Hard and soft skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hard and soft skills - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that every organization aims at hiring the best candidate. Job candidates possess hard and soft skills. Hard skills include accountancy, finance, programming and so forth. Soft skills include self-confidence, stress management people skills and so forth. These skills are important in an organization for proper correlation of employees. Hard skills are learned in school through training and reading book. These skills cannot be learned on the job since they require professional qualification. For instance, for one to become a qualified accountant they need learn accountancy in school be tested and pass exams.This leads one to be a certified public accountant. Hard skills require a high intelligence quotient since their application require great analytical skills critical thinking and organizational skills. In addition, the rules applied in these skills remain the same regardless of the company and circumstances where they are applied. For exa mple, the procedure of preparing a published financial statement of a company is similar regardless of the size and location of an incorporated company. A professional accountant thus needs to follow the international financial reporting standards when preparing the financial statements. The soft skills are self-taught skills which depend on one’s emotional quotient. They are the skills that enable a person to relate and work well with people. These skills include the interpersonal skills, self-confidence, stress management and people skills.

Standard Deviation in the Business World Essay Example for Free

Standard Deviation in the Business World Essay Abstract On Standard Deviations in Job Performance The purpose of this study was to compare the expected payoffs from personnel programs based on standard deviation of job performances in dollars, the Global Estimation model, and the CREPID procedure. The study was done for route salesmen of a large soft drink bottling company. The Global Estimation model and the CREPID procedure were behaviorally based, where the standard deviation of job performance was based on cost accounting data. The research study was based on whether selecting certain methods of behaviors for route salesmen would influence the expected monetary outcome of the selected behavior. The results could then be listed by the dollar payoff of the selected behavior. The hypothesis of the study was that using the standard deviation model would produce results that would measure cost accounting behavioral outcomes. There were three different methods used to gather information within the study. The Global Estimation model included using a questionnaire-based survey that would rate the value of a route salesman’s job performance. The CREPID procedure had two raters evaluating the salesman’s performance. The cost accounting method used sales records and performance results records to evaluate based on previous sales and delivery. The results of the study showed that the older, more experienced route salesmen had more influence on results than using any standard deviation cost accounting estimates of possible results. The Global Estimation method produced results similar to the standard deviation model showing that most of the dollar improvements were more directly related to the route salesmen and not the results of changing methodology. The CREPID method was found to be too subjective to be effective in this study. In striving to produce results that would establish job performance as a cost object, it failed to consider the personnel factor. The human resource of influence will skew any study because an objective measure of standard deviation of accounting dollars in job performance has not been established.

Essay on Voltaire’s Candide: A Typical Enlightenment Work

Candide as a Typical Enlightenment Work      Ã‚  Ã‚   Candide on the surface is a witty story. However when inspected deeper it is a philippic writing against people of an uneducated status. Candide is an archetype of these idiocracies, for he lacks reason and has optimism that is truly irking, believing that this is the best of all possible worlds. Thus Voltaire uses a witty, bantering tale on the surface, but in depth a cruel bombast against the ignoramuses of his times.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Candide has reason only in the form of a companion upon which he relies for advice. His companion is Dr. Pangloss. He consistently dribbles to Dr. Pangloss about what should be done. Eventually Pangloss is killed by being hanged. But this means that Candide's reason is also dead! Candide goes and finds a new companion, "Lacking him [Pangloss], let's consult the old woman" (37). He soon loses her, gains another, looses him, and then gains another. Thus we see that Candide can only think if he has a companion. Voltaire is thus saying that all the nobles are really idiots and says they are only sma...

Does the Bangladeshi Worker Community Experience Ill Health more than their White British Counterparts?

1.Abstract For a person to enjoy a good quality of life, remaining strong and healthy is essential. However the ability to retain good health is often affected by a range of diverse factors including ethnicity, living standards, age, occupation and access to medical facilities. The purpose of this research is to investigate whether of people of working age within the Bangladeshi Community are more prone to illness that their counterparts within the White British population. 2.Aims of the Study Research Question: Does the Bangladeshi worker community experience ill health more than their White British counterparts? In order to explore the question of whether Bangladeshi people of working age are more prone to illness when compared to their White British counterparts, I have chosen to address and collect information on the following: The attitudes that Bangladeshi and White British workers have towards ill health The knowledge and awareness that Bangladeshi workers have towards accessing NHS services The ways in which Bangladeshi workers can become more aware of the means of reducing ill health How Bangladeshi workers can be encouraged to make lifestyle changes in order to nurture their health Literature Review The Literature review I conducted has revealed evidence which suggest that Bangladeshi workers are more prone to illness than their White British counterparts. For instance- research conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in 2007, revealed a significant difference between levels of long- term illness within the White British and Bangladeshi working age communities (Salway et al, 2007). According to the research, 16% of the White British sample suffered from long term illness, compared to 64% of the Bangladeshi sample. There was also a marked difference in the age of onset, with the White British workers within the sample experiencing illness between the ages of 50 and 59, whereas the Bangladeshi sample experienced onset between 34 and 39. The relationship between health and ethnicity has been an area of much debate and exploration amongst academics over the years, and has often been linked to the concept of, â€Å"social exclusion†, an aspect of which relates to the difficulties that some ethnic minorities have in accessing adequate housing, employment, opportunities and public services. ( Purdy and Banks, 2001). Concerns regarding the inequalities that ethnic minorities encounter when accessing welfare service systems created vital legislation in the early 1980s in the form of the â€Å"Black Report†, and addresses inequalities that continue to exist today, â€Å"The Black Report placed emphasis on material explanations for class inequalities in health, which given the class locations of ethnic minority people might also be relevant to ethnic inequalities in health.† ( Nazroo in Bury and Gabe, 2002:145). More recently, research conducted as part of the Fourth National Survey of Ethnic Minorities in 1993 suggested that some Asian groups such as Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are more at risk of experiencing acute heart disease than other ethnicities, an assertion that has been controversial amongst academics, â€Å" While this approach was useful in uncovering the extent to which convenient assumptions of similarity within obviously heterogeneous groups were false, it could be suggested that these findings mean we can use the term, â€Å" Pakistani and Bangladeshi† heart disease, rather than, â€Å" South Asian† heart disease to describe the situation† ( Nazroo in Bury and Gabe, 2004: 147). These insights and others very much informed my opinion as I embarked on this research project. 4.Sample Social Classification, Age, Sample Size, Location and Research Timings: In order to explore a wide range of attitudes towards health, I recruited respondents using a random sampling approach, in order to ensure that a range of attitudes and perspectives were explored. As a result, the sample comprised a wide range of occupation and educational backgrounds and abilities, reflecting all of the categories of present social and market research social classification ( Robson, 2002 ) This form of classification consists of the following: GRADESOCAL CLASSOCCUPATION AUpper Middle ClassSenior Management or Professional BMiddle ClassAssociate Management or Professional C1Lower Middle ClassClerical, admin and support staff C2Skilled Working ClassSkilled manual workers with a formal training or qualifications DUn skilled Working ClassUn skilled manual workers without formal qualifications or training EPeople who exist on low incomes and benefitsCan be anything from casual workers to pensioners In order to construct a sample which reflected the categories in the above table, I recruited respondents at locations regularly frequented by people of all backgrounds, including the Croydon Whitgift Shopping Centre, Croydon High Street and the Croydon Bangladeshi Welfare Association. I recruited 40 respondents in total- which included working people within the Bangladeshi and White British populations, between the ages of 25 and 60. Both male and female respondents are included and research commenced at the beginning of March and concluded at the beginning of May. 5.Research ConsiderationsEthics and Data ProtectionBefore conducting the research, I gained the approval and permission of both the London Borough of Croydon and the University’s Ethical Review Committee. Prior to questioning the respondents, I explained to them the purpose of the research, how their opinions would inform the findings, and how the findings would be used. I also assured them that their views would remain completely confidential, and that they had the opportunity to opt out of the project at any time they wished to. The questions were also carefully constructed in a manner that would not cause distress or offence, and I made a concerted effort to make them feel comfortable and valued (Bryman, 2012).Limitations and Researcher BiasAs with all research projects, this investigation had certain imperfections and limitations in its design and execution. Above all, the study would most likely have been very different if it had been conducted within a, â€Å"real world research† context without the researcher having to juggle the research work with other priorities such as course work. Also, as the data was collected in one area, it may be regionally biased. However, it should be pointed out that the majority of people within communities experience many similar conditions and socialising factors, which can make, â€Å"snap- shot† studies representative of the larger population valid, and on the whole and much social, commercial and market research is carried out in this manner. Another factor than can affect the reliability of data is the possibility of respondents expressing what they feel researchers want them to hear- therefore modifying or embellishing responses. Whilst this remains an issue in all research projects, it should be pointed out that the rapid answering that quantitative closed questionnaires tends to produce, will most likely make respondents answer bluntly and accurately- without the after-thoughts that inform m uch qualitative work (Robson, 2002). 6.MethodologyData Collection MethodsThe project used a variety of methodologies including an initial pilot study, primary and secondary methods. Secondary and desk research, including the Literature Review was undertaken in order to create a detailed knowledge of the subject which was to be explored in the research, as well as key hypotheses to be addressed. Additionally, a pilot study was conducted prior to undertaking the fieldwork in order to test the relevance and clarity of the questions and subjects posed to respondents, as a means of making the fieldwork as effective and seamless as possible. During the primary, fieldwork stage of research, I chose to use a mostly quantitative questionnaire with close ended questions, in order to specifically focus on the topics that needed to be explored to satisfy the research objectives. This created a situation in which respondent’s answers were consistently relevant. However in order to ensure that the respondents had the opportunity to express additional issues relating to the topics, I also included several open ended questions- inspired by a more qualitative approach. Data Analysis Methods Once the fieldwork had been completed I chose to use the Statistical Package for Social Sciences or SPSS as a means of analysing the data I had collected. This approach provides several benefits, including the ability to record and log data quickly and to organize it across a range of analytical formats including statistical and multivariative approaches. For presentation purposes, the results were ordered into graphs, charts and tables ( Blaxter, et al, 2011) which aimed to reduce misunderstandings and comprehension issues. 7.Dissemination of Findings and Results The research findings were presented using a short reform format and have been made available to the University for future reference. During the life of the project, I also kept the sponsor up-to-date with the findings as they developed, both in the shape of preliminary insights and the conclusive more detailed final report. I have also passed the findings onto the respondents via email, and have thanked them enormously for their crucial participation in the project.Key Findings:Crucially, the research revealed that minority ethnic respondents experienced aspects of social exclusion, both in terms of accessing mainstream health services and society in general. This is mainly attributed to the lack of English language skills that some of the sample had, as well as cultural issues which result in the secrecy and concealment of health issues, problems and ailments. Within the Bangladeshi sample there was also a tendency for health issues to be internalised within the social and family n etworks of the community itself- which also resulted in a resistance to seeking mainstream NHS support and services. Conclusions The Bangldeshi worker community have a tendency to experience the onset of serious illnesses earlier than their White British counterparts, through a range of behavioural and cultural factors that prevent them from accessing NHS service in a systematic manner that would improve their health. Considerations for Future Research The aim of the research was to provide information and insights relating to why Bangladeshis are prone to ill health, and how public awareness can be raised in order to address their problems. However, during the fieldwork and analysis stage, I was very surprised to the extent that people within the Bangladeshi community conceal their ill health and delay accessing help as a result of strong societal and cultural pressures. Therefore, I have emphasised the need for additional research in the final report, in order to obtain more information on this subject, as a means of devising solutions that can help eradicate such problems. Based on the research that has been conducted so far, I am confident that my data collection and data analysis approaches offer effective means of generating crucial findings- but would also recommend using different methodologies for future research such as qualitative focus groups and face to face interviews. This approach will enable the researcher to get a greater understanding of key issues, and can involve the use of enabling and projective techniques that can enable respondents to express themselves in a clearer manner. ( Robson, 2002). Focus groups and face to face interviews can also provide vital insights on behaviour and practice which is not always possible when using a quantitative approach. (Bryman, 2012). This is often expressed through the recall of certain situations and experiences- which can also serve to create a greater understanding of the contexts of certain situation- for instance, the specific ways in which Bangladeshi people interact with NHS services. 9.Details of Funding The research was budgeted at ?500 and was funded by Research Councils UK ( RCUK). The organisation regularly commissions research within a range of academic disciplines including medical, biological, social, economic and environmental sciences, in order to investigate ways of increasing wellbeing within society. The research I conducted was funded with the intention of finding ways to address the impact of poor health within the Bangladeshi working age community. Bibliography Back, L. Solomos, ( 1995) Race, Politics and Social Change. London: Routledge. Blaxter, L. Hughes, C. Tight, M. (2011) How to Research, 4th ed. Cambridge: Open University Press. Bury, M. (1997) Health and Illness in a Changing Society. London: Routledge. Bury, B. Gabe, J. ( 2004) The Sociology of Health and Illness. London: Routledge. Bryman, A. ( 2012) Social Research Methods. London: Palgrave. Israel, M. and May, I. (2006) Research Ethics for Social Scientists. London: Sage. Purdy, M. Banks D ( 2001) The Sociology of Politics and Health. London: Routledge. Robson, R. ( 2002) Real World Research. London: Blackwell. Salway, S. Platt, L. Chowbey, P. Harriss, K. Bayliss, E. (2007) Long- Term Ill Health, Poverty and Ethnicity. London: Policy Press Zikmund, G. William (2003) Business Research Methods. London: South Western. http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/long-term-ill-health-poverty-and-ethnicity (Accessed 11th March 2013)

Life Without Televisions

Life without Television When my family’s only television set went to the repair shop the other day, my parents, my sister, and I thought we would have a terrible week. How could we get through the long evenings in such a quiet house? What would it be like without all the shows to keep us company? We soon realized, though, that living without television for a while was a stroke of good fortune. It became easy for each of us to enjoy some activities alone, to complete some postponed chores, and to spend rewarding time with each other and friends.First of all, with no television to compete for our time, we found plenty of hours for personal interests. We all read more that week than we had read during the six months before. For instance, I was able to finish â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, a novel assigned in my English class. Also my younger sister read 300 pages of the last book of the â€Å"Twilight† series. We each also enjoyed some hobbies we had ignored for ages. M y dad’s old enthusiasm for gardening returned, and he started planting vegetables in his garden.My mom had time to open her bakery book and bake Italian desserts such as Profiterole and tiramisu. My sister and I played volleyball in the back yard, a sport that we loved since we were younger. In addition, my sister and I both stopped procrastinating with our homework. We both found out that it was really helpful to work on homework ahead of time; therefore I worked on chapter three and four of my Algebra homework for next week. I also finished my study guide for my English test. My sister as well worked on her French and Government assignments.Second we did chores that had been hanging over our heads for too long. There were many jobs around the house that had needed attention for some time. Cleaning our rooms was the first chore we did; my sister and I cleaned our entire room and vacuumed the carpet. Then my mom cleaned the counter tops and all the shelves of the kitchen. Fin ally my dad managed to clean his garage and put all of his tools back on the shelves. We also had a chance to do some long- postponed shopping. My father went to SEARS to buy a sofa that was needed in his room.My mom went to LOWES to buy accessories for her bathroom. My sister and I went to the mall to buy her prom dress and I was able to buy two pairs of jeans and two shirts that I wanted. And each of us also caught up with e-mails and did paperwork that was long overdue. My mom had some office work done, such as sales reports for the committee of her company. My dad finally wrote an e-mail to my grandma that is living in Spain with my aunt Susan. My sister also replied to e-mails from her friends that live in Italy.And I was able to complete my FASFA application for the fall semester. Finally, and probably most important, we spent time with each other. Instead of just being in the same room together while we stared at a screen, we actually talked for many pleasant hours. My parent s and I never had long conversations before, and during that week, we got to know each other more than we did for the past five years. My sister and I talked more about each other and we found out that we have a lot of interests in common. Moreover, for the first time in years, my family played some games together.My sister enjoys playing Monopoly; therefore, we played almost every night. We also played chest, one of my dad’s favorite games. My mom’s favorite game is dominos; although my sister ended up winning every game. And because we didn’t have to worry about missing this or that show, we had some family friends over on a couple of evenings and spent enjoyable time with them. We would play volleyball in the back yard. After several games we would have dinner in the back patio enjoying the lovely weather while listening to classical music.And finally after dinner we would make a bonfire and sit around it and remember memories with our friends. Once our telev ision returned, we were not prepared to put it in the attic. But we had a sense of how it can take over our lives if we are not careful. We are now more selective. We turn on the set for our favorite shows, certain sports events, and the news, but we don’t leave it running all evening. As a result, we find we can enjoy television and still have time left over for other activities and interests.

Apollo 4 - NASAs First All Up Test

Apollo 4 - NASA's First All Up Test On January 27, 1967, tragedy struck on the launch pad during a preflight test for Apollo 1 (also called AS-204), which was scheduled to be the first Apollo manned mission, and would have been launched on February 21, 1967. Astronauts Virgil Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee lost their lives when a fire swept through the Command Module (CM). The accident was the first major mishap in NASAs short history, and it shocked the nation.   Moving Beyond Tragedy NASA made an exhaustive investigation of the fire (as it does with all space mishaps), which resulted in extensive reworking of the CMs. The agency postponed manned launches until officials cleared the new capsule design for use by human crews. In addition, Saturn 1B schedules were suspended for nearly a year, and the launch vehicle that finally bore the designation AS-204 carried a Lunar Module (LM) as the payload, not the Apollo CM. The missions of AS-201 and AS-202 with Apollo spacecraft aboard had been unofficially known as Apollo 1 and Apollo 2 missions (AS-203 carried only the aerodynamic nose cone). In the spring of 1967, NASAs Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, Dr. George E. Mueller, announced that the mission originally scheduled for Grissom, White and Chaffee would be known as Apollo 1, as a way to honor the three astronauts. The first Saturn V launch, scheduled for November 1967, would be known as Apollo 4. No missions or flights were ever designated as Apoll o 2 and Apollo 3.    The delays caused by the fire were bad enough, but NASA also faced budgetary cutbacks as it raced to reach the Moon before the end of the decade. Since the U.S. was in a race to get to the Moon before the Soviets could get there, NASA had no choice to but move ahead with the assets it had. The agency did further tests on the rockets, and eventually scheduled the Apollo 4 mission for an unmanned flight.  It was referred to as  all-up testing. Resuming Space Flight After the complete retooling of the capsule, the mission planners for Apollo 4 had four major goals: Demonstrate structural and thermal integrity and compatibility of launch vehicle and spacecraft; confirm launch loads and dynamic characteristics.Verify operation of command module heatshield (adequacy of Block II design for reentry at lunar return conditions), service propulsion system (SPS; including no ullage start), and selective subsystems.Evaluate performance of emergency detection system in open-loop configuration.Demonstrate mission support facilities and operations needed for launch, mission conduct, and CM recovery. After extensive testing, re-resting, and training,  Apollo 4 launched successfully on November 9, 1967 at 07:00:01 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 39-A at  Cape Canaveral FL. There were no delays in the preflight preparations and with the weather cooperating, there were no delays during countdown. During the third orbit and after SPS engine burn, the spacecraft coasted to a simulated translunar trajectory, reaching an altitude of 18,079 kilometers. The launch marked the initial flight testing of the S-IC and S-II stages. The first stage, S-IC, performed accurately with the center F-1 engine cutting off at 135.5 seconds and the outboard engines cutting off at LOX (liquid oxygen) depletion at 150.8 seconds when the vehicle was traveling at 9660 km/h at an altitude of 61.6 km. Stage separation occurred only 1.2 seconds off the predicted time. Cutoff of the S-II occurred at 519.8 seconds. It was a triumphant, if subdued return to space flight, and moved NASAs goals to reach the Moon farther forward. The spacecraft performance went well, and on the ground, people heaved a huge sigh of relief.   A Pacific Ocean landing occurred on November 9, 1967, 03:37 p.m. EST, just eight hours and thirty-seven minutes and fifty-nine seconds after takeoff. The Apollo 4 Spacecraft 017 splashed down, missing its planned impact point by only 16 kilometers. The Apollo 4 mission was a success, all  objectives were achieved. With the success of this first all up test, the Apollo program resumed manned missions and moving toward the eventual 1969 target for the first human landing on the Moon during the  Apollo 11 mission.  After the loss of the Apollo 1 crew, the Apollo 4 mission benefitted from many tough (and tragic) lessons learned. Edited and updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Free Essays on Positive Aspects Of Capital Punishment

â€Å"Not the physical act, but the social meaning of murder distinguishes robbery from taxation, murder from execution, a gift from theft† (Leone 233). This quote defines the exact reason why capital punishment is an ethical form of justice. Although capital punishment may seem like an unfair form of justice, it is actually the most logical way to punish criminals who commit the most serious of serious offenses. It serves as an effective deterrent and provides an excellent form of retribution. If used in the right way, capital punishment would be more cost efficient and effective than life in prison. Capital punishment has been in use in the United States since the beginning of its history. Among the first to be put to death from crimes in the colonies were the so-called witches. The best known was the Salem Witch Trials, where a total of twenty witches had been sentenced to die by the time the trials were over. Through most of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there wa s much discussion over capital punishment. In the eighteenth century several hundred offenses were punishable by death, but in the late 1880’s the government restricted the number of crimes punishable bye death to three: treason, murder and rape. Between 1880 and 1917 there was much flip-flopping in many states over capital punishment. From 1977 to 1995there have been 300 executions in the United States. As of 1995 only twelve states did not have the death penalty. These days the argument is over the electric chair, and whether or not it is constitutional. Just recently the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional. Bryan Stevenson said: â€Å"This will continue to be an issue that plagues the administration in capital cases until the method of execution has changed† (â€Å"High Court†). Even the nations of the world have had the death penalty for long periods of time, even if they are abolished today. Ninety-six nations currently enforce the death penalty or have c arri... Free Essays on Positive Aspects Of Capital Punishment Free Essays on Positive Aspects Of Capital Punishment â€Å"Not the physical act, but the social meaning of murder distinguishes robbery from taxation, murder from execution, a gift from theft† (Leone 233). This quote defines the exact reason why capital punishment is an ethical form of justice. Although capital punishment may seem like an unfair form of justice, it is actually the most logical way to punish criminals who commit the most serious of serious offenses. It serves as an effective deterrent and provides an excellent form of retribution. If used in the right way, capital punishment would be more cost efficient and effective than life in prison. Capital punishment has been in use in the United States since the beginning of its history. Among the first to be put to death from crimes in the colonies were the so-called witches. The best known was the Salem Witch Trials, where a total of twenty witches had been sentenced to die by the time the trials were over. Through most of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there wa s much discussion over capital punishment. In the eighteenth century several hundred offenses were punishable by death, but in the late 1880’s the government restricted the number of crimes punishable bye death to three: treason, murder and rape. Between 1880 and 1917 there was much flip-flopping in many states over capital punishment. From 1977 to 1995there have been 300 executions in the United States. As of 1995 only twelve states did not have the death penalty. These days the argument is over the electric chair, and whether or not it is constitutional. Just recently the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional. Bryan Stevenson said: â€Å"This will continue to be an issue that plagues the administration in capital cases until the method of execution has changed† (â€Å"High Court†). Even the nations of the world have had the death penalty for long periods of time, even if they are abolished today. Ninety-six nations currently enforce the death penalty or have c arri...