Human resource management ( HRM in spain) Essay

Human resource management ( HRM in spain) - Essay Example For instance, Anglo-Saxons consider management ability depending on interpersonal skills, while the French consider the most intellectual individuals as the best managers. On the other hand, Germans argue that good management is a function of formal authority (Valle, Martin, and Romero, 2001:249). In this regard therefore, it is evident that organizations all over the world are adopting global practices, but in many cases, they do so in nation-specific ways. Based on the General Motors case study in Spain, this paper seeks to provide a report on the international human resource management in Spain. The report covers the institutional context that influence human resource practices in that country, essentially focusing on the laws, employer organizations, trade unions, training an education system, and other relevant issues (Ferner, Quintanilla, and Varul, M.Z. 2001:116). Moreover, the report covers the current human resource management trend in the country based on relevant case stud ies. Overview of Spain Based on Hofstede analysis, Spain ranks high in uncertainty avoidance and low in masculinity score. This results from the Spaniards feelings concerning career security, rules, and regulation. The Spanish history in relation to human resource management traces back to the second half of the twentieth century. It is not after the death of General Franco and the subsequent collapse of his regime did the economy of Spain come into focus. The Spaniards looked upon their leader to lead then to democracy and the European Union. In those times, only a fraction of the labor market had employment. According to statistics, the levels of unemployment reached record highs in 1965, skyrocketing to about 38.5% (Perllow and Weeks, 2002:347). In the 80’s however, the levels reduced by about 5% to stand at 33.5%. Comparing these levels to other European states, Spain had the lowest level of employed women, accounting for only 18% of the entire women population in the cou ntry. Italy had an average of 25% and between 30% and 40% in northern Europe. PESTLE Analysis of Spain Political Spain adapts a kingdom type of state. The country has a constitutional monarchy primarily based on parliament democracy. Moreover, power is highly decentralized, with autonomous communities having a high legislative level. Furthermore, the country enjoys a fiscal and executive autonomy. After the restoration of political democracy in 1975 following the death of General Franco, the country has generally displayed stable leadership and democracy (Combs and Luthans, 2007:111). Economical The Spanish economy was already recording significant recovery by 2004 from the financial crisis, recording a 2.4% growth. This was 2% higher than the previous year and 7% higher than the recorded levels in 2002. According to statistics, the highest unemployment record in recent times was that of 2000, but dropped to about 10.8% in 2004. Additionally, overall employment rate grew by 1.6%, wi th unemployment levels dropping by 3.5%. Spain seeks to promote employment in line with the European Union Directives. Nonetheless, the European Union directive merely present a framework for guiding human resource practices, but does not offer maximum protection to the equality and rights of employees in the work place (Lam, Chen and Schaubroeck, 2002:907). The local legislation that currently exist act as the

Dreams and its Interpretation Essay Example for Free

Dreams and its Interpretation Essay We have always been fascinated with dreams. Numerous theories on the subject have been proposed since the early Greek period attempting to explain the nature and purpose of dreams. During the ancient times, dreams are believed to be inspiration from the gods. That it, the gods uses dreams to communicate their messages and their warnings. The Scripture alone has a large amount of anecdotes expressing the Christian belief on dreams and these beliefs differ on a very little scale with that of the beliefs of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians (Brill, 1922). Passing on from the ancient times, beliefs regarding the nature of dreams have varied little in terms of its religious aspect. But it was not until the late nineteenth century that psychology began to offer a new insight on the subject of dreams. It would be an enormous feat to discuss the various theories regarding dreams and its analysis and interpretation but perhaps it is more than helpful to discuss first the dream process before attempting to look at its analysis and interpretation. According to Auld, Hyman, and Rudzinski (2005), â€Å"the dream gives expression to unconscious forces in a much more direct way than other mental contents do† (p. 185). As it is, dreams only happen when one is asleep. When asleep, the sleeper/dreamer stops actions directed toward the outside world allowing some thoughts and feelings penetrate the mind more freely than when the dreamer is awake. These thoughts and feelings now constitute the dream content. Most dream contents consist of the dreamer’s memories of events of his waking life, usually experiences of the day preceding the dream and conflicts from early childhood that are repressed, and therefore unconscious even in sleep. Dreams become an instrument for the expression and fulfilment for these unconscious conflicts (Auld, Hyman, Rudzinski, 2005). However, these unconscious conflicts and preconscious day residues are not just simply represented into dreams. The dreamer first translates these thoughts and memories into visual images which are then represented by a series of images as they enter the dreamer’s consciousness. The dreamer remembers and reports verbally this series of images. This report is called the manifest dream while the psychological structure from which the manifest dream was developed is called the latent dream. Freud calls this process as the dream-work (the changing of the latent dream into the manifest dream) (Freud, 1920). Freud explains that to be able to interpret the dream, that is, to fully recover the latent dream thoughts as fully as possible, one must get the dreamer to give association to each element of the manifest dream (this is what is called the free-association). He further explains that the manifest dream is a distorted version of the latent dream, not only because thoughts and feelings had to be translated into visual imagery but also because repressive forces of the personality were active and brought about a disguising and censoring transformation material. Freud referred to this as censorship. Other psychological operations involved in the dream-work are condensation, symbolism, dramatization, and secondary revision. In condensation, a single image in the manifest dream can represent several images in the latent dream. Manifest dreams are often represented through symbolism, wherein the elements present in the manifest dream represent the elements present in the latent dream. Dramatization refers to the manner in which the dreamer’s thoughts and feelings are represented through concrete pictorial representations. Finally, the dream elements that are contradictory and of disparate origin, are rearranged in its final manifest form comprehensible to the dreamer. This is referred to as the secondary revision. Once understood, these psychological operations can aid in the interpretation of dreams (Alperin, 2004). REFERENCES: Alperin, R. M. (2004). Toward an integrated understanding of dreams. Clinical Social Work Journal, 32(4), 451-469. Auld, F. , Hyman, M. , Rudzinski, D. (2005). Resolution of inner conflict: An introduction to psychoanalytic therapy (2nd ed. ). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Brill, A. A. (1922). Psychanalysis: Its theories and practical application. London: WB Saunders Co. Freud, S. (1920). A general introduction to psychoanalysis. New York: Horace Liveright.

Major Functions Of The Skin

Major Functions Of The Skin The skin is the largest organ of the body. Measuring between 1.5 and 2.0 square metres in an adult, it forms an extensive contact area with the environment. This contact presents a variety of important challenges, which the skin must meet in order to protect the body. It also provides important opportunities, which the skin uses to maintain homeostasis. Consider the challenges and opportunities posed by contact with the environment and relate them to the major functions of the skin. The integumentary system, consisting of skin, hair and nails, act as a barrier to protect the body from the environment.   Some challenges and opportunities posed to the skin by the environments are; exposure to sunlight/UV Rays, bacteria, mechanical damage, chemical damage and thermal damage. The integumentary system acts as a barrier in three ways: a chemical barrier, a physical barrier and a biological barrier. The integumentary system works with the immune system to create a biological barrier. Specialized cells in the skin find and destroy foreign bacteria. A physical barrier consists of hard, keratinized cells in the nails, skin and hair. These cells especially in skin and nails help protect the internal organs and blood system from external environmental factors. Hair helps to minimalise insects from crawling on the skin, protect the scalp from physical trauma and regulate heat. A chemical barrier is also due to skin. The skin has sweat glands which secrete substances onto the skin that stop the reproduction of bacteria. The skin also produces melanin which acts to protect ultraviolet rays from the sun however despite melanins protective factors excessive sun exposure will eventually damage the skin. 2 Explain how the structures of the skin contribute to its functions. 35% 437.5 Answer The skin is the largest organ in the integumentary system and has 2 major components: the cutaneous membrane or skin and the accessory structures. The cutaneous membrane has 2 components: the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the outer layer of the  skin and the dermis is a layer of  skin  between the  epidermis  and  subcutaneous tissues. The accessory structures consists of hair, nails and multicellular exocrine glands. The epidermis consists of 5 layers; the stratum basale, spinosum, granulosum, lucidum and corneum. The Stratum basale is the outer layer of skin, the  stratum spinosum  is a layer of the  epidermis  found between the  stratum granulosum  and  stratum basale.[1]   This layer helps to prevent dehydration, the  stratum granulosum  is the layer between the  stratum lucidum  and  stratum spinosum, the  stratum lucidum  is a thin, clear layer of dead skin cells. It is found only in areas of thick skin, most noticeably on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet and finally the  stratum corneum  is the outermost layer and is filled with keratin, which is made up of dead cells. The dermis is responsible for the strength of skin. Its main functions are to regulate temperature and to supply the epidermis with nutrient-saturated blood. Much of the bodys water supply is stored within the dermis.  The dermis contains most of the skins specialized cells and structures, including: Blood vessels, lymph vessels, hair  follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous, or oil, glands, nerve endings, collagen  and  elastin. The dermis layer is made up of two sublayers, the papillary layer, which contains a thin arrangement of collagen fibers. The papillary layer supplies nutrients to select layers of the epidermis and regulates temperature. The second is the reticular layer which is thicker and made of thick collagen fibers that are arranged in parallel to the surface of the skin. The reticular layer strengthens the skin, providing structure and elasticity. A layer of tissue that lies immediately below the dermis is the hypodermis or subcutaneous tissue. The hypodermis consists primarily of loose  connective tissue  and lobules of fat and acts as an energy reserve. It contains larger  blood vessels  and nerves  than those found in the dermis.  The hypodermis contains: elastic fibers, fibrous bands, fat, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, hair follicle roots, nerves and muscle. The skin includes the following functions; protection, sensation, heat regulation, control of evaporation, storage and synthesis, absorption, water resistance. The structures of the skin all work together to maintain the important functions. 3 You are exercising on a hot day. Explain two ways in which the integumentary system acts to preserve homeostasis 20% 250 Answer Two ways in which the integumentary system acts to preserve homeostasis are sweating and vasodilation. Homeostasis is a term for your bodys ability to regulate your internal state, and sweating is an example of this. If your body  temperature gets too high, one of the homeostatic mechanisms used to bring your temp back to normal is sweating. Eccrine sweat glands are the major sweat glands of the human body, found in virtually all skin. Sweat is clear secretion that is primarily water and salt (sodium chloride). Sweat reaches the skin via a duct that opens externally as a funnel shaped pore. Eccrine sweat glands are a highly efficient part of the heat regulating system, they are supplied with nerve endings that cause them to secrete sweat when the bodys temperature gets too high. When sweat evaporates off the skins surface it takes body heat with it. On a hot day you could lose up to 7 litres of body water. Another way the integumentary system acts to preserve homeostasis is vasodilation. Blood vessels supplying blood to the skin can swell or dilate called vasodilation. This causes more heat to be carried by the blood to the skin, where it can be lost to the air however if the external environment is as hot as or hotter than the body the only way to release heat is through evaporation of perspiration. This is an efficient source of heat loss as long as the air is dry, if it is humid evaporation occurs at a much slower rate leaving the person hot and irritated. When the body cools down the hypothalamus through the autonomic nervous system tells the heat loss centre to switch off. 4 Indicate how ageing affects the skin and explain how these changes affect its normal function. 15% Answer As people age their epidermal cell replacement slows therefore the skin begins to thin resulting in an increase of bruising and other types of injury. The lubricating substances provided by the skin glands that provides young looking and soft skin start to become less efficient, resulting in dry itchy skin. Elastic fibers and collagen fibers become fewer and stiffer so the skin has much less elasticity resulting in wrinkles. The decrease in numbers of melanocytes and langerhans cells produced can enhance the risk of skin cancer in older age, especially if alot of ultraviolet rays are absorbed. UV rays are a major contribution to the rapidity of skins aging. Over time, the suns rays damage certain fibers in the skin called elastin. The breakdown of elastin fibers causes the skin to sag and take longer to heal. Ageing also affects things below the skin; loss of fat below the skin may result in loosening skin, bone loss after the age of 60 can cause puckering of the skin around the mouth, cartilage loss in the nose causes drooping of the nasal tip. Smokers also tend to have more wrinkles than non-smokers of the same age. Skin changes associated with ageing pose particular problems for nurses caring for elderly people. 5 Outline the nursing principles involved in skin care in the elderly. 15% Answer Elderly patients are prone to skin tears, ulcers, abrasions, irritation and infection especially if they are diabetic. If proper skin care is not adhered to, it can result in sores, dry/painful skin and even gangrene. When an elderly patient is bathing the temperature of the water should be warm rather than hot as elderly peoples skin does not contain as much oil as it once did, if all the oil is washed away, their skin is more susceptible to breaking, which can lead to infection. A mild soap should always be used as it is not harsh on their skin and helps prevent it from becoming dry. Due to the loss of natural oils in the skin, it is necessary to apply a moisturizing lotion after a bath and multiple times through the day. Using a moisturizer helps reduce the itchiness, and the likelihood of infection. It is not uncommon for some elderly patients to be confined to their bed 24 hours a day. This is when skin care is vital, especially if they are incontinent of bowel and bladder, washing and drying the area regularly can reduce the risk of a fungal infection forming. Elderly skin must be observed regularly to check for changes such as moles. MARK SHEET. Workbook 3 Integumentary system Question Marks out of 100 Marks Awarded 1st marker 2nd marker Agreed 1 15 2 35 3 20 4 15 5 15 Total 100 Final Agreed Mark Workbook 1 Workbook 2 Workbook 3 Final Percentage

Comparing the Supernatural in William Shakespeares Hamlet and Macbeth

Comparing the Supernatural in William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Macbeth  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   In the time of William Shakespeare there was a strong belief in the existence of the supernatural. Therefore, the supernatural is a recurring theme in many of Shakespeare's plays. In two such plays, Hamlet and Macbeth, the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of the plot. It provides a catalyst for action, an insight into character, and an augmentation of the impact of many key scenes. The supernatural appears to the audience in many varied forms. In Hamlet there appears perhaps the most notable of the supernatural forms, the ghost. However, in Macbeth, not only does a ghost appear, but also a floating dagger, witches, and prophetic apparitions also make appearances. The role of the supernatural is very important in both Hamlet and Macbeth. A ghost, in the form of Hamlet's father, makes several visitations in the play. It first appears to the watchmen, Marcellus and Bernardo, along with Horatio near the guardsmen's post. The ghost, though silent causes them a little anxiety, "It harrows me with fear and wonder"(I.i.53). It is not until the appearance of Hamlet that the ghost speaks, and only then after Horatio has expressed his fears about Hamlet following it, "What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, or to the dreadful summit of the cliff"(I.iv.76-77). The conversation between the ghost and Hamlet serves as a catalyst for Hamlet's later actions and provides insight into Hamlet's character. The information the ghost reveals incites Hamlet to action against a situation with which he was already uncomfortable, and now is even more so. Hamlet is not quick to believe the ghost, "The spirit that I have seen may be ... ...e supernatural provides a catalyst for action by the characters. It supplies insight into the major players and it augments the impact of many key scenes. The supernatural appeals to the audience's curiosity of the mysterious and thus strengthens their interest. Works Cited Curry, Walter. Supernatural in Hamlet and Macbeth. London: Mass Peter Smith, 1968. Epstein, Norrie, The Friendly Shakepeare, New York, Viking Publishing, 1993. Magill, Masterplots- Volume 6, New Jersey, Salem Press, 1949. Schlegel, August Wilhelm.   Criticism on Shakespeare s Tragedies . A Course   Ã‚  of Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature. London: AMS Press, Inc., 1965.  Ã‚   Shakespeare, William.   Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul  Ã‚   Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wills, Gary. Witches & Jesuits. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995.   

Patriots, Loyalist, and the Neutral Ones Stuck in the Middle

Patriots, Loyalist, and the Neutral Ones Stuck in the Middle Today’s America is known for many things; however, one of the things it is notorious for is being a free country. Becoming a free country did not come without many trials and tribulations. The freedom that the American people now have grown so accustomed to started with fierce opposition not only from Britain, but from many of the Englishmen who lived in American colonies. The people that supported Britain throughout the American Revolution are referred to as Loyalists.On the other side of the spectrum, the people that strongly opposed Britain’s rule and King George III are known as Patriots. Patriots fought against the acts that Britain wanted to enforce and believed the colonies should have independence from Britain. Last there were the people who were neutral. While the Patriots and Loyalists were large in numbers, those in the neutral party were the minority, often suffering hardship due to their stance.Al though the Patriots found unity in the beliefs they held towards Britain, they were a blend of people from many different backgrounds. Patriots were a blended group of people from different social classes, from farmers to lawyers. They did not all share the same education level or common interests. The Patriot party was not fueled by people who were seeking their own power just for the purpose of being free. They were a group of people who felt like Britain was unjust in their tactics of rule. During, and immediately after the military conflict, a ferment of ideas — argued and discussed by an assemblage of remarkable men whose likes have rarely been seen — produced an innovative combination of republicanism and federalism that would serve as a model form of government for humankind, offering fresh political opportunities. † (Cowley and Parker 2001) The Patriots were against what they felt was unfair taxation, which was the beginning foundation of â€Å"no taxati on without representation. Some Patriots felt that loyalty should still be in place towards King George III; however like those who didn’t express similar loyalties, they felt â€Å"that taxes should be regulated by their own legislatures, not by members of Parliament in Great Britain. † (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2011) One of their base core values was liberty. However the liberties they wanted or already had experienced, had been threatened by the Britain’s greed. They opposed being held to rules that were not put in place by the population majority.They felt it was only just that the people in the colonies have rules and regulations that they set instead of following everything that Britain desired. Patriots had an overall want for a common good. The poor people would not be held to things the rich would put in place, instead the people of the colonies would find a common unity to benefit all of its inhabitants. Loyalists were a party of people that would clo sely identify with today’s slogan â€Å"if it isn’t broke, why fix it†. Everyone living in the colonies had adhered to the rules and regulations set forth in Britain before and in their eyes, change was not necessary.Many lacked the desire to rear against a country with so much power. Unlike the Loyalists opposing group, the demographics were much more similar in those that followed the King. Money was a common factor for them and so was the responsibility of being a business owner. Many business owners had links to Britain that tied their livelihood in America to their loyalties they expressed for Britain. Many Loyalists had ties to Britain’s upper-class through marriage and other family. All factors that can solidify the stance many Loyalists chose.They also feared the upheaval that could arise without being under the control of Britain. They had no way of knowing their families would be safe or that their businesses would not be destroyed. They had no reason to be confident there worries might be unjustified when the Patriots resorted to violence. Britain wasn’t only safe because change is hard; Britain was safe because of the orderliness that they maintained. Loyalists also felt it was a moral issue to not be loyal to King George III.In their eyes, they did not have the power to choose and side when their moral beliefs told them their only option was to be loyal to the crown. Finally there was the group that did not take a solid stance on either side of the debate. The neutral party was not necessarily the easier side to be on though. They tried to keep more to themselves and not be as active as others did. They tried to maintain a low profile and stay out of the way. However, by not choosing to be on one side or the other they were looked at poorly by both Patriots and Loyalists.They continued business with Britain, and followed their own protocol they deemed appropriate for themselves. â€Å"Men of good will simply sho uld not rob and butcher one another, they believed, and many felt that the correct stance was to refrain if at all possible from any form of participation. † (Fellman 1990) Note that â€Å"if at all possible† was not always permitted. â€Å"Nearly half of all colonists did not want to take sides. They wanted to remain neutral in the conflict between the British and the Patriots. But they were forced to choose sided once the war began. (Todd 2001) Everyone living in the American colonies during the war felt the effects. Though not all wanted to be involved, nor did many feel the need to participate, it was unavoidable. Men, women, and children shed blood; there was no one who was not impacted. Being a Patriot, Loyalist, or a neutral party was based on differences varying from monetary and social class, right down to fear of change; however, there was no difference when comparing the high emotion and the impact experienced during the American War.Works Cited Cowley, Robe rt, and Geoffrey Parker. Reader's Companion to Military History. Wilmington: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001. Fellman, Michael. Inside War: The Guerrilla Conflict in Missouri During the American Civil War. Oxford University Press, 1990. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2011. http://www. hmheducation. com/fl/pdf/resources/Grade5/T-5-1_SFLETG713311_TGL08. pdf (accessed September 14, 2012). Todd, Anne M. The Revolutionary War. Capstone, 2001.

Freeman Example

Freeman Example Freeman – Case Study Example Freeman Case-Study The market theory of capitalism, suggested by Milton Friedman majorly presents an opportunity for private ownership of resources. It refers to a state where new owners and firms are at liberty to inject additional funds in the economy with the intended purpose of actualizing new ideas. This theory has often been celebrated as it provides freedom and dynamism for investors because they have the independence to make their own decisions regarding the projects they are to support. Similarly, the theory has been credited because it supports innovation within the economy (Hill et.al 158). The market theory of capitalism on the other hand has been criticized on the basis that it comes with a lot of instability. The instability is in regard to the event that capitalism, if not properly handled can bring about a financial crisis, resulting in job insecurity and slump in the economy. In like manner, the theory has received disapproval for its tendency to favor the wealthy, w hile bringing continuous suffering to the financially disadvantaged within the society. The stakeholder’s framework of business takes into consideration the fact that stakeholders play a very critical role in the success of any project and the administration of any organization. In this regard, it is of great significance for a business to first identify its stakeholders as well as their key interests or issues that they want sorted. Similarly, a business should assess its prevailing status and the roles that are to be played by each of the stakeholders. Adam Smith’s free market economic theory brings in a new perspective, arguing that a market with several buyers and sellers will ensure that resources are not wastefully allocated. Similarly, it recognizes that for the earnings of one party to increase, then the other party must have a reduction in earnings. Works-CitedHill, Ronald P, and Ryan Langan. Handbook of Research on Marketing and Corporate Social Responsi bility. , 2014. Internet resource.