Challenges faced by Human Resource Management Essay

Today’s society is one of radical and impulsive changes. Because there is no such thing as one right or wrong way to run an organization, many corporations have began to lean toward placing greater emphasis on improving Human Resource Management within their own organizations. All organizations require some form of organizational management. However, the success of an organization is derived from the organizations own individual strengths, limitations and submissions. This is where Human Resources Management comes into place. Human Resource Management can be used as a means to assist workers with productivity and organizational structure. The problem is that because Human Resource Management plays such a major role in an organization, this makes it one of the determining factors as to whether an organization thrives or dies. It has become one of the most demanding and controversial yet, important roles within an organization. This paper will discuss many of the challenges faced by Human Resource Management in the 21st century to include managing workers, strategy and worker productivity. The first challenge in human resource management deals with the managing the working population. Because there are so many different types of workers, an organization will be unsuccessful if it tries to manage every worker or group of workers in the exact same manner. Different people within each workgroup have to be managed differently. Today resource management workers should be able to persuade workers to work toward organizational goals and values while obtaining results. Less emphasis should be placed on managing what people do instead, concentrate on their strengths and how to make their strengths more productive within the organization. The main objective of human resources management should be geared toward getting better performance from its workers/ leaders while obtaining better results for the organization. Therefore, management is the key tool in making an organization produce results, by the use of its workers. Sometimes management may be faced with the challenge of managing workers that  are further knowledgeable about a specific job or assignment than themselves. The main thing to keep in mind is that longer is not always better. Someone who has worked on a specific job for a long period is not always considered to be the most knowledgeable person. One reason may be because of the fact that our society changes so speedily and the person with the longevity may not have changed with society or the roles society plays within an organization. The best solution, when relating longevity to managing workers, is to remember that the actual worker should not be managed. However, the manager may need to accept the fact that their subordinate may know more than they do and accept this as a learning tool to use to obtain better organizational productivity. Each and every organization has its own assumptions of how it defines its type of business, the company intentions, what type of customers it attracts and its definition of successful results. Strategy enables an organization to be deliberately opportunistic by allowing an organization to be successful in an unpredictable environment. Through strategy, an organization has the opportunity to make mistakes, correct the mistakes and start the process again. During the mistake and correction process, the organization is more capable of increasing organizational results by utilizing trial and error. Organizational strategies can be divided into two separate levels of strategy: cost-leadership and differentiation. The cost leadership strategy allows organizations to offer the highest quality products for the lowest cost possible. Their main goal is to generate economic value by offering lower costs than its competitors. A perfect example of this would be Wal-Mart. By offering lower prices Wal-Mart is able to win a majority of its customers. It would be fair to assume that in most instances, cost-leadership strategy would be a great way for an organization to earn more revenue than many of its competitors, especially when they are not faced with competitive pressures from the market. In the second level of strategy, differentiation, the organizations purpose is to offer certain products that the consumers prefer over other products offered by its competitors. In a sense, differentiation organizations could be considered as consumer based because they adhere to the needs of the public desires. It would be more appropriate to use a differentiation strategy in a â€Å"dynamic environment characterized by rapid change, and requires continually finding new products or services† (Mathis 35). Part of strategic planning consists of looking into the future of the organization. For instance, an organization must â€Å"have the right number of human resources, with the right capabilities, at the right times, and in the right places† (Mathis 44). Every organization has some form of strategy in place. In my opinion, a strategy is only as good as its achievement. A good, well planned, strategic plan should bring high-quality results for the organization when trying to obtain company goals. A new information revolution is well in progress. When speaking of new information, I am not just speaking of new computer technology or new up-to-date machinery; I am speaking about information that is readily available to improve business success. Several years ago the computer the thing for every organization to have in order to make operations run more smoothly. Who would have ever imagined that any piece of equipment would have such an impact on an organization and how the business was ran. Because the roles of human resource management are becoming more challenging and demanding, information is always a good way to stay ahead of the game. It is a must that the responsibility of human resource management keeps up with the changes in today’s aggressive markets. By doing so, many organizations must take on a more strategic approach in order to be successful. If an organization in today’s society chooses not to use a more strategic approach, it must be prepared to suffer the consequences and be  prepared to be overtaken by its competitors. Competition among organizations is on the rise. Some time ago, an organizations only concern was the neighboring store. Today however, organizations not only have to worry about their local stores but the global market as well. In order for a business to be successful today, and in the future, they have to become more flexible and customer focused. The human resources manager has to be able to progress to become a strategic partner and mentor within the organization. One must also know the organizations goals, understand those goals and have confidence that those goals are obtainable. After all, management consists of mentors, counselors, leaders, coaches and succession planners that are able to motivate and lead its workers, sometimes by use of persuasion. Another challenge faced by human resource management of the 21st century is workplace diversity. Because workplace diversity consists of such a mixture of talented but varied cultural backgrounds, genders, ages and lifestyles, an organization can react to business opportunities more speedily and resourcefully. More importantly, if the organizational atmosphere within an organization does not support diversity, they stand the chance of losing good talented workers to its competitors. Human resource management is also affected by the government sector. In fact, a study was conducted in the fiscal year 1999 by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The study concluded that â€Å"many more agencies than expected include HR representatives in the agency planning process and integrate human resources management goals, objectives, and strategies into agency strategic plans. However, most agencies are still struggling in this area† (â€Å"Stratgic Human Resource Managment: Aligning the Mission†).This is evidence that HRM roles are becoming more involved in management and business operational success. In conclusion, the world of human resource management is shifting more quickly than we can ever imagine. Steady ecological and societal changes indicate that human resource managers face constant challenges. They must  react by taking advantage of steady yet reflective changes in the field, present practices, and overall human resource management policies, mission and vision. Human resource management is not a thing of the past; it is a role of the future. This area of expertise within an organization is on the rise. Many organizations success depends on the expertise and capabilities of the HRM department. Basically, HRM is the backbone of the organization and without it, a business will lose some great workers to its competitors. Bibliography Stratgic Human Resource Managment: Aligning the Mission. September 1999. 25 July 2006. MIT Libraries. 14 April 2005. 25 July 2006. Macintosh, Stephen, S. Management Challenges for the 21st Century. 15 October 1999. 25 July 2006. Robert L. Mathis, John H. Jackson. Human Resource Management. Mason: South-Western, 2006.

Motor Vehicle Safety Laws and Public Health Essay

â€Å"The U. S. Congress responded with the National Highway Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Highway Safety Act of 1966, creating a new federal program to address motor vehicle safety† (Waller, para. 5). This act allows the federal government to implement laws regarding motor vehicle safety. This act created the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). William Haddon, public health physician, was the first director of the NHTSA. He was the first to set safety standard for motor vehicles and the first to administer programs for driver’s licensing, impaired driving from alcohol, motorcycle safety and etc. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are applied to new motor vehicle. â€Å"Legislation enacted in 1966 requires the federal government to establish safety standards for new motor vehicles sold in the United States, whether of domestic or foreign manufacture† (Waller, para. 16). These standards have prevented people from getting seriously injured during a motor vehicle accident. FMVSS, including softer instrument panels, head restraints, energy absorbing steering columns, and high penetration-resistant windshields, have saved thousands of lives and prevented tens of thousands of injuries† (Waller, para. 17). FMVSS also requires safety belts and child safety seats meet certain safety standards. State Laws Every state is required by law to follow the federal government’s standards. Most states have additional safety standards and programs regarding motor vehicle safety. The state of Maryland follows federal motor vehicle safety standards, as well as, their own safety standards. As of last year, Maryland set a new standard of no texting and talking on cell phones while driving, even at red lights. â€Å"Texting and talking on a cell phone while driving is illegal in Maryland; it is not safe for anyone and it can be especially dangerous for teens† (Young, para. 1). Texting and talking on cell phones while driving can become a huge distraction for drivers and has caused a lot of accidents. Maryland also has standards for unattended children in a motor vehicle. Every child that is unattended in a motor vehicle, especially during extreme hot and cold conditions, can get seriously injured which is why it is illegal. Legislative Laws These laws, federal and state, fall under legislative laws. Legislative laws are first called bills that are enacted by Congress, General Assembly and the President. For federal laws, the bill has to be passed through the U. S Congress and then signed by the President. Fore state laws, the bill has to be passed through the General Assembly and then signed by the State’s Governor. The U. S Congress can veto the President’s decision if the majority of Congress agrees. The same thing goes to the General Assembly. If the General Assembly disagrees with the Governor’s decision then the majority of the General Assembly can veto his decisions. For Motor Vehicle Safety, each state has to follow federal laws but they can pass their own laws to prevent motor vehicle injuries. State laws cannot contradict with federal laws. Most motor vehicle accidents occur from impairment driving from alcohol, recklessness and inexperienced. Public health is preventing people from injuries and diseases. With the help of these laws, there will be fewer motor vehicle accidents which will cause fewer injuries and deaths. â€Å"The reduction of the rate of death attributable to motor-vehicle crashes in the United States represents the successful public health response to a great technologic advance of the 20th century† (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, para. 1). Every standard that is regulated is there to prevent motor vehicle accidents from occurring. â€Å"In 1966, passage of the Highway Safety Act and the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act authorized the federal government to set and regulate standards for motor vehicles and highways, a mechanism necessary for effective prevention† (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, para. 3). Every new vehicle is designed to protect people from serious injuries when involved in an accident. Relating to Public Health Every year, the amount of motor vehicle deaths has decreased. Reductions in motor vehicle injury and death represent a major public health success† (Waller, para. 1). Motor vehicle accidents are still one of the largest causes of deaths in the United States. â€Å"Traffic crashes are identified as the ninth leading cause of death worldwide, and it is estimated that by the year 2020 traffic crashes will be the third largest cause of death and disability in the world† (Waller, para. 3). With setting more safety standards, motor vehicle accidents can decrease if everyone follows these standards. Preventing injuries from motor vehicle accidents will save many lives. â€Å"The record of motor vehicle injury prevention nevertheless represents a major success in public health in the United States† (Waller, para. 4). The estimation of motor vehicle accidents being the third cause of death and disability by 2020 can change by then if more safety standards and programs are issued. Federal and State Government It can take a lot to prevent motor vehicle accidents but if all standards are regulated then fewer motor vehicle accidents will happen. State and local governments have enacted and enforced laws that affect motor-vehicle and highway safety, driver licensing and testing, vehicle inspections, and traffic regulations† (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, para. 5). The federal and state government should continue to play a role in preventing motor vehicle accidents. If the federal and state government does not play a role in motor vehicle safety then there will be more injuries from accidents. The only reason why there has been a reduction in motor vehicle accidents is because of the standards regulated by federal and state governments.

Function of spoken conversation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Function of spoken conversation - Essay Example Spoken conversation would then be the use of spoken communication to transfer ideas, information and opinions. It's the simplest and most effective way to get one's message across. After body language, it's the second form of communication that we learn, and in a way, it's the most infallible. When an infant cries for example, we know that it either a) wants something, b) is in uncomfortable, or c) none of the above and one needs to see a doctor; but we can't be sure of the exact problem. It's the reason a doctor asks a person to describe one's symptoms first; because spoken conversation is the fastest way to get information. Anyone who's played charades will understand the trouble it is to make people understand something purely using body language. Anyone who loves a pet will know how infuriating it is that one can't have a good one-on-one chat with a dog, cat, gerbil, or goldfish. When we converse with someone verbally, we have a better chance of understanding that person; as compared to communicating via email or just observing their body language. Speaking is more emphatic than any other form of interaction. When we want to emphasize our point, we strain our voices and inflect more; the interest we take in a subject can be gauged by the speed at which we speak, or the way the decibel levels in our voice change. People give away a hundred different bits of info while they talk; other than just the words that they speak (Brennen, 2004). It's a bit difficult to state the function of spoken conversation; other than the absolute obvious. We use spoken conversation to communicate cheaply (doesn't require a monthly internet charge, or permanent markers); easily and fast; and to get our idea across most effectively. The voice, like the body, doesn't have a language barrier. The way a person intonates, and the rise and fall of his voice can get his message across even if he doesn't speak your language. The dynamism of speaking is such that we never ever pronounce a word in the same way twice (Wiki Answers). Our brain is able to recognize different sound patterns and give meaning to them. A simple word "Yes" can be used to signify approval, doubt and even a "No" if spoken with different tones. In any other form of communication, yes would just mean a 'yes'. So if one is speaking, it's absolutely necessary to pay attention, otherwise you might never know what you're getting into. Spoken conversation, because of its chances of ambiguity, strains one's mind more than any other form of conversation; and that includes written conversations with one's English Literature professor. And lastly; no form of conversation is as enjoyable as spoken conversation. Wit, banter, and irony are all exchanged verbally. Arguments, heated discussions, and rants on politics and sport are as much a part of our lives as gossip exchanged on the telephone. The advent of the 'Talkies' finished off silent movies; and unemployed many silent movie actors. And now, I doubt we can even imagine sitting through a 2 hour movie that doesn't have words. We speak not because we absolutely have to, but because we need to. An average person can go quite a long time without communicating with anyone through writing, but not having someone to talk to can drive him insane. In 'Castaway', Tom Hanks stars as a FedEx delivery man stranded on an island. Among his delivery consignment he finds a football which he turns into a

Should Child Labor Be Permitted or Not in Third World Countries Essay

Should Child Labor Be Permitted or Not in Third World Countries - Essay Example Proponents of child labor have argued their case through the prism of economics. This group support child labor on the following grounds. First, some of them argue that child labor helps a family to earn extra income, as many jobs are low paying. This presents a complex situation in which governments find it difficult to enforce policies on education. Others have also argued that child labor in developing countries prepares the children to be responsible. They claim that since there are limited formal employment opportunities, it is good for the child to learn a means of survival. In some instances, such proponents of child labor also argue that traditionally, African families were polygamous and large. Parent and children tilled land together, planted together and reaped. Boys were supposed to herd animals as girls did domestic chores. In Asian countries, child labor may be seen in the form of working in rice plantations and other informal settings. Another emerging argument in mode rn times with respect to education is that the cost of living has risen, and some parents cannot afford education for their children. Rather than be idle, they argue that taking them to work offers the best solution for their unique challenges. Where the government has subsidized tuition fee in education, proponents of child labor argue that they still have to meet other expenses. They point out that it is still equally difficult to raise the boarding fee, money for uniform, shoes and other supplementary requirements and still put food on the table. Even so, the so-called benefits of child labor are just justifications. Child labor indeed has a bigger negative side. First, scholars have observed that child labor denies the child the right to grow up as any other child should (Das and Biswal, 2012). These scholars observe that child labor socializes the child with the adult population, as opposed to growing up with peers. This is harm to the child’s social development. Some scholars have also pointed out that child labor leads to exploitation of the child. They argue that employers underpay and exploit at their various places of work. In the end, many of them do not see the full benefit of their toil. In Asia, there have also been reports of children being exploited in sex tourism (Aziz and Iskandar, 2013). I would oppose child labor in all its form.

WESTERN CIVILIZATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (continuity and Term Paper

WESTERN CIVILIZATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (continuity and discontinuity) - Term Paper Example Similar advancement derailment could happen at any of the successive psychosexual stages resulting differently to anal retentive personal traits or, subsequent, to an Oedipus intricate. These concepts have a reflective effect on the western culture, more so on the concept that mature personality is considerably formed in the initial stages of the childhood and that the foundational causes of many mature problems must therefore be met and therapeutically revealed in the childhood happening (Woods, 2005). A corollary conclusion was that each point relied on the other. This needed the successful conclusion of each preceding stage. Knowledge of the internal logic in each stage would allow prediction of the later stages (Khalakdina, 2008). There was also an assumption that, the initial stages of child advancement would have a decisive effect on all the later development and the outline of an adult and his conduct (Constantineau, & McLuhan, 2010). The persistence of this conviction in the decisive effect of initial knowledge can be viewed in the normally held notion amid the contemporary middle class parents that they will achieve their children’s development without the concern of the stage of such children As it has already been discussed above, the idea of the continuity is so intensely ingrained in the modern observations of human advancement that is regularly merely assumed. In spite of its foundation being found in the Aristotle and other western scholars, it remains clearly a contemporary idea (West, 2008). Prior to the contemporary era, the prevailing observation of people’s lives was religious rather than secular. Augustine confessions afforded a vivid and compelling appearance of this sacred western view on the fundamental course and connotation of human existence a master narrative of its vital themes and matters. According to the master narrative, people come into the world together with burden of the new sins and the liberty and the

Choose from the book Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Choose from the book - Essay Example He played a significant role, in the Watergate scandal, by supporting his president through the aftermath of the scandal. Question # 5 The two primary objectives of the Women’s Movement were protecting of homes and acting against the negativities of alcohol abuse. It encouraged women to stand up and participate in nation building. It advocated for a healthy lifestyle and shunning all that was defective, in society. Question # 6 The Gulf of Tonkin incident occurred on the East coast of North Vietnam and to the West Coast of Hainan Island. Vietnamese torpedo patrol boats attacked the American destroyer, Maddox, marking the official involvement of the United States of America in the Vietnam War through the signing of a decree by the then president. Question # 7 My Lai massacre took place on March 16TH 1968. It was a village with 700 people South East of a United States army base in Danang. It involved the killing of village civilians amounting to between 347 to 504 people killed by the American forces. Question # 8 Tet is the name given to the Vietnamese New Year. The Tet offensive was conducted on the Tet of 1968, by the communist forces, on all Southern Vietnamese cities, including an attack on the American embassy where many civilians were killed escalating the situation even further to an all out war. Question # 9 The Iran-Contra was a secret action by the United States that was not affirmed by congress. It happened in 1985 when the United States administration under President Ronald Reagan, supplied weapons to Iran in exchange for hostages that were being held by Hezbollah a terrorist outfit loyal to Ayatollah Khomeini the Iran leader. Proceeds from this sale were given to the Contra guerrillas in Nicaragua. The Contras were armed opposition to Nicaragua’s Sandinista Junta, of National Reconstruction, which formed after Anastasio Somoza Dabayle was overthrown from government ending his dictatorship regime. Question # 10 Bob Woodward and Carl Ber nstein were two Washington Post reporters who broke out the Water-gate scandal to the public. They got their information from a source they called Deep Throat, whose real identity they never revealed to protect their source of information, which was allowed by law and enshrined, in the constitution. The law is still applicable up to today to protect journalist’s sources. Question # 11 The Gorbachev policy of Perestroika and Glasnost were the two policies that were put into practice, in the USSR. Perestroika was the democratization of the communist party allowing civilians to have a modest ay in government, economic reform by allowing some industries to operate semi-privately and end price control through a semi-free market system. Glasnost meant openness which increased the freedom of expression in the media and in the people which helped whistle blowing and exposing corruption. Question # 12 A group of Communist Hardliners led by his former vice president Gennady Yanayev arr ested and imprisoned Gorbachev. President Boris Yeltsin convinced them to release him. Question # 13 The destruction of the Berlin Wall marked the symbolic end of the Cold-War which united the communist East and the capitalist West Germany into one capitalist state. Question #14 President Clinton was impeached because for high crimes of perjury, abuse of power and obstruction of justice. The allegations

Week 4 Assignment 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Week 4 Assignment 5 - Essay Example The student should be motivated to use self-statements to control anger. The statements can be like â€Å"I can manage this situation†, â€Å"I will count to ten† etc. Multicultural infusion- In this lesson plan knowledge about the varied culture and background people’s knowledge will be imparted so that the student can mingle and adapt to a wide group, thus accepting the individual differences. The student is able to feel calmness in mind by learning to play music and appreciating art by either directly getting involved in it or just by looking at it. The student when gets anger is able to vent out his anger by sketching. The student will show the ability to laugh by poking fun at a situation (by not harming others sentiments) or is able to cool down his anger by telling a joke. Laughter is one of the best medicines for controlling anger. The student is able to discuss his problems with his family; teacher and friends regarding his cause of anger as sharing problems and feelings makes oneself feel better and at peace with mind. Solutions are also expected by sharing of

Palagrism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Palagrism - Assignment Example Routmans assignment required her to watch a movie, and then provide an equivalent of the film to ship or port experiences. She did watch Europa Europa, and then referred to Wikipedia for proper historic wording. A day before the deadline of submitting the paper, the professor asked students who had plagiarised their work to give in. The Five of them who did were awarded zeros on their papers, but were not expelled (Laconte). Routman, however, never confessed her plagiarism since she thought she had done nothing wrong. The professor later on found out that she had borrowed several phrases Xerox to those on the online entry about the film. Routmans argument was that the words were historical features and not complete phrases as the professor claimed (Sampson). University officials disagreed with Routman, and so the case had to go through a panel. The panel found her guilty of plagiarism and expelled her from the school. She went ahead to file for an appeal, but even that, she was denied. Routman and a fellow student accused of the same were forced to disembark from the ship since they had been expelled from the university and so had no right to continue with the

Later Adulthood Development Report Essay Example for Free

Later Adulthood Development Report Essay Aging occurs in every stage of life, and as adults grow older and move from one stage of adulthood to the next many new changes can occur in their everyday lives. The transition from middle adulthood to later adulthood can bring a whole new level of changes to an individual’s life. The aging process includes changes in roles and social positions, considering living accommodations with health care needs, transitioning from work life to retirement, changes in social policies, and changes in relationships with family members and peers. As aging occurs individuals notice a numerous amount of changes in their lives. Some of those changes occur in their roles and social positions. As an individual ages they may begin to notice both physical and mental changes that decrease their ability to carry out activities in their daily routines. An individual who was once the leader of company meetings may notice that they are no longer able to hear or see things as well as they were before, and they may not be able to process their thoughts as quickly. They might also notice a delay in their reaction time. While some people may assume it is because of a medical issue, it could just be because of aging. As aging continues throughout later adulthood individuals may also notice changes in their physical appearances such as loose or wrinkly skin and a decrease in muscle tone. Throughout life individuals may decide to move from one place to another to experience what it is like to live in a new place. As individuals age their health starts to decline, and in some cases, some families have to make the decision to put their loved ones in a nursing home or hire a nursing staff to do home visits. When the health of a loved one becomes an issue family members have to make sure they are getting the  proper care they need to ensure their loved ones are safe and their health needs are being met. Some elderly individuals are able to go through life and not need any type of assistance caring for themselves, but some individuals get sick and cannot properly take care of themselves any longer. Alzheimer’s and Dementia are two of the worst diseases an individual can develop as they age. Once Alzheimer’s or Dementia really set in the individual start to forget life as they previously knew it. They no longer recognize their family or friends and have a hard time remembering anything about their lives. According to the Alzheimer’s Association there are three stages to Alzheimer’s disease, the early, middle, and late stages. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease an individual may still function as well as they did before they knew they had the disease, â€Å"He or she may still drive, work, and be a part of social activities† (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015). According to the Alzheimer’s Association, â€Å"The middle stages of Alzheimer’s are typically the longest and can last for many years†. The third, and final stage of Alzheimer’s, the late stages, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, â€Å"may last for several weeks or several years and requires intense are the clock care†. As Alzheimer’s progresses the individual may experience symptoms such as; anger, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, memory loss, confusion, repetition, and physical discomfort. As Alzheimer’s slowly starts to take over the individual it becomes harder and harder for both the individual and the family to deal with the changes that are occurring. That is why it is so important to make sure there is a trained medical professional on site at all times to care and comfort the individual dealing with the disease. The transition from working life to retirement can be a difficult process for some adults as they struggle to accept the changes that will occur in their lifestyle. But, on the other hand, retirement can also be an enjoyable time for some adults as they see it as an opportunity to do things they love without having to worry about work interfering with their plans. Some aging adults have a hard time coping with the thought of retirement because of the drastic change in income and they do not know what to do with  all the extra time they will have throughout the day. While the changes in income between a weekly or biweekly paycheck greatly differ from their previous profession and the amount of money received through social security, most employers offer a 401K savings plan to help with retirement and life after working. Social policies were put in tact to ensure that anyone in need is able to have their needs met. These needs can include medical, nutritional, and income needs. The government has funded programs such as food stamps to help families all over the country provide food for their families. Other government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare are intact to help cover medical expenses for people who cannot afford health or dental insurance. When it comes to the elderly, social programs such as Social Security and the Older Americans Act were put intact to ensure the elderly (anyone aged sixty five or older) are able to financially support themselves. Social policies are a great way to ensure individuals are properly taken care of and are able to support themselves. Family is forever, and nobody should ever feel as if they have to go through life alone. As we age it is important to remember how important our family and friends really are to us. We spend our whole lives searching for someone to spend the rest of our lives with and to build a family with, but as we age and people in our families start to die people begin to feel lonely. Losing a close family member or even a friend can leave individuals with a feeling of loneliness or even depression, â€Å"Most people seventy years of age or older are widowed, divorced, or single† (Zastrow Kirst-Ashman, 2010). Grandparents and great- grandparents should never have to feel like they are unimportant or unwanted by their families. As individuals mature and go on with their own lives they should always continue to stay in touch with everyone in their family, but they should especially make sure their grandparents and older family members are healthy and well taken care of. The changes that occur throughout our daily lives are preparing us for the next stage of life. As individuals age they experience new things and learn  new things about themselves. Some people fear aging as they fear they will no longer be able to properly care for themselves any longer, but with the love and support from our families anything is possible. The aging process includes changes in roles and social positions, considering living accommodations with health care needs, transitioning from work life  to retirement, changes in social policies, and changes in relationships with family members and peers. Aging is just one of the many aspects of life that everyone has to deal with, and it is up to us to determine how we want to deal with it and let it affect our everyday life. References: Alzheimer’s Association. The Stages of Alzheimer’s. Retrieved from: http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_4521.asp U.S Department of Health and Family Services. Caring for Frail Elderly People: Policies in Evolution. Retrieved from: http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/chap14.htm Zastrow, C.H. Kirst-Ashman, K.K. (2010). Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment (8th Ed.)

Thinking Styles Essay Example for Free

Thinking Styles Essay According to Harrison and Bramson, there are six thinking styles: analyst, synthesist, pragmatist, idealist, realist, and spiritually-guided. In this paper, I will analyze the last three. An idealist is typically concerned with value judgments. He looks at the world with inquiring eyes, asking about what is good for the people and society and believes in the good in people. The idealist is like Pollyanna – optimistic with his view of man, the idealist believes that conflict can be resolved by getting down to the basics. We are after all linked by the same humanity, and our similarities will help reconcile our differences. The realist, on the other hand, looks at the world as is. Facts are of utmost importance, as is observation and objectivity. The world as perceived through the senses is the real world, and hopes and value judgments should not cloud one’s view of reality. A realist sees a bleak landscape than an idealist because a realist chooses to look things as detachedly as possible, to make objective assessments and not make excuses or conjure reasoning to defend negative behavior. A realist insist on having reality, no matter how awful it could be. Â  A spiritually-guided thinking style is radically different from the first two because it is anchored on a belief in God. Faith plays a central role, a determining factor. A spiritually-guided person will see everything in relation to God’s will and its place in God’s great scheme of things. Spiritually-guided people tend to be more accepting and forgiving in the name of faith; however, authentic belief in the principles espoused by the religion can be suspicious. Focusing on God does not mean that the person truly understands the values of the faith, but simply that he is looking at the world and connecting what he sees with an idea of God. Â   Source: Bramson, Robert and Harrsion, Allen. The Art of Thinking. Berkley Publishing Group, 1987.