Employee Engagement and Employee Voice (Contemporary HRM Research) Essay

Employee Engagement and Employee Voice (Contemporary HRM Research) - Essay Example The role of employee voice in employee issues therefore very important in the operation of human resource management units since it has a significant influence on employee performance, employee views and also regulates the relationship between employers and employees. This paper examines the concept of 'employee voice'. It attempts to identify what that concept actually is and how it has evolved over the past 60 years The research then goes on to examine the position of employee voice after the Second World War and how it has evolved to this day. It will examine key concepts and ideas that define the phenomenon. Also, the research discusses the role of employee engagement in organisations. This is done from two perspectives. The first is the position of employers and the facades within which they deal with employee demands. The second is how the organization and the human resource department specifically, deals with employee voice. Finally, the paper will focus on the role of employe e relationships and how it affects the strategic position of organisations. It will be done by examining the business case of employee relations and how it is integrated into the communication plan of organisations. Employee Voice â€Å"For working purpose, we define voice as the expression of ideas, information, opinions and concerns as well as silence, such as withholding† (Greenberg & Edwards, 2009 p4). This means that voice refers to communication in the wider sense. There is no clearcut definition of employee voice. However, using this preamble, we can say that voice refers to the kind of feedback or message that employees give or seek to give to their employers in the workplace. From another perspective, this also means that where employees refuse to communicate or make any demands, it can also be viewed as some kind of a voice. This implies that communication from employees is essential for the success of organisations around the world. Employee voice therefore takes a different connotation all together. Its scope is wider than just making demands and asking management or the owners of a business to come up with certain actions or activities. â€Å"Employee voice is the term increasingly used to cover a whole variety of processes and structures which enables and sometimes empowers employees directly or indirectly to contribute to decision-making in the firm† (Armstrong, 2008 p200). This shows that employee voice is a kind of involvement of employees in the

Ethics, Law and Health Care Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethics, Law and Health Care - Assignment Example However, there is only a female doctor in the hospital at the time and therefore Omar finds himself in a dilemma in deciding what to do. This case raises the issue of ethics in health care. The main ethical issue in the case is on whether it is ethically correct to disclose the patient’s information to his mother and the doctor without going against the rights of the patient (Sullivan, 2009). Identifying Issues The main problem in this situation is that failure to disclosure the patient’s information may mean that he will not receive prompt medical attention. The other problem is to ensure that caregivers do not contravene the rights of the patient or the provisions of the Code of Ethics. Any action taken in this case should ensure that the involvement of the patient and his family (Curtin, 2004). Furthermore, the team of caregivers should also be involved in the action chosen. To address this dilemma, Omar should refer to the Code of Ethics that specifies all the ethic al standards that nurses should adhere. The Code of Ethics also serves an indicator to the community on the standards on human rights and ethical values expected from nurses (Fleming, 2007). The issues arising in this case are entrenched in an unwritten social contract between the public and healthcare givers. The family goes to the health care to receive treatment and care and health care givers are supposed to offer satisfactory care (Fleming, 2007). Evaluating the Issue The issues in the case of Omar and Tim touch on various areas discussed in the Code of Ethics (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2008b). For one, the issue is based on the requirement to ensure that nurses offer quality care to all people. Particularly, the nurse should recognize that all patients are entitled to quality care (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2008b). According to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008), Value statement 1(2): â€Å"Nurses recognize that people are enti tled to quality nursing care and will strive to secure them the best available nursing care. In the pursuit of this aim, nurses are entitled to participate in decisions regarding a person’s nursing care and are obliged to question nursing care they regard as potentially unethical or illegal†. Consequently, the nurse should ensure that Tim receives holistic care but in making decisions, it must be able to meet the threshold of being ethical and legal. The Code of Ethics also requires that nurses ensure that patients receive quality care from colleagues and therefore Omar has a duty to ensure that Tim receives quality treatment from the doctor. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008), Value statement 1(3): â€Å"Nurses take steps to ensure that not only they, but also their colleagues, provide quality nursing care.† The other issue arising in this case discussed in the Code of Ethics is the importance of respect and kindness to self and others. Australian N ursing and Midwifery Council (2008), Value 2 (2): â€Å"Respect for people who are health consumers recognizes people who are health consumers recognize their capacity for active and informed participation in their own health. Nurses actively preserve dignity of the people through practiced kindness and recognizing the vulnerability and powerlessness of people in their care†. The way Tim is handled at the hospital can have implications on his dignity and

Subsidies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Subsidies - Essay Example Both direct and indirect payments can be part of an economic subsidy package. In the literature of economics, subsidies have been criticized for distortions and for wasting state or government resources. However, the criticisms from economics have not deterred states from providing subsidies. Some of the state or government policies may be responding to political expediency or convenience and this may be the reason why the criticisms from economics on subsidies have been failing to deter states and government from providing subsidies. Further, it is also possible that considerations other than economics have been determining state and government attitudes towards subsidies. For example, it is possible that national security can be invoked to defend a subsidy even if the literature of economics covers public goods in which issues of national security are included. Economic winners and losers in the new garbage facility. The economic winners in the subsidy include those in the supply chain of the new garbage facility. This means that the new garbage facility and their suppliers will benefit from the subsidy. Of course, the industry to which the new garbage facility will input into will also benefit from the subsidy. The economic losers in the subsidy can include the firms in the more developed part of the city. Although, the city government may not be likely exacting new payments from the said firms, it is possible that they can end up as economic losers just the same based on lost opportunities. However, they may not end up losers if the economic subsidy is just enough to compensate for the lack of profitability in the less developed area of the city. Citizens who will be living in the less developed city can be considered as winners in the subsidy because they will be able to avoid the possible discomfort without the subsidy. At the

Mcdonalds Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Mcdonalds - Scholarship Essay Example Values decide what is important in life. Norms are like unwritten laws that decide people's behaviour in different situations. Institutions are the structures while Artifacts are the materialistic forms based on values and norms. Ans. Multiculturalism is coming together of diverse cultures and thus impacting each other. Possible advantage is that the diversity provides a healthy environment for a nation or society's growth. The disadvantage is that it takes away the nation or society's identity and in turn the unity as well. Ans. Organizational culture is based on values and norms that define the goals of the organization and behaviour of people with each other. Being a closed group of people can be a constraint that forces the evolution of this culture and interactions of the people within and outside give it a shape. Ans. The cross-cultural manager may face challenges in understanding the differences in culture, find gaps in communication and confusions can be created among the employees due to inherent differences. Ans. For maximizing the benefits on group dynamics, people's communication with each other, their body language and verbal communication has to be very positive. This calls for understanding interpersonal skills. Ans. ... 7. General Communication: The importance of understanding interpersonal skills for group dynamics. Ans. For maximizing the benefits on group dynamics, people's communication with each other, their body language and verbal communication has to be very positive. This calls for understanding interpersonal skills. 8. General Communication: Does information equal communication Information is only a part of communication and can never equal communication. Communication is always a two-way thing whereas information is impersonal and one way. 9. General Communication: What does assertive interpersonal communication mean Ans. It is a behaviour that indicates authority, competence, authenticity in an honest and direct but non-aggressive way that makes the others feel equal but still have regard for the person concerned. 10. Conflict Management Skills - Should interpersonal conflicts be always avoided Ans. No, they need to be addressed if they can have a long lasting impact and may concern vital fields. When they concern trivial matters, then they may be avoided. 11. Perception Skills: Are the meanings of interpersonal communication always in words Ans. No, the body language, facial expressions, eye contact and many other non-verbal forms form an integral part of interpersonal communications. 12. Perception Skills: The importance of non-verbal communication. Ans. Non-verbal communication preceeds verbal communication as one first sees the body language and facial expression of a person before he speaks. A negative non verbal communication can negate a positive verbal communication. So, it's role is vital. 13. Perception Skills: What are the barriers to accurate perception and how perception can be improved Ans. Preconceived ideas and beliefs

World History Bringing it All Together Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

World History Bringing it All Together - Essay Example Witness, for example, the impact of gunpowder; not only its role in the early Mongol invasions of Japan, but the ripple effect it created throughout history as that technology spawned not only primary improvements in the substance itself, but also tactical warfare revolutions into the medieval baronies and even later. This is only one example of a single new technology changing society and civilization forever. Discussion 2 - Inequality. Certainly when viewed from today's perspective, the institutionalized social and gender inequality during this time is repugnant. Man's inhumanity to man has always been a shocking part of history, and the socialized stigma of being a woman, or a Jew, or a slave certainly recognized no individual human right in the modern sense. That said, however, I want to note that it was upon these unequal foundations that civilization was built. Accepting the status quo was the very mindset that allowed those enslaved by the Romans to build the empire. Without the technological development of the Romans, built on the backs of those slaves, we wouldn't have running water.

Planning and Enabling Learning Essay Example for Free

Planning and Enabling Learning Essay In this assignment I am going to explain my approach to the research I have carried out and summarise my findings. To plan and enable learning, as a trainer I must ensure that my training is student centred and inclusive to all. There are many theories and suggestions to consider how this should be done in an adult learning environment. In order to enhance my current knowledge I decided to use reference books, publications, journals and websites to research relevant topics. I also utilised my mentor as a sounding board for ideas and a point of discussion for areas I was unsure about. I reflected on my existing knowledge and my research for Unit One – Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector. I wanted to access new models and theories and link these into the context of my own teaching practice. To do this I searched the internet for reviews of reference material for planning and enabling learning, which I then purchased. I found that my research could be extensive. I had to remain focused and choose topics to explore that I found interesting and relevant to my learning environment and style of delivery. Adult learners need to take responsibility for their own learning. If learners are active in setting their own targets and understand what they need to achieve, motivation and self esteem will reassure their learning experience. Understanding methods of negotiation and inclusivity provides learners with the most appropriate experience, engages the whole group and builds a good rapport. This can be gleaned from the identification of needs as per Ecclestone (1996). I focused my research on the impact of initial assessment on the learning journey. From my experience initial assessment results are not used effectively and the process of initial assessment is usually carried out purely to comply with procedure. My experiences are confirmed by The Chief Inspector’s Report (2003). The Adult Learning Inspectorate found that ‘many providers are using a screening test but not following this up†¦. the results of the assessment are not being used to inform the ILP’ (Wilson, L, 2008, p.139). Initial assessment can have a huge impact on delivery of learning and can form the learner’s ideas, goals and highlight areas of support required. Scales (2008, p.178) states that initial assessment ‘should be handled sensitively to welcome learners in rather than scare with formal testing and assessment procedures’. I agree with this, however, the nature of the assessment will depend on the level and content of the course commenced. Some programmes require a robust assessment process to set parameters and determine suitability to join the course. Wallace (2007, p.154) describes the three key components that come together at the beginning of a programme – the teacher, the learners and the syllabus or specifications of the course. This makes complete sense. To deliver an effective programme and meet the learning outcomes the key elements must come together and crystallise. This will then inform the delivery of the overall programme. This led me to further explore my research around inclusive learning. I chose to continue down the route of motivation and the impact this has on learners. Petty (2009, p.55) noted that ‘Maslow showed that there is only one way of motivating your students. And that is to ensure that your students’ belongingness, esteem and self-actualisation needs are nourished through the learning activities you devise’. Using information from the initial assessment, such as learning needs or styles, resources need to be created and adapted to ensure learning is effective and relevant. Functional skills should be tested and developed when appropriate. In my research I focused on the practicalities of embedding these skills and reports published relating to post 16 education. In the training I deliver I can embed a variety of functional skills to allow individuals to maintain these skills and develop them further. Wilson (2008) suggested that incorporating ICT into teaching doesn’t always suit the teacher and/or learner. This can be the case with the types of sessions I deliver. Functional skills should naturally develop from a session; they can’t be forced into a session if they are inappropriate. Communication is the thread throughout a learning experience that encourages learning and development between the trainer and the learner. It is my responsibility to recognise potential barriers and utilise strategies to overcome these. This is the route I took with my research. I came across theories such as the Communication Climate (Adler et al, 1998) and Emotional Intelligence (Goleman, 1995). Again, I found a real link to negotiating with and including learners. Goleman (1995) believed that ‘if emotions and feelings are not recognised and managed by teachers and learners, then effective learning cannot occur’. My research has broadened my knowledge and understanding to take forward into the classroom. The brief I have provided only really scratches the surface from the extensive reading I carried out; however I will have the opportunity to explore these further within this unit.

Solar Cell and Solar Energy Materials

Solar Cell and Solar Energy Materials Introduction: One of the biggest challenges to mankind is highly depended on the decreasing fusil fuels such as oil, coal, natural gas. Fusil fuels are nonrenewable energy resource which usually takes million of years to form. As a result, their reserves are depleted much faster than it forms. Furthermore, the combustion of these fuels causes environmental degradation through air pollution and global warming. Combustion of carbon-based fossil fuels creates not only air pollutants, for example, sulfur oxides, nitrogen odixe and heavy metals, but also carbon di-oxide, the notorious greenhouse gas widely considered to be the number one culprit of global climate change.[1] In order to protect our environment and provide energy security, energy generated from renewable sources has been extensively studied.[2] Though it will take some decades to come close to a truly sustainable energy system, the research is being conducted to find solutions to (1) increase efficiency in production, transmission, and u tilization of the remaining fossil fuels, (2) reduce negative impacts to the environment, and (3) develop or improve technologies and infrastructure for the smooth transition to the alternative/ renewable energy sources (e.g., nuclear power, solar energy, wind power, geothermal energy, biomass and biofuels, and hydropower).[3] Among those, solar energy has many advantages such as availability and lower cost. The search and synthesis for low cost solar cell materials made of earth abundant elements has been a topic of extensive study across the globe. A brief historical background: In 1839,the photovoltaic effect was discovered by French physicist, Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel. He constructed the worlds first photovoltaic cell in his fathers laboratory at age nineteen, which was the beginning of solar energy materials technology. This experiment was done by illuminating two electrodes, which were coated by light sensitive semiconducting materials, with different types of light. He observed that electricity increases with the increase of light intensity. Then an English electrical engineer, Willoughby Smith, was discovered the photo conductivity of selenium in 1873. In 1883,Charles Fritts built the first true solar cells made from selenium wafer which is coated with a thin layer of gold. He found that the efficiency was only about 1%. In 1905, Albert Einstein published in a paper that light consists of â€Å"packets† or quanta of energy, which can be varied only with its frequency.[4] This theory was very simple, but revolutionary that explained the data of photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect was experimentally proved by an American experimental physicist, Robert Andrews Millikan, who later won the Nobel Prize for the photoelectric effect and measurement of the charge of the electron. In 1954, a single-crystal cell of germanium and a cadmium sulphide p-n junction was developed with an efficiency of 6%. Later the University of Delaware found that the efficiency exceeds 10% with the first thin film solar cell which was made of copper sulfide and cadmium sulfide in 1980. In 2007,they achieved 42.8% efficiency in solar cell technology.[5] To date, the highest 44.8% efficiencies have been achieved by using multiple junction solar cells. Solar cell: Solar cell is electrical device which converts solar radiation into electricity by photoelectric effect. It consists of two types of semiconducting materials, one is n-type and another is p-type. When these two types of materials placed with each other, it forms depletion layer at middle of these two materials. When sun light falls on the depletion layer the materials absorb photon and the electron from filled valence band excites to the unfilled conduction band, which creates a hole and electron pair. The hole goes to the p-type conductor and the electron goes to the n-type conductor. If we complete the circuit by connecting these two materials we will see there is flow of electricity. [6] Fig 1: A schematic diagram of solar cell Some important Solar cell and solar energy materials Solar cells are typically consists of semiconducting materials and these cells are named after thesemiconducting materialsthey are made of. Thesematerialsmust have certain characteristics in order to absorbsunlight. Some solar cells are designed to absorb sunlight that reaches the Earths surface, while others are constructed foruse in space. Solar cells can be made of only one layer of light absorbing semiconducting material which is called single-junction. Sometimes cells can be made of multiple layers of semiconducting materials to take advantage of wide range of absorption and charge separation mechanisms which is called multi-junction. Solar cells can be classified into three categories according to generation: The first generation cells also called traditional, conventional orwafer based cells that are made ofcrystalline silicon which includes materials such asmono-crystalline and poly-silicon silicon. Second generation cells arethin film solar cells, that includeamorphous silicon,CdTeandCIGScells and are commercially significant in utility-scale photovoltaic power stations,building integrated photovoltaicsor in smallstand alone devices. The third generation of solar cells includes a number of thin-film technologies often described as emerging photovoltaics which are not yet commercially applied and are still in the research or development phase such as perovskite solar cells and quantum dots solar cells. Crystalline silicon The most prevalent bulk material for solar cells iscrystalline silicon(c-Si), also known as solar grade silicon. Bulk silicon is separated into two categories according to crystallinity and crystal size. Mono-crystalline silicon Polycrystalline silicon In 1981, the first solar panels based on polycrystalline silicon, which also is known as polysilicon (p-Si) and multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si),was introduced to the market. Unlike monocrystalline-based solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels do not require the Czochralski process. Raw silicon is melted and poured into a square mold, which is cooled and cut into perfectly square wafers. Polysilicon cells are the most common type used in photovoltaics and are less expensive, yet less efficient than those made from monocrystalline silicon. Thin film Thin film technologies reduce the amount of active material in a cell. Most designs sandwich active material between two panes of glass. Since silicon solar panels only use one pane of glass, thin film panels are approximately twice as heavy as crystalline silicon panels, although they have a smaller ecological impact.[8]The majority of film panels have 2-3 percentage points lower conversion efficiencies than crystalline silicon. Cadmium telluride(CdTe),copper indium gallium selenide(CIGS) andamorphous silicon(a-Si) are three thin-film technologies often used for outdoor applications. CIGS technology laboratory demonstrations reached 20.4% as of December 2013. The lab efficiency of GaAs thin film technology topped 28%. Thequantum efficiencyof thin film solar cells is also lower due to reduced number of collected charge carriers per incident photon. Most recently, CZTS solar cell emerge as the less-toxic thin film solar cell technology, which achieved ~12% efficiency. Cadmium telluride Cadmium telluride is the only thin film material so far to rival crystalline silicon in cost/watt. However cadmium is a highly toxic andtelluriumsupplies are limited. Thecadmiumpresent in the cells would be toxic if released. However, release is impossible during normal operation of the cells and is unlikely during fires in residential roofs.[9]A square meter of CdTe contains approximately the same amount of Cd as a single C cellnickel-cadmium battery, in a more stable and less soluble form.[9] Copper indium gallium selenide Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) is adirect band gapmaterial. It has the highest efficiency (~20%) among all commercially significant thin film materials. Traditional methods of fabrication involve vacuum processes including co-evaporation and sputtering. Recent developments atIBMandNanosolar attempt to lower the cost by using non-vacuum solution processes. Gallium arsenide thin film The semiconductor materialGallium arsenide(GaAs) is also used for single-crystalline thin film solar cells. Although GaAs cells are very expensive, they hold the worlds record in efficiency for asingle-junctionsolar cell at 28.8%.[10]GaAs is more commonly used inmultijunction photovoltaic cellsforconcentrated photovoltaics and forsolar panels on spacecrafts, as the industry favours efficiency over cost forspace-based solar power. Perovskite solar cells The name perovskite solar cell is derived from the ABX3crystal structureof the absorber materials, which is referred to as perovskite structure. The most commonly studied perovskite absorber is methylammonium lead trihalide (CH3NH3PbX3, where X is ahalogenion such asI−,Br−,Cl−). Formamidinumlead trihalide (H2NCH3NH3PbX3) is a recently studied newer material which shows promise, with a bandgap between 2.23eV and 1.48eV. This minimum bandgap is closer to the optimal for asingle-junction cellthan methylammonium lead trihalide, so it should be capable of higher efficiencies. The efficiencies of perovskite solar cell have increased to 12.8% in 2014.[11] This increased efficiency is making them a very rapidly advancing technology and a hot topic in the solar cell field. Perovskite solar cells are also forecast to be extremely cheap to scale up, making them a very attractive option for commercialization. Quantum dots semiconductor solar cell: Quantum dots are tiny particles or nanocrystals of a semiconducting material with diameters in the range of 2-10 nanometers. Due to high surface to volume ratios for these particles, quantum dots display unique electronic properties, intermediate between those of bulk semiconductors and discrete molecules. Due to their small size, the electrons in quantum dots are confined in a small space which is called quantum box. When the radii of the semiconductor nanocrystal is smaller than the exciton Bohr radius (exciton Bohr radius is the average distance between the electron in the conduction band and the hole it leaves behind in the valence band), there is quantization of the energy levels according to Pauli’s exclusion principle (Figure 1).[12][13]The discrete, quantized energy levels of quantum dots relate them more closely to atoms than bulk materials. Generally, as the size of the crystal decreases, the difference in energy between the highest valence band and the lowest conduc tion band increases. More energy or more energy light is then needed to excite an electron from valance band to conduction band. Therefore, the properties of semiconducting materials can be tuned by changing the size of the quantum dots. By using different sized quantum dots in multi-layer junction we can absorb wide range of light. Figure 4: Splitting of energy levels in quantum dots due to the quantum confinement effect, semiconductor band gap increases with decrease in size of the nanocrystal.[12][13] Conclusion The primary energy sources: coal, oil and natural gas are fossil fuels are polluting our environment. Furthermore, these resources are quickly depleting and becoming extremely expensive day by day. Therefore, weneedtoconsiderrenewableenergysources such as solar energy, by using solar cells we cangenerate electricalpower by converting solar energy intoelectricity. Reference: Wang, Zhong Lin.Nanotechnology for the energy challenge. Ed. Javier Garcà ­a-Martà ­nez. John Wiley Sons, 2013. Hou, Yu, Ruxandra Vidu, and Pieter Stroeve. Solar energy storage methods.Industrial Engineering Chemistry Research50.15 (2011): 8954-8964. Moniz, E. J.; Garcia-Martinez, J. Nanotechnology for the Energy Challenge; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany, 2010 Einstein, Albert. The photoelectric effect.Ann. Phys17 (1905): 132. Delaware University, US, HP http://www.udel.edu/PR/ UDaily/2008/jul/solar072307 .html Li, Zhongrui, et al. Light-harvesting using high density p-type single wall carbon nanotube/n-type silicon heterojunctions.Acs Nano3.6 (2009): 1407-1414. Green, M. A. Recent developments in photovoltaics.Solar energy76.1 (2004): 3-8. Pearce, Joshua, and Andrew Lau. Net energy analysis for sustainable energy production from silicon based solar cells.ASME Solar 2002: International Solar Energy Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2002. Fthenakis, Vasilis M. Life cycle impact analysis of cadmium in CdTe PV production.Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews8.4 (2004): 303-334. Yablonovitch, E., O. D. Miller, and S. R. Kurtz. The opto-electronic physics that broke the efficiency limit in solar cells.Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2012 38th IEEE. IEEE, 2012. Qin, Peng, et al. Perovskite Solar Cells with 12.8% Efficiency by Using Conjugated Quinolizino Acridine Based Hole Transporting Material.Journal of the American Chemical Society(2014). Reimann, S. M.; Manninen, M. Reviews of Modern Physics, 2002, 74(4), 1283. Bawendi, M. C.; Steigerwald, M. L.; Brus, L. E. Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, 1990, 41, 477.