Learning, Knowledge and Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Learning, Knowledge and Performance - Essay Example The discourse also considers the Kolb learning system and influences of improving the situation at Siemens. Siemens organization did not consider earlier knowledge management, yet it is an economic resource for the company. It is essential for Siemens to recognize that sharing of knowledge is a significant element of knowledge management. Knowledge management is not part of the success strategy in the learning and knowledge at Siemens. Employees own knowledge and incorporating them into institutional knowledge at Siemens relies on the cultural behavior regarding sharing knowledge (Morey, Maybury, Bhavani, &Thuraisingham2002, p. 23).It is the role of the company to inculcate the culture of knowledge sharing among employees. Employees at Siemens comprehend that sharing of knowledge is significant but do not share amongst them because they hold it an important asset that can make them remain valuable at the company (Sonbuchner 1991, p. 31). It is not possible to force employees to share knowledge neither is it advisable. However, employees induced or motivated to do so. The system at Siemens constitutes motivational methods to induce workers into adopting the behavior of sharing knowledge, the biggest cha llenge emanates from changing the current behavior of employees (MacKeracher 1996, p. 56). Changing behavior is directly proportional to the success of sharing knowledge and the effectiveness of knowledge management (Stewart & Rigg 2011, p. 41). The value of sharing knowledge in knowledge management requires understanding ways through which employees remain motivated to share knowledge in a way that helps the overall intellectual advantage of Siemens (Kiersey1984). The knowledge gaps at Siemens are barriers in attaining desired goals in the company (Jones& Carr 1987, p. 69). The climate and culture at Siemens play a significant role in developing the process of sharing knowledge among

Ashton DeShazier Essay Example for Free

Ashton DeShazier Essay My name is Ashton DeShazier. I was born in Selmer, Tennessee. I am now from the small town of Lexington, Tennessee, but my dreams have never been small. I cannot remember ever wanting any other career than that of a doctor. Soon after my birth, Mother became a single mom. She had to work full-time to support us. I learned early the value of hard work, but this is just a small part of what she has given me. Throughout my life, my mother has been there for me at all times, through all circumstances, and especially when no one else was. She is my Rock of Gibraltar whenever a problem occurs. She has taught me the importance of motherhood, dedication to work, and loyalty to those you love. I learn quickly, and academics come easily to me. I also began setting other goals for myself in elementary school. In the sixth grade at Caywood Elementary, my goal was to be a cheerleader. I not only met, but also exceeded my goal by becoming the Junior Varsity Cheerleading squad captain. I continued in the sport of cheer leading, once again becoming captain in the eighth grade. I was chosen for the Junior Beta Club in seventh and eighth grade as well. During this same time period, I became a member of â€Å"Show Choir,† a musical group at Caywood that performed Christmas and spring shows for the community-at- large, and the elderly in nursing homes in particular. My junior high years ended with me joining Drama, receiving one of the leading parts in an important play, and receiving the honor of Homecoming Princess. I began my high school career at Lexington High School. I continued to set goals for myself, but now with college in my sites. I reaffirmed my dedication to becoming a doctor, knowing I would never let this dream slip away. Vanderbilt is looking for prospective students who are leaders. I demonstrated throughout high school that leadership is one of my greatest assets. I attended Lexington High School the entire four years. From my freshman through my senior years, I was on the Competition Dance Team and an active member in D. A. R. E. For three years I was in both Drama and Beta, an organization requiring a cumulative GPA of at least 95. My ability to accept more responsibility resulted in me committing to additional groups and committees throughout the four years. These groups included World Travelers, Spanish Club(as President), Beta Upsilon Mu Sorority, Senior Committee, and Annual Staff. Additionally, I joined Renaissance. Admittance is based on academic excellence, superior behavior, and attendance records. I am a member of both the Honor Society and the Future Community and Career Leaders of America(FCCLA). At the end of my junior year, it was time to choose my classes for the next year. While many of my friends chose to end their high school years with easy classes, I chose many of the hardest classes offered. I knew that to achieve my goals of attending Vanderbilt and medical school, I could not take the easy road. I know the work will be hard and the challenges great, and I am anxious to prove myself worth. Acceptance at Vanderbilt is very important to me, and I will not accept anything less. I have considered many different schools, but I always return to Vanderbilt University as my only choice. What attracts me most is Vanderbilt’s high standards and reputation for excellence, traits I have honed and maintained throughout my schooling. Preparing to become a doctor means many more years of education, and I must learn from the best. My name is Ashton DeShazier. I was born in Selmer, Tennessee. I am now from the small town of Lexington, Tennessee, but my dreams have never been small. I cannot remember ever wanting any other career than that of a doctor. Soon after my birth, Mother became a single mom. She had to work full-time to support us. I learned early the value of hard work, but this is just a small part of what she has given me. Throughout my life, my mother has been there for me at all times, through all circumstances, and especially when no one else was. She is my Rock of Gibraltar whenever a problem occurs. She has taught me the importance of motherhood, dedication to work, and loyalty to those you love. I learn quickly, and academics come easily to me. I also began setting other goals for myself in elementary school. In the sixth grade at Caywood Elementary, my goal was to be a cheerleader. I not only met, but also exceeded my goal by becoming the Junior Varsity Cheerleading squad captain. I continued in the sport of cheer leading, once again becoming captain in the eighth grade. I was chosen for the Junior Beta Club in seventh and eighth grade as well. During this same time period, I became a member of â€Å"Show Choir,† a musical group at Caywood that performed Christmas and spring shows for the community-at- large, and the elderly in nursing homes in particular. My junior high years ended with me joining Drama, receiving one of the leading parts in an important play, and receiving the honor of Homecoming Princess. I began my high school career at Lexington High School. I continued to set goals for myself, but now with college in my sites. I reaffirmed my dedication to becoming a doctor, knowing I would never let this dream slip away. Vanderbilt is looking for prospective students who are leaders. I demonstrated throughout high school that leadership is one of my greatest assets. I attended Lexington High School the entire four years. From my freshman through my senior years, I was on the Competition Dance Team and an active member in D. A. R. E. For three years I was in both Drama and Beta, an organization requiring a cumulative GPA of at least 95. My ability to accept more responsibility resulted in me committing to additional groups and committees throughout the four years. These groups included World Travelers, Spanish Club(as President), Beta Upsilon Mu Sorority, Senior Committee, and Annual Staff. Additionally, I joined Renaissance. Admittance is based on academic excellence, superior behavior, and attendance records. I am a member of both the Honor Society and the Future Community and Career Leaders of America(FCCLA). At the end of my junior year, it was time to choose my classes for the next year. While many of my friends chose to end their high school years with easy classes, I chose many of the hardest classes offered. I knew that to achieve my goals of attending Vanderbilt and medical school, I could not take the easy road. I know the work will be hard and the challenges great, and I am anxious to prove myself worth. Acceptance at Vanderbilt is very important to me, and I will not accept anything less. I have considered many different schools, but I always return to Vanderbilt University as my only choice. What attracts me most is Vanderbilt’s high standards and reputation for excellence, traits I have honed and maintained throughout my schooling. Preparing to become a doctor means many more years of education, and I must learn from the best.

Charlies Attempt to Overcome the Past in Fitzgeralds Babylon Revisited :: Babylon Revisited Essays

Charlie's Attempt to Overcome the Past in Fitzgerald's Babylon Revisited Babylon Revisited is made up of different characters with different ideologies in life. The Protagonist, Charlie is a reformed alcoholic who had come back to take his daughter. Marion is Charlie's sister- in - law who dislikes him because she thinks he caused her sister's death. I think Marion is emotionally disturbed. She overacts to things that happen in everyday life. Lincoln is Marion's husband .He tries to keep things as even as possible for Marion. Loraine and Duncan are ghosts from Charlie's past and they came to haunt him at the end of the story. We are always being haunted by our past sins and Misdemeanors. Even when we have been reformed, it takes a similar incident or someone appearing from the past to remind us of what we were before. I think Charlie is a strong Character. He was able to reform himself and stop drinking. This shows that he is strong. His coming back for his daughter proves that he is aware of his Civic responsibilities and he is ready to undertake them. There is a Strong bond between him and his daughter which is definitely a plus on his side. Charlie's journey to Paris to pick up his daughter reminds me of when I visited America. I stayed for one year before I went back for my Children. I had to get to know them again. I can relate to Charlie when he told Honoria "I want to get to Know you" (9).When you stay away from you children for sometime , you feel that they have grown so much and there is so much you don't know about them. Charlie had reasons to mistrust Marion .As Fitzgerald put it " Charlie became increasingly alarmed at leaving Honoria in this atmosphere of hostility against himself; sooner or later, it will come out in a word here, a shake of head there, and some of the distrust will be irrevocably implanted on Honoria"(13). It is not easy to leave your child with some one who you Know definitely does not like you. The father and Daughter bond is a strong bond and if it is destroyed at this early age it can become very difficult to restore it. Marion was very strongly biased against Charlie. Marion was ready to give Honoria back to the father until the appearance of Duncan and Lorraine.

History of McDonald’s

McDonald’s with about 30.000 restaurants in 121 countries; was founded in 1948 at San Bernardino, USA. Its business goals are satisfied employees, more satisfied guests and a better economy. They consider employees as their main asset and accordingly, have undertaken human resource programs and practices called the â€Å"People Promise†.   Their success was due to quality, quick service, cleanliness and value for money. In 1997, McDonald’s divided its HR into three groups: the Service Center, HR Business Partners and the HR Design Center. The HR Design Center employs HR experts who develop, test and implement systems applicable to employees’ tools, which are at the forefront of research and which are designed to improve overall business results. The Measurement and Organizational Effectiveness group deals with employee commitment surveys in order to standardize relevant data, to study practices and approaches that affect turnover, productivity, customer satisfaction, sales and profitability. I-O psychologists have played a critical role in Leadership Assessment and Development, which deals with the executive succession planning process, senior management feedback and coaching and other senior leadership development programs. Implementing competency-based people systems, McDonald’s has realized intellectual capital by helping each person deliver business results. This is the People Promise initiative, which identifies metrics that relate to the success of this key strategy. In addition to conducting job analyses and test validation studies, I – O psychologists also construct and assess methodologies appropriate for capturing critical factors that measure overall business success. â€Å"I-O psychologists at McDonald’s are now, in a position to enact a key role in defining the landscape, identifying the key signposts and measuring how far an organization has gone to reach its overall goals† (Matt Barney, July 2001). McDonald's attaches great importance to imparting knowledge about the benefits of a balanced diet and active lifestyle not only to its customers but also to its employees. Recently, Peter Beresford, CEO of the UK wing of McDonald’s, endeavor has been to improve communications. He has initiated a number of pioneering measures like ‘Ask Peter', a direct e-mail, ‘Town Halls', a monthly live online event where board members answer questions from staff, and the MDUK staff magazine. The employees have welcomed these changes whole heartedly (HR Challenges. 6th September 2005). Sources HR challenges †¦ I’m lovin’ it., 6th September 2005. Retrieved 19th April 2006, form http://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2005/09/06/31465/HR+challenges+I'm+lovin'+it.htm Matt Barney, Macro, Meso, Micro: McDonald’s, Retrieved April 17, 2006 from http://siop.org/tip/backissues/tipjul01/17barney.htm   

Explore the implications of ‘homelessness’ with regards to Lennie Essay

‘Home’ in Of Mice and Men represents an ideal, one that all characters in this novella, including Lennie, appear to lack. Thus they are all ‘homeless’ in one sense or another. The subject of home and homelessness is one that is closely related to all the major themes of Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck effectively portrays his characters by their different aspirations towards ‘home’. In doing so he creates a hierarchy of this ideal. Thus the most humble and submissive dream of home pursued by Lennie and his companion George is shown to be the most compelling and greatest of all. Yet, will Lennie grasp the light flaming on the top of the Gabilan mountains-the light of heaven? Or are the providential forces of fate and destiny to render ‘Paradise Lost’ ? Of Mice and Men is about the plight of two American labourers, George and Lennie. George is a ‘smart little guy’ whereas Lennie is the exact opposite. The plot and structure of the story is very economical and the language used is in no way elaborate. Assisted by the simple time frame we are given the impression that the story is an uncomplicated one. Yet, within this seemingly unembellished novel are to be found a variety of themes, skilfully brought to light by the way in which the author handles his subject; George and Lennie. The two main themes of Of Mice and Men are that of dreams- the aspiration towards an ideal home, and that of loneliness. Lennie is a man of immense strength and size. However, in effect his mind is like that of a child’s. His home is neither with nature nor with man. Throughout the story, Steinbeck is constantly describing Lennie in animal terms. He says, regarding Lennie, â€Å"(h)e walked, heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.† In many cases Lennie is likened to a dog. This image is furthered by Candy’s dog who plays a choral role as Lennie’s double. The description of Lennie as the ‘poor bastard’ also suggests that Lennie is not of the family of man. Lennie’s mind has never fully learnt how to control his body. He is thus not at home in the ranch where he and George are working as he is unable to cope with the complexities of ‘modern’ living. Also, living in the ranch for too long would inevitably lead to trouble, such as that which occurred in Weed. Therefore, even if one were to consider the ranch as being Lennie’s home, it can not be a permanent one. Through the subject of protest, Of Mice and Men provides us with a new dimension to homelessness. Negroes, cripples and misfits are all shunned by society. This is illustrated by the characters of Crooks, Candy and Lennie respectively. Lennie’s ill treatment is apparent at many times throughout the story. One such case being that when Curley decides to pick a fight with him. Even George, Lennie’s closest companion â€Å"used to play jokes on ‘im ’cause he was.. dumb.† Rejected by society Lennie is ‘homeless.’ However, one must add that although Lennie is treated badly at times, there are others where he is treated with kindness and sympathy. Yet, is sympathy enough to make him feel at ‘home’? In the first paragraph of the story we are introduced to the idea of nature as ‘home’. Yet, although Lennie is constantly portrayed as an animal, as with man, Lennie and nature are incompatible; one inevitably leading to the destruction of the other. Lennie, like a child, is fascinated with things that he can caress such as mice and pups. His love for them is undeniable, yet they all end up dead. One may say that he ‘loves them to death.’ Both Lennie and George know that Lennie is incapable of surviving in nature, thus with a sort of animal wit, Lennie plays on George’s feelings of guilt: â€Å"If you don’t want me†¦.I’ll go off in the hills†¦and live all by myself.† The idea of Lennie living alone in nature is a laughable one. This incompatibility is ominous- it is as if Steinbeck is saying that Lennie will either destroy nature or nature will destroy Lennie. Lennie’s home, the only one that may agree with his survival is one where ‘like a terrier who†¦..bring(s) a ball to it’s master’ he is always tethered to George, and constantly under his watchful eye. This is neither possible at the ranch nor where Lennie is alone in nature, he is therefore ‘homeless’ is in this sense. Yet it would be wrong to suggest that Lennie attempts to find home for the above reasons, for as George puts it, â€Å"(h)e was too dumb.† His motivation is that of fear; fear of loneliness, a concept that even Lennie is able to understand. His feeling of insecurity towards the one most important thing in his life-his relationship with Lennie is evident at certain times throughout the story. One such case being when cynical Crooks teases Lennie about what will happen if George does not return from town: † ‘He’ll come back to-night-‘ But the doubt was too much for him. ‘Don’t you think he will?’ † Lennie’s doubt makes Crooks’ double negative to be of great significance. Crooks’ says, â€Å"S’pose you didn’t have nobody.† Through this Steinbeck appears to be saying that George’s companionship is not one of substance. Their separation is indeed inevitable. For this reason Lennie de sires a home. Lennie’s dream of home is one in which he is in harmony with both man and nature. It is a humble dream, which is summed up by George, â€Å"Well its ten acres†¦got a kitchen, orchard, cherries†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Having a particular Western resonance in that it is related to the ‘great American dream’ in the time of the frontiers, the farm offers Lennie a sanctuary from his own innocence. He can be at one with nature that he so loves whilst being looked after by George. Yet cynical Crooks believes that this dream is impracticable: â€Å"Hundreds of them†¦an every damn one of ’em’s got a ..piece of land in his head†¦ Nobody never gets to heaven and nobody never gets no land.† Lennie’s tragic death is the final confirmation of this. Lennie’s life can be seen to be a trap. The only means of escaping the implications of homelessness and thus freeing himself is to dream. Crooks’ double negative (‘nobody never gets to heaven’) leads us to question whether Lennie actually ascertains his ideal home – paradise. Across the Salinas river lies the ‘golden foothill slopes’ that ‘curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains.’ The light flaming on the top of the Gabilan mountains is an image that recurs throughout the novella. At the end of the book Lennie stands facing the great mountains, all that lies between him and paradise is the Salinas river-the river of death. In death, Lennie has overcome this barrier. His ascending spirit is scaling the ‘golden foothill’-the path to heaven whilst his body shall soon receive the land for which it so yearned. Whether or not Steinbeck intended so literary an interpretation is unknown. However, the image gives us valuable insight to Steinbeck’s views on the subject of home. It is as though Steinbeck is saying that the actual apprehension of the dream is of little importance, what is of importance is the feelings and emotions that are generated by it.