Abstract The paper examines the crisis in the hospitality industry with regard to recruitment and retention of employees. Several contributing factors to the recruitment and retention phenomenon are considered, such as increased diversity, the imbalance between skilled and unskilled labor and the nonexistent benefits, such as health insurance, profit sharing and retirement benefits. The author notes that management strategies are counterproductive and do not offer the employee real incentive to strive for achievement. The paper also addresses the issue of corporate responsibility for employees. The paper concludes with suggestions for employee retention in the hospitality industry.
Outline:
Introduction
Major Obstacles to Employee Retention Employee Retention Solutions
Conclusion
From the Paper "Several big name hostels are beginning to practice better diversity standards and seeking to create a better awareness among the public about the diversity and inherent interest in their employ. This trend will likely continue and it is hoped that it will continue to be a fruitful part of the development of individuals from varied nations, as assimilation is really a small part of immigration. Many more issues surround the struggles of immigration and diverse populations, many of which can only be answered by employment."
A critique on an article by K.S. Folse, called "The Effect of Type of Written Exercise on L2 Vocabulary Retention", which discusses word retention following vocabulary exercises.
Abstract This paper analyzes and critiques an article written by K.S. Folse which examines the variable effects of three different vocabulary exercises on word retention, based on a sample of ESL students enrolled in intensive language programs at American universities. The paper concludes by explaining the limitations of the study.
From the Paper "Implications for classroom practice are extensive. Teachers who base their vocabulary exercises and assessment tools on original sentences, based on the assumption that original sentences will lead to retention, may need to rethink their approach to TESOL. Folse (2006) adds that creating original sentences place undue time and energy demands on the students, which may detract from their actual ability to retain the word. Teachers also have to spend more time on grading original sentences, and poor grammar may impact grades without reflecting whether or not the student actually understood the target word. Writing sample sentences with the target words, teachers can create more meaningful and effective exams that are also easier to grade."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the idea of grade retention, a concept designed to improve the standard of education in the USA. The paper focuses on the state of Florida, which has implemented the grade retention system. According to the paper, students in Florida can now be kept back to repeat a year, rather than be promoted on the basis of 'social promotion' instead of academic readiness.
From the Paper "The rules for determining promotion between the third and forth grade in Florida are based largely on the students' performance on state standardized tests. (Reid) According to the Department of Education, Florida law now says that third graders that score low on the FCAT standardized test "must be retained, unless there is other information that indicates these students can read independently." (The New Department of Education) The tests are the key factor in the decision, however under certain circumstances parents can appeal decisions based on the test, however the appeal procedures and qualifying for promotion based on other means can be a difficult process. If a student performs poorly on the FCAT test, the teacher must be the one to create a portfolio of the child's work to demonstrate the ability to meet minimum performance standards. Unfortunately, convincing teachers and administrators to create such a portfolio may be difficult for parents, and virtually impossible for students without actively involved parental support. According to Mark Pudlow of the Florida Education Association, "Few educators considered portfolios to be a viable option...Only a small percentage of students are expected to be promoted based on their portfolio work." (Reid) In order to qualify for advancement to the next grade level without a passing FCAT score, a "good cause exemption" must be given. Students may qualify for a good cause exemption if the student speaks a limited amount of English, if the student has a disability and it is determined that it is not appropriate for the student to take the FCAT test, if the student can pass an alternate reading test called the SAT-9, if the student has been retained previously under special circumstances, or if the aforementioned portfolio is assembled and considered adequate. (The New Department of Education)"
This paper sheds light on some of the factors affecting employee retention and offers typical solutions, focusing specifically on the electronic systems industry.
Abstract The following paper examines the issue of employee retention and obtainment, which is an intensive struggle between employer and employee. Retaining and obtaining employees in today's economy is a constant campaign for the best and most deserving workers and thus this paper suggests ways of improving employee relations by improved communication, incentives, good benefits a pleasant office climate and more. The information contained within was compiled from literature found in public libraries abroad, third party investigations and personal observation.
From the Paper "During the 1990s, job seekers had a dizzying array of choices when they searched for work. It was a difficult task for employers to keep employees. Losing employees always meant losing knowledge, capital, skills, and experience (Watson, 2000). Losing knowledge was a major concern to organizations. If an organization lost an employee with a great amount of knowledge, it essentially lost revenue that the employee would have generated. If an employer lost an employee with a great amount of experience, it would take lots of time and money to retrain a new employee for positive production. Experience is an intangible that is relied up heavily. Every worker carries with him or her at least three basic types of experience. Every worker posesses a certain amount of industry, company, and position specific experience."
Abstract This is a literature review of research in the area of effective employee retention strategies for organizations. A number of online articles are discussed with various strategies.
Abstract This paper proposes a plan for promoting effective employee development and retention, touching on training, human capital management, a career development planning model, and an employee relations program.
From the Paper Employee Development and RetentionAbstract Employee development and retention are critical to an organization'sability to meet its goals and challenges and retain profitability Thispaper discusses the factors that affect employee development and retentio
Tags: employee development, retention, training, human capital, career development planning model, employee relations program
Abstract This paper describes instituting a system to provide the nursing staff with opportunities and conditional monetary incentives to obtain higher levels of professional development. The paper points out that providing the time and reimbursement to seek adult professional development will enable retaining and recruiting employees and will create a base staff with greater skills to meet the ultimate goal of excellent patient care. The paper also encourages creating tuition reimbursement contracts, which are offered to employees with more than one year employment. Thus, upon achievement of their educational goals and agreement upon a contract commitment to a certain number of years service following the completion of any degree or certificate, the nurses would be reimbursed by the employer.
From the Paper "Given the nature of the facility, with its overarching emphasis on psychosocial care and the nature of the growth in information in this area, seeking employees who are capable and willing to seek out cutting edge development associated with such care could be the determinant factor of success. Making those employees from those who are already committed to serve this facility would be the best possible solution to any perceived shortcomings. Conditional reimbursement frequently emphasizes time and success contracts that are best employed when the individual is offered support from the institution to allow growth."
Tags: reimbursement, holistic care, burn out, commitmentretention
This paper provides an executive summary of the customer retention strategies used at the writer's place of work and analyzes the success of these strategies.
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that the customer retention strategy used at the company at which the writer works is actually comprised of four specific tactics. The writer then describes and explains the four major tactics used for increasing customer retention. The writer maintains that tying all these tactics together into a unified strategy requires a constant focus on measuring how effective they are through the use of analytics to gauge the retention rate of customers. The writer also looks at the problems and future trends regarding customer retention in the company concerned. In addition, the writer evaluates the advantages and liabilities of the customer retention strategy used at the company.
Outline:
Background and Introduction
Main Conclusions
Recommendations
Critiquing the Customer Retention Strategy
Background
Lack of Consistent Analytical Measures of Customer Retention Excessive Personal Support for Large Accounts at an Unknown Cost
No Visibility of Channel-Based Retention Future Trends
Limitations, Conclusions and Recommendations
From the Paper "The following are the major conclusions from this critique of the customer retention strategies for the company at which the writer works:
"First, the four tactics the company uses is delivering results and it is estimated that the company has approximately a 60% retention rate. Yet the contribution of each of these tactics in hard numbers is not known, so the company is constantly re-shifting the mix of these four tactics that comprise our strategy.
"Second, there is no win/loss analysis to determine how effective the combination of these strategies in conjunction with each other. When one loses a customer there is much anecdotal discussion yet nothing definitive.
"Third, there is no process in place to take the lessons learned from customer retention programs and change product strategies. The link between customer retention and product direction is not in place and therefore it can take years before any lasting change comes to products."
Abstract This paper looks at the problem of employee retention in today's market and discusses the creation of a job satisfaction survey as the starting point in creating an effective employee retention program. It analyzes how employee retention is a difficult problem for many U.S. businesses and how pay-based incentives alone are no longer enough to hold quality employees. It evaluates how non-pay incentives are becoming more and more important in creating effective employee retention programs and how the array of such non-pay incentives, however, is large and an effective retention program should be tailored to company's specific employees.
From the Paper "McQuarrie argues that market research is relevant to business strategic planning because it results in focussed, company specific information. (1996). Rossi et. al. provide a detailed and complete guide to the effective use of surveys in market research. (1983). This work covers not only the use of closed versus open ended questions for obtaining desired information, but also explains various methods in analysis. Finally, Edmunds (1996) and Edwards, et al. (1997) give a step-by-step guides to choosing the proper research method, appropriate use of various question forms in surveys and choosing the appropriate degree of analysis to fit within relevant time and budget constraints."
Abstract This paper discusses the theory and the practice of customer retention. In addition, the ideas of loyalty, intimacy, and satisfaction are studied to determine their place in the customer retention of today and the future. A better understanding of how organizations and customers define customer retention is vital to this study, as is learning how various firms measure customer retention. The paper examines how customer retention works and identifies what can be done by various companies to determine how best to serve their customers and keep them coming back.
Contents
Chapter One
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Importance of the Study
Scope of the Study
Rationale of the Study
Definition of Terms
Overview of the Study
Chapter Two
Review of Related Literature
Chapter Three
Methodology
Approach
Data Gathering Method
Database of Study
Validity of Data
Originality and Limitations of Data
Summary
From the Paper "Customer retention has become very important as society continues to grow. When society was very young, there were only a few merchants and they only had certain things that they sold to those that lived and worked nearby. As the population expanded and demand for more things was created, more and more merchants and businesses were established. This created much more competition based on price and other factors, and one of these factors was the treatment of the customers so that they would return to purchase from that shop again. Thus customer retention was born, and it has continued to increase in importance as the population and their demands continue to grow."
Abstract This paper explains that the problem of employee retention involves such substantial sums of money that a great deal of research into the retention issue has been conducted. The author points out the importance of retaining employees through the strategy of engagement by 1) involvement in decision-making, 2) having management listen to their views, 3) opportunities to develop their jobs beyond what they were originally assigned to do and 4) the concern management shows for the health and welfare of the employee. The paper reports that a charity organization, which has been losing good employees because of an inability to "pay staff what they are worth", launched a new benefits package project to motivate retention, which offered such items as discounted child care vouchers and subsidized health care.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Literature on Employee Retention - What are the Problems?
The Literature - Why do Employees Leave their Jobs?
The Literature - What Some Companies are doing to Retain Employees
Keeping Employees through "Engagement":
Keeping Employees through Reward Management
What is a Total Reward Strategy?
Keeping Employees through the "Psychological Contract"
Keeping Employees through Inspired Leadership - Charles Handy
Keeping Employees through Inspired Leadership - Kouzes & Posner
Employee Retention through Innovative Policies - Journalism (Literature)
From the Paper "The CIPD data published by TalentDrain shows that in order to retain good employees by meeting their psychological growth needs, 58% of companies institute "training and development" strategies, 20% of companies redesign job duties, and 29% implement mentoring systems.
In order to enhance "the everyday experience" of employees, 52% of companies utilize "improved induction processes"; 48% of companies surveyed work towards "improved communication"; 32% approach the "work-life balance" of the worker; 35% implement "flexible working" hours; 32% have established "family-friendly provisions" that go beyond the UK legal minimum provisions."
Abstract This paper explains that retention of employees has become a major task for companies because employees no longer show company loyalty by staying with their employers throughout their career life. The author points out that, whereas years ago employees stayed with their employer for years letting the employer define the quality of their life in terms of salary or satisfaction; today, employees leave their current employer in search of more income, better benefits or career advancement. The paper relates that issues of retention and turnover are all about company culture -- "kinder and gentler" is replacing "do it my way"; examples of companies seeking to change their culture are MasterCard, Great Plains, Inc. and Southwest Airlines. advancement.
Table of Contents
Introduction
What is Retention and Turnover?
Employee Stability
Undervalued and Underutilized
Supervisor issues
Problem Analysis
Employee Symptoms
Labor Shortage
Turnover Costs
Why Companies Fail at Retention It's not about Money
Other Issues
Raising Retention, Lowering Turnover
Mindset
Survey
Supervisor Responsibility
Work Environment
Feedback
Compensation
Training
Career Development
Bureaucracy
Conclusion
Chart: The Cost of Turnover
Chart: A Sample New-Hire Survey
From the Paper "Employees who feel undervalued and underutilized will look to change jobs. Employees who feel undervalued and underutilized have lost the meaning of their job. According to Holbeche (2004), employees in general are looking to make their work more meaningful. The author reported a study that stated, "63 per cent of board directors, 72 per cent of middle managers and 69 per cent of directors and senior managers are looking for a greater sense of meaning in their working lives". Based on this study, companies must actively work to help their employees feel valued if they want them to stay. The author also reported that 68% of the people in large organizations have lost the meaning in their work and seek flexibility in their work. However, they were not willing to give up career advancement to achieve the work/life balance. In contrary to that, Knippen and Green (1996) suggest that employees who feel undervalued and underutilized should ask their supervisor for interesting work. Interesting work could be anything from adding more responsibility to simply changing the way a task is done. No matter what the work change is, it is important to outline to the supervisor the benefits of getting interesting work and the consequences of not getting it, which includes quitting."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed case study and report on the technical issues that need to be considered in facade retention with internal demolition of the Edward England Potato Warehouse in Cardiff, Wales. The writer describes the site and the problems it presents to those interested in preserving or developing it. The writer also outlines the essential equipment and steps for installing a facade retention system, and for internal demolition and the erection of a new internal frame. In addition, the writer discusses alternative options such as refurbishment and total demolition. This paper contains a figure and a table.
Outline:
Introduction
Site Investigation
Desk Top Study
Walk over Survey
Geotechnical Survey
Performance Evaluation
Long Term Monitoring
Defects list
Pre Specification Survey
Facade Retention System, Restrictions and Demolition
Facade Retention: Information Required
Restrictions
Facade Retention Ideas
West Bute Avenue Elevation
East Water Front Elevation
South Park Elevation
North Herbert Street Elevation
Cleaning, Repair and Protection
Demolition
Implications of Basement and Underpinning
Underpinning
Implication and Consideration of Basement Installation
Method Statement
Conclusion
Appendix A: Ariel Photograph of site
From the Paper "In order to provide detailed design solutions for method of facade retention for a building, essential information must be gathered and analysed first. The information needed includes: condition of the facade, bearing capacity of the soil, wind load factors, deflection limits, wall thickness of facade and impact load (for minimization). Scientific calculations will be made to determine placement, size and type of retention system and system foundation to provide ample support for facade during demolition, and avoiding facade damage and collapse. As so much technical information is required to design a solution, the following section simply discusses possible solutions and ideas to complement site conditions."
Abstract The retention of nursing staff in Accident and Emergency Departments has become a problematic and cardinal issue in health care and hospital management. This issue has been exacerbated by the reduction of critical and qualified nursing staff, which has become an international predicament. While there are numerous factors involved in the retention of nurses, many areas still require extensive study and research. However, factors affecting the retention of staff are clearly aligned to the central causes for staff job dissatisfaction. The following aspects and literary overview is meant to firstly suggest the scope of the problem and the central reasons for the loss of staff members in Accident and Emergency departments. This study focuses on those areas that are most contentious and which are most in need of further research and study. The literature, where applicable, is evaluated and critiqued with regard to their usefulness in delineating the central issues.
From the Paper "While the study is one of the most comprehensive of its kind and does provide solid insight into the situation of nursing conditions and job dissatisfaction, yet there are a few areas in which it can be critiqued. While it is thorough is does not focus specifically on specialized areas such as A&E. This is more of an observation than a critique as this is obviously not within the parameters of the study and is essentially unfair as a critique of a broad and comprehensive study like this. However the lack of data and research specifically aimed at nurses in A&E departments is a pattern that is repeated in numerous other studies. There are many feasible general studies of the problems, but very few directly related to Accident and Emergency staffing."
Abstract This paper examines the retention rate of African-American males in predominantly white universities. The paper compares the factors influencing African-American women versus men in completing their university studies. The author states that the purpose of this research is to find out exactly what the retention rate of African-American males in white universities is, and what explicit and implicit factors influence the retention rate.
Outline:
Research Question or Alternative Hypothesis
Independent Variable
Dependent Variables
Possible Confounding Variables
Research Design
Participants
Instrumentation
From the Paper "The retention rate of African American males has been a hotly debate topic in the college domain. Although statistics have shown that the overall retention rate of African Americans within college has progressively increased, few studies have specifically focused on the African American male student within a predominantly white university. Michael J. Cuyjet explains in his book, "Helping African American Men Succeed in College", that African American males are different from females in several different categories that include course learning, exposure to campus activites, use of student unions, involvement in clubs and organizations, etc (Cuyjet, Chapt. 1). The goal of this research study is to find out exactly what the retention rate of African American males in white universities is, and what explicit and implicit factors impact the overall impact the retention rate. We will conduct a research design that will consider the multiple factors within retention rates and develop a quantitative metholodgy to measure the factors contributing to African American male retention rates."
Tags: higher, education, African-American, males, academic, success, university