Project management success factors Essay Example for Free

Project management success factors Essay Housing is the critical issue in global urbanization which have a tremendous impact on the environment – both during construction and through out their. As the key element in urban development, housing plays a vital role in attaining the goal of sustainable development. Effective of project management is becoming increasingly important for sustainable housing to remain competitive in today‟s dynamic business environment. This paper attempt to establish a theoretical framework for project management success factors in sustainable housing development. Review on past literature on the subject were carried out to build the existing research works on the area and to establish critical success factors of project management best practices. At the end of this paper, a new area of managing sustainable housing for future direction of this research was identified. A list of critical success factors for project management practices for sustainable housing development was established. Keywords: Sustainable Housing, Sustainable Development Project Management, Critical Success Factors. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Housing, as human basic need, is a very important issue of people‟s everyday life. In 1948, the United Nations, in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stated that â€Å"everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . Housing provision is one of the major challenges facing developing countries. Under the Seventh Malaysia Plan (1999-2000) and Eight Malaysia Plan (2001-2005), Malaysian governments are committed to provide adequate, affordable and quality housing for all Malaysian, particularly the low income group. This is in line with Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlement and Habitat Agenda (1996) to ensure adequate shelter for all. In order to be sustainable, housing initiatives must be economically viable, socially acceptable, technically feasible and environmentally compatible (Choguill, 2007). In the other hand, housing encompasses the immediate environment, sanitation, drainage, recreational facilities, and all other economic and social activities that make life worthwhile (Olejado, 2003). The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED, 1987) report, Our Common Future has led to a world-wide notion of the concept of sustainable development (Meldon, 1998). However, it has been argued that the history of the concept of sustainability can be traced back to the terms â€Å"stationery† or â€Å"steady state economy† used by the nineteenth century political economist (European Environment agency, 1997). Today there are over 300 published definitions of sustainable development, the products of diverse world views and competing vested interests (Moles and Kelly, 2000). Fundamentally, sustainable development addresses three major areas; I. People living today are entitled to justice and equal rights; II. Environmental degeneration must be alleviated or eliminated; and III. Future generations must not be impoverished as a result of current actions (Redclift,1987). Our Common Future explores how sustainable development â€Å"is not a fixed state of harmony but rather a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the orientation of technological development, and institutional change are made consistent with future as well as present needs† (Moles and Kelly, 2000). In other words, (WCED, 1987, 8) it‟s defined as â€Å"development which meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs†. The Commission not only observed that environmental problems need to be addressed, but also socials problem, such as inequity, property, non-prosperity and the violation of human rights, that are related to explosive population growth and the enormous expansion of environmental harms caused by human activities. According to the Commission, solving these problems requires global economic growth whilst respecting ecological constraints (Klunder, 2004). Other studies, (Ding, 2008) defined sustainable development is as a concern of attitudes and judgment to help insure long-term ecological, social and economic growth in society. While the term of sustainable development is well known and widely used, there is no common understanding and approach for it. The perception of sustainability especially when it comes to what â€Å"needs† is regarded as important varies much by different nation and even different people with different points in time, economic, social and cultural backgrounds (Zinkernagel, 2001). The detail of what comprises sustainable development is very context – specific and the same condition and practice cannot apply everywhere. Therefore, sustainability has its diverse implications in every corner of the world and in every sector of a society (Bell and Morse, 2003). For construction sector, the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (1990) explains sustainable as directed towards the reduction of the environmental and health impacts consequent to construction, buildings and the built environment. Such construction processes would bring environmental responsibility, social awareness, and economic profitability objectives to the fore in built environment related projects (Langston and Ding, 2001). There are various definitions of sustainable housing; The European Union defined sustainable housing in the following perspective: construction (e.g. Quality of construction), social and economic factors (e.g. Affordability and psychological impacts) and ecoefficiency (e.g. Efficient use of non-renewable resources) (VROM, 2005). Previously, IHBC (1998) definitions  present the general factor of a sustainable housing practice that is applicable under various circumstances, depending on the conditions where it‟s implemented (Larasati, 2006). Basically, all these definitions were carry out the idea of Principle 15 of the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on The Human Environment: â€Å"Planning must be applied to human settlements and urbanization with a view to avoiding adverse effects on the environment and obtaining maximum social, economic and environmental benefits for all† (UNEP, 1972). A sustainable house is cost-efficient over time, comfortable, cheap to maintain and complements our unique environment (Queensland Government, 2004). â€Å"Sustainable Housing† is a new concept in developing countries and unearthing projects covering all aspects of sustainability proved to be difficult (Ebsen, 2000). For housing that make up a great proportion of building, sustainable housing could be defined as housing practices, which strive for integral quality (including economic, social, and environmental performance) in a broad way (John, Croome Jeronimidis, 2005). The focus on sustainable housing implies a perspective of flows (Klunder, 2004). From this viewpoint, a sustainable  housing is characterized by the minimization of the environmental impacts of material use, energy consumption and water consumption during the whole service life of the building. 2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT Malaysia is a developing country heading towards industrialization. The growths of industries bid rapid housing expansion due to the high demand from the customer. A good housing area has to fulfill the health aspect from the building, drainage, clean water supply, domestic waste management and suitable ventilation. The quality of housing and it‟s social, economic and environmental performance is critically important to sustainable development. However, the lacks of practices of project success factors in housing development activities may often bring about water, air and land pollutions thus affecting the natural environment, health and quality of  life. These issues are often raised today as problems of uncontrolled development of housing growth as concern for the environment is not considered. With this concern in mind, housing and other social services become priority in today‟s development programmes which aimed at improving the quality of life and contributing towards the formation of a caring society. However, the issue of sustainable housing are still new and not that familiar in our country. With referring back the house being built in the past decade, those houses were not meeting the essential criteria of sustainability and unfortunately, there are little to none; in depth studies for this matter. Although the homes that create may look good and be cheap to build, they are poor value if they weather poorly, have high energy and other running costs, are expensive to maintain and cannot adapt to changes in use. According to Maylor (1999) those organizations that are most resourceful in seeking out best practices and making those aspects work for them will be the most successful. Although project management has proved its success in many construction projects, there is however some problems associated with the manner in which the system has been selected and/or implemented (Noum S. et al., 2004). Here, critical factors of successful project management were establish to develop a new area of managing sustainable housing for further studies of this research to ensure its potential for future sustainability. 2.1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS Based on the problems stated above, two main questions are formed as below: 1) What are the critical factors that are required for the successful implementation of sustainable housing practices? 2) What are the critical factors project management best practices in sustainable housing development? 2.2 OBJECTIVES There are two objectives for this paper: 1) To identify factor that are required for the successful implementation of sustainable housing practice. 2) To establish the success factors that determines the best practices for project management in sustainable housing. 3) To establish guideline for project management best practices for sustainable housing. 3.0 FACTORS EFFECTING PROJECT SUCCESS Nowadays, companies are increasingly using projects in their daily work to achieve company goals. The only way organizations can be driven to achieve excellence is by keeping an eye on competition and world best practice in all aspects of the business (Bendell et. all, 1998). Recently more and more organizations are recognizing that translating corporate strategies into actions requires project management. Consequently, it is vital that projects are successful (Baccarini, 2003). Critical success factors are important influences that contribute to project success. So, critical success factors are the set of circumstances, facts or influences which contribute to the project outcomes. According to Mobey and Parker (2002), to increase the chances of a project succeeding it is necessary for the organisation to have an understanding of what are the success factors, to systematically and quantitatively assess these factors, anticipating possible causes and effects, and then choose appropriate methods of dealing with them. Once identified, the success of the project can be achieved. Generally, the success of a construction project depends on a number of factors, such as project complexity, contractual arrangements, and relationships between project participants, the competency of project managers, and the abilities of key project members (Chua et al., 1999). Bayliss, (2002) in his report said that successful project delivery requires the concerted effort of the project team to carry out the various project activities, but it is the project manager who, at the center of the project network, is responsible for orchestrating the whole construction process. Possessing the core project management competence would help to define the ability of project managers to deliver good performance towards the attainment of project success. The search for factors that influence project success has been growing interest over the past decade. Among researchers that have tried to a certain extent to identify success factors for project management are Pinto and Slevin (1987,1989), Cooke-Davis (2002), Muller and Turner (2003), Belassi and Tukel (1996) and etc. Success factors are those input to the project management system that lead directly or indirectly to the success of the project or business. Belassi and Tukel, 1996, categorized success factors into four main group. These are factors relating to the project, project managers, organization, and external environment. Others researcher, Chan et al., 2002 identify a set of project success factors; project team commitment, contractor‟s competencies, risk and liability assessment, client‟s competencies, end-users needs and constraints imposed by end user. As referred to the ten critical success factors developed by Pinto and Slevin (1986), Pinto and Mantel (1990) suggest that â€Å"these critical success factors were found to be generalisable to a wide variety of project types and organizations†. Their model is one of the most widely quoted lists of critical success factors (Muller and Turner, 2007). However a single set of project success factors may not be suitable for all industries (Lim et al, 1999; Hartman et al, 1996). Liu and Walker 1998 suggest that as industries operate differently, â€Å"a set of critical success factors may not be transferable from one project to another project†¦only generic areas can be identified and used as broad guidelines.† A comprehensive review of the literature research on success factors of project management was conducted. Table 1 gives lists of the critical success factors developed in the various literatures. Several researchers have identified the factors that significantly determine project management success. Based on the frequency analysis, the critical success factors are prioritised as shown in Table 2. Table 1. Summary of literature reviews from various author‟s for project success Author‟s Pinto Critical Success Factors Belassi Cooke- Baccarini Andersen Hyvari Turner Khang Slevin Davies (1999, et al., Muller (2002) 2003) (2006) (2005,07) Moe (1987,89) Tukel (2006) (1996) (2008) Project Understanding √ √ Top Management Support √ √ Information/Communication √ √ √ √ Client Involvement √ √ √ √ Competent Project Team √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Authority of the Project Manager/Leader Realistic Cost and Time Estimates √ Adequate Project Control √ √ √ √ √ √ Planning/Controlling Project mission /common goal √ √ Project Ownership √ √ √ √ √ √ √ feedback √ √ √ √ √ √ √ or empirical basis. Table 2: Prioritisation of CSFs Critical Success Factors Prioritised Occurrence No. Frequency of Rank 1 Competent Project Team 8 1 2 Authority of the Project Manager/Leader 6 2 3 Project Understanding 5 3 4 Top Management Support 5 3 √ √ Remark: â€Å"√ † critical success factors that is determined by the authors either on a conceptual Sr. √ √ √ Monitor performance and √ √ √ Adequate Resources √ √ √ Risk Management √ √ √ Problem Solving Abilities √ √ 5 Client Involvement 5 3 6 Project mission /common goal 5 3 7 Adequate Resources 4 4 8 Realistic Cost and Time Estimates 4 4 9 Information/Communication 4 4 10 Project Ownership 3 5 11 Monitor performance and feedback 3 5 12 Planning/Controlling 3 5 13 Risk Management 3 5 14 Adequate Project Control 2 6 15 Problem Solving Abilities 2 6 The frequency analysis in Tables 1 and 2 revealed that there are only one critical success factors in all frameworks in common which is competent project team. The analysis also showed that authority of the project manager/leader is prioritised in rank 2. The analysis further revealed that 5 out of the 8 frameworks have four critical success factors in common: Project Understanding, Top Management Support, Client Involvement and Project Mission/common goal. The Adequate Resources, Realistic Cost and Time Estimates and information/Communication success factors have their presence in forth frameworks respectively. The other critical success factors (namely, Project ownership, Monitor performance and feedback, Planning/Controlling and Risk Management) are presented in very few frameworks (Table 1 and 2). Meanwhile, the other two factors were not commonly found in the literature which is adequate project control and problem solving abilities. 4.0 FACTORS OF PROJECT SUCCESS FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING The subject of project management is vast and numerous authors continuously add to the body of literature on the subject. According to the Project Management Institute (2004), the discipline of project management can be defined as follows: Project management is the art of directing and coordinating human and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time, quality and participation satisfaction. Project management best practices may be described as optimum way of performing work to achieve high performance (Ramabadron et all., 1997). According to Dey (2002), current project management practices of organizations in the industry sector do not always ensure success. The main problems with projects planning and implementation have been cost and time overruns and quality non-achievement. Dey (2002) stated that the main contributing factors are: ï‚ · Expansion of the scope and subsequent quality increases of input resources; ï‚ · Engineering and design changes; ï‚ · Underestimation and incorrect estimation and ï‚ · Unforeseen inflation ï‚ · Project size and complexity and etc. Dey, (2002) illustrates projects management growing popularity has stimulated interest in how companies compare in their application of project management process, tools and techniques. Successful project management can contribute towards project success but is unlikely to be able to prevent project failure (de Wit, 1988). The various variables affecting the success factors are identified in the  previous section. There are Project Understanding, Top Management, Support Communication, Client Involvement, Competent Project Team, Authority of Top Level, Realistic Cost and Time Estimates, Adequate Project Control, Problem Solving Abilities, Risk Management, Adequate Resources, Planning/Controlling, Monitor performance and feedback, Project mission /Common goal, and Project Ownership. Furthermore, a new conceptual framework that includes the indentified variables of project success is shown in Fig. 1. Its show that variables project success can influence a variable of criteria measuring sustainable housing. Figure 1: Framework of Project Management Success Factors in Sustainable Housing. Project Management Success Factor Criteria Measuring Sustainable Housing: Competent Project Team Authority of the Project Manager/Leader Project Understanding Top Management Support Client Involvement Project mission /common goal Adequate Resources Realistic Cost and Time Estimates Information/Communication Project Ownership Monitor performance and feedback Planning/Controlling Risk Management Adequate Project Control Problem Solving Abilities ï‚ · Energy Efficiency ï‚ · Use of Materials ï‚ · Water Efficiency ï‚ · Disposal ï‚ · Site Issues ï‚ · Green ï‚ · Traffic ï‚ · Outdoor environment and Indoor environment Project Management Success Factors in Sustainable Housing Economically ; are cost-efficient over the lifespan of the dwelling Environmental/Ecology ; are resource efficient in terms of materials, waste, water and energy Social/Community ; are safe, flexible and comfortable for people with varying abilities * Critical success factor of project management were establish to come out the best practices in new area in Sustainable Housing. An extensive literature survey on sustainable housing also has been carried out to select criteria measurement frameworks for this study. The relevant literature has revealed that different researchers have adopted similar sustainability criteria‟s framework that consider on three basic themes of the sustainable construction; social, environmental, and economic. Below, there are a few literatures findings in term of criteria of measuring sustainable housing: 1. Winston (2007) have carried out some important characteristics of sustainable housing include: sustainable land-use planning; resisting scattered settlements; housing close to employment and public transport; higher residential densities; sustainable construction; high standards of energy efficiency in use of dwellings; housing availability, affordability and quality; access to green space, and a high quality residential environment. Many sustainable building indicator sets are derived from conceptual models (Winston and Pareja, 2008). 2. Blaauw (1997), the following environmental theme are derived from a workbook for sustainable building and housing: Energy, Use of Materials, Water, Disposal, Site, Green, Traffic, Outdoor environment and Indoor environment. 3. Building Environmental Science Technology (B.E.S.T), formulated residential green building guidelines: Emphasize the reduce, recycle, re-use, renewable; use energy, water and resource efficiently; healthy indoor air quality; building has affordable community; development creates a sense of well-being; the home remains reasonably affordable and cost effective. 4. (Bennett and James, 1999) Effective sustainability measurement should consider the complete triple bottom line of economic, environmental, and societal performance which is: a) Social Sustainability ï‚ · Healthy internal environment ï‚ · Safety (personal, household and environmental) ï‚ · Provision of social amenity ï‚ · Provision of recreation amenity ï‚ · Accessibility to jobs and amenities b) Economic Sustainability ï‚ · Cost efficient over time ï‚ · Adaptability with min. cost ï‚ · Affordability ï‚ · Job creations and local economy c) Environmental Sustainability ï‚ · Energy efficiency ï‚ · Water efficiency/Conservation ï‚ · Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions ï‚ · Waste management / recycling ï‚ · Material efficiency ï‚ · Pollution prevention– noise, water, air ï‚ · Optimization conservation of land ï‚ · Protect and enhance biodiversity ï‚ · Reduction of car dependency 5. Green Building Manual from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Public Technology, Inc. (PTI) include the following points: ï‚ · Site Issues: selection of building sites, landscaping, watershed, site materials and equipment ï‚ · Building Design: building systems (heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems) and indoor environmental quality ï‚ · Construction Process ï‚ · Operations Maintenance ï‚ · Economics Environment: energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, construction costs, building maintenance management savings. For the purpose of this research, eight aspects of criteria sustainability that can be used to analyze sustainable housing , were derived from the six environmental themes that are distinguished The National Measures for Sustainable Building (Hendriks, 2001): ï‚ · Energy: reducing the demand for energy, promoting the use of sustainable energy resources and using energy efficiently ï‚ · Materials: more efficient use of materials, reducing waste and removing it responsibly ï‚ · Water: reducing water usage, preventing land drying up, and protecting water quality ï‚ · Indoor Environment: improving air quality, improving thermal comfort, and reducing noise levels. ï‚ · Surrounding Environment: supporting bio-diversity, strengthening the perception of the environment (including maintaining old townscapes) and reducing nuisance (noise, wind, odor) ï‚ · Miscellaneous: improving the flexibility of the home with regard to accommodating new functions and improving safety It is expected that study of project management best practices in the extent of project success could lead toward meeting criteria of sustainable housing. This approach in sustainable housing area will provide much needed information to local authorities to take more effective control of housing issues. 5.0 CONCLUSION The implementation of success factors for project management in sustainable housing is important in other to ensure project success. Apparently, the sustainable housing is one of the major contributors to the development of any country. Unfortunately, in our country Malaysia, the issue of sustainable housing development is still new and not yet the proactive action had been taken to develop the housing sector in sustainable way. Thus, this research is proposed to identify success factors for project management in sustainable housing area. At the end of this paper, a new area of managing sustainable housing for future direction of this research will identified. A list of critical success factors from various authors for project management success for sustainable housing development in Malaysia was established. Further work is needed to explore in more detail which factors are important and to understand how the factors interact with each other in sustainable housing area. 6.0 REFERENCES Andersen, E.S., Jessen, S.A. (2000), Project evaluation scheme, Project Management, Vol. 6 No.1, pp.61-9. Baccarini D. (2003), Critical Success Factors for Projects. Faculty of The Built Environment, Art and Design Curtin University of Technology, Australia. Belassi W, Tukel OI (1996), A new framework for determining critical success/failure factors in projects. International Journal of Project Management. 14(3): 141-151. Bell, S and Morse, S (2003), Measuring Sustainability: Learning from Doing. Earthscan: London, UK. Bendell, T., Boulter, L. and Kelly, J. (1998), Benchmarking for Competitive Advantage, Pitman, London. Bennett M., James P. (1999). Sustainable Measures: Evaluation and Reporting of Environmental and Social Performance. Greenleaf, Sheffield, UK. Blaauw, drs. F.J. 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(2002), â€Å"Benchmarking project management practices of Caribbean organizations using analytic hierarchy process†, Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol.9 No.3, pp. 326-356. Ding, G.K.C (2008), Sustainable Construction-The role of environmental assessment tools. Journal of environmental management, 86, 451-464. Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and The Environment (1990), Nationaal milieubeleidsplan-plus; notitie instrumentarium + duurzaam bauwen, Sdu. Den Haag. Ebsen C., Ramboll B. (2000). International Review Of Sustainable Low-Cost Housing Projects Proceedings: Strategies for a Sustainable Built Environment, Pretoria, 23-25 August 2000 Green Building Manual from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Public Technology, Inc. (PTI) Hartman F, Ashrafi R. (1996). Failed successes and failures. PMI Annual Seminar/Symposium, Boston, PD 35, 1-5, Hendriks, (2001). Sustainable Construction. Boxtel, The Netherlands : AEnas technical publishers. John. 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Advantages of On The Job Training

Advantages of On The Job Training This paper discusses an important topic of human resource management and that is training of the employees. This caries great importance as it serves twin purposes which are that it helps in the career development of individuals and simultaneously is really healthy for the growth of an organization. First of all training is defined with preciseness yet with clarity. Then an overview is given about the need, importance and finally the sequence of events followed during the process of training. An exceptional stress is laid upon the evaluation of the training that has been given to the employees to measure its effectiveness. Later in the paper on-the-job training, the most popular method of training is discussed in detail. This method of training is critically analyzed also arguing for and against for the use of this technique in most organizations for training employees. By keeping the entire debate in focus finally the paper concludes that, by following a simple system, managers responsible for on-the-job training can greatly improve the effectiveness of their training efforts. TRAINING Training is the process of increasing the knowledge and skills for doing a particular job. It is an structured method by which people acquire knowledge and skills for a definite purpose. It basically bridges gap between job requirement and present competence of an employee. Need of Training Training is required on account of the following reasons: Job requirement: Employee selected for a job might lack the qualifications required to perform the job effectiveness. Technological changes: Technology is changing very fast. Now automation and mechanization have are being increasingly applied. Organization viability: In order to survive and grow an organization must continually adopt itself to the changing environment. Internal mobility: Training becomes necessary when an employee moves from one job to another due to promotion and transfer. Importance of Training Training is the process of imparting knowledge, skills and aptitude to perform desired job. A well planned and well executed training program can provide the following advantages: It helps in improving the level of performance and hence results in higher productivity. Uniformity of work methods and procedures helps to improve the quality of product or service A systematic training program reduces the cost and time drawn in learning. Good training helps in economical use of materials and machinery. It reduces supervision. It lowers the rate of accidents. It boosts the morale of employees to perform the task/job efficiently. Process of Training Identifying training needs: Process of training starts with identifying the need of training. Training objectives: the next step is to set training objectives in concrete terms and to decide the strategies to be adopted to achieve these objectives. Designing training program: An appropriate training policy is very important to meet the objectives. It consists of rules and procedures concerning training. Imparting training: Here employees are given training as per their requirements. Evaluating: Here the effectiveness of training is evaluated. Assessment of the usefulness of training is done to make sure that it is gainful, to identify needs to modify what is being provided, to discover new needs and redefine priorities and most importantly to ensure that the objectives of the exercise are being met. There are various methods employers use to actually deliver the training. The most popular method is on-the-job training. ON THE JOB TRAINING On-the-job training (OJT) is one of the paramount training methods because it is planned, organized, and conducted at the employees workplace. On-the-job training is usually the principal method used for augmenting employee skills and escalating output and efficiency. It is mainly suitable for developing expertise distinctive to an employees job, chiefly those positions whose work is relatively easy to learn and require locally-owned equipment and facilities. Self-esteem, high yield, and professionalism are always high in those organizations that employ a logical and reasonable on-the-job training program. On analyzing the most important requirements that are highlighted in job descriptions and specifications form the basis for setting up an on-the-job training plan. To be most effective, an on-the-job training plan should include: The area under discussion; Allocation of time to it each day; anticipated closing date; and Evaluation will be conducted in what manner. A coach should be assigned to each employee involved in on-the-job training to make it successful. All coaches are accountable and responsible for carefully planning the training and also conducting it effectively. On-the-job training is one of numerous ways by which a company might opt to impart the knowledge and skills its employees require. Every company has its own employment needs. These are dependant on the size of the company, diverse skills and information necessary to carry out particular jobs. Companies use a mixture of strategies to have a labor force which has the essential job training. This helps them to carry out all the required job functions. Structured academic learning or vocational training is the few methods usually used. On-the-job training inevitably forms some part of all teaching programs, no matter which of the tactic is used to train the employees. It is said that on the job training is an important example of an investment in human capital. Like any other investment it has initial costs and returns to these expenditures occur in future periods. These future returns are measured by increased productivity of the worker during subsequent periods of employment. (Baron.J., 1997, On the Job Training, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Kalamazoo, MI.) ON THE JOB TRAINING ADVANTAGES Conducting training in an external environment is being avoided by many companies. An inclination towards training employees within their own working environment can be seen clearly. This way they use those tools and equipment which they will be using in future to carry out their specific role in the organization. This preference is proved by Walter who introduced the Task analytical training system (TATS) model is a performance-based approach to develop, implement, and evaluate a structured on-the-job training program that can be applied to a variety of manufacturing settings. (1996, October, pg:1) The employee is given specific job training and they practice under the administration of more qualified staff. This way they gain confidence in their work. The trainer directs them how to perform the task appropriately and gives feedback immediately by pointing out any errors. This allows a new trainee to be incorporated simply and quickly into the company, in addition to the job training being modified to distinctively suit the needs of the company. Furthermore, on-the-job training makes sure that the employee is actually working as it is learning. This leads them to being further dynamic and proficient. From a financial perspective, for the company its a very cost effective method of imparting knowledge and skills that are according to the companys wants. ON THE JOB TRAINING DISADVANTAGES On-the-job training isnt always as effectual as it should be. There are many reasons to it. Firstly, its not sufficient that the employee just passes on the skills and knowledge required for the particular job. A major fact is that teaching and training is also a skill which people should have to be qualified. If they are not and are still giving training to the workforce, then this will be ill-planned and would be delivered in a way that will confuse the trainee. He wont be able to grasp the concepts, therefore revealing the poor standard of the training. To both the company and to the trainee themselves this will be counter-productive. Often, on the job training is given in a hasty manner, so that employees start working up to the mark early and to save companys money. This also does not give time to the trainer to establish the skills injected in plus doesnt allow sufficient time for feedback. Consequently on the job training turns into a waste of time. One of the pivotal mistakes a trainer can make is trying to get too much information absorbed in a short period of time. One aspect should be kept in mind that trainees are going to take long time to be able to perform the tasks as the company expects. The trainers can do the job blindfolded because this also has come due to many years of experience and unending hard work. If a company brings in an external trainer who is well equipped with all necessary tools but is completely unfamiliar with the companys operations and equipment then it has made a big mistake. Though from a financial point of view it might be cost effective but external hiring isnt always necessarily helpful. An external trainer sometimes hands over bad habits to the trainee without realizing what they are doing. This should be avoided by strict vigilance. CONCLUSION So all that we have found out by this research is, that training is an essential part of human resource management. Moreover, on-the-job training is the best method as it is economical, simple and effective and everybody can do it. It doesnt need wide-ranging budgets, complex training courses, devoted training staffs or absence from the workplace. Its effectiveness can be significantly enhanced by applying a methodical approach. Importantly, each on-the-job model has its own merits and weaknesses but they all serve the same purpose of providing the trainees with the opportunity to practice and learn by doing. If all I do is hear, I will forget If I hear and see, I will remember If I hear, see and do, I will understand. (Confucius,. 2005, April 17)

Mother Natures :: essays research papers fc

Mother Natures â€Å"Time Share†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lake Powell is a family resort for many. Every year at least two million people enjoy its splendor. But I would assume they do not know the trouble that lies beneath. Lake Powell was voted in by a small margin in March, 1956. It was part of the Colorado River Storage Project, also known as CRSP. Ever since it’s beginning, some of the people who helped build the dam have had regrets for what has been done to the canyon. Lake Powell has spurred controversy since its beginning on many issues: environmental problems, water rights, and the energy it generates. But the reservoir has its good points as well. There have been many jobs created and a thriving tourist market that have been the result of the dam. The concern now is the reservoir’s water level. At forty percent it is the lowest we have seen the lake since its establishment. We are not expecting more water due to the drought and researchers say it will not be ending soon. The question is should La ke Powell be refilled? History   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1922 the Colorado River Compact was organized. This organization allocated the resources of the Colorado River and its tributaries. The Upper Basin States (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming) realized that the Colorado River Compact had overestimated the river’s annual flow and wanted to guarantee their water rights. The only way the Upper Basin states saw fit to ensure their water was to literally hold onto their water in reservoirs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1956 brought the beginning of the Glen Canyon dam. But Glen Canyon was not the only site that was being considered as a possible site for the reservoir. Echo Park, in Dinosaur National Monument was another option that was being discussed by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Sierra Club was fighting to keep both dams from being built. In the end they had the choice and traded Glen Canyon for Echo Park (Ritchey).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  June of 1960 brought the beginning of the dam. Five million yards of concrete were poured into the canyon over the period of two years. The construction did not stop until the dam was complete in September of 1962. After Glen Canyon Dam was completed, and to this day, it stands 710 feet with an average water depth of 560 feet when the reservoir is full. The dam stops water for one 186 miles up stream, creating 2,200 miles of shore line (Booth).

Word Meaning in Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying Essay -- Faulkner’s As I Lay

Word Meaning in Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying Throughout Faulkner’s novel, As I Lay Dying, a prominent difference between the characters Anse and Addie appears in his/her contrasting depiction of word meaning. According to the mother, Addie, words are bad and do not signify their designated meaning. In comparison, her husband, Anse, continually stresses and believes in his spoken promise or word to bury Addie in Jefferson. Incidentally, the juxtaposition between the two character’s theories of word meaning emphasizes an alternative comical view toward the burial of Addie. Her burial is sacred to the family due to the promise of the father’s word and yet based on Addie’s meaningless attempt at revenge toward her husband. Addie’s depiction of words is very negative. She continually affirms, â€Å"words are no good; that words dont ever fit even what they are trying to say at† (171). Apparently, she doesn’t hold any truth in words and sees them as spaces of void. She states, â€Å"I knew that that word was like the others: just a shape to fill a lack; that when the right time came, you wouldn’...

Japan Staffing Approach

What is the crime rate of the country you have chosen? Use outside references. In past classes the crime rate question doesnt get enough attention, so spend some time on this. How does your country's crime stats compare to the U. S.? According to the travel. state. gov Japan has low rate of crime.Security issue in Japan, Crime levels are low. It is generally safe to walk about at night and to travel on public transport, but you should maintain the same level of vigilance as you would at home and take sensible precautions. Safety scale of Japan is 80. 98 (Numbeo, 2013). Japanese government authorities cannot rule out the threat of terrorism in Japan. As a counter-terrorism precaution, the Japanese government has, since July 2005, implemented heightened security measures at key facilities including on public transport and at ports of entry. Recent changes inJapan's security policies have been interpreted by the media as representing a scrapping of the countrys pacifist restrictions, le ading it toward becoming a â€Å"normal† nation and acquiring a more assertive military. These changes include permitting the right to exercise collective self-defense, creating a National Security Council, relaxing a ban on exporting defense-related equipment and procuring new military assets. The changes are significant, but they do not represent a fundamental shift. Instead, they represent a pragmatic evolution in response to Japan's increasingly dangerous eighborhood.If possible, avoid carrying credit cards or large amounts of cash to parties, bars, clubs or entertainment districts. Do not leave your drink unattended. Think about your personal safety, take appropriate precautions and refer to our intormation tor travellers partying overseas tor turtner advice. Sporadic incidents ot bag snatching and pickpocketing of foreigners in crowded shopping areas, on trains and at airports have occurred. Credit card and ATM fraud can occur in Japan. If you are suspicious of any item s that are stuck to ATMs or look unusual, do not use the machine. Exercise normal safety precautions and take care with your valuables.

Mill

The idea that there are â€Å"higher† and ‘lower† pleasures is one that stems from the very beginning of philosophy, although in the hands of John Stuart Mill within his famous Utilitarianism it becomes a central focus. Mill convincingly argues that if a person has experienced both the higher and the lower pleasures, then he/she will naturally tend to prefer the higher. But if someone has only been subjected to lower pleasures he is somehow a less fulfilled human being. The distinctively human pleasures that Mill identified tended to be those that would only appeal to a few people, normally the elite of society who had the time and money to indulge in them. For example, high art as is found with opera houses or within expensive paintings in luxurious art galleries is often only enjoyed by a few. But this few is the most exemplary example of the most â€Å"human† of pleasures. Conversely, the lower pleasures tend to be those that appeal just to the senses: often in a purely physical sense. These kinds of pleasures are to be found within the lower classes and are characterized by instant and easily understood appeals to pleasure. In many ways this argument makes sense, even thought it does not fit within the egalitarian ideals of today.   In many ways it also sits uneasily with the whole focus of utilitarianism which may be essentially summed u[ as the â€Å"greatest happiness for the greatest number of people†. The valorization of high (human) pleasures over low (more animalistic) ones essentially suggests that the quality of happiness rather than the quality, at least as far as pleasures are concerned is of the most importance. Mill used his division between high and low pleasures to suggest that certain individuals who owned more property, and thus who were more likely to indulge in the higher pleasures, should have greater voting power than the masses. This is an essentially elitest system, but one which makes sense within the premises that Mill sets forward. If the higher pleasures are of greater â€Å"human† character than the lower ones, then the people who enjoy them would be more worthy of control within society. They would be more likely to exhibit the kind of self-control needed to preserve the happiness of the masses. The hedonistic tendencies of those masses imply that they cannot be trusted with full power over their destinies. To conclude, the idea that some pleasures are â€Å"superior† to others is something that most people accept in theory, but would not readily admit in public. Mill however belonged to a perhaps more honest age than ours, and is convincing in his arguments for the superiority of certain pleasures over others. The conclusions that he draws from those arguments are more problematic however: the fact that a person enjoys opera does not necessarily mean that he understands the good of the country better. Works Cited Mill, John Stuart. Utilitarianism. University of Toronto Press, Toronto: 1985.   

Lundbeck Korea Managing an international growth engine Free Essay Example, 1250 words

There is no need for Jin-Ho Jun to report to the leader of Lundbeck Asia, Asif Rajar because he has approximately 15 years of experience in the central nervous system market in Korea, which makes him an expert in the market and able to handle Lundbeck Korea’s operations without supervision from Asif Rajar. Also, the fact that Jin-Ho Jun has worked in a number of international pharmaceutical corporations makes him qualified to report directly to Andersen in Copenhagen (Roberts 7). I also think Andersen should split Lundbeck Korea from Lundbeck Asia and have Lundbeck Korea directly report to him in Copenhagen because Jin-Ho Jun possesses the international knowledge necessary to undertake the corporate policies and strategies of Lundbeck. In addition, Lundbeck Korea has a great chance of enhancing its performance when it is separated from Lundbeck Asia and its leader report directly to Andersen in Copenhagen. Jin-Ho Jun has an extremely decent network of relations with eminent p sychiatrists in Korea. He has dedicated effort and time to make sure there is a high-quality relation with these significant opinion leaders who are essential in promoting Lundbeck’s products in the Korean market. We will write a custom essay sample on Lundbeck Korea: Managing an international growth engine or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now This is not a painless or simple endeavor (Roberts 8). While reporting directly to Andersen in Copenhagen, Jin-Ho Jun can inform Andersen of the views of these significant opinion leaders, which will be significant during the formulation of the company policies and guidelines. Also, to develop the form of association that Jin-Ho Jun has achieved, an individual should be eager to sacrifice a tremendous amount of time which is not possible if Lundbeck Korea is still part of Lundbeck Asia and Jin-Ho Jun is still reporting to Asif Rajar. Also, Lundbeck Korea and Lundbeck Asia should be separated because both Jin-Ho Jun and Asif Rajar have different knowledge regarding the Korean market. Jin-Ho Jun is more aware that the Korean pharmaceutical sector is quite dissimilar from markets in other areas than Asif Rajar. It is evident from the numerous company meetings that the Korean managers highlight with tremendous frustrations to the headquarters and region al managers that the non-Korean managers do not have sufficient understanding of the distinctiveness of the Korean market (Roberts 8). Since Jin-Ho Jun has sufficient knowledge and experience regarding the Korean market, the parent company in Copenhagen can trust him to handle the operations of Lundbeck Korea independently and make him report directly to Andersen.

Mahatma Gandhi Speeches - 904 Words

Mahatma Gandhi â€Å"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.† (BrainyQuote.com). Mahatma Gandhi participated in many mentionable functions throughout his life. He help Indians gain rights in Africa, to going on a fast to promote what he believed was right. He was an important tribute to India, and many people look up to him for his bravery. His childhood experiences, adult life struggles, and middle age successes tell his story well. Mahatma Gandhi went through many difficulties throughout his childhood. He also had many problems to overcome as an adult that could have very well affected his character, but he chose to let it not it hurt him. Through these trying times, he made many successes in his later†¦show more content†¦Before Gandhi left, his mother made him promise to stay away from wine, women, and meat (Lal). When he left, he left behind his son, Harilal, who was a few months at the time (Lal). As you can see, Mahatma Gandhi had many chi ldhood experiences that contributed to many years of hard work down the line. Claim 2: Adult life struggles Gandhis adult life struggles helped him learn to be hard-working to achieve his successes in his later life. Gandhi had one unsuccessful year at law school over in England, and after that he took a job as a legal adviser down in South Africa and ended up staying for over 20 years (Lal). There were no rights for Indians in South Africa, and Gandhi dealt with racism on a day to day basis (Lal). For example, one of the more memorable experiences with racism that Gandhi had to deal with was when he was thrown off of a train, even though he had a first class ticket (Lal). Furthermore, there were many more experiences because he had no rights. Gandhis experiences, therefore, taught him to be patient with people who chose not to respect those of the Indian race. One of many other experiences Gandhi had in his adult life was his Satyagraha campaign in SA, which led to the 1914 Indian Relief (Lal). Another struggle he endured was in 1922 when he was arrested and put in prison on charges of sedition, where he was released six years later due to poor health (Lal). Furthermore, he had enduredShow MoreRelatedMahatma Gandhis Path to peace Essay examples788 Words   |  4 Pages Mahatma Gandhi once said, â€Å"I wish for equality for all people, except for photographers and journalists† (â€Å"Mahatma Gandhi biography†). Gandhi was commonly known for his loving personality and his passion for life and equality. It was his mission to free India from the clutches of the British Empire and he will be remembered as one of the greatest pacifists to walk this earth. However, to achieve all of his objectives for truth and equality, he would have to overcome many adversities and hardshipsRead MoreGandhi Heros Journey Essay936 Words   |  4 PagesMahatma Gandhi once said, â€Å"You must be the change you wish to see in the world†. This shows that Gandhi believed in peaceful change. Gandhi was well known in India by many people. People were inspired by his ways and would stand by him in peaceful protesting. A lot of people believed in Gandhi as a hero. Just as well, Percy Jackson from the Lightning Thief is a known hero for stopping world WWIII between the gods. Both Gandhi and Percy Jackson follow the path of the hero s journey because they reRead MorePersuasive Powers of the Reknown Gandhi and Daldier1946 Words   |  8 PagesEvery successful movement through speeches has always conveyed a more in depth message of the writer’s true purpose. 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After theRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King919 Words   |  4 PagesLuther King Junior and Mahatma Gandhi both struggled, I think that the charisma in them influenced social change, because of their tactics used, like non-violence. Martin Luther King Junior and Gandhi both functions as charismatic leaders and influenced others with their fascinatingly positive attitudes. It was hard for them to get there message s and world view s across but they remained stro ng and preserved through their struggles, no matter how tough things got. Gandhi transmitted his messageRead MoreAnalysis Of The Civil-Rights Movements Of Gandhi And Malcolm X879 Words   |  4 Pagesoverlooked flaw or exaggerated prejudice against a certain situation. The Important influencers include that of Dr. Martin Luther Kings non-violent protests, and their efforts for an equal and safe America, the Civil-Rights movements of the 1960s or Gandhi and Malcolm Xs peaceful protest way. All Four found a peaceful way to have a common genuine effort for change in a situation that the leaders of our country fail to deem as an extremely poor guidance for our country. Without the efforts of such leadersRead MoreMartin Luther King Essay758 Words   |  4 Pagesnotice, when he went out, how his family and other black people were treated. This made him angry, but he dealt with it not by using violence, but by peaceful protests. King was very much influenced by the non-violent strategy that Mahatma Gandhi used for a social change. When King was a lot older, he witnessed something which changed his life forever. A black woman had been sent to jail for not giving up her seat for white man on a bus. Martin Luther King, being the Baptist Read MoreMahatma Gandhi And The Indian National Congress1264 Words   |  6 PagesMahatma Gandhi is a non-violent protestor who joined a party called the Indian National Congress. Gandhi is known for his famous speeches and how he peacefully protested to gain his freedom and equal rights for all his fellow people in India from the British. Gandhi’s passion for wanting equal rights led everyone to freedom in India in 1947 when Gandhi was 78. In South Asia a person regarded with reverence or loving respect; a holy person or sage. Gandhi was born on October 2nd 1869 in ProbanderRead MoreRacism, Bias And Prejudice921 Words   |  4 Pagesone of the biggest leaders of racial equality and help change history for the better. Mahatma Gandhi, was born October 2nd, 1869 to a wealthy Indian family in Porbandar, Gujarat India. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a well-respected man that held the political position of, Chief Minister of Porbandar. Mahtma’s mother, Putlibai Gandhi, was a kind woman and devote Jainist. Her gentle nature provided Mahatma with a compassionate upbringing that instilled a non-violent, mutual tolerance attitudeRead MoreGandhi : An Icon Of Social Justice And Nonviolent Resistance Essay1986 Words   |  8 PagesGandhi, as an icon of social justice and nonviolent resistance has captivated the hearts of people all over the world. Gandhi is a remarkable individual who was able to do something rarely seen in the history of revolutions and political struggles. Gandhi was able to unite a bitterly divided country of people to peacefully bring down one of the most powerful political entities in world history; The British Empire. Gandhi has a powerful life story which has been recre ated in films such as â€Å"Gandhi†