Abstract This paper describes the effects of the decrease of labor unions on the labor market. It examines why unions are declining and the trends that are occurring.
From the Paper "Since 1979 the percentage of union workers in the United States has declined from twenty-four percent to fourteen percent. However, forty-eight percent of workers in this country would join if presented with a free, non-coerced choice, thus union membership would more than triple overnight. Unionists though know all to well that the National Labor Relations Act gives employers plenty of way to prevent workers from exercising freedom of association. One example is the Act's guarantee of the right to organize is so poorly enforced that roughly four percent of all worker who vote union are fired by their employers. Moreover, union organizers cannot keep pace with the loss of union jobs to outsourcing, automation, and job export."
Abstract This paper discusses yield management, an economic stratagem that analyzes change in a demand pattern with a view to optimizing the profitability of a business, and how airline companies can benefit from it.
From the Paper " We are in a period of time where the increasing competition forces businesses to formulate flexible as well as profitable strategies. Today management is more focussed upon understanding the subtle differences in the nature of relationship between demand and its determinants. The degree of responsiveness of demand with respect to changes in the determinants (factors) has become a subject of close introspection for the management. "Elasticity of demand" is an important factor and plays a crucial role in the management decision-making process. Yield management is nothing but an economic stratagem that is applied in response to the change in demand pattern and with a view to optimizing the profitability of the business. "
Abstract The goal of any organization is to increase motivation within the company, with the operational plan being developed to meet this objective. This paper briefly discusses the role of the manager, the role of the organization and the incentives required.
From the Paper "Firstly, it is critical that employee actions are aligned with organizational goals. This has been described, "employees can be all fired up about their work and be working very hard. However, if the results of their work don't contribute to the goals of the organization, then the organization is not any better off than if the employees were sitting on their hands" (McNamara et al.) The first step then, is for the organization to determine what it requires its employees to be motivated towards, with this directly linked to organizational goals."
Abstract This paper discusses the current problems of business ethics in the framework that corporations have long struggled with corporate social responsibility and the overriding corporation goal to make a profit. The paper concludes that, despite the damage done to the reputation of big business ethics by companies like Enron and WorldCom, the outlook for the continued encouragement and development of ethically conscious companies is good. The author states that business and government leaders are developing a business environment that is more accepting and encouraging of ethically conscious businesses.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Corporate Social Responsibility and Individual Rights
Business Ethics and Enron
Business Ethics at WorldCom Inc.
Preventing Future Enron and WorldCom?s
Lessons from Enron and WorldCom
Ethical Corporations and Profit
Conclusion
From the Paper "The concept of corporate social responsibility has been debated for as long as the capitalist system has existed, and is one of the most important cornerstones of business ethics. Corporate social responsibility includes all decisions that are made within an organization that are linked to ethical values, and compliance with existing laws. Corporate social responsibility is closely tied to the respect for individuals and communities, animals and plants, and the environment as a whole."
Abstract The paper defines rational organizations as those which seek to develop structure and coordinate their activities in response to technical requirements and in relation to the complexity of the task environment they face. The paper shows how Johnson & Johnson has established its mission and vision by putting in place a rational organizational structure, defining reporting relationships, establishing a project management methodology and infrastructure, developing a communications plan in support of the group's global leadership role, creating position descriptions, and recruiting. A history of the company is also discussed.
From the Paper "Johnson & Johnson attributes the success of its organization structure to its management of each separate part as part of a functioning, single entity. By grouping its global affiliates into three business segments and then overlaying each segment and its affiliates with a transparent structure of alignment, Johnson & Johnson has created a unique organization structure."
Tags: health, care, creed, Ortho, Janssen, Pharmaceutical, Band-Aid
Abstract The paper shows that bank interest rates have been steadily decreasing since the September 11th attack on America and that the attack caused the business failures of major corporations, such as World Com and Enron. It discusses that one of the areas that are going stronger then ever is the real estate industry and many homeowners are taking the option to refinance their homes. The paper shows that banks and financial institutions are not in favor of this procedure as a homeowner who refinances his house may lower his monthly payments several hundred dollars - banks are making significantly less money on the lowered monthly payments through refinances. The purpose of the essay is to discuss how the lowered interest rates are affecting the housing industry.
From the Paper "House sales are running a record high this year, according to Reaser, chief economist of Bank of America. The refinancing of mortgages is supporting a major portion of the economy that is surviving and thriving. At the present time, refinancing is showing no signs of slowing down; in fact it is steadily increasing. People are putting the extra money into home improvements and buying new cars, another low interest financing option."
Abstract This paper investigates the running of the Ben & Jerry's company. It begins by exploring the present environment. It gives an internal analysis of the company and it lists its manufacturing and marketing capabilities in detail. It concludes with a SWOT analysis of the business.
Table of Contents
Industry Analysis
Economic Environment
Social and Cultural Environment
Technological Environment
Political and Legal Environment.
Ecological/Natural Environment
Competitive Environment
Internal Analysis
Organizational Capabilities
Creative Abilities of Management
Reputation for Quality of Staff
Clarity of Strategic Goals
Experience in Planning
Corporate Culture
Manufacturing Capabilities
Operating Capacity
Facilities for Increasing Production
Marketing Capabilities
Strength of Marketing Function
Effectiveness of the Marketing Information System
Range and Quality of Marketing Information
Market - Market Position, Understanding of Market Trends and Target Customers
Product - Reputation for Quality and Reliability, Newness of Product, Originality of Product
Distribution - Value of Location, Size of Distribution Systems, Level of Control Over Distribution, Quality of Relations with Distributors
Pricing - Accuracy of Costing Information, Appropriateness of Costing methods, Adequacy of Profit Margins
SWOT Analysis
Strengths of the Business
Strengths of the Product
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
From the Paper "Ben & Jerry's break their mission statement into three parts. The first is product, with the mission described as being "To make, distribute and sell the finest quality all natural ice cream and related products in a wide variety of innovative flavors made from Vermont dairy products" (Ben & Jerry's, Statement of Mission). The economic mission is "To operate the Company on a sound financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our shareholders, and creating career opportunities and financial rewards for our employees" (Ben & Jerry's, Statement of Mission). Finally, the social mission is "To operate the Company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in the structure of society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life of a broad community - local, national, and international" (Ben & Jerry's, Statement of Mission). This three part mission shows a clarity of strategic thought in that the various aspects important to the company have been taken into account."
Abstract This paper looks at the issue of leadership within educational administration and business organization. It analyzes leadership styles and shows how different styles can be effective depending on the situation, the personality of the leader, and the nature of the organization. It discusses the four basic decision-making styles--authoritative, consultative, facilitative, and delegative and shows in each case how leadership style determines the relationship between the leader and his or her followers.
From the Paper "One way of characterizing leadership is to identify it as either transformational or transactional. The transactional leader practices contingent reinforcement of followers, while the transformational leader inspires, intellectually stimulates, and is individually considerate of followers. Transformational leadership may be either directive (autocratic) or participative. Transformational leadership requires higher moral development. Transformational leadership has been found to be more effective than transactional leadership in a wide variety of business, military, industrial, hospital, and educational circumstances (Bass 15)."
A study of the constantly changing global business environment and how effective human resource planning enables organizations to achieve their strategic objectives.
Abstract This paper critically evaluates the effects of technology and strategic human resource planning on the development of business enterprise in the turbulent global environment. It examines the effects of changes in human resource planning on the business environment and compares experiences within the United States and developing countries.
From the Paper "Today more than ever, organizations must capitalize on a changing business environment, improve profitability and overall productivity, formulate and implement a planning process and make better strategic decisions. Perhaps the most striking change in Human Resource Management today is its increased involvement in human resource planning, while developing and implementing the company's strategy (the company's long-term plan for how it will balance its internal strengths and weaknesses with its external opportunities and threats to maintain a competitive advantage ). The concept of human resource planning takes an added significance, therefore, in firms that build their competitive advantage around their people. However, there are several basic trends, which pose a threat to the accuracy and validity of human resource planning predictions, and which prove to be important factors in determining the strategic direction of most firms today. The most obvious of these trends is the globalization of markets. Firms in days gone by, that competed only with local firms, now face competition from foreign firms. As one expert puts it, ?The bottom line is that the growing integration of the world economy into a single, huge market place is increasing the intensity of competition in a wide range of manufacturing and service industries.? Deregulation has reinforced this trend, as nations eliminate the legal barriers that protected industries from unbridled competition. More globalization means more competition and more competition means more pressures to improve the quality of the business sector ? that is; lowering costs to make employers more productive, and to find new ways of achieving cost-effectiveness while creating an avenue for doing things in better and more dynamic ways. Similarly, the Internet and Information Technology have been forcing and enabling firms to become more competitive. Technology is doing more than merely reducing costs and opening up new ways to compete; it also changes the nature of work and creates brand new kinds of jobs. Technology, however, is not the only trend driving the changes in the business environment, as workforce demographics are also changing. Of note, the workforce is becoming more diverse, as women, minority group members and older workers enter the workforce. Today, it is the firm's workforce ? that is, its knowledge, commitment, skills and training, that provides the competitive advantage, for World Class Companies, like Microsoft, Sony, AOL, and General Electrics (GE). For this purpose, increased attention has been given to the Human Resource Planning process: from the input stage, through analysis, forecasting, and implementation to evaluation and redesign of the Human Resource Plan."
Abstract A comprehensive business analysis of Wal-Mart company, the largest retailer in the world. The paper discusses in depth the market postion and business strategies. It looks at the organization's structure and management methods. Wal-Mart's performance past and present performance is analyzed as a way to predict future trends. The paper offers many statistics and figures for evidence.
From the Paper "Wal-Mart is the world's biggest company and largest retailer with over 4,500 stores. Selling goods ranging from furniture to food and providing services from auto shops to optometrists, Wal-Mart has worked to create an incredible array of products. A traditional power in general merchandise retail, the company has many significant inroads into the food retail industry with its supercenter model, a combination of discount store and full-size supermarket...."
From the Paper "Drug testing in the workplace is an issue because of the fact that drug abuse by American workers endangers their coworkers. Drug abuse also reduces productivity, costs the company and eventually the consumer money, and contributes to health problems which are then paid for either by the company or the public in some fashion. Many employers have introduced some form of drug testing program in order to reduce costs and offer help to drug abusing employees. There are concerns that such testing violates privacy rights and could lead to employees being disciplined or even fired. There are also concerns that the testing is not adequate or accurate and that innocent employees will suffer as a consequence. The courts have been called in to adjudicate these matters."
Describes the problem of stress in the workplace & the variety of personal & work-related health problems for employees & increased costs for employers.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 5 sources, 1996, $ 31.95
From the Paper "Increased levels of stress have been identified as a major problem in the workplace today. Such stress contributes to a variety of personal and work-related problems for employees and to increased costs for business. Problems in the workplace can range from absenteeism and poor work habits to violence against coworkers. Businesses today are seeking ways to reduce stress, and the first step is to identify the sources of stress and to find ways to prevent them or reduce their effects. Some jobs simply involve high levels of stress, though, and for such jobs special efforts must be made to provide services to workers to combat the effects of high stress. The Human Resources Manager needs to understand the nature of stress and the means to control it."
From the Paper "Nordstrom's was founded as a shoe store by John Nordstrom and Carl Wallin. Even in the company's infancy, the focus was on reaching the highest possible level of customer service. For instance, while other shoe manufacturers recommended that the store control inventory costs by only carrying popular sizes, Nordstrom argued that "if he couldn't serve all customers, he shouldn't be in business" (Fuller, 1995).
The philosophy is obviously successful for the company, both historically and currently. Nordstrom's soon became one of the largest independent shoe retail chains in the United States. By the 1960s the company had expanded into clothing and department..."
From the Paper "This research compares the equity theory of motivation with the goal theory of motivation. The thesis of this comparison is that the equity theory of motivation is more effective when applied in work environment wherein individual responsibility is paramount, while the goal theory of motivation is more effective in group work environments.
Equity theory suggests that individuals are sensitive to others receiving similar rewards for less effort, and effort may be adjusted to reflect individual perceptions of fairness. The central argument in equity theory is that employees responses to motivational programs depend on their perceptions of the programs? fairness. According to equity theory, participants in an economic ..."
From the Paper "Introduction
Many managers believe that the traditional interview remains the best method for finding high-quality workers, despite techniques such as pre-employment psychological testing and other innovative processes available to recruiting personnel. When conducted properly, the interview can provide a good picture of the applicant. The employment interview may be used to judge an applicant's interpersonal reactions, communication skills and fitness for a particular job. This research examines two types of interview techniques, the structured and unstructured interview, including appropriateness and applicability in today's work environments.
Structured Interviews
The structured interview consists of prepared questions or situations given by an ..."
