Free Essays - All Quiet on the Western Front :: All Quiet on the Western Front Essays

Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front , is a novel set in World War I, and centers around the changes wrought by the war on one young German soldier. During his time in the war, Remarque's protagonist, Paul Baumer, changes from a rather innocent Romantic to a hardened and somewhat broken-in veteran. More importantly, during the course of this metamorphosis, Baumer disaffiliates himself from those societal icons—parents, elders, school, religion that had been the foundation of his pre-enlistment days. This rejection comes about as a result of Baumer's realization that the pre-enlistment society simply does not understand the reality of the Great War. His new society, then, becomes the Company, their fellow trench soldiers, because that is a group which does understand the truth as Baumer had experienced it. In All Quiet on the Western front the novel is told from the first person point of view, the reader can see how the words Baumer speaks are with his true feelings. In his preface to the novel, Remarque maintains that "a generation of men ... were destroyed by the war" (Remarque, All Quiet Preface). Baumer's closest comrades fall one after the other. The conditions in the German army are to harsh, they have no food, ammunition, moral is low they could not keep fighting. An important episode in the novel is when Baumer is issued a period of leave when he visits his home town. This leave is disastrous for Baumer because he realizes that he can not communicate with the people on the home front because of his military experiences and their limited, or nonexistent, understanding of the war. When he first enters his house, for example, Baumer is overwhelmed at being home. His joy and relief are such that he cannot speak; he can only weep (Remarque, All Quiet VII. 140). When he and his mother greet each other, he realizes immediately that he has nothing to say to her: "We say very little and I am thankful that she asks nothing" (Remarque, All Quiet VII. 141). But finally she does speak to him and asks, "'Was it very bad out there, Paul?'" (Remarque, All Quiet VII. 143). Here, when he answers, he lies, profusely to protect her from hearing of the chaotic conditions from which he has just returned. He thinks to himself, "Mother, what should I answer to that! You would not understand, you could never realize it.

MySpace and Facebook Essay

I think that stalking is possibly one of the scariest forms of abuse there is. Both men and women are capable of stalking but I think that in most cases it is a male stalking a female. There are many reasons why one person stalks another. I believe the most common reason is because of anger and humiliation. When one person breaks off a relationship with another it often causes conflicting feelings which may turn a person into a desperate stalker. I believe that the longer and more intimate a relationship was the higher chance for stalking and dangerous behavior. I think another big reason why a person will turn into a stalker is because they simply cannot accept that their former partner has moved on and is dating other people. I agree that cyber stalking has become a problem and I think cyber stalking will continue to increase since so many people use computers. The case of the 13 year old girl who committed suicide because of cyber stalking is sad and shocking. I know from experience that teenagers can be quite cruel to one another but this young girl experienced extreme bullying by an adult who should have known better. I strongly believe that the ultimate responsibility for the safety of children on the computer falls to the parents. Parents are responsible for ensuring the safety of their children at all times – including who they talk to and what sites they visit on the internet. In this case it was the parent doing the harassing and terrorizing which is what makes this case so nauseating. Social sites such as MySpace and Facebook make it very easy for teenagers to form cyber relationships with one another. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as parents supervise and children behave appropriately. However, I think cyber stalking is going to continue to increase since so many teenagers use these types of sites and their parents have no idea who they talk to or what they talk about. I think the case of the 13 year old girl who killed herself should open the eyes of parents so that they can prevent something tragic like this from happening again.

Technology Is Taking Over People s Lives - 967 Words

A text message or a phone was checked before reading this. It goes to show; technology is taking over people’s lives because everywhere someone goes technology exists. However, technology acts as a basic necessity for this generation because every question, game, or conversation happens at his or her disposal. But with the emergence of social media, people swarm Facebook or Instagram posting explicit photos or ridiculing others in order to achieve self-confidence. Technology has provided the misguided confidence society has direly waited. Do people really have such low self esteem that the number of likes dictates their popularity and looks? Nobody is to blame but him or herself for letting a piece of equipment command their lives. Everything happens on people’s phones these days. The need to go outside vanished because technology acts as a world itself. People are isolating themselves from their friends and family in order to be on Facebook. An analysis on technology r eveals that technology has led to deaths, broken relationships, and insecurities. Electronics create a mental purgatory for the user. People have lost contact with the outside world that their minds have adapted to a vibration or a â€Å"beep†. Unfortunately, society needs to come back to reality. People have progressed to expressing a false identity through social media for comfort. Social media raises insecurity in people that some sign in to Facebook or Instagram waiting to see how many likes they haveShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Technology On The Modern World1547 Words   |  7 PagesImpact Of Technology In the Modern World Throughout the life, some influences have shaped people the way they live their lives today. Impact of a virtual connection, and go beyond the brain’s ability, is rising in an eyesight bling, which is a cause of socialization— brain’s ability to multitask and their consequences itself. The usage of the internet is creating conflict upon individuals that they have become modern in today’s world. In the essay â€Å"The Limit Of Friendship† by Maria Konnikova, whoRead MoreHow Technology Has Impacted Our Lives1261 Words   |  6 PagesPeople are connected to technology on a daily basis regardless of the time nor place. There are new apps that are around that regulate and monitor the time spent on cell phones to ensure one is getting that face to face interaction with others. It almost seems as if technology has been turning people into walking zombies. Since peoples are not able to get enough of that face to face interaction, they are lacking in their social skills and tend to be nervous when the are in that face to face interactionRead MoreTechnology Is Taking Humanity For New And Better Heights1415 Words   |  6 Pagesthat humans live in has become one filled with all kinds of technology. With more and more of these inventions being created every day, the world and peoples’ ways of life are changing rapidly. There are many who are optimistic about this fast-paced progress, believing that technology is taking humanity to new and better heights. However, there is reason to believe that the current direction that technology is taking may not be so positive. The present day developments in technology have an increasinglyRead MoreThe Internet And The World Wide Web1490 Words   |  6 Pages Since the late 19th Century there has been many changes that were taking place in society. The major one was the introduction of the internet and the World Wide Web. Around the 1950 s the first network called ARPANET was created and thr ough research the internet was later on produced in the late 1970 s. Within two decades the internet went from being a new form of communication technology, to being, for most people a very important part of their culture and daily life. Many once held an optimismRead MoreTechnology And Its Effects On Our Lives1402 Words   |  6 PagesEveryday technology is manipulated and used by many people around the world. Technology describes the usage of technical means to interact with life, society, and environment, through an electronical device that is applied by science. Many people are slowly becoming attached to technology and relying on more of these resources because it makes their life easier. However, technology is slowly hurting a ton of people by being smartphone dependent, reducing our communication skills and disabling peopleRead MoreThe Current State Of Culture And Society1642 Words   |  7 Pagesradio/music, you will see people giving their interpretations of what will bec ome of our world down the road. Yet, few people look to see how our the current state of culture and society reflect the projections made by people in previous years, decades, and centuries. In looking at the visions of the future presented by both novelas, T h e T i m e M a c h i n e ​b y H . G . W e l l s , a n d T​h e M a c h i n e S t o p s ​b y E . M . F o r s t e r , ​e​a c h s t o r y p r e s e n t s aspects of societyRead MoreDrunk Drivers Should Not Be Banned1279 Words   |  6 Pagesyear there are drunk drivers getting away and not having any harsh consequences.Drunk driving has killed over hundreds of citizens due to the mistakes by over intoxicated drivers. States all across the country have lowered the blood alcohol limit to keep drunk drivers off the road from hitting a pedestrian. Some citizens believe that drunk drivers should not be punished more harshly due to be over intoxicated while driving. If there is no harm due to them or the others around them what is the pointRead MoreAnalysis of Two Articles: Is Technology Good or Bad?1214 Words   |  5 PagesTechnology At Its Finest: Is it Good or Bad? Over this past decade or so, people all around the globe have been granted with greater advancements in technology. From cellphones we can talk to, to 3-Dimensional televisions, we are able to pretty much do anything thanks to these high-tech products. But, should we really be grateful for these easy-to-use devices, or are they taking over the lives of millions? In the articles written by Michael Malone and Daniel Burrus, we receive an inside lookRead MoreHow Technology Has Changed Our Lives1042 Words   |  5 Pages Over the last ten years, technology has transformed almost every aspect of our lives before we’ve had time to stop and question it. In every home on every desk; in every palm - a plasma screen a monitor: a smartphone- a black mirror of our 21st century existence. Our grip on reality is shifting- we worship at the altars of Google and Apple. Facebook algorithms know us more intimately than our parents. We have access to all the information in the world but no brain space left to absorb anythingRead MoreCell Phones And Electronic Devices Essay1450 Words   |  6 Pagesof the existence development of technology and the wide interest in this technology from people around the world. Technology is taking a vital role in our culture and they ways we communicate with each other. Now more than ever before, devices like; cell phones, tablets and laptops are the preferred method of interaction. In fact, society is placing an excessive amount of emphasis on technology and the urgency of having a smartphone, it’s not unusual to see two people in the same room communicating

A World Without Love Is A Deadly Place - 1629 Words

â€Å"A world without love is a deadly place† serves as a warning to the doomed society of the World State in this new world (Fisher 1). In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, â€Å"pain, suffering, and unhappiness are virtually unknown because basic needs are provided for all, and soma tablets are readily available should anyone feel anxious or sad† (Morgan, Shanahan, Welsh 130). The civilization is equipped with a drug called soma. Soma is used to destroy any feeling of sadness or negative feelings; it is part of the society’s method to pursue happiness. The pursuit of happiness is brought to a degree of such extremity that the citizens are â€Å"conceived in test tubes and socialized for specific societal roles† that they are genetically engineered to enjoy (Morgan, Shanahan, Welsh 130). Not only are the citizens programmed to be content with their roles in the society, but their minds are formed by sleep training to believe that their only purposes in life are sexual pleasure and enjoying activities. The government raises them to have sexual interactions with whoever they want, whenever they want. A portion of their sleep training is â€Å"every one belongs to every one† (Huxley 205). The citizens do not experience the pleasure of love, nor do they experience friendship or family. After all, â€Å"without committed partners there is no pain associated with relationship breakup; but neither is there committed love. Without family ties there are no burdens of care but no joy of giving† (Morgan,Show MoreRelatedThe Nature Of Love As Described By Helen Fischer1255 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The evolution of love is ever changing. Its biochemical foundations and its vital importance to human society are informing and transforming the way we understand ourselves†. TED speaker Helen Fischer states that this expression known as love derives from three basic human neural happenings, sex drive, romantic love, and a ttachment. Once all of these stages fall into place within the brain, the phenomenon known as love occurs, according to Helen Fischer. The depth of it all depends on how deep,Read MoreThe Deadly Side of Power779 Words   |  3 PagesThe Deadly Side of Power Power, have you ever thought about it? A word so simple in nature yet the possessor of it has the ability to alter the world. As human beings we are constantly affected by it one way or another. Whether it be through being controlled by it, desiring it, or containing it we cannot discredit the essentiality and presence of it in our world. Constantly throughout every day of our lives we face an aspect of power in one way or another however the most prevalent and relatableRead MoreThe Deadly Duel Of Baron Von Instetten And Major Crampas1210 Words   |  5 PagesThe Deadly Duel Baron von Instetten and Major Crampas The Prussian town of Kessin was left in shock over the unexpected duel of Baron von Instetten and Major Crampas. This duel took place over the issue of an affair in which the wife of Baron von Instetten, Effi Briest, had with Major Crampas. Baron von Instetten was â€Å"a man of character, position and sound morality.† (Effi Briest, Chapter 2). He was an ambitious civil servant who was highly respected by the people around him. Major Crampas, onRead MoreThe Legends Of Gargoyle. Gargoyle1476 Words   |  6 Pages The legends of gargoyle Gargoyle is a place that lies deep in to the earth’s core but not all the way down but just close. The place is very hot so the rocks melted and created these rock guardians that love the hot weather. They love to destroy and crush and they created something that no one would ever imagine. Their own little world that looks so cool because they have lava fountains. The Rock Guardians were so lonely that they created 4,509 creatures like them by putting the rocks in the lavaRead MoreKate Chopin s The Story Of An Hour981 Words   |  4 Pageshave been. Kate Chopin â€Å"The Story of an Hour† (477) The purpose of our entire existence is to create and build a legacy so when we depart this life the ones that we leave behind have something to keep with them. We don’t know the time or the place of when our lives will end on this Earth so every second should be spent cherishing the moments that are created. Life itself doesn’t have a planned setting, the creation process was supposed to be made easy conception, child development, adolescenceRead MoreNuclear Weapons Be Banned1117 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"There is only one way to get rid of nuclear weapons†¦Use them!† (Rush Limbaugh). The world has over 14,900 nuclear weapons 93% of them are owned by The United States of America and Russia. Nuclear weapons were first used in world war two. When they were first used they were very destructive and really put an impact on the world. Nuclear weapons are very deadly and are constantly getting redesigned to be more and more powerful. Not only do nuclear weapon s affect people, they also affect the earthRead More The Contradiction of Chivalry and Courtly Love Essays899 Words   |  4 PagesThe Contradiction of Chivalry and Courtly Love Two conflicting disciplines are prevalent throughout Arthurian Legend; that of chivalry and that of courtly love. The ideal of each clash throughout the medieval tales, and it is impossible to interfuse the two models for society. Chivalry is a masculine code, an aggressive discipline, whereas courtly love is based upon women - their needs, wants, and desires. The consistent problem if Lancelot and Guinevere’s adulterous relationship in differentRead MoreThe World Of Love Where Everything Is Like Willy Wonka s Chocolate Factory950 Words   |  4 PagesMany are drawn into the world of love where everything is like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, a place filled with sweet and wonderful things. Due to obsession and greed, most of those who enter ultimately suffer an unpleasant ending. Like when Augustus falls into the Chocolate River and is sucked up a pipe to the Fudge Room. Love addicts, however, will be sucked up a pipe to the Misery Room instead. Their poor, miserabl e souls will be crushed and disposed of like trash. 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I loved everything about her, her smile, her cry, and how she would curl up into a ball when she slept like a delicate flower. So of course, I asked her to marry me. She said yes. It was the happiest year of my life. After we moved into our little cottage in Amdis. I

How Different Lung Diseases Affect The Lung - 1480 Words

An analysis of how different lung diseases affect the lung’s functions The lungs are essential respiratory organs in humans which enable us to breathe. Our lungs are specialised structures that allow us to exchange gases. We require oxygen from the air to enter our blood, as all cells need it to function. We also need to get rid of carbon dioxide which is a product of many metabolic reactions within our cells. Our lungs allow this gas exchange so we can get rid of carbon dioxide and acquire oxygen. Each person has two lungs that are connected by our trachea (windpipe). The trachea separates into two bronchi, one of each leads to a lung. These bronchi then branch off into smaller bronchioles. The bronchioles are then connected to small air†¦show more content†¦The infected tissue within the tubercles die, leaving the gas exchange surface damaged. This then reduces lung function as tidal volume is reduced. Occasionally the immune cells cannot kill the bacterium but prevent it from spreading to the rest of the body, meaning the individual will not present any symptoms. This condition is known as latent TB. However common symptoms of active TB include, a persistent cough that usually includes coughing up of blood and mucus, chest pains, shortness of breath, high temperature, tiredness and fatigue and even weight loss as many people lose their appetite. People with the inactive form of TB (latent TB) are asymptomatic. These people cannot pass on the infection to others, however if they become destabilized for example by contracting another disease, then their TB infection could become active and so could be passed on. TB can be prevented beforehand by taking the BCG vaccine. However if TB is already present in an individual, they can be treated with antibiotics. This course of antibiotics usually lasts 6 months. However some forms of TB are resistant to certain antibiotics which means treatment take much longer. Fibrosis Fibrosis is a condition in which scar tissue is formed within the lungs. The cause of this condition is not fully known, however it is thought to be a result of an infection or when an individual is exposed to substances such as asbestos or dust.

Walmart’s Key HR Functions Underperforming Free Essays

string(29) " those in the US and the UK\." Introduction The success of any organization depends on its strategic asset, the human capital. As pointed out by Lawler (1996), organization’s competitive advantage comes from its human capital. Efficient management of this resource can bring significant benefits to the company. We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart’s Key HR Functions Underperforming or any similar topic only for you Order Now It should be remembered that motivation is the epicenter of performance and an important factor ensuring the success of a company. Improving workplace productivity however remains a major challenge in most companies. In this regard, this study explores the human resource management approach at Wal-Mart. It identifies the ways in which two HR functions (employee motivation and employee performance practices) are underperforming. This includes a brief account of how the functions operate within the organization, how they are applied and what the outcomes for the business are given that they are underperforming. The paper evaluates why these particular functions are considered to be underperforming using Herzberg’s motivator Hygiene Theory. Further the paper makes some recommendations for improvement of these HRM practices and the benefits to the company. What is human resource management? Human resource management encompasses all activities associated with management of the human capital and in ways towards achieving the corporate goal or objective. In any organization, the human resource department plays a crucial role. Not only are HR managers required to recruit and train employees, but they also have the obligation of motivating and engaging the workforce. Understanding what motivates the employee and ensuring good employee employment practices is key for talent retention and performance (Lockwood et al. 2010). Regardless of the economic environment, it is imperative for companies to create an engaged and motivated workforce. Underperformance in the workplace has recently been a major concern in Wal-Mart stores. According to a new research report by Wolfe research, an equities research firm, Wal-Mart has been underperforming over the past years. The firm lowered Wal-Mart from a â€Å"market perform† rating to an â€Å"underperform† rating (Covert, 2014). Failure by Wal-Mart has been attributed to their poor employment practices especially low wages and lack of rewards. Whereas Wal-Mart may not be the only big store chain criticized for its poor employment practices and policies, it has come to the spotlight owing to its aggressive policies and low cost strategy which undermines the effort made by employees. Just last year, a lawsuit was filed against Wal-Mart by the international Labour Rights Fund for requiring overtime, denying minimum wage and punishing union activity (Covert 2012). This is clearly a violation of worker’s rights. Wal-Mart which was initially a corporate fortress seems to be headed to a downfall. Even its operations in the US indicate the possibility of a failure in the giant retailer. More recently, Wal-Mart warned its investors that its comparable store sales may be slightly negative after the third quarter. This is also evident in the huge layoff of 2300 workers at Sam’s club, one of its stores. The layoff was attributed to their poor performance. Whereas Wal-Mart still remains the corporate fortress in the retail sector due to its massive size, its underperformance in the US and emerging markets indicate the possibility of a failure in the near future. Walmart’s bad business practices Wal-Mart has on several accounts been criticized for poor wages. Why should employees suffer in one of the giant retail stores that make billions of profit annuallyWal-Mart is ranked among the best 100 corporations by Forbes magazine yet most of its employees take on average less than $250 a week. Full-time employees are paid between $6 and $7.50 an hour. A further a third of the employees who are part-time are limited to working up to 28 hours a week and are not eligible for benefits. Such pay scale places them and their families below the poverty line. The lack of rewards demotivates and discourages them from performing well. Perhaps Wal-Marts bad business practices are more evident with the Rana Plaza tragedy which led to the loss of over 1000 lives. The tragedy exposed some of the profound flaws in the industry. Rana Plaza produced private garments for some of the giant retailers including Wal-Mart. Evidence provided by the Bangladesh center for Worker Solidarity showed that Wal-Mart had been producing its garments in Ether Tex factory situated on the 5th floor of the building (Steven 2013). Some documents were found in the rubble detailing purchase orders for certain garments which were to be delivered to Wal-Mart. Further, at the time of the tragedy, Wal-Mart was already listed in Ether Tex’s website as one of the main customer. Although Wal-Mart denied knowledge of their operations at the factory building, it announced its plans to put in place new safety measures at some of their factories in Bangladesh. The corporate fortress, however, promised to stop production if urgent safety problems were uncovered at some of its factories. The company further assured the Bangladeshi government of their support and commitment towards improving workplace safety. But the company stopped short of committing to these improvements and distanced itself from the Rana Plaza tragedy. This is a clear example of bad business practice. Why these particular functions are considered to be underperforming Last year, Wal-Mart reported $11 billion in net income yet it has not been able to remedy some of its questionable workplace practices. Wal-Mart has been filed in over 5,000 lawsuits for poor employment practices such as inadequate health care, wage law violations, worker exploitation and their anti-union retailer stance. Wal-Mart anti-union stance can be seen in their recent threat to close one of its stores in Quebec after workers successfully unionized. Citing ‘economic reasons’; Wal-Mart announced their plans on shutting the store. However, this argument was rejected by Quebec’s labor relations and Wal-Mart’s firings found illegal. Further, the move to extend operations to overseas markets including setting up factories in emerging markets such as Bangladesh and China was driven by the desire to take advantage of cheap labour. For example, Wal-Mart pays much less its employees in China compared to those in the US and the UK. You read "Walmart’s Key HR Functions Underperforming" in category "Essay examples" A further criticism has been the lack of employment benefits. Part-time employees are limited to working up to 28 hours a week and are not eligible for benefits. While, workers who are eligible for benefits pay way over the odds to get health insurance and other benefits. The company has often come under criticism for not providing employees with affordable access to health care and employees are overburdened. For example, in 1999, 36% of the total costs were paid by the employees. In 2001, there was a 42% rise in employee burden. The health of its employees has been deteriorating at a faster rate. According to the company’s internal memo discovered by New York Times, Wal-Mart workers were sicker compared to the national population. This begs the question: Why can’t such a giant corporation provide its workers medical retirement benefits given the huge profits that they makeThis question was once raised by one of Wal-Mart’s managers only to be fired by the CEO and reasons of disloyalty cited as the reason for being quitted. (Jordan 2008). As Michael Porter (1980) once pointed out that a company would rely on three basic competitive strategies to maintain their edge in the market: differentiation, cost leadership, and focus strategy. Wal-Mart has obviously taken the cost-leadership strategy by reducing the cost of recruitment, providing low pay, no rewards, requiring overtime, and cheap children labors. It currently faces a barrage of lawsuits for extensive violations of labour laws. Wal-Mart also faces law suits for extensive violations of state regulations that require time for breaks and meals. In some instances, minors are forced to work late for the performance appraising. Outcomes for business Wal-Mart may be headed for a downfall. Its customer service is already low and their low-cost strategy has led to many cut offs of employees. Since recession, Wal-Mart has been cutting down on their staff. Without enough manpower for their retail operations and with workers on site underpaid, its merchandize remains stacked on pallets in warehouses instead of the shelves where customers can reach them. What then is the value of offering lower prices if the products are not accessible to the customers? Further, the check-out lines are painfully long and there seems to be a decline in the overall customer shopping experience. Customer shopping experience has been deteriorating due to the longer checkout lines, disorganization and less staff help. Last year, the giant retailer was placed last among in the American Customer Satisfaction Index, a six year in a row in which Wal-Mart has taken the last spot (Ungar 2013). Lessons must be learnt from the experience of the other low end retailers. McDonald’s earnings have fallen significantly due to their poor terms of employment. Similarly, Wal-Mart needs to consider the potential upside of their aggressive policies. Despite the poor employment practices, Wal-Mart still remains among the leading retail giants. Its remains ahead of its competitors such as Target and JC penny. However, Wal-Mart faces a threat from Costco, its primary competitor. Costco has been experiencing a fairly healthy 8% growth in annual sales (Ungar 2013). In fact, a significant number of customers are moving to this retailer for their shopping experience. Could this be attributed to the good employment practices at CostcoUnlike Wal-Mart, employees at Costco get a decent living and are paid in excess of the minimum wage. Given the aggressive HR policies employed by Wal-Mart, it begs the question: what then is the role of HR managers in this companySince, as HR professionals, they are required to put in place strategies oriented towards the employees. To some point, however, employees seem to be encouraged to think of themselves as ‘servant leaders’. For example, employees are called â€Å"associates† showing that the company values their contribution. Such kinds of HR policies are employed in most of the best performing companies. These policies and practices serve to motivate employees to increase their performance and can aid in developing good corporate culture. However, employees may not feel appreciated if they are paid less than minimum wages and denied rewards and opportunities for professional growth. There seem to be no opportunities for enhancement and professional growth. Wal-Mart does very little training and developments of its human resources and as such, opportunities for enhancement of professions especially for women are limited. In fact, several claims have been filed against Wal-Mart for discriminating against women in terms of employment positions and the lack of opportunities for advancement. Improving employee motivation and employment practices at Wal-Mart As HR professionals continue to seek bright, talented and highly engaged workforce, motivational theories can provide insights on how Wal-Mart can improve employee motivation and engagement. Several motivational theories have been suggested including the Expectancy Theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory, Herzberg’s motivator Hygiene Theory, Goal Setting Theory, and Equity theory (Lockwood et al. 2010) Herzberg’s motivator Hygiene Theory is perhaps more applicable to the case of Wal-Mart. The theory suggests that two main factors must be met for employees to become satisfied with work. These are: the hygiene factors and motivator factors. The hygiene factors include meeting the basic needs such as adequate pay, comfortable working environment, effective supervision and good relationships with the core workers. On the other hand, motivation factors include advancement and professional growth, and rewards or opportunities for recognition (lockwood et al. 2010) Wal-Mart needs to consider applying the two-factor theory of motivation if they are to improve on the performance of their employees. They need to revamp their policies, increase the salary of their employees, and the safety and security of the employees. Further, they need to consider motivators that are intrinsic to the job which include providing rewards for achievement and increasing their growth opportunities. Pundits, policymakers and activists outraged by the company’s low wages have been calling for protests. According to Robert Reich, a professor at U.C. Berkeley, Walmart’s net income is estimated at $17 billion meaning that they can easily afford to give its workers a small pay-rise (Atner 2013). The Chancellor professor of public policy has in fact urged shoppers to boycott Wal-Mart since they do not want to share even a little bit of their income with their employees (Atner 2013). Conclusion In today’s highly competitive marketplace, motivation of employees and employing the best employment practices is key to success. Underperformance in the workplace has recently been a major concern in Wal-Mart stores. Several lawsuits have been filed against Wal-Mart for violation of worker’s rights including low wages, lack of employment benefits, being required to work overtime and denied to participate in union activity. Bad employment practices are clearly evident in Wal-Mart. This has affects employee productivity as it demoralizes and demotivates them. Wal-Mart needs to consider applying the two-factor theory of motivation if they are to improve on the performance of their employees. Incentives are key to maintaining a motivated workforce and ensuring business success. Appraising and offering hardworking employee with incentives will motivate them to go the extra mile of putting the company first. Employee valuations need to be implemented and growth opportunities made plenty. HR managers at walmart need to understand the benefits of employee motivation and engagement. By sharing their profit, employees will feel appreciated and more passionate about their work. Ultimately, this will result in improved performance and greater customer satisfaction Reference Ciura, B., 2014. Is Wal-Mart’s empire about to failViewed on 29th March 2014. Available from http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/02/01/is-wal-marts-empire-about-to-fall.aspx Covert, B., 2014. Walmart’s labor practices backfire. Viewed on 29th March 2014. Available from http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/02/10/3271221/walmart-downgraded-understaffing/ Gusdorf, M.L. and Reed, S.M., 2009. The role of mission and values in strategic human resource management. Society for Human Resource Management. Jordan, T., 2014. The good, the bad and Wal-Mart. Workplacefairness Lockwood, N., Anderson, C., Fiester, M. and Samers, K., 2010. ‘Motivation in today’s workplace: the link to performance’. Research Quarterly. The Society for Human Resource Management Rasouli, R., 2013. ‘Modelling the impact of HRM practices on knowledge workers’ job satisfaction and intention to stay: re-examining the Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation’. World of Sciences Journal Steven, G., 2013. As firms line up on factories, Wal-Mart plans solo effort. Viewed on 29th March 2013. available from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/business/six-retailers-join-bangladesh-factory-pact.html?pagewanted=all_r=0 Thomasson, E., 2014. Bangladesh factory inspections highlight safety risks as anniversary of Rana Plaza tragedy looms. Retail Marketing. Ungar, R., 2013. Wal-Mart pays workers poorly and sinks while Costco pays workers well and sails-proof that you get what you pay for. {Viewed on 30th March 2014} available fromhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2013/04/17/walmart-pays-workers-poorly-and-sinks-while-costco-pays-workers-well-and-sails-proof-that-you-get-what-you-pay-for/ How to cite Walmart’s Key HR Functions Underperforming, Essay examples

Breakdancing Essay Example For Students

Breakdancing Essay Breakdancing a form of African American dance that emerged from the hip hop culture of the South Bronx, New York, during the mid-1970s. Drawing upon several African American dance forms, break dancing coalesced in the 1970s and reached its peak in popularity during the 1980s. Breakdancing developed out of the Bronx, New York, disco scene. When disco DJs changed records, dancers would fill the resulting musical breaks, or breakbeats, with movements that emphasized the rupture in rhythmic continuity. These highly acrobatic interludes developed into a new genre that mixed Afrodiasporic dance styles, reflecting the influence of the lindy-hop, the Charleston, the cakewalk, and the jitterbug as well as the Afro-Brazilian martial-arts dance Capoeira and the antics of Kung Fu movies. Breakdancing included breaking flipping, spinning, pivoting on the head and hands, up-rock a mock-combat style, often directed against an opponent, and webbo fast footwork between other dance moves. When breakdancing spread to Los Angeles, California, dancers added the electric boogie, automaton-like dance moves that incorporated pantomime. In the beginning, breakdancers adopted a confrontational attitude, as crews met each other in fake rumbles that often turned into real fights. Even peaceful displays resembled the competitive toasting of Bronx musicians in concurrently developing rap music. Like other facets of the hip hop movement, breakdancing met with commercial success and public notoriety in the early 1980s. Paralleling Sohos embrace of Bronx graffiti art, Manhattan dance clubs welcomed breakdancers to their floors. And like rap, breakdancing appeared in a number of popular films, including Wild Style 1982, Breakin 1984, and Beat Street 1984, which featured the Rock Steady Crew, breakdancings most renowned posse. This publicity, which deemphasized breakdancings confrontational aspect, turned the dance into a national sensation among white as well as black youths; suburban schoolchildren donned hip hop fashions, and some white teenagers signed up for breakdancing lessons. Widespread media attention diminished breakdancings power as a unique voice of self-affirmation for inner-city youth. Its influence, however, set the trajectory of subsequent dance trends. Black performers such as Michael Jackson, MC Hammer, and Missy Elliot draw from breakdance styles that never stop evolving. Even such breakdancing originals as Richard Crazy Legs ColÃÆ'Â ³n of the Rock Steady Crew, continue to innovate and perform.