Review of GE company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Review of GE company - Case Study Example Among them, Aberdeen in Scotland, London in England, and Cardiff in Wales are the most prominent locations where the firm's offices can be found. Company's investment is not limited to any one particular sector, but the company has invested in multiple sectors. Most prominently, the company has invested in Technology Infrastructure, Energy Infrastructure, GE Capital and NBC Universal. All of these entities and subsidiaries have a significant presence in the entire United Kingdom. The company as a whole is a subsidiary of one of the largest companies of the world, General Electric. In the UK, the company is more focused in the field of Aviation and is found to be heavily involved in the work of aircraft engines. The company has two major facilities pertaining to aviation in Wales. It has two specialists overhaul and repair facilities in the notable areas of Cardiff and Prestwick. The company's recent acquisition of Smith Aerospace has made it the world leader in aviation and aerospace industry. It has achieved this position by continuously following the strategy of innovation and it was one of the major factors in making the firm as the winner firm and market leader in the aviation industry. The invention of turbojet engines was a landmark in the history of the company's continuous struggles toward innovation and coming up with "first of its type" products. The company developed some great things, but among them the turbojet engines GE90 and GEnx hold distinctive position. The company is said to be the largest supplier of engines to corporate, military and marine industries not just in the UK, but all over the world. GE, in the recent years, has also focused on operation excellence in combination with responsible leadership. These attributes are hallmark in the long history of GE's success. The company has always given special emphasis to health, safely and environment costs. The greatness of GE lies not just in identifying the problems that are prevalent in above mentioned field, but also finding the solutions to these problems. In the year 2008 alone, the company's hard work resulted in reduction in the injury and health problems of workers by 12 percent. In the very same year, the company committed and achieved reduction in wastewater exceedances by 8%, lost time rate by 7 percent, and Air exceedances by a massive 53 percent. The company has been recognized for its continued involvement in the CSR (Corporate social responsibility) and in the year 2008 alone, it received 650 external accolade, recognitions from the government and other NGO operating in the country. GE is also a worldwide partner of Olympic Games. GE has been providing some important services during these games to the organizers, athletes and participants that are very important for the successful organization of these games. In order to help the organizers to stage these events properly, GE works very closely with the organizers, local municipalities and government to deliver the best-possible solutions to the problems that may occur in staging the event. In order to depict the commitment of GE to these games and to the UK as country, GE has decided to go for GOLD in the upcoming Olympic Games in London. GE is sponsoring the Triathlon team representing the United Kingdom. GE has also worked very closely with Freightliners Limited to come up with the solution to rail road freight problems. The two companies worked tirelessly to come up with a freight

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Essay Example for Free

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Essay The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year. During four decades, the organization has been the focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade and development and related issues in the areas of investment, finance, technology, enterprise development and sustainable development. Established in 1964, UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work aims to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development. The organization works to fulfill this mandate by carrying out three key functions: * It functions as a forum for intergovernmental deliberations, supported by discussions with experts and exchanges of experience, aimed at consensus building. * It undertakes research, policy analysis and data collection for the debates of government representatives and experts. * It provides technical assistance tailored to the specific requirements of developing countries, with special attention to the needs of the least developed countries and of economies in transition. When appropriate, UNCTAD cooperates with other organizations and donor countries in the delivery of technical assistance. The first United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was held in Geneva in 1964. Given the magnitude of the problems at stake and the need to address them, the conference was institutionalized to meet every four years, with intergovernmental bodies meeting between sessions and a permanent secretariat providing the necessary substantive and logistical support. Nowadays UNCTAD has continued to play a crucial role in emphasizing the development dimension of issues in the fields of international trade and investment and related areas. In particular, UNCTAD has been addressing the imbalances of globalization and the need to overcome the supply constraints of developing countries, so as to ensure development gains and poverty reduction. This is captured in the theme of the UNCTAD XI Ministerial Conference, Enhancing coherence between national development strategies and global economic processes towards economic growth and development, particularly of developing countries. Main activities * Trade and commodities: Promotes the diversification of production and trade structures. Helps Governments to formulate and implement diversification policies and encourages enterprises to adapt their business strategies and become more competitive in the world market. * Investment, technology and enterprise development: Helps developing countries to participate more actively in international investment rule making at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. These arrangements include the organization of capacity-building seminars and regional symposia and the preparation of a series of issues papers. * Macroeconomic policies, debt and development financing: Policy analysis and research on issues concerning global economic interdependence, the international monetary and financial system, and macroeconomic and development policy challenges. * Transport, customs and information technology: Integrated customs system that speeds up customs clearance procedures and helps Governments to reform and modernize their customs procedures and management. Installed in over 80 countries. * Special Programme for Least Developed, Landlocked Developing and Small Island Developing Countries : Identifies the specific needs of these particularly vulnerable countries and tailors technical assistance to these needs. Relationship with other international organizations World Trade Organization UNCTAD and WTO have been joining forces to ensure a better functioning of the multilateral trading system. In April 2003, the organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding providing for cooperation and consultations on their technical assistance activities and for the conduct of joint studies on selected issues. UNCTAD and WTO interact frequently, and the intergovernmental processes in both organizations are often attended by the same Government representatives. International Trade Centre The ITC is jointly sponsored by UNCTAD and WTO for operational, enterprise-oriented aspects of trade development, with an emphasis on trade promotion. In contrast to UNCTAD, whose technical assistance is primarily tailored to Governments, ITC’s technical assistance focuses on assisting businesses in developing countries. Both UNCTAD and WTO are represented in the Joint Advisory Group supervising ITC’s work, and UNCTAD has a number of joint technical assistance activities with ITC.

Overview Of Hotel Marriott Tourism Essay

Overview Of Hotel Marriott Tourism Essay Marriott International, Inc.is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr. Today, Marriott International has about 3,150 lodging properties located in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International was formed in 1992 when Marriott Corporation split into two companies, Marriott International and Host Marriott Corporation. In 2002 Marriott International began a major restructuring by spinning off many Senior Living Services Communities (which is now part of Sunrise Senior Living) and Marriott Distribution Services, so that it could focus on hotel ownership and management. The changes were completed in 2003. In April 1995, Marriott International acquired a 49% interest in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC. Marriott International owned Ramada International Hotels Resorts until its sale on September 15, 2004 to Cendant. It is the first hotel chain to serve food that is completely free of Trans fats at all of its North American properties. In 2005, Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club International comprised two of the 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President George W. Bush. On July 19, 2006, Marriott announced that all lodging buildings they operate in the United States and Canada would become non-smoking beginning September 2006. The new policy includes all guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and employee work areas. Marriott International announced today the signing of four additional hotels for its portfolio in India, bringing the total to 29 properties now under construction or in planning in India. When all are opened by the end of 2013, Marriott International will have 40 hotels under management in the country; today, Marriott manages 11 hotels in India represented by five brands Marriott International will introduce its moderately-priced Courtyard by Marriott brand in Vietnam, under a management agreement announced today with CY Ham Tan Resort Limited Company.   When opened in 2012, the property will be the first high-quality, internationally-branded mid-tier hotel in the area. ORGANIZATION CULTURE: Handy suggests that we can classify organisations into a broad range of four cultures. The formation of culture will depend upon a whole host of factors including company history, ownership, organisation structure, technology, critical business incidents and environment, etc. The four cultures he discusses are Power, Role, Task and People. The purpose of the analysis is to assess the degree to which the predominant culture reflects the real needs and constraints of the organisation. Strong Culture Culture is the life-thread and glue that links our past, present, and future. J.W. Marriott, Jr. Fair treatment of associates and to providing advancement opportunities Do Whatever it Takes to Take Care of the Customer Actively supports community and volunteerism Pay extraordinary attention to detail Creativity Pride in their physical surroundings Our people are the most important asset Environment that supports associate growth personal development Reputation of employing caring, dependable associates, who are ethical and trustworthy Home-like atmosphere Performance-reward system Pride in name, accomplishments, success Courtyard is a very popular brand in India and is expanding rapidly, said Rajeev Menon, area vice president for India, Pakistan, the Maldives and Malaysia. It offers excellent value in the mid-tier market that is currently underserved. The hotels adapt well to the lifestyle needs of both its domestic and international guests. COMPARISON WITH HOTEL INDUSTRY: In the world of hospitality the customer reigns supreme. In order to remain competitive it is essential for hoteliers not only to meet consumer expectations, but also to exceed them. Hilton International the hotel part of The Hilton Group plc that also includes betting and gaming, and Living Well Fitness Centers realized that in order to deliver the quality service associated with the brand, it needed to invest in the training and development of staff who are essential to ensuring that guests have a good experience during their stay. ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE SUITABLE TO ITS CULTURE: The overall structure of the Marriott is tall, however within each different department there are both tall and flat structures. Marriott finds that its own properties are often a source of innovative new practices. As a result, the company has adopted formal and informal communication channels to encourage employees to share best practices. For example, through a quarterly program called the Worldwide Business Forum, managers in Poland can learn from practices in Peru. TASK 3: Human Resources This department in a business ensures that the associates have a comfortable relationship with their managers, so that they are more motivated in their jobs. This involves providing the staff with the professional abilities to take on more jobs. Staff are encouraged to study for non work related subjects. This means that the management allow each member of staff to have a variety of responsibilities, so that they can improve in different areas. Staff training is viewed as very important and large amount of money is put into the training and development project. It tries to motivate subordinates to work harder, this makes the job security effective for that individual. Therefore, the staff provides excellent customer service. The Human resources department is considered to spend more money to provide facilities for staff personnel development and training, in order to make staff more efficient. However as the human resources department has a low staff turnover rate of 9%, this means that recruitment costs are much lower compared to departments like the food and beverage. Human resources makes sure that each member of staff is treated fairly, and advices the staff on the certain things they can do and be involved in to improve themselves. This department ensures the health and safety of each individual, guaranteeing that the environment they work in is not dangerous. This department looks for the well being of all the associates in the hotel. Human resources gives training, which tries to increase staff motivation and loyalty within the organisation so that they will become more efficient in what they are doing. DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE: The overall structure of the Marriott is tall, however within each different department there are both tall and flat structures. the human resources department has far fewer subordinates (only 6 people) and therefore it does not have many managers, assistant managers and supervisors compared to the food and beverage department. Therefore it can be said that the human resources department is a flat structure. Within the Marriott organization structure every member of staff has a detailed job description, knows his/her manager. It is a formal structure with clear lines of communication. THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER AND AUTHORITY WITHIN DEPARTMENT: There is a line of command from top to bottom of the hierarchy within an organization. Information is communicated from each managing head or director, and any orders are passed through this chain. Orders pass through many different people within the hierarchy. For example a manager sends information to an assistant manager within a certain department, and then it is sent to a supervisor. Then they would send the various messages to the worker in that department. This is an example of how messages are sent down the chain of command with a department in the Marriott. This type of structure can be effective as it helps give a clear understanding to staff to whom he/she is responsible. STYLE OF LEADERSHIP OF THE HEAD OF FUNCTIONAL DEPARTMENT: This is the number of subordinates directly supervised by one person (manager). A narrow span means tight supervision, less discretion and therefore less chance of making mistakes. A narrow span may mean more levels in the hierarchy and therefore a greater chance of promotions. A wide span of control reduces supervision and leads to greater delegation. The span of control can change depending upon certain circumstances. These can be seen below: * The more difficult the supervision tasks as checking work can be hard and time consuming, the smaller the span of control. Another reason why supervision tasks can be challenging maybe because the subordinates are not specialised in their job. * A small span of control maybe necessary if communication with subordinates is time consuming. * The better the supervisor, the more people he or she can supervise and as a result there will be a wide span of control. It can be seen from the organizational structure of the Marriott that each department manager has some sort of span of control. It can be said that the overall structure of the Marriott has both narrow and wide spans of control, for example in the food and beverage department there is a wide span of control as there are several restaurants and therefore the number of people the worker controls is much more. However within the human resources department there is a much narrower span of control as there are only six people in the department. PROPOSALS: The longer the chain of command within an organization the more difficult it can get for messages to get sent across. Messages can get lost or distorted as they travel across the chain of command. This problem has been prevented within the Marriott by having daily meetings with departments so that each member of staff knows what he/she is doing. TASK 4 MOTIVATIONAL THEORIES: Theory M: Motivating with money Hourly workers are not motivated by programs designed to increase their enthusiasm and loyalty-they are motivated by being paid what theyre worth. Here is a motivational program that establishes a direct link between productivity and pay Marriott recognizes and rewards loyalty and performance over time. Virtually all promotions are from within and transfers and special assignments go to those who have clearly earned them with their consistent performance in serving the guests interests. Various perks, benefits and compensation are awarded to those who consistently demonstrate a guest obsession. Tuition reimbursements are used to attract the best workers; good health benefits are aimed at attracting and keeping those with families; and dozens of timely smaal perks are used to add to personal thank yous, which leaders at all levels make a point of giving. GOAL-SETTING THEORY: Goal-setting theory refers to different types of goals motivate us differently. Using a massive, five-year database of its own employment history, Marriott found that the cost of certain rewards was offset by lower turnover. And so it took a comprehensive look at its entire rewards program to align compensation and benefits with its associates needs; improve attraction and retention; enhance productivity; and increase its return on the billions of dollars it invests annually in people and achieve its required goals. It did this while demonstrating the bottom-line impact of the resultant strategy. EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT: High-performance businesses actively manage their talent, matching the right people with the right jobs and hiring for fit rather than for specific skills. As a result, these companies are rewarded with engaged, productive and creative workforces. From recruitment to training and support to retaining employees, Marriott stands out because it focuses on the entire talent development chain. Hiring by gut instinct is frowned upon; instead, hiring managers use a quantitative, predictive model that combines an assessment of candidates job skills with an evaluation of their attitudes and values-attributes that Marriott considers more important than specific skills or experience. Marriotts success with employees at all levels makes for great press. The company regularly appears on lists of best companies to work for-for example, in the top 100 rankings for both Fortune (eight consecutive years) and Working Mother (15 years). And the companys voluntary turnover rates are among the lowest in the industry. Part of the reason can be found in Marriotts benefits and compensation packages. Our largest group of employees is housekeepers-largely women with families, explains Keegan. Weve found that medical benefits are a critical driver of retention-it keeps our turnover low. But thats only part of the story. Training, career opportunities and the cultivation of emotional ties all play important roles in helping Marriott retain employees in an industry marked by high turnover. Once it makes a hiring decision, Marriott devotes considerable resources to training and developing its people at every level. Senior managers attend a four-week, in-house executive development program designed to help them cultivate a broad, externally focused point of view. For hourly workers, the emphasis is on structured, task-driven, on-the-job learning. The company even incorporates a training budget requirement into its contracts with franchisees and managed-property owners. Career-growth opportunities are another key to high retention rates. Nearly half of the companys managers were promoted from within the ranks of hourly workers. Marriott keeps its managers engaged by providing many opportunities for development and advancement. Senior executives have spent an average of 22 years with the company, while their direct reports have an average tenure of 15 years. The company prefers to promote from within and provides cross-functional opportunities for key senior managers as a way to cultivate its future leaders. Another reason for employee loyalty-and another important intangible-is the emotional connection workers have to the company. Marriott conducted research that showed that this connection was based largely on employees belief that Marriott treats them fairly. Marriott found that its survey results surpassed industry benchmarks, leading company executives to believe that their employees trust the organizations leadership to look out for their best interests. HR Khief Keegan: Hiring managers use a quantitative, predictive model that combines an assessment of candidates job skills with an evaluation of their attitudes and values-attributes that Marriott considers more important than specific skills or experience.

Strengthening the Learning Process through Music Essay -- education, co

Introduction: Music is said to influence the process of thinking and learning by motivating the student to think better, analyze faster and work more efficiently. Studies have shown that just listening to music is beneficial. However, it is the participating fully in music, the singing and playing of music that strengthens the learning process. Exposure through lessons and other activities may help students to explore and boost their confidence and help them achieve more success in their endeavors. The fact is, music is an important avenue to individual success. Music should be available to all students in all schools, because it holds such an influential place in academic structure (Children’s Music Workshop Music’s 1). Wilber-Clatonia High School should mandate that all students take at least one semester of vocal and one semester of instrumental music in high school. Music is a universal language, which speaks to a whole variety of people cutting though racial, cultural, social, educational, and economic barriers. It has become an expression for many cultures. The oldest artifacts show people playing musical instruments over four thousand years ago. Men and women through time have been moved by the powerful words and beats that musicians have created to provoke emotions. However, no matter how much music may have differed, it seems that music served a common purpose: to bring people together. By bringing people together fills a student’s â€Å"bag† with self-motivation, assessment and practical application. It allows a person to take a look at the world and appreciate what people do and to have a deep-understanding of the world. This is very important in the world of music because it is culturally diverse. Students experience thi... ...s. â€Å"Creativity.† University of Missouri-Kansas City. 1998. Web. 23 Nov. 2011. Intelligent Life on the Web. â€Å"How Does Music Affect The Brain.† Buzzle.com. 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. IsyB Family. â€Å"Music and Sound Therapy as a Treatment for Autism.† Isybee Autism. 27 April 2011. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. Lanaki9. â€Å"Amazing Grace – Whitley Phipps.† Youtube. 6 Feb. 2007. Web. 23 Nov. 2011. Lennon, John. The White Album. EMI and Trident Studios, 1968. CD. Reid, Harvey. â€Å"On Mathematics and Music.† Woodpecker Records. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. ThinkQuest. â€Å"Math and Music.† Oracle Education Foundation. Web. 23 Nov. 2011. Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools. â€Å"Graduation Requirements.†  ¬Ã‚ ¬Wilber-Clatonia School Board. Wilber: Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools, 2011. Yoh, William H. â€Å"The Cornerstone to a Well Rounded Individual.† Santa Teresa Music and Arts Association. 2008. Web. 23 Nov. 2011.

Argument Essay Thomas Paine Essay

America is the most diverse country in the world and people come here to live the â€Å"American Dream†. Paine’s assertion is still true today that America is a diverse nation, however, the â€Å"the taxes are few† and there being â€Å"nothing to engender riots and tumults† is in fact not true today. America is known as the world’s â€Å"melting pot† for a reason. People want to come to the greatest nation on Earth. Throughout the history of America people have immigrated from a wide variety of war-torn, famine, poverty-stricken nations to come to a country that ensures an opportunity to make something of yourself. It has been a safe haven for people even before it became a country; the puritans escaped religious persecution from England in the 17th century. Then the Irish left a potato famine to come to America. This led to many more countries in the Eastern Hemisphere immigrating here to America. They came because there is no National language, no national religion, no dictatorial government. This is America where everyone is ensured equal inalienable rights, wherever a person is from. But Paine was wrong when he said â€Å"the poor are not oppressed, the rich are not privileged. There is poverty in America and the rich are very privileged. New York City would prove this exactly. There’s the rich: walking the town, head high, looking through the expensive shops and eating at lavish restaurants. And on the other side of the street there is the homeless: head down, looking through trash cans for food, walking down the side walk begging for loose change. This is not the America Thomas Paine envisions. And his statement of a riot free country has never existed. It starts with Shay’s rebellion in the 1880’s, consisting of western Massachusetts farmers rioting over taxation- another thing Paine says will be few; then with the suffrage movement for women in the early 20th century. And a very large one took place in the 1960’s for Civil Rights’ which was led by Dr. Martin Luther King. Even today people protest government decisions such as Gay marriage or abortion, There will always be people who disagree with the government. Thomas Paine’s view of a perfect America will never happen. We are the country that people dream to come to and we are the most diverse.

American Association of Premature Infants (AAPI) Essays

American Association of Premature Infants (AAPI) Essays American Association of Premature Infants (AAPI) Paper American Association of Premature Infants (AAPI) Paper According to the American Association of Premature Infants (AAPI), over 400,000 babies are born prematurely or at a low birth weight. As a result of being born early they are more likely to require high-technology intensive and specialized care in the hospital and follow-up care as infants and children. As a result, many have chronic medical problems and developmental problems. Some of the problems consist of respiratory distress, feeding issues, language delays and several other problems. As a mother of a premature infant, I know these issues are a major concern when the baby is born and the stress that it can put on the families. In order to be able to deal with the situation effectively you have to acquire information and learn the good and the bad that come with having a premature infant. When a baby is born prematurely there are a number of tests that the baby has to go through. First the doctors and nurses have to assess the baby’s heart, lungs, color and temperature. If the baby is having trouble with any of these things then it is taken into what is called the neonatal intensive care unit. In some of the smaller hospitals they aren’t equipped with the technology that is needed to keep the baby alive and the baby has to be transported to a bigger hospital, usually to a hospital in a metropolitan city in order to get the proper care. After the baby has been assessed for problems then it is watched closely for the next 48 hours. This is the most critical time for a baby born too early. During this time the doctors can determine if the baby is going to have a long road ahead of them or if the baby is healthy and will pull through the whole thing with flying colors. Sometimes, they may seem healthy and are progressing well and then they could have a turn for the worse without any warning signs at all. For a parent, this can be very stressful and overwhelming all at the same time. When a preemie is able to breathe on its own and its body can regulate the heart and body temperature on its own the child has a great chance of going home. This can take weeks and it can even take months, it depends on the baby and how healthy it is when it is born. Going home is just the beginning of taking care of this very special individual. Some may go home without any worries and then there are some that are still having trouble with breathing. This is called apnea and when a baby has apnea they are monitored continuously until the baby’s lungs regulate the breathing. Some are sent home with oxygen to assist them with their breathing and some are sent home on monitors to make sure they are breathing correctly. As a result of being born prematurely there are numerous doctors visits and then specialists that have to be seen to make sure that some of the medications given didn’t affect any of the baby’s internal organs following the arrival to their new home. For instance, a baby that gets too much oxygen at birth can have trouble with their eyes. This is when a retinopathy of prematurity test is completed. This determines if the retina of the eyes are attached or detached from the eyeball. They are also checked more frequently for development and growth. A premature infant is normally behind in developing mentally and physically. On the average preemie they will catch up to the development and growth within the first two years of life. Some that have more health problems will be further behind. Although, preemies can have very few or numerous problems, they grow to be healthy happy children and adults. Premature infants are very special. They have to go through so much, beginning with their entrance into the world, that they deserve the special treatment that they are given by all that care for them. A premature infant does not stay sick. They do get better and go on to live normal healthy and happy lives. It can be one of the most difficult things that a parent has to go through, but it helps you to appreciate what you have been given and makes a stronger person within the child and the parents. Work Cited American Association of Premature Infants 6 June 2000