Essay on Process Improvement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

On Process Improvement - Essay Example Following a lengthy process, the recruitment process conducted by TS takes too long resulting in some interested candidates getting taken away by other companies. Within the framework of the company itself, some employees appear very dissatisfied with the services rendered by the company. The level of input appear to be dwindling among the employees of Talent Seek, reaching levels of failing to cooperate with the newly appointed manager of the Business Analysis and Improvement team. Objectives of the improvement process The purposes of performing a process improvement include identifying the processes that require improvement, analyzing the identified processes, and finally implementing the desired changes aimed at improving the processes. The processes reviewed for improvement ought to present a surmountable impact on the customer satisfaction or competitive advantage. While numerous reasons exist, for implementing process improvement, the case of Talent Seek would mainly aim at imp roving customer satisfaction with the services offered. The improvement of customer satisfaction, required by the company, remains reducing the time taken to complete requested recruitments. This duration appears to cause some qualified candidates to lose interest in the employment opportunities offered. Reducing the duration, therefore, remains essential to the overall improvement of the process and ensuring the recruitment of the best candidates within the specified job market. The improvements Disconnects could be defined as elements that appear to inhibit the efficient and proper functioning of a process (Rummler, 1996). They form the basis upon which improvements should target, as handling disconnects improves the entire process. Proper handling of the prevalent disconnects remains essential in ensuring improvement of the entire process. Within the TS recruitment process, majority of the delays result from processes considered protocol within the company. Majority of these â₠¬Ëœprotocol’ stages could be eliminated in order to quicken the process, hence improvement of the operations. In the preparation stages of the process, the client-end managers could be handed the task of determining terms and conditions for the various vacancies. This would efficiently cut the consultation period utilized when the TS team determines the terms, and the client-end managers have to counter-check before the process can proceed. A cost effective method for implementing such changes would be charging for the services of drawing conditions and terms. Companies willing to have conditions determined by TS would pay for the service, effectively; the TS Company would cater for the remunerations of the individuals performing the job through these payments, while making a profit. Within the recruitment process, TS could limit the duties performed by the recruitment panelists. The roles of the panelists could be reduced to only conducting the vis-a-vis interviews. The aspe ct of having the panelists’ review the applications could be done away with as it only consumes time. Since panelists must be sourced once applications have been received, the roles played by these individuals need to remain minimized to reduce the duration. The role of the panelist in the actual recruitment ought to remain limited to conducting the interview, on the specified period. Being expatriates, retaining panelists for long periods could prove costly to the recruiting company. In managing the costs

Macro environmental factors that affect firms

Macro environmental factors that affect firms These factors are not within the control of management of business but still affects the business up to large extends. These factors are almost uncontrollable. The organization has to fit into this environment to survive in this competitive scenario. These factors of macro environment also affects the factors within the organization i.e. factors of micro environment. There are many factors in the macro-environment that will affect the decisions of the managers of any organization in this whole world. Tax changes, new laws, trade barriers, demographic change and government policy, political changes are all examples of macro change. To analyze these factors managers can categories them using the PESTEL model. Political factors: This refers to government policy, For example: the degree of intervention in the economy. What goods and services a government wants to provide? Up To what extent does it believe in subsidizing firms? What are its major priorities in terms of business support? Political decisions can impact on many vital areas of business such as the education of the workforce, the health of the nation and the quality of the infrastructure of the economy such as the road and rail system. Economic factors: This includes interest rates, taxation changes, economic growth, inflation and exchange rates. For example: Higher interest rate may deter the investment because it costs more to borrow. Inflation may provoke the higher wage demands from employees and raise costs. Higher national income growth may boost the demand for a firms products. Social factors: Changes in social trends can impact on the demand for a firms products and the availability and willingness of employees to work. For example: In the UK, the population has been ageing. This has increased the costs for firms who are committed to pension payments for their employees because their staffs are living longer. It also means some firms like ASDA have started to recruit older employees to tap into this growing labor pool. The ageing population also has impact on demand. For example: Demand for sheltered accommodation and medicines have increased whereas demand for toys is falling. Technological factors: New technology creates new products and new processes. MP3 players, computer games, online gambling, i-pods and high definition TVs are all new markets created by technological advances. Online shopping, bar coding and computer aided design are all improvements to the way the businessmen do business as a result of better technology. Technology can reduce costs; improve quality and leads to innovation. These developments can benefit consumers as well as the organizations which providing the products. Environmental factors: Environmental factor includes the weather and climate change. Changes in temperature can impact on many industries which include farming, tourism and insurance. With major climate changes occurring due to global warming and with greater environmental awareness these external factors are becoming a significant issue for firms to consider. The growing desire to protect the environment is having an impact on many industries like the travel and transportation industries (For example: more taxes being placed on air travel and the success of hybrid cars.) and the general move towards more environmental friendly products and processes is affecting demand patterns and creating business opportunities. Legal factors: These are related to the legal environment in which firm operates. In recent years in the UK there have been many beneficial legal changes that have affected firms behavior. The introduction of age discrimination and disability discrimination legislation, an increase in the minimum wage and greater requirements for firms to recycle are examples of the recent laws that affect an organisations actions. Legal changes can affect a firms costs and demand. IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Firm to identify opportunities and getting the first mover advantage: Early identification of opportunities helps an enterprise to be the first to catch them instead of losing them to competitors. For example: Maruti Udyog became the leader in the small car market since it was the first to recognize the need for small cars in India. Firm to identify threats and early warning signals: If an Indian firm finds that a foreign multinational company is entering the Indian market it should gives a warning signal and Indian firms can meet the threat by adopting, by improving the quality of the product, reducing cost of the production, engaging in aggressive advertising, and so on. Coping with rapid changes: All sizes and all types of industries are facing increasingly dynamic environment. In order to effectively cope with these significant changes, managers must understand and examine the environment and develop suitable courses of action. Improving performance: The enterprises that continuously monitor their environment and adopt suitable business practices are the ones which not only improve their present performance but also continue to succeed in the market for a longer period of time. THE ORGANISATIONAL EXTERNAL BUSINESS STRATEGY By using the PESTEL framework a manager can analyze the many different factors in a firms macro environment. However, it is important not to just list PESTEL factors since this does not in it tell managers very much. What managers need to do is to think about which factors are most likely to change and which will have the greatest impact on them i.e. each firm must identify the key factors in their own environment. Managers must decide on the relative importance of various factors and one way of doing this is to rank and score the likelihood of a change occurring and also rate the impact if it did The higher the likelihood of a change occurring and the greater the impact of any change the more beneficial this factor will be to the firms planning. External Strategies of different organization Economic factors :- Vodafone: The growth of Asian countries like India and china, have had massive effects on Vodafone. Vodafone can relocate production there to benefit from lower costs; these emerging markets are also providing enormous markets for them to aim their product at. With a population of over 1 billion, for example, the Chinese market is not one that anyone would want to ignore, at the same time Chinese producers should not be ignored either. Social factors :- McDonaldà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s: Important strategic decisions are a key factor to Mac Donaldà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s success with consideration for both internal and external factors. When considering the foreign market, companies need to consider there are risks. There must be local marketing to appeal to the local consumers and also to build relationships and trust (Bateman Scott, 2004). Therefore, the strategic planning for marketing has to be effective enough. McDonaldà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s caters its menu in other countries to the cultures of the regions. For example, in India, the non-vegetarian menu includes chicken and fish items only. Beef is not on the menu in India because are considered sacred. Political-legal factors:- American auto makers, the electric car and California: Electric cars For whatever reasons, several of the auto manufacturers in the USA began developing which they leased to satisfied customers. Then, California decided that it would be a good idea to mandate to American auto makers that if they expected to sell their cars in California they would have to invent some new technology reducing carbon dioxide. Presumably, California expected to see an increase of the electric cars being sold by auto makers. What happened is quite the opposite and the auto makers took a hard look at their electric car program, uncertain how to market a clean vehicle without admitting the piston engine vehicles are dirty, realizing that much of the profit from a piston engine vehicle comes with the replacement of the parts and not so with electric cars and finally, realizing that a State, not even the State of California can make them build technology they dont have, nor can any state even make them keep b uilding the technology they do have, and so, the auto makers killed their own electric car program and this was the impact of a political-legal environment. Technological factors:- NOKIA: The starting models of Nokia had some technical problem with battery backup. People who were using those handsets often complain which had spoil the reputation of the Nokia completely. The sales and market price of Nokia fell down drastically. Then management took serious consideration to these problems, and modifies all the handset with latest technology. Nokia had been successful to regain the trust of its consumers and as a result it enjoys monopoly in market. Environmental factors:- Tesco: In 2003, there has been increased pressure on various companies and managers to acknowledge their responsibility to society, and act in a way which benefits society overall. The main societal issue threatening food retailers has been environmental issues, a key area for companies to act in a socially responsible way. Hence by recognizing this trend within the broad ethical stance. Tescos corporate social responsibility is concerned with the ways in which the organization exceeds the minimum obligations to stakeholders specified through regulation and corporate governance. Graiser and Scott (2004) states that in 2003 the government has intended to launch a new strategy for sustainable consumption and production to cut waste reduce consumption of resources and minimize environmental damage. The latest legislation has created a new tax on advertising highly processed and fatty foods. The so-called à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¹Ã…“fat tax directly affected the Tesco product ranges that have subsequently been adapted and affecting relationships with both suppliers and customers.

Homeless: What Has Been Done To Decrease The Problem? :: essays research papers

Homeless: What Has Been Done To Decrease The Problem? One of the largest growing concerns in Toronto is the constantly increasing number of citizens who are finding themselves living on the streets. With the decrease in the number of available jobs, the population of homeless people has literally boomed. My questions are not as simple to answer as they may appear. Why is a large portion of our community forced to live on the streets? What has be done to decrease the problem? These are the questions I will confront in my essay. With the economical wealth attributed to the name "Canada", one would have to wonder why there is a homeless situation at all. This problem is especially evident in Canada's wealthiest city, Toronto. When it comes to the affairs of the people, it is the government who should intervene. When I look at what the government has done with regard to the homeless problem, I have to doubt that everything is being done to eradicate it. The United Nations implemented a universal declaration of human rights. Article 25 Section 1 of this declaration states: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and to the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. This is a step in the right direction. However, this is not enough. These rights are subject to the discretion of the government of the country who decides to obey these universal rights. How much is "adequate"? The government, both at the federal and municipal levels, is currently working on new spending cuts. These cuts also include spending on welfare, unemployment and social services that are geared towards helping the homeless. Spending cuts can be seen as a necessity to maintain the country economically, but the reason for having a government in the first place is to take care of the people. How can this be done when money is being taken away from those services that are necessary to uphold this obligation? Simply put, it cannot. Those obligations are served by nonprofit organizations who depend on government grants to maintain a standard of care for those who need the services. The blame cannot be placed only on the government. Such a system of assistance depends on its beneficiaries to be honest and have some integrity. Many recipients of these services attempt to "cheat the system".

Three Changes of My Old School

I last went to the High School of Science & Technology. One of the changes they have made is the reinforcement of rules, having more safety within the students. Another change is the organization by providing counselors for specific and newly created departments. Also they are providing more time to students specially seniors who have planned to go to college. One of the changes they have made is the reinforcement of rules, they been having more safety within the students.Before I left there were rules nut they were never reinforce as much as this new year because they have had difficult situations in the past. After the past situations one of the ways they reinforce the rules is by giving out warnings to students the first time they commit an offense. If the students behavior continues they would have meetings with parents and counselors which helps a lot because they can work out any kind of problem they student is having. Because of this meeting students can get help for them, as well it helps teachers and other student s to concentrate better in their classes.Another change they made is the organization by providing counselors for specific and newly created departments. The school created a group for students who have lost family members or close friends. They used to do it once a month and every time people would go they would express themselves but there was lack of organization with the stuff they were going to be discussed during the meeting. This year they have prevented themselves with this situation when they see that students are going out of topic they stop and come back to what is supposed to be discussing during the meeting.Now meetings go in session every other week and they do two sections a day this way they divide the students in two groups and have a little more time for each one. Finally they are providing more time to students specially seniors who have planned to go to college. Many students that graduated last year had problems with coun selors because they would never have the time to meet with students and help them out with the preparation of college.Also applications to college were being sent late and some students could not get into the college they wanted. This year they are trying to keep on time applications for college and scholarships that way students won’t get frustrated and just looking to be successful in life. In summary reinforcing the rules, having better organization, and providing more time to students is a good beginning of a better school. These changes are the most important things that are outstanding in order to have a successful school.

Lexington and Concord, Who Fired First? Essay

The battle that was fought at Lexington and Concord was seen all across America as â€Å"The shot heard around the world† or the beginning to the American Revolution. It is truly began the war between America and Britain, especially from the rage created by the battle. But to tell who exactly fired first to start this event is really unclear in some minds. But in perspective, the British were the ones who most likely set the spark aflame because they knew about the weaponry, they came knowing they’d take the land by force so the intention was there, and the Americans were minimally prepared for the invasion. Since the conflict was going on throughout the two countries, battles were beginning to up rise in the colonies and frustration was building up. To give themselves an advantage in the fighting, the red-coats knew where the American weapons were stored in large numbers and intended on taking it from them to give them the upper hand with the attack and put them forward towards victory. And in addition, when American troops came out and stopped the British for Simon, who was apparently taken by force, blocking their way of proceeding any further, an officer was observed by Simon commanding to fire at the American militia. This was the only observed action that provided the first shot by anyone which leans towards the British beginning the revolution. However the source may or may not be true, hence more detail can be looked into what actually happened. Seeing that also that a British soldier also admitted on their own side that their captain was the one to command firing at the scene the evidence pushing it to their fault is leading to be above needed. Though no proof itself was presented the known facts lead us to believe that the first shot was given by the red-coat soldiers. Now getting back into the reason they were going to concord, their purpose was specifically to infiltrate their weapons area containing threatening items of warfare to give them an advantage. Obviously the Americans wouldn’t give up their stash of things that protects them from the British without force. So this means that the English troops were expecting revolt against them and were prepared to fight to receive the artillery. This leads to the last fact given to support the assumption of the British attacking first, preparation. The soldiers of England were given orders to march from Boston to march to Lexington and Concord to take the intimidating weaponry from them. They were mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming battle awaiting them as they marched. However, the colonist militia had no clue of the attack until they had Prescott come and warn them of the march awaiting their fate soon to come. No reason was given, no knowing whether or not to be ready to defend their home or if they were just passing through. All they had was the sense of trouble that could possibly be coming. They actually were ordered to disperse, and they did, when the troops arrived, to cause no harm or threat. But once the shooting started, it sparked something much bigger. And it is for these reasons and supporting facts that I believe it was the British were the ones to first fire at the American militia. Even though there is no true way of finding out with the existing known facts of whose actual fault it was, the details basically are saying that it was the British militia who fire the first shot at the battle, being the ones who shot the â€Å"Shot heard around the world† and beginning the revolution. The evidences that support it is that the knowledge of armory by the British, the intention to attack by them , and lastly the minimal preparation of the American people that lead us to think that it was the British who fired the first shot.