Human resources management at Foxconn - 2 Essay

Human resources management at Foxconn - 2 - Essay Example It has been estimated that Foxconn currently supplies nearly forty percent of all electronic components required worldwide (Duhigg & Bradsher, 2012). Additionally, Foxconn generates a revenue of around 3.5 billion USD each year and employs around 1.2 million people worldwide, making it the single largest global employer (Business Week, 2013). In recent years Foxconn’s employment practices have come under intense scrutiny given a number of untoward incidents with Foxconn employees. The suicide rate in Foxconn workers shot up following 2010 in China while there was an intense riot in the Mexican manufacturing plant (Daily Mail, 2006). Human Resource Management (HRM) Issues and Solutions HRM Problems Foxconn has been blamed for providing workers with low compensation compared to other establishments. However, it must be taken into account that Foxconn’s Chinese plants are in one of the country’s poorest regions and hence people are willing to work for the wages offe red (Daily Mail, 2006). As long as labour supply and demand economics remain unaltered, the minimum pay of the workers in Foxconn’s plants will remain the same. On another note, there have been massive complaints that Foxconn tends to skip out on overtime payments even though workers are forced to work overtime. In certain cases, Foxconn employees have not been paid wages for various reasons without much proper justification. Additionally, there have been instances where work place accidents were either ignored outright or paid little attention to (Williams, 2012). This indicates that management attitudes towards safety are relatively low if not lax altogether. There have also been allegations that work place accidents are common at Foxconn manufacturing plants and often such accidents go unreported. HRM Solutions A number of different HRM solutions can be presented in order to deal with Foxconn’s current problems. This paper will limit its focus to Goleman’s Em otional Intelligence model and the Managerial Grid model in order to solicit solutions for Foxconn’s employment problems. Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence Goleman (1998) has declared that emotional intelligence is essentially the â€Å"sine qua non† of any leadership mechanism (Goleman, 1998). Emotional intelligence can be seen as the ability to recognise, evaluate and manipulate the emotions and emotional states of oneself and of other individuals. Goleman’s model (1998) asserts that a leader needs to be able to identify emotional symptoms in order to manipulate the worker to submit to the leader’s settled direction. However, it must be kept in mind that Goleman’s model (1998) has come under intense scrutiny on a number of different accounts and needs to be evaluated accordingly to provide solutions for Foxconn’s problems. For one thing, Goleman’s model (1998) has been criticised for being too qualitative in nature and of bein g unfounded through actual HRM practice. Goleman’s model (1998) and its derivatives do boast of quantitative tools such as the Emotional Competency Inventory (ECI) and the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI) but the use of such tools has not been approved of except in academic circles (Bradberry & Greaves, 2009). The application of Goleman’s model and its derivatives to the world’s largest private employer, Foxconn, would make little sense as

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES - Essay Example It turns employees into expert specialists since there is division of labor. However, it also has its weaknesses since people in this structure tend to approve all type of communication as they pass all hierarchies. If the hierarchy is rigid, there is lack of autonomy since hire-ups are required to approve decisions and they may be far from the customer. Ferreira (2009) suggests that there may arise interdepartmental rivalry as they grow in size and this may result in favoritism that benefits departments and not the institutions. Uher (2009) explains that the concept of boundaryless organization has had an impact in the global world since they are not limited to vertical, horizontal, or external boundaries that are usually predetermined. The cross functional teams dissolves their horizontal barriers and the external alliances transcend the firm boundaries together with their relationships. This enables the company to respond fast to environmental changes and be able to spearhead innovation .This boundaryless environments are found in learning organizations where teams self organize and create an environment where knowledge is easily shared in effective

Letter to the President of a Fast Food Chain Essay Example for Free

Letter to the President of a Fast Food Chain Essay In a recent article from CBS News, it was found out that the percentage of obesity in United States has risen to alarming levels. What is frightening about this statistics is that nearly one third of children in the US aged 4-19 consume six extra pounds every year which jeopardizes their health by making them vulnerable to obesity (Holguin 2003). This is no wonder considering the fact that billions of dollars are allocated to the ludicrous amount of fast food advertising and ubiquitous franchises that virtually leaves the public saturated with high-calorie and low-fiber diet. I am writing to you to explain how detrimental it is for children to consume abnormal amounts of fast food, so that in your capacity as president of a leading fast food chain, you can consider this information and alter the way your products are produced and marketed. It is true that food intake is a matter of individual responsibility. However, in case of children, marketing plays a powerful part in controlling their choices. One of the biggest culprits that make fast food so appealing to children is the marketing of meals with toys. The idea behind associating fast food with toys is to attract a bigger slice of the market since kids would usually be accompanied by their families when they go out to get burger, fries and the latest toy craze. The motto of fast food marketing is to attract kids with â€Å"toys, toys, toys† (Schlosser 2001, 46). Even the facilities and playground section in most fast food chains seem to be a part of marketing this unhealthy food. Advertising, of course, would not reveal how unhealthy the meals that come with the toys are. The high calorie content of these meals comes from heavy frying and large amounts of sugar that appeal to the taste buds of children. Studies show that babies prefer the sweet taste and reject the bitter ones (Schlosser 2001). As such, fast food meals become â€Å"comfort foods† for children because of the addicting experience they have when they consume it (Schlosser 2001, 123). Another problem in preparation of meals in fast food restaurants is the use of hydrogenated oil for frying (Gosline 2006). Hydrogenated oil or trans-fats are hazardous because they increase the risk of heart attack (Gosline 2006). Obesity is another outcome of a steady consumption of high-calorie diet. Although companies promote exercise and having an active lifestyle, these are no compensation for consuming more than the required calories for a day. Obesity is not the final result of a high-calorie diet because it branches out and causes myriad of other health problems including diabetes which attack body systems making it susceptible to host of other diseases and organ failures. Presently, the media, specifically producers of eye-opening documentaries and books, and policy-makers are making efforts to inform the public of the hazards of fast food. These efforts are meant to protect our children from developing unhealthy habits and eventually developing body malfunctions. It is my advocacy that people, including those who are involved the industry of fast food, are informed of the repercussions of unchecked, unbalanced and irresponsible production and consumption of this modern day health hazard. Only through information can we be aware of the dangers that we have been so accustomed to patronize. Sincerely yours, [author] References Gosline, A. (2006). â€Å"Why fast foods are bad, even in moderation. † News Scientist Health. Retrieved 25 January 2009 from http://www. newscientist. com/article/dn9318. Holguin, J. (2003). â€Å"Fast Food linked to Child Obesity. † CBS News. Retrieved 25 January 2009 from http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325. shtml. Schlosser, E. (2001). Fast Food Nation The dark side of the all-american meal. NY: Hughton Mifflin

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2. What were weaknesses of the Weimar Republic? How did different political groups seek to remedy these weaknesses? The Treaty of Versailles, which put an end to World War I, caused a number of positive and negative outcomes in Germany. Germany was in need of a democratic government in order to meet the harsh provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. Established by members from the Social Democrat Party in 1919, the Weimar Republic became the central power in Germany for the following years. The republic was found in the city of Weimar and was a replacement, so to say, for the imperial government that had previously stood as the central authority. Even though the Weimar Republic managed to lead Germany for 15 years, it experienced devastating drawbacks such as hyperinflation, lack of support from the public, and the constant efforts from different groups to overthrow the government; because of these factors, different political groups sought a resolution, such as overthrowing the government and pushing for a strong leader. Severe economic problems arose in Germany essentially due to the punitive provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. â€Å"The German government began to print money to pay its bills.† (McKay, 872). In order to make up for the massive debt and reparations connected to the Treaty of Versailles, the government started to print loads of money. The influx of money across Germany due to newly printed bills caused prices to rise. Money became rather worthless with an abundance of it, which hurt many people’s incomes. Hyperinflation soon occurred, which put the economy in a weak position and further contributed to the downfall of the Weimar Republic. Many resented the government because of its agreement to the ... ..., Lativia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Russia, Romania, and Yugoslavia. 4.) How were the principles of national self-determination applied to the redrawing of Europe after the war and why didn't this theory work in practice? The map of Europe was redrawn after World War I such that the countries that desired independence had their own self-governing nation. This caused the German Empire, for instance, to grow smaller and not encompass the small countries that had previously been a part of the empire. Although these territorial changes were seemingly beneficial to some, they ultimately did not work in practice for various reasons. The countries that achieved independence were not successful for reasons such as their failure to establish diplomatic relations with other countries and weak infrastructure; these reasons combined resulted in a weak country.

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The younger generation now is quite sensitive to issues regarding their physical characteristics. Issues such as ones’ body weight have been of serious concern. School administrators are worried that students might neglect their health; hence, an inquiry into the common eating habits is accomplished. Employing the case study paradigm; this quantitative study is focus on understanding the factors influencing the students’ eating habits. A total of 207 students of a technical vocational university in Taiwan participated in the study. Survey includes common eating habits; more specifically on the types and frequency of the food the students’ eat. The Big Five Personality Scale is also administered to further understand the factors affecting the students’ eating habits. Results show that the students’ eating habits are affected by their various background demographics, such as gender, year level, study session, and personality. More importantly, results also show that the Applied Foreign Language students scored highest on the personality trait openness. Further additional implications on the Big Five Personality are also given. In sum, the current study provides the opportunity of opening up discussions explaining; perhaps not in whole, but in part why students act the way they are today. 1. Introduction In recent years, the public in general have been valuing outward appearance more and more each day. As we read from the new, the number of people undergoing plastic surgery is at the all-time high. Beauty products have been getting better sales, even during these hard economic times [1]. It seems that people cares so much on their outward appearance than their budget. In an educational setting, many have wondered why students... ... signifies that when the frequency for eating dessert increases, Conscientiousness decreases. 5. Conclusion The current study exemplifies the use of the Big Five Personality scale to understand EFL students’ eating habits. This case study, though limited to the sample coming from a science and technology university, shows that students are more geared towards healthy lifestyles. As shown in the results that the frequency for eating breakfast is quite high (five times a week). Furthermore, students who are more Conscientious refrain from eating desserts (sweets). While eating out is much dependent on their employment status. In sum, individuals’ eating habits would be much related to their background demographics. Hence, it is recommended that students should know the consequences of both good and bad eating habits; for ultimately, you are what and how you eat.

Costal Features Along Maracas Bay

Tides often determine the range over which sediment is deposited or eroded. Areas with high tidal ranges allow waves to reach farther up the shore, and areas with lower tidal ranges produce deprossosition at a smaller elevation interval. The tidal range is influenced by the size and shape of the coastline. Tides do not typically cause erosion by themselves; however, tidal bores can erode as the waves surge up river estuaries from the ocean. [3] Waves erode coastline as they break on shore releasing their energy; the larger the wave the more energy it releases and the more sediment it moves.Coastlines with longer shores have more room for the waves to disperse their energy, while coasts with cliffs and short shore faces give little room for the wave energy to be dispersed. In these areas the wave energy breaking against the cliffs is higher, and air and water are compressed into cracks in the rock, forcing the rock apart, breaking it down. Sediment deposited by waves comes from eroded cliff faces and is moved along the coastline by the waves. This forms an abrasion or cliffed coast. Sediment deposited by rivers is the dominant influence on the amount of sediment located on a coastline. 4] Today riverine deposition at the coast is often blocked by dams and other human regulatory devices, which remove the sediment from the stream by causing it to be deposited inland. Like the ocean which shapes them, coasts are a dynamic environment with constant change. The Earth's natural processes, particularly sea level rises, waves and various weather phenomena, have resulted in the erosion, accretion and reshaping of coasts as well as flooding and creation of continental shelves and drowned river valleys

Gender equality

Gender equality Tyrone Cloyd Baltimore, MD Gender equality has been a social concern since man step foot on earth. When we think of gender equality discrimination against women is what comes to mind, but in recent years psychologist and sociologist have began to study how men are discriminated against. It is considered general knowledge that men still make more money a year then women, and it is true that men hold most of the position of power in society. Recent studies have concluded that there is an aspect of society that discriminates against men. This aspect of society is deeply rooted in the American culture, and it is hard to name, to discuses, and to study. Gender roles for men, then are viewed not as biological givens, but as social constructions created from the expectations of social forces such as parents, teachers, peers, and the media about what constitute masculinity {(Pleck, 1995) Mahalik 1998}."The world turned upside down" (gender-role revers...Men are socialized to believe in the i mportance of success, power, and competitiveness. Because the male socialization experience is theorized to create negative feelings such as anxiety and shame related to all things feminine, the development of rigid traditional male roles, or male gender role conflict {(O'Neil, Helms, Gable, David, Wrightsman, 1986) Mahalik 1998}.Looking at male emotional socialization from the framework of the gender role strain paradigm, many boys are required to block their feelings and restrict the expression of their vulnerable and caring emotions {(Levant) Mahalik 1998}. Because of this, "a man experiences any particular facet of self that he considers feminine with great conflict and anxiety, because he believes it threatens his manhood" (Mahalik, Cournoyer, Defranc, Cherry, and Napolitano 1998). As a result of this fear of femininity, men are believed to over conform to traditional male roles as a coping strategy to avoid...