health Care in Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention." Pediatrics, March 2014: 133-136.

Public Private Lives and Emersons Clairvoyant Solution :: Education Teachers Teaching Essays

Public Private Lives and Emerson's Clairvoyant Solution My intelligence was sparked when exceptional people opened doors in my mind I didn't know needed light. And while my parents played a part in this I remember more strongly the hand that my teachers played in expanding my mind. Generally there are certain aspects of school that a student remembers but always there is a teacher. For me there were several, and I know I was lucky. I do remember some of the lessons, a few specific classes, but what I remember more is how they acted as people and not just as teachers. I recall the way they taught me silently through the examples they set in their lives. Teachers, by the sheer nobility of their positions, have this responsibility whether they desire it or not. The historical nature of teachers was to educate with an enormous focus on the morality of the students. Education often came directly from the bibles of the students and the religious doctrine the church had decreed. Teacher's primary goals were to create good and moral citizens. Churches many times were the origin of the school doctrine. Horace Mann states that one of the three most essential elements of being a teacher is "the ability to manage and govern a schoolroom and to mold moral character" (Spring, 127). Emma Willard was of a similar opinion. Spring writes, "Willard believed that development of character was the first aim of education and placed a great deal of emphasis on that and on moral virtues" (Spring, 126). At this time moral education was held superior to the "standard", non-moral education of a child. These "standard" subjects were taught only second to religion, which in turn produced a very narrow education and a narrow view of the world. The strict view of morality forced the teacher, the classroom's 'moral example', to fulfill all of the scrupulous principles society demanded. Teaching was in the past, as it is in the present, a public position that leaves educators with limited security of privacy. This is easily exemplified through the boarding of teachers with the families of their students. The teacher would live for designated amounts of time with families in the communities. Is there any less private manner for a teacher to live their life? Teachers were constantly under the eye of scrutiny. Since that time many laws limiting the aspects of a teacher's life have been abolished.

Iron Crowned Chapter 19

It took awhile before Kiyo, Jasmine, and I could return to Tucson. We had to go to the Thorn Land, of course, where Shaya and the others asked me all sorts of questions about what had happened and what I wanted to do. Kiyo and even Jasmine provided most of the answers for me because honestly, I wasn't sure what I wanted now. The only thing I had the real sense to do was demand Jasmine's key and unlock her chains. She stared at her freed hands wonderingly, stroking her wrists. I nearly left the chains and key in the castle but soon reconsidered and took them with me to the human world. She'd never seen my house before and regarded it with approval as we entered. All was quiet, and the empty driveway made me confident I wouldn't find Tim and Lara holed up in his bedroom again. Evidence of their â€Å"love,† however, was still obvious. â€Å"Damn them,† I said, gingerly picking a red lace bra off of the couch and tossing it down the hall toward Tim's room. â€Å"I'm going to have to sanitize this thing. Probably every other piece of furniture too.† â€Å"You have Pop-Tarts!† Jasmine hadn't made it to the living room. She'd stopped in the kitchen, opening every drawer and cupboard she could find. â€Å"And Apple Jacks! Peanut butter, ranch dressing, saltines †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I was surprised that last one excited her so much, but after a couple years eating gentry food, even the most mundane human cuisine was probably exciting. â€Å"Oh!† she exclaimed. â€Å"Can I have one of your Milky Ways?† â€Å"Sure. Have whatever you want.† Her eyes were wide as she tore into the package, and both Kiyo and I watched her with smiles on our faces, like proud parents on Christmas morning. Although they didn't sound good to me right now, Milky Ways were normally my candy bar of choice. From the way she was consuming hers, Jasmine appeared to share that family trait. She completed her sugar rush with a can of Coke and then made herself at home on the couch. Watching her reach eagerly for the remote control, I decided it was best not to mention the amorous activities that had likely occurred where she sat. She flipped through the channels in continued amazement. It was evening – prime time entertainment – and the emotions on her face were transparent as she stumbled across old and new shows alike. â€Å"You want me to see if I can find anything that fits you?† I asked. She might have slipped back easily to human behaviors, but she still wore a long, flowing gentry-style gown. â€Å"Sure,† she said, not looking up from the screen. Kiyo followed me into my bedroom. â€Å"You think she's safe out there?† he asked. â€Å"Alone?† â€Å"Yeah, I do actually.† Jasmine and I weren't the same size, but I found some drawstring shorts that would likely fit. â€Å"I don't know why †¦ but I feel like I can trust her.† â€Å"Be careful,† he warned, sitting on the bed's edge. â€Å"For all we know, she was happy to be captured and have Cassius throw himself at her.† â€Å"He didn't do anything.† I found the smallest T-shirt I could; her frame was more slender than mine. â€Å"So she says.† I sighed and faced him. â€Å"Kiyo, you've got to trust me. I can't explain it, but she's telling the truth. Is she going to turn into a normal teen and forget about her plans to have Storm King's heir? Unlikely. But for now, she's in shock and not dangerous.† â€Å"If you think so. Just be careful, Eug. You've been tricked by people you've trusted before.† â€Å"Surprise, surprise. A slam on Dorian.† I crossed my arms, holding the clothes to my chest. â€Å"Soon to be followed by a lecture on seizing the Rowan Land.† I'd been bracing myself since it all happened, but during the ensuing damage control, he'd held back. I appreciated that but still dreaded the inevitable. â€Å"Actually,† he said, â€Å"no.† â€Å"No?† I'd started to take a step toward the doorway and froze. He laughed, though there wasn't much humor in it. â€Å"No.† â€Å"But I just thought †¦ well, after last time †¦ You weren't very happy about the Thorn Land †¦Ã¢â‚¬  That small smile faded. â€Å"No. And it's not like I'm happy about this. But the truth is, you did find a – relatively – bloodless way to end all of this. When we were out there, you asked me what other solution could fix things. I didn't have an answer. You did. It's not great †¦ but it didn't kill Katrice or those other people. It didn't get you captured.† He shrugged. â€Å"Not ideal, no, but better than the alternatives.† I leaned back against the wall, still shocked at his reaction. â€Å"If it makes you feel better, it's not like I wanted this either. I wanted to sneak in and out and get Jasmine.† He nodded, but there was a sharp look in his eyes. â€Å"And yet, you brought the crown.† I hadn't mentioned that to him when we first set out to the Rowan Land. â€Å"Her note said she didn't believe I had it! I was hoping waving it around might do something to help us.† He stayed quiet. â€Å"Don't look at me like that! You can't believe I planned to use it.† â€Å"I do believe you.† He approached me and rested his hands on my shoulders. â€Å"And I'll help you in any way you need.† Something inside my chest released, and I leaned into him, taking comfort in his warmth and the security he offered. â€Å"Thank you. I'm definitely going to need you.† Kiyo pressed a kiss to my forehead. â€Å"I'm here.† I felt a small smile pull at my lips, though as with his earlier laughter, I didn't really find the situation funny. â€Å"I suppose if there is a silver lining here, maybe I can do a better job ruling the Rowan Land than she did. Some sort of greater good.† To my surprise, his hold on me stiffened, and he stepped back. The smile he offered me looked tight. â€Å"Maybe.† We went back out to Jasmine, who was still riveted to the TV. The only acknowledgment we got was when I handed her the clothes, and she examined them. â€Å"What's ‘The Clash' mean?† I ignored the blasphemy – and Kiyo's obvious amusement at my pain. â€Å"If you want to shower, everything you'll need is in the bathroom. Towels, shampoo.† That too got her attention. â€Å"A shower †¦ oh, man. I've missed showers.† â€Å"Will you two be okay?† asked Kiyo, all signs of his earlier discomfort gone. â€Å"I need to take care of a few things.† I nodded. â€Å"We're fine. Will you be back soon?† â€Å"As soon as I can.† He kissed me again, this time on my lips. I must have worn another pained expression because he cupped my chin, his brown eyes full of love and compassion. â€Å"It's going to be okay, Eugenie. Everything will be okay.† I nodded once more and watched wistfully as he left. I wanted his arms around me again, to hold me and let me escape this mess. A small part of me wouldn't have minded Dorian's arms either. I sat beside Jasmine, whose attention was back on some reality show. â€Å"He's running off to Maiwenn, you know.† Her gaze didn't move. â€Å"Off to report on what happened.† My ire started to rise at her accusation, except †¦ I had a feeling she was right. Even if there was no more romance between them, he was still devoted to her. The recent developments were going to rock the Otherworld, and she'd want the story straight from him. I wondered how she'd take it; she'd always feared my becoming like my father. â€Å"Probably,† I admitted. I rubbed my eyes. â€Å"God, I'm so exhausted. I feel like I could fall over.† This time Jasmine turned to me. There wasn't exactly sympathy in her face, but something surprisingly close. â€Å"No shit. You just stole a kingdom and took it over.† â€Å"It sounds so ugly when you phrase it that way.† She shrugged and looked back at the TV. â€Å"You'll probably do a better job.† Her words echoed my earlier comment to Kiyo. â€Å"You know,† she added conversationally, â€Å"everyone acts like our dad was such a bastard, like he just wanted more power. I mean, he did, but you know what Aeson told me? He said that Storm King was always talking about how he could do a better job too, that the other monarchs weren't as good. He said he was doing the people a favor.† I froze, unable to respond. That was why Kiyo had reacted the way he did earlier. He'd heard that about Storm King's â€Å"good intentions,† I realized. I'd expressed exactly the same sentiment as my father. Jasmine didn't notice the effect of her words and instead jumped subjects in that easy, short-attention-span way of hers. â€Å"Hey, do you think you could get Wil to come over? I want to see him.† â€Å"Sure,† I murmured automatically. My mind was still lost in her earlier words. â€Å"Sure.† Wil was surprised to hear from me the next morning, more surprised still when I told him the reason I was calling. He said he'd be over in five minutes. Jasmine had asked that he come alone after I'd mentioned he now had a girlfriend. Still, she'd been curious. â€Å"Seriously? What's she like?† I thought back to my one meeting with Wil's ladylove. Once I'd banished the monsters living in their house, she hadn't shut up about conspiracy theories and assorted coverups. â€Å"Exactly like him,† I'd replied to Jasmine. The reunion between brother and sister was strange. They stood there awkwardly, both staring at each other and assessing all the ways they'd changed. Then, with no communication, they hugged each other. Jasmine's face was filled with legitimate emotion, and for once, Wil didn't seem like the crazy, paranoid guy he usually was. â€Å"Are you okay?† he asked her, voice trembling. â€Å"I've missed you so much.† Jasmine swallowed, and I was pretty sure there were tears in her eyes. â€Å"I †¦ I missed you too.† And it was the truth. She'd told me once she didn't care about this world – or about the half brother who'd raised her. But she did. This whole time, despite her Otherworldly plans for domination, she'd always loved him. Things grew increasingly bizarre when it became obvious the two weren't quite sure what to do with each other. Wil didn't chastise her for her absence, and at last, she simply asked if he wanted to hang out and watch TV. I think that was partly because it provided a concrete activity and partly because she'd become obsessed with making up for lost TV time. I kept my distance but couldn't help a small, envious feeling as they sat on the couch. Jasmine leaned her head against her big brother's shoulder, and I became acutely aware of the emptiness in my own family life. I hadn't heard from my mom or Roland since getting the referral to Enrique. The closest I had to any familial connection was those goddamn kingdoms I ruled. Just as the Thorn Land had always called to me, the Rowan Land now did too, leaving such an ache within me that I practically felt nauseous. Rurik had been right. I wouldn't be able to stay away. But first things first. Thinking of Enrique reminded me I was due for an update. Retreating to my bedroom, I dialed his number and hoped he was up this early. â€Å"Miss Markham,† he said after just one ring. Caller ID left no surprises anymore. â€Å"Always a delight.† â€Å"I'm sure. What are you doing with the case right now?† â€Å"Nothing.† â€Å"Nothing?† I exclaimed. Irritation rose within me. I wasn't paying him to sit around, especially after he'd gotten so close. â€Å"Nope,† he said cheerfully. â€Å"It's out of my hands. I found what I needed, proved that Deanna Jones didn't buy the gun. From what I hear, the police are searching Cal Jones's house right now and questioning him. Far be it from me to get in the way of the fine men in blue.† Finally, some good news †¦ well, at least as the case's progress went. It wouldn't be easy on Deanna to learn the truth about her husband. â€Å"And women,† I said. â€Å"There are probably women in blue there too.† â€Å"If you say so.† â€Å"Thanks, Enrique. I really appreciate it. I honestly didn't think it could be done.† â€Å"Don't get all emotional,† he said in that brisk way of his. â€Å"At least not until you see the bill.† We disconnected. Attitude or no, Enrique had been a good call on Roland's part †¦ which once again brought about the sadness over the turn in my parental relationship. Well. Nothing to do for it at the moment, not with all my other problems. And anyway, I had a loose end that could now be wrapped up. Taking out my wand, I closed my eyes and cast a minor summoning spell, calling to Deanna. I had no control over her but she'd responded to my call before – particularly since she was always on edge listening for it. After several minutes and no results, I gave up and sadly suspected she wasn't coming because she already knew the truth. As eager as she'd been to get answers, it wouldn't have surprised me if she'd been following Enrique around while he worked. She might have discovered for herself what her husband had done. If so, I hoped she'd now move on to the Underworld and seek peace, rather than staying restless and sad in this world. There was enough suffering here already. I tried as hard as I could the next couple days to stay away from the Otherworld. Wil visited off and on, and Jasmine and I began doing mundane yet enjoyable activities, like seeing movies and shopping for clothes for her. Tim and Lara often appeared, still in the throes of their love, and Kiyo returned with reports about the Otherworld, reassuring me that my kingdom's control of the Rowan Land was progressing smoothly. And at night, he came to my bed, and I found the return of our fierce sex life went a long way toward taking my mind off my laundry list of problems. But finally, I had to give in. The call to my lands was too strong, and even Kiyo admitted that with my new and fragile hold on the Rowan Land, I needed to visit and connect with it to reinforce our bond. By that point, I needed no urging. My own body was telling me as much. I still felt weak and drained, my dreams haunted by cacti and cherry trees. I took Jasmine with me. Our relationship wasn't quite sound enough yet for me to leave her alone. She drew the line at going to the Rowan Land, however, insisting she would stay in the Thorn Land until my return. I had no problem with that, knowing she was secure there. Kiyo was still going with me, and Shaya caught us before we could leave. â€Å"There's a few things you should probably know,† she said uneasily. Her nervousness was likely due to the fact that I hated being troubled with the day-to-day running of a kingdom – in this case, kingdoms. Something about the fear in her eyes told me she also knew I wouldn't like what she had to say. I sighed. â€Å"Go ahead.† â€Å"I †¦ I've heard from King Dorian a number of times.† Kiyo shifted uncomfortably beside me, and I felt that familiar prickle of anger run down my spine. All the memories of Dorian's lying and betrayal came back to me. It stung all the worse because in the end, he'd gotten exactly what he wanted: the Iron Crown had done its job. He probably wanted me to take still more lands. â€Å"What's he want?† I demanded. â€Å"The war's over. We're no longer in a partnership.† â€Å"Well, that's just it. Since you are – were – allies in the war, he says he deserves some of the spoils of your victory.† â€Å"He †¦ what?† My fury increased. â€Å"He doesn't deserve anything. I was the one who won and used the crown.† She nodded, still looking like she wished she could be anywhere else. â€Å"Yes †¦ but he argues that he was the one who sent you to get the crown. And that his armies lost as many lives as yours.† That last point silenced me. His soldiers had fought with mine. His people's families mourned those casualties as much as mine †¦ and for what? To fight against a slight that had nothing to do with them, not really. I didn't owe Dorian anything, of that I was certain, but I was indebted to his subjects. When I didn't respond, Shaya continued. â€Å"Some of his people are also helping hold the Rowan Land.† â€Å"Oh, are they?† Of course Dorian would have swooped in. â€Å"I never asked for that.† She shook her head. â€Å"Nonetheless, you need it. Many are still having trouble accepting your rule. There's a lot of seething resentment. No violence has broken out yet – but that's largely because of the sizable presence Rurik sent to keep control. Dorian's helping with that.† I'd meditated with the Thorn Land as soon as I'd arrived, making me feel a little better, but the pressure and continued political complications were already draining me. I wasn't meant for this. â€Å"What's he want? Half the kingdom?† â€Å"No. Trade. Tribute. The Rowan Land is a huge food producer, and he wants part of that.† â€Å"That doesn't sound so bad,† I said tentatively. â€Å"I'm guessing he wants it at low, low prices,† said Kiyo, speaking up for the first time. Shaya nodded. â€Å"He does. And he's entitled to it to a certain extent. But his current demands are extreme enough that it could endanger the Rowan Land's economy. Maybe that's not an issue. It all depends on what you want for them.† I thought about the refugees at the gates. What did I want for those people? I wanted them to prosper. I wanted things to return to normal. â€Å"Can you negotiate with him to something in the middle?† I asked Shaya. â€Å"Most likely.† â€Å"Then do it.† She bowed her head in acknowledgment, and I knew that's what she'd already known had to be done. She was simply giving me my dues as queen, going through the motions and reminding everyone that ultimately, I still held the authority around here. When Kiyo and I finally made it to the Rowan Land, I felt the land's relief and welcome. Its energy burned into mine, strengthening me. At the castle, we saw little sign of the Rowan military but plenty of mine and Dorian's. They were stationed everywhere, keeping the order Shaya had told me about. They bowed low when they saw me, their actions mirrored by the kingdom's citizens. Only, Katrice's subjects didn't bow out of respect and deference. There was fear in their eyes, confusion in some, and an obvious show among a few that their actions were forced. Rurik was still in residence, personally overseeing the occupation. I felt secure in his control and listened as he explained what needed to be done next. I understood it only a little better than the economics Shaya had pushed on me, the main point being I'd need a governing body here soon. Picking that staff would be a problem. Shaya was one in a million, but even she couldn't be in two places at once. Seeing my dismay, Rurik hesitantly added that Dorian had offered to provide people for the job. My expression at those words gave Rurik all the answer he needed. The Rowan Land's energy continued to flow into me when I set out to have my meditation session with it. The nature of the connection was similar to what I had with the Thorn Land, but the kingdom's feel was totally different. The Thorn Land was harsh – filled with life, yes, but life that fought fiercely against the elements for survival. The Rowan Land was softer, its life bursting forth easily and radiating through its many trees and plants. â€Å"Eugenie,† said Kiyo, following me out to a small garden behind the castle. â€Å"Look.† I paused and glanced behind me. Where I'd walked, flowers had blossomed, small red ones scattered throughout the grassy path. I knelt down, inhaling their heady scent. â€Å"Why's it happening?† â€Å"You're its ruler. You're giving the land life and energy.† I thought about how being here had made me feel marginally better. â€Å"It's strengthening me too †¦ but this doesn't happen in the Thorn Land. I don't have that kind of effect.† â€Å"Don't you?† he teased, a mischievous smile on his face. â€Å"You make it rain†¦.† A memory came to me of when the Thorn Land had floundered in drought. While connecting with the land, I'd had sex with Kiyo, and the energy from that union had empowered the kingdom, breaking the dry spell and sending much-needed rain that made the people and plants flourish. I smiled back at him. â€Å"Looks like we don't have to worry about that today. This land doesn't need as much help.† He slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him, voice husky. â€Å"But imagine the results if we did. Extra credit.† Leaning down, he brought his lips to mine, his tongue pushing into my mouth with a rough passion. I felt my body answer, and for a moment, the offer was tempting. I pictured what it would be like to make love among all this greenery, here in the sunshine. Would a bed of red flowers fill the ground below us? Again †¦ I kind of wanted to find out, but I also wasn't comfortable in this kingdom yet. I didn't want to risk discovery of my sex life, even if it wouldn't be a big deal to the gentry. Reluctantly, I pulled away from him. â€Å"Another time.† After a few more protests, he let me be. I sat on the ground while he waited, closing my eyes and opening myself to the world around me. We are one, I assured the land. I am here. I felt its answer, felt warmth spread through me and lost track of time. When I finished, I was startled at how far the sun had moved across the sky. Kiyo sat on the ground cross-legged, looking at ease as he watched me. â€Å"Crap,† I said, jumping up. â€Å"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you wait so long.† He stood as well. â€Å"It's no problem. You needed it. You both needed it.† I knew he was right. I was more energized, and the land felt strong and content. After another check with Rurik, Kiyo and I headed back to the Thorn Land. Here, he parted from me, again to â€Å"take care of a few things.† He assured me he'd be back in Tucson as soon as he could, but I saw the look Jasmine gave me when she overheard. I could guess her thoughts: more reports to Maiwenn. Jasmine was impatient to go to Tucson, but before leaving, I impulsively set out alone to where I'd communed earlier with the Thorn Land. It had been on a distant part of the grounds, one of my favorite places, in the shade of a mesquite tree. Its perfume rivaled that of the Rowan flowers, and around it stood cacti in all shapes and sizes, some of them small and squat and some tall and foreboding like sentries. Almost all of them were blooming. A chill ran down my spine as I stared at the flowers on the cacti. They formed a brilliantly colored perimeter, right around where I'd been meditating, the petals in all shapes and sizes. The flowers were beautiful. Exquisite. And none of them had been there earlier.