Celebrate Marriage With These Love Quotes

You dont need a marriage to legitimize your relationship. Marriages are sacred vows and hence should be undertaken only when two people in love are willing to enter into a lifetime commitment. Without love, there cannot be a happy marriage. After years of commitment and togetherness, boredom can set in. Only love can help bind the couple and keep them happy forever. Here are some marriage love quotes to help rekindle the passion of love in marriage. Love Quotes for Rekindling Your Marriage Georg C. LichtenbergLove is blind, but marriage restores its sight. Groucho MarxSome people claim that marriage interferes with romance. Theres no doubt about it. Anytime you have a romance, your wife is bound to interfere. Harriet MartineauAny one must see at a glance that if men and women marry those whom they do not love, they must love those whom they do not marry. Mark TwainLove seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century. Tom MullenHappy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry. David BissonetteI recently read that love is entirely a matter of chemistry. That must be why my wife treats me like toxic waste. Benjamin FranklinWhere there is marriage without love, there will be love without marriage. James GrahamLove is blind and marriage is the institution for the blind. George Bernard ShawIt is most unwise for people in love to marry. Pauline ThomasonLove is blind -- marriage is the eye-opener. Tom MullenHappy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry. Ellen KeyLove is moral even without legal marriage, but marriage is immoral without love. Will DurantThe love we have in our youth is superficial compared to the love that an old man has for his old wife. Pearl S. BuckA good marriage is one, which allows for change and growth in the individuals and in the way they express their love. Nathaniel HawthorneWhat a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow. Michel de MontaigneIf there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love. MoliereLove is often the fruit of marriage. Mignon McLaughlinAfter the chills and fever of love, how nice is the 98.6Â º of marriage! Langdon MitchellMarriage is three parts love and seven parts forgiveness of sins. Mignon McLaughlinLove requires a willingness to die; marriage, a willingness to live.

Feeling Gods Grace - 550 Words

The earthly world is full of distractions and complications; however, the key is to avoid becoming too wrapped up. People are temporary and will eventually die off. Material possessions break and produce false joy. On the other, God is everlasting and will always be there. After living a life full of sin, Augustine was able to confess his experiences to the world: â€Å"I also fell in love, which was a snare of my own choosing. My God, my God of mercy, how good you were to me, for you mixed much bitterness in that cup of pleasure! My love was returned and finally shackled me in the bonds of its consummation. In the midst of joy I was caught up in the coils of trouble, for I was lashed with the cruel, fiery rods of jealousy and suspension, fear, anger, and quarrels† (Augustine 55). Augustine not only did this to show the world how much he changed, but to pour his soul out to God. Augustine had not always had that solid relationship with God, he had to learn to trust the Lord and depend on him. Augustine had not always been a saint, he too had skeletons in the closet just like any other human being. It took a substantial amount of time for Augustine to fully devote his life to God, and live his life according to his word. He struggled with placing God first in his life due to his indulgence within the physical world. He fell in love with material things, which resulted in him becoming attached to them. He discovered great pleasure in â€Å"the sins of the flesh,† with an unknownShow MoreRelatedTheo 104 Reflection Paper1067 Words   |  5 Pagesto talk to people about God’s Grace and through his son Jesus there is no Condemnation. Theological Definition God’s grace is a word frequently used to refer to â€Å"gift from God†. In many circles, it is theological defined as God’s unmerited favor (Hughes, 1998, Ryrie, 1963). Within this context, it refers to the divine favor that provides important lessons on how to live. Biblical Foundation Whereas unmerited favor from God is the true definition of God’s grace, because there is nothingRead MorePersonal Philosophy : An Organization Level Leader1734 Words   |  7 Pagesyears; I consider this aspect of humanity a continual process to be constantly honed and studied by walking in a personal relationship with God. I believe morality is rooted in God’s character. Therefore, because God created mankind in his own image and likeness, God gave humanity the unique ability to have intelligence, feelings, and the ability to reason and make decisions. Human morality must strive to emulate the character and attributes of God identified throughout the Bible. God calls humanityRead MoreGrace And Repentance : Grace982 Words   |  4 PagesGrace and Repentance Grace, the Greek word â€Å"charis†, means: â€Å"that which affords joy, pleasure, and delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness† according to The New American Standard New Testament Greek Lexicon. There are multitudes of theological dissertations on Grace. It is interpreted as God’s unmerited favour to us through Jesus Christ, in the theological sense. Grace, â€Å"God’s unmerited favour,† is a door, but it is also the foundation of our faith. God’s grace is what we are to walk in, so it isRead MoreReflection Paper1453 Words   |  6 Pageschosen will be Grace and secondly I will be focusing on Love. Grace Theological definition of â€Å"grace† as many scholar s of the bible will define this word as the unmerited favor of God toward man. Grace can also be defined as like forgiveness, repentance, regeneration and salvation to mean something as broad as describing the whole of God’s activity towards man or as narrow as describing one segment of activity (Baker’s Evangelical Bible Dictionary). Often times many would attribute grace toward s howRead MoreAge of Reformation985 Words   |  4 Pagesas mentioned earlier branched from doing the complete opposite of what he was educated, from Okham. To him the Catholic Church was corrupt, and needed an intervention. Luther, never feeling true self-gratification by just fasting, praying and repentance, wanted to find partisanship with God. Then concluded that God’s love is a gift to be acknowledged, not a reward. The methods of John Calvin were controversial. He firmly believed in Predestination, which is God has a divine plan already mappedRead More Divine Grace and Justice in Dantes Inferno Essay1523 Words   |  7 PagesDivine Justice and Grace in Inferno The purpose of the pilgrims journey through hell is to show, first hand, the divine justice of God and how Christian morality dictates how, and to what degree, sinners are punished. Also, the journey shows the significance of Gods grace and how it affects not only the living, but the deceased as well. During his trip through hell, the character of Dante witnesses the true perfection of Gods justice in that every sinner is punished in the same nature as theirRead MoreThe Bible Of The United Kingdom Of God1619 Words   |  7 Pages It is noteworthy to interpret this text in the context of the chapter preceding Matthew 20 in order to fully understand God’s wish for treating the poor justly. Jesus urges the man to follow the commandments and to sell all of his possessions to the poor if he wants to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:21 NIV). In doing so, Jesus is again promoting God’s will to love others and help those less fortunate. He insists that it is harder for th e rich to enter the kingdom since it is the rich thatRead MoreOrganizing Wesleyans Postion of Inquiries and my Panorama Theology1167 Words   |  5 Pagesvery much on the contrary it has fortified even more. It is interesting about the Wesleyan’s position of theology among the other queries.. Wesleyan’s position of the inquiries of theology, nature or essence of God, sin, Jesus Christ, Salvation and Grace. In this paper, I will try to organize Wesleyan’s position of inquiries and my panorama theology. Wesleyan position Theology Wesleyan believes that people who are created new in Christ are referred to as to be holy in character and conduct, and mightRead MoreGrace And Peace At The Name Of Our Lord Jesus Christ Essay747 Words   |  3 PagesGrace and peace to you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ. We are entering into the season of Lent starting our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday the Feb.10th. Lent is a very special season for me. The spiritual discipline of the season of Lent gives me reassurance and confidence to remind myself that Jesus died for my sins on the cross and I am saved by grace alone (Sola Gratia). I would like share with you a prayer called, Examen of Consciousness developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)Read MoreThe Salvation of God is the Cure1094 Words   |  5 Pageshuman response in faith, love, and a certain gallantry to the challenges of the world – discrimination, death, poverty, disease, handicaps. It is the unexpected response, unexplained save through the inspiration of the Spirit of God, the work of God’s grace.†(Bullock, James R. Whatever Became of Salvation? Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1979. Print.) I really like this short statement, it explains how salvation is a way to deal with the evil of the world, by simply recognizing that God is truly the only

Oil and Gas Industry Legal Aspects

Question: Examine and evaluate the key areas and features that goverments should focus on during their negotiation process and in the drafting of contracts with the international oil companies? Answer: Introduction Nations that are huge quantities of natural resources intend to use such resources so as to maintain their economic stability and to gather funds that would be used for various developmental processes. In order to do so, the governments of such countries engage into legal contracts with those oil companies that operate in the international oil market and perform various activities associated with the exploration, drilling and processing of such natural resources with the aim of selling the processed resources in the market. The technical, economical and commercial aspects of such oil exploration processes are considered with great importance by both the parties: the government of the countries that are home to such resources and the organizations that are interested in the extraction or drilling procedures. However, both the parties need to put efforts in this sector as the process of agreeing on a contract for the exploration of the natural resources of any country is indeed a chall enging task: the first challenge being the process of negotiation in itself. In most of the developing countries, including Mexico, Bolivia and Kazakhstan, the natural resources like that of oil and natural gas are considered to be the national assets, instead of being the property of any individual or private organization or entity. The legal right over the surface land is not considered when the government of these nations claim their right over the natural resources that lay beneath the ground: the constitutions of these countries are enshrined by laws that validate this process. The nations that have large reserves of oil, natural gas or any other resources make a consistent effort in providing such benefits to the oil companies that they participate in the process of exploitation of these resources, using their expertise and technical or financial resources, in order to market the resources properly. Definition of Contract: Acontract can be defined as a deliberate and voluntary agreement between two or more parties, which is bound by the law. In general, contracts are well documented by the competent parties that take part in the agreement, but might also be implied in some other form or be developed as verbal agreement. The fundamental elements of any valid contract arelegality, capacity, consideration,andmutual assent. A contract is said to have a legal existence if and only if the following factualelements are present: An offer that is being made by one party to another. The evidence of the acceptance of the offer. A promise regardingthe performance of any job A mentionable consideration A time span within which the promised performance will be made Various terms and conditions that are applicable to the process of fulfilling the above mentioned promises. Setting the Parameters: In spite of the large number of stakeholders associate with the process of exploiting the natural resources of a nation and the intense interests of these stakeholders, the government of these countries tend to not pay the proper attention that such negotiation processes demand . However, since the amount of resources that are in stake in such types of legal contracts, the governments of these nations delegate the task of managing the complex issues involved in the process of such negotiation processes to the experts of these domains: as for example, experienced and esteemed lawyers are appointed to look after the legal aspects of these contracts, engineers and engineering firms are appointed to look after the technical aspects of the contracts being drafted (Langford, 2014). Successful oil contracts are generally found to emerge out from the processes that involve direct negotiations. However, it is found in general that various complex issues are involved the process of negotiating an oil extraction contract, as such negotiations are more often than not flourished by indecision: the indecisions being associated with the lack of knowledge of the location of probable oil field, the lack of any estimation of the amount of oil that could be drilled out of the oil wells and / or the lack of capability of the parties taking part in the contract to make predictions about the future of the market. However lawyers who have the expertise of negotiating such contracts are well aware of the fact that each and every other negotiation process includes certain weak points, the situation under which the negotiation id being conducted or the terms and conditions of the contract being irrelevant: the proper and efficient utilization of the weak moment being the key to cr eating a win-win situation for any organization. The various issues that are generally taken into consideration during the process of negotiating an oil contract include the probable costs associated with the operational activities of oil drilling, the fluctuations of the market, the probable size of the oil fields and the estimated quantity of oil and natural gases that could be drilled from the oil wells and so on and so forth. The experience of domain experts, along with judgmental power are essentially required so as find out the priority and importance of each of these factors, such that a balanced contract can be prepared: however it should also be considered that no such contract is identical to another, as the importance and the priority of the above mentioned factors keep on changing from time to time and from place to place. Issues that arise in the process of negotiation The different issues that are associated with the negotiation process can be classified as: The factors are not considered suing the negotiation process, like that ofenvironmental and social issuesand The conflict zone . In the following section, various other significant factors have been discussed: Time Factor Time- responsive factors are considered to be crucial for the process of negotiating oil contracts: such factors include - The price of crude oil in the international market Socio-political and economic condition of the country and The inter-dependencyof the above mentioned factors Oil contracts should be drafted such that the contracts are able to incorporate the various changes that these factors go through from time to time (Babusiaux, 2004). Indigenous Communities The various indigenous communities who are socially and economically affected by the oil contracts drafted in between the governments of the nations and the oil companies, demand for compensations: the interests of these groups should be considered by the government during the negotiation process (Bantekas, 2009) Transparency The indigenous communities of the nation are able to accept the legal contracts between the government and the oil companies only when the various terms, conditions and prices that are quoted in the contracts are disclosed to the public: thus the a minimum level of transparency should be maintained during the process of negotiating an oil contract (Bhattacharyya, 2009). Conflict of Interest As the government of the nation is considered as one of the parties involved in the oil contract, chances are there that a conflict of interest might be noticed on the part of the government during the negotiation process, as on one hand the government tries to maximize the profit of the nation, while on the other hand the government has to consider the interests of the various indigenous communities of the country (Bindemann, 2000). Expert Negotiators The process of extraction of oil and/ or natural gases involves various economical, legal, technological and environmental aspects (Cardella, n.d.). The government must employ experienced domain experts to look after these aspects of the oil contracts, as the international oil employ such experts so as to conduct the negotiation process (Crump, n.d.). Types of Oil Contract The various types of oil contracts that might occur in-between the government and the oil companies have been discussed in this section: License Agreements Through the process of License Agreements or Concession Agreements, the oil companies earn the exclusive rights of developing infrastructure, exploring oil fields, extract the oil, and sell the oil in the international market, for a stipulated period of time. The company pays a license fee to the government, which the government retains notwithstanding production. Ehen the production starts, the company pays income taxes and royalty to the government. Thus such contracts put the government in the advantageous position (Ghandi and Lin, 2014). Production Sharing Agreement (or PSA') Such types of agreements ensure that the various risks and liabilities that are associated with the production of oil are borne by the company: they must also compensate the government in form of payment of capital investments and the expenses associated with the operations (Jennings, 2002). After the deduction of the above mentioned amount from the profit, the remaining amount is equally divided among the government and the companies. The company pays for various taxes from its own share of profit (Mahmud and Russell, 2002). Joint Venture Agreement In such agreements, the profit gathered by the process of exploration of oil and natural gases is shared by both the parties that are involved in the contract: the government and the oil company that is involved in the operational activities of drilling of oil. The government also has to take the burden of risks that are associated with the process of oil extraction. However, the government is relieved of the task of taking decisions regarding the operations of the oil fields as this part of the operational activity is considered as the responsibility of the oil companies (Marshall, 2003). Thus it can be said that such types of agreements mandate the participation of the government in the process of oil extraction. Service Agreements The government and the oil companies an also participate in a contract that would facilitate the process of disbursement. However, such service agreements are generally not common in the field of oil and natural gas exploration (Martin, 2009). Terms of Contract The following terms are generally incorporated in any oil contract: Plan of Work When companies realize that a particular plan might not be profitable for them, they tend to delay or shelve the projects. A possible safeguard that the government can introduce against such strategies implemented by the oil companies is that they can clearly state those circumstances only under which the companies will be allowed to shelve or delay the (Mosburg, 1983). Stabilization Clause The oil contracts should be drafted in such a way that the stabilization clauses are not included in the contracts, as such clauses restrict the implementation of the legislative clauses of a nation in the operational activities of the oil companies (Oil and gas exploration and production: reserves, costs, contracts, 2005). Parties The oil contracts should also be drafted in such a way that the government in itself does not become a party in the oil exploration contracts: this strategy is taken so as to not bear any direct and/ or unlimited liability of the contract. On the other hand, the government can participate in the contract by the process of making the government enterprise a direct party involved in the contract (OIL AND GAS: New Contracts, 2008). Government Mission in the process of negotiation The government should consider the development of the country as the sole interest and mission during the process of negotiating any oil contract with international oil corporations. The government should also try to include such clauses in the contracts that would ensure that the resources of the companies are utilized properly so as to develop the infrastructure of the country (Pongsiri, 2004). The following section provides some insight into those factors that the government should consider during the negotiation process: Employment Oil exploration projects require large number of manpower: the government should include such clauses in the oil contracts by which the oil corporations would employ the members of the indigenous community in their projects (Razavi, 1989). Sustainable Development Since oil and gas are non-renewable sources of energy, the government must look out for the fact that the oil companies are not given the permission to extract natural resources at such rates which might result in fast depletion of these resources. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) The government should ensure that the oil companies perform their CSR during the time when they operate in the host country (Thornton, 1912). Mechanism for Dispute Resolution The various mechanisms that are generally used for the process of dispute resolution must be unambiguously stated in the contract being drafted. The most common methods of dispute methods, as mentioned in oil contracts are: The parties that are involved in any oil contract that approach any court of law in case of disputes:however it should also be considered that most court proceedings are highly time consuming processes (Tade, 1989). International Commercial Arbitration laws can also be used so as to resolve disputes regarding those contracts that are signed between international oil companies and governments of various nations . Conclusion and Recommendation Very often, the governments of those countries, that have large reserves of natural resources like coal, oil and natural gas, face several problems during the process of negotiating the nature and the clauses of the contract that are to be made with these companies: as most of the organizations that are associated with the process of extraction of oil and natural gases operate in the international domain and specialize in this particular sector, they are much more experienced in such negotiating process that are used to determine the type of contract being made and the clauses that are being mentioned in the contracts. Such companies indulge in all necessary procedures that would lead to the reduction of costs on the part: they often tailor their negotiation strategies according to the political, economical and social conditions that prevail in the impugned country. During the negotiation process, very often than not, the oil companies express such behavioural traits that might be ea sily considered as cynical, inflexible and aggressive. Therefore, it becomes essential for the governments of these nations to well strategies the policies and procedures that would be used in the processing of negotiating such contracts. The three most commonly used strategies that nations rich in natural resources adapt so as to negotiate contracts with the oil corporations are: Forming indigenous state owned companies that would be responsible for the process of exploration of natural resources, processing of the crude resources and proper marketing of the products. Countries like Venezuela, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Oman use such strategies to exploit their natural resources. Inviting international oil companies to participate in the process of exploiting the natural resources. Countries like United Kingdom, Canada and Russia employ such strategies to collect funds for their developmental procedures. Employing a combination of the above mentioned strategies, as done by companies like Indonesia, Nigeria and Kazakhstan. It is recommended that the governments of other nations should chose one of the above mentioned strategies, that would be suitable for the socio-economic and political culture of the nation, so as to engage in oil contracts with international oil companies. References 3 oil gas contracts for Aker Kvaerner. (2007). Pump Industry Analyst, 2007(8), p.3. Babusiaux, D. (2004). Oil and gas exploration and production. Paris: Editions Technip. Bantekas, I. (2009). Oil and Gas Production Contracts. The Journal of World Energy Law Business, 2(3), pp.263-264. Bhattacharyya, S. (2009). Oil and Gas Production Contracts, Volume 1. 1st ed.20094Edited by Anthony Jennings. Oil and Gas Production Contracts, Volume 1. 1st ed. . London: Sweet and Maxwell, Thomson Reuters (Legal) Limited 2008. , ISBN:  978 1 84703 750 3 ix +398 pp. Int J of Energy Sector Man, 3(4), pp.428-430. Bindemann, K. (2000). The response of oil contracts to extreme price movements. Oxford: Dept. of Economics [Oxford University]. Cardella, E. (n.d.). Negotiating Flexible Prices. SSRN Electronic Journal. Crump, L. (n.d.). Negotiating Climate Change. SSRN Electronic Journal. Ghandi, A. and Lin, C. (2014). Oil and gas service contracts around the world: A review. Energy Strategy Reviews, 3, pp.63-71. Jennings, A. (2002). Oil and gas exploration contracts. London: Sweet Maxwell. Mahmud, M. and Russell, A. (2002). Evidence that the terms of petroleum contracts influence the rate of development of oil fields. OPEC Review, 26(1), pp.21-44. Marshall, A. (2003). Negotiating Transcendence. Ethnologies, 25(1), p.5. Martin, T. (2009). Oil and Gas Exploration Contracts. The Journal of World Energy Law Business, 2(2), pp.173-174. Mosburg, L. (1983). Contracts used in oil and gas operations. Oklahoma City, Okla.: Institute for Energy Development. Oil and gas exploration and production: reserves, costs, contracts. (2005). Choice Reviews Online, 42(07), pp.42-4042-42-4042. OIL AND GAS: New Contracts. (2008). Africa Research Bulletin: Economic, Financial and Technical Series, 45(3), pp.17792B-17792C. Pongsiri, N. (2004). Partnerships in oil and gas production sharing contracts. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 17(5), pp.431-442. Razavi, H. (1989). The new era of petroleum trading. Washington, D.C.: World Bank. Soyer, B. and Tettenborn, A. (n.d.). Offshore contracts and liabilities. Tade, J. (1989). Drafting indemnity provisions in oil and gas contracts. [Chicago, Ill.]: Section of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law, American Bar Association. Thornton, W. (1912). The law relating to oil and gas. Cincinnati: W.H. Anderson.

McDonalds and Burger king Essay Example

McDonalds and Burger king Essay As part of my assignment I will compare Mc Donalds and Burger king. These two restaurants offer similar products and services . I chose to compare the two businesses because of the fierce competition and promotional strategies that they use. Mc Donald and Burger King are in direct competition with each other and always compete to be ahead of each other and gain customer loyalty. The first Mc Donalds restaurant opened in the UK in the 1970s. Mc Donalds states that customers convenience is the driving force behind new restaurant locations. The company is committed to responsible growth, and works closely with local planning officers and community groups when developing a new restaurant. McDonalds is the leading global food service retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants in more than 100 countries. Approximately 70 percent of Mc Donalds restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women through franchise arrangements There are currently more than 1,000 Mc Donalds restaurants throughout the UK, and the company continues to strive to offer greater convenience to customers while responding sympathetically to local circumstances. Mc Donalds strives to ensure quality from crop up to the counter. This means that the restaurant requires the highest standards and specifications, not just for product ingredients but also every detail of production, transport, delivery, preparation and service is also monitored. Mc Donalds also recognises the importance of a balanced diet and life-style and continues to seek quality new products. The restaurant says that this dedication to quality earns the degree of trust customers place in the Mc Donalds Brand. Burger king company information We will write a custom essay sample on McDonalds and Burger king specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on McDonalds and Burger king specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on McDonalds and Burger king specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer What started with one restaurant in Miami in 1954 has grown to more than 11,220 restaurants in 61 countries worldwide. And, like a small child who eats his greens, Burger king is still growing and growing. Burger king outlets number 523 in Britain out of more than 10,000 globally. Burger King mission Statement At Burger King Corporation, diversity is part of their foundation. We value, honour and respect differences in our employees, customers, franchisees and suppliers. By sharing a common vision, they have created a premier company with a harmonious working environment that achieves its business and diversity objectives. I couldnt obtain Burger King Market share. Mc Donald menu includes; chicken sandwiches, double cheese big Mac burgers this includes beef, fillet o fish sandwiches, fries, breakfast, happy meals and desserts. The restaurant also offers dairy products such as milkshakes, ice creams and yogurts. Burger King have similar menu, this includes whopper sandwiches, and flame grilled burgers, chicken, fish veggie, fresh baked baguettes, breakfast, beverages, and kids menu with desserts. It is quite clear that both restaurants offer practically the same products this has been the cause of fierce competition. Both restaurants compete on price as I previously mentioned and also the followings. Advertising Mc Donalds uses adverts to help boost sales and to aware their customers on new or existing products. The restaurant uses catch phrases such as things that make you go mhhhhhhh. This was a jingle used in February 2003; currently the company uses the phrase I am loving it This slogan was promoted by an RB artist (Justin Timberlake). I believe that this was a successful method of promotion because the sales increased and children all over the country were singing along. Other methods include using collectable toys, coupons, promotional schemes in schools and figures such as Ronald McDonald. Burger King also uses the same tactics they have collectable toys for the kids meals. The restaurant slogan is Have it your way. Burger King has used movies such as the Incredible Hulk to promote meals in 2004. This was a very successful action for the business it increased sales.

Play-Doh free essay sample

My mother holds her life in her hands as if it was expired Play-Doh. It had become dry and hard; the challenges of starting a new life in America and raising a teenage daughter wore down its original vibrant color. She had once aspired to mold it into fascinating things. She once told me she wanted to be a flight attendant, traveling the world with a single suitcase and a silk scarf tied around her neck. Instead she was an obedient daughter and married my father to begin a family (that, and she did not meet the height requirement for flight attendants). Eventually, my mother left her shapeless Play-Doh in the corner of the kitchen counter. She continued to encourage me to be my best, so that I could have the opportunities she never even imagined. But for her, the light at the end of the tunnel seemed to run on only two AA batteries and was getting dimmer as its juices ran out. We will write a custom essay sample on Play-Doh or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page My mother, who held my hand when I took my first steps, was now waving to me as I ran forward to achieve my dreams. I toiled away at schoolwork and smashed tennis balls as hard as I could on the court. I lent a hand in community work at the local theatre and in tutoring. I was hugged in a circle of close friends who shared our happiness and aspirations. And through all this, my mother would continue to wave to me as I ran away farther towards my goals, encouraging me while her own life lay stagnant. A stereotypical busy student, I sat eating instant ramen noodles one day while studying for my approaching quiz on the American political culture. I looked away from my textbook for a minute and caught a few words on the cover of my ramen bowl—something that is common knowledge to most people and therefore usually ignored. I promptly stopped what I was doing and looked around me. The clutter of textbooks and loose paper that drowned my field of vision and the calendar tacked onto the wall in front of me made me realize that I was going to college soon. For everything that my mother had done for me, from dropping her jaw in ecstasy whenever I conquered a major exam to holding me tightly whenever I didn’t, I never really paid her back. So, before I was to continue developing myself as a person and embarking for college to chase after my future, I had to push my mother’s life forward the way she saved mine. First, I needed to run to the convenience store down the s treet that sold AA batteries in packs of eight. Then, I needed to grab the forgotten, dried up Play-Doh out of the corner of the kitchen counter and press it into my mother’s palm, all the while pointing out the big block letters on my ramen bowl: â€Å"JUST ADD WATER.†

Apprasial Essays

Apprasial Essays Apprasial Essay Apprasial Essay Appraial Employee Training and Development in Health Care Organizations Sean Ackerman Human Resources in Health Care Organizations May 7, 2011 The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership Harvey Firestone, American Businessman Introduction Training is a process whereby people acquire capabilities to aid in the achievement of personal and organizational goals. In the healthcare industry, employee training and development is multifaceted and complex. It must address state and federally mandated regulation requirements, organizational objectives and needs, and leadership development. This must all be delivered and documented in an organized and consistent fashion. In the simplest of terms, the training process is tied to a variety of organizational purposes and can be viewed in terms of immediate need and/or long-term objectives.5 Context In the limited perspective, training provides employees with specific, identifiable knowledge and skills for use on their current job. This type of training can present in many forms; from a newly hired employee who needs orientation to department and/or hospital operations, to introducing a new concept in technology or a new computer system to the entire organization. Whatever the reason for conducting a training session, it is important for a company to develop a comprehensive, on-going and consistent training program. This training process is essential in keeping staff motivated about learning new concepts and keeping the organization profitable. Leadership development is broader in scope and focuses on providing individuals with the opportunity to gain new capabilities useful for both current and future jobs. Developing leadership skills in current employees benefits both the organization and the individual. Experienced and knowledgeable employees and managers enhance organizational competitiveness and strengthen the organizationâ„ ¢s ability to adapt to a changing environment. In this development process, individual careers may evolve and gain new or redirected focus.2 A crucial component of leadership development is succession planning; a process of identifying a longer term plan for replacement of key employees. This is a complex process in terms of implementation. However, successful implementation of this process impacts the strength of a department as a whole. The manager that has this plan in place demonstrates strong leadership skills.5 Research Findings Analysis In the United States of America, employers currently spend approximately $60 billion annually on training. For the average employer, training expenditures run at least 1.5% to 2% of payroll expenses and average $677 per eligible employee according to a study by the American Society for Training and Development. Historically, health care organizations have lagged behind in training expenditures in comparison to organizations in other industries but training in health care organizations has evolved significantly over the past decade. There is the growing recognition by employees that training is vital to their personal growth and continued employment and success. As part of strategic competitiveness, employees whose capabilities stay current and who receive regular training are better able to cope with the challenges and changes occurring in health care. Additionally, the training process provides management with the opportunity to assess the skills and abilities of the employees and to identify potential future organization leaders.5 Training in health care organizations is offered in both non-clinical and clinical areas and is delivered via a variety of avenues. In the non-clinical area, health care training includes fire safety, sexual harassment prevention, corporate responsibility, patient safety, customer service skills, quality improvement, diversity awareness, and personal computer courses. The cost of this training is offset by increased revenue as a result of enhanced employee knowledge and skills. For example, a customer service skills training session can provide an organization with high patient satisfaction scores. These high scores directly equate to increased patient volumes and revenue.8 In the clinical area, the accreditation process for the health care industry drives the need for training in organizations. Health care organizations are legally mandated to provide consistent training to ensure that high quality medical care and safety is delivered to all patients. While medically licensed personnel employed by health care organizations, including physicians, nurses and technologists must meet annual continuing medical education requirements to maintain state licensure.8 Health care organizations in the 21st century face continuing challenges in meeting the performance expectations of critical stock holders including consumers, payers, regulators, and other providers. As the baby boomer generation ages, bringing high expectations and increased service volumes to the health care system, a new and overwhelming labor shortage is likely to emerge. Demand for top talent is intense and individuals will choose organizations that afford them meaningful opportunities for growth and development. Results of a survey by the Health Management Academy of Executive Leaders in Health Care and Fortune 500 Companies show a clear consensus that strong leadership is the key to organizational success. Only 41% of health care executives were satisfied with the strength of their current leadership development programs.11 Of additional concern to the health care industry are the results of a study by the Advisory Board which predict a 15% drop in the health care leadership pool over the next several years. To meet these challenges, leading health care organizations are designing and executing leadership development initiatives to lay the foundation for sustained long-term organizational growth and success.7 As with routine annual training, employee development begins with analysis of the needs of both the organization and individuals. Both the organization and the individual employee should assess the employeeâ„ ¢s needs by way of development. The goal in assessment is always to identify strengths and weaknesses. Methods brought into play by organizations to assess development needs can include the use of assessment centers, psychological testing, and performance appraisals. Evidence indicates that analysis of the individualâ„ ¢s development requirements frequently receives insufficient attention in many organizations. Leaders are also expected to demonstrate alignment and energy relative to mission, vision, values and the organizationâ„ ¢s culture and strategic priorities. Effective leadership development programs would include significant emphasis on values integration and communication.11 Technology The amount of each type of training, short-term and long-term, performed varies by organizations and depends on strategic planning, resources, and needs identified within the organization. Once the training plan has been designed, the actual delivery of that training can begin. Initially, the training process should be piloted on a trial basis in order to ensure that the training does indeed meet the identified needs and that the design is appropriate. Approaches and methods of training available vary and when ever-changing and improving technology enters the equation, the choices expand almost daily. Various considerations need to be balanced when selecting training approaches and methods. Some common variables are the nature of the training, subject matter, number of trainees, self-paced versus guided instruction, costs, time allotment, and completion timeline. The delivery of training in the health care system includes on-the-job preceptorship by a supervisor or another proficient employee, in service education on new products, policies and processes, continuing education classes, and training workshops or seminars.5 New technologies are being incorporated into training delivery, design, administration, and support. Health care organizations are investing in electronic registration and recordkeeping systems that allow trainees to register, participate in and record exam results for assigned training. The organization is then able to monitor learning progress. To support training, there are computer applications providing training known as electronic performance support systems. Organizations that utilize computer based programs have required training available for employees at all times. Various reports can be run from these computer based systems, making the information readily available for any accreditation organization inquiring about training for employees that has been performed.5 In the future, as learning and work continue to merge, technology will become seamlessly integrated into the employeesâ„ ¢ work environment. The Importance of Leadership Development The benefits of a comprehensive leadership development program can be represented along a continuum spanning from the individual employee only, through the employee plus the organization and ending with the organization only as illustrated below. Unfortunately, too few companies are committed to employee development.7 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BENEFITS CONTINUUM Employee Employee + Employer Employer ^ skills boosts morale v employee turn-over ^ knowledge clear company vision ^ productivity ^ job satisfaction ^ motivation fosters new ideas ^ compensation ^ trust prime market position ^ marketing for new hires Through corporate training programs, the individual employee is able to acquire new skills and knowledge, as well as, increase their qualifications and ultimately enhance their overall job satisfaction. Obviously, staff development is an expense but companies fully committed to providing continuous opportunities for employee learning, growth and development generate returns on their investments in terms of increased employee initiative, motivation, trust, and reduced turn over. Companies benefit just as much as the employees from investment in training and education, particularly in terms of having a recruiting edge for the most qualified job candidates. When employee development is performed strategically, a partnership develops among training and development professionals generating greater clarity and agreement among employers and their managers as to business direction, goals and priorities. As a diagnostic tool, development planning allows for the ability of employees to articulate, with precision, the business goals of the organization and the increased value to the business as a result of completion of training programs. I have personally experienced leadership development in my organization. I began my career many years ago with no particular goals in mind. As years went by, I realized I was on a track towards being a leader. The executive team had implemented a talent in sight program for managers and I had been identified as an employee with the ability to move ahead in the organization. Even though I have the ability to be a strong leader, my formal education is not on target with the goal. The CEO has strongly encouraged me to continue my formal education, so that future opportunities within the organization will be available to me. As it turns out, returning to college to receive my degree was one of my better decisions. Thankfully, I work in an organization where leadership development is a priority. Development of Leaders There are many elements for creating the best possible learning experiences for leaders, including the fundamental principals that inform our leadership development efforts and the most effective learning methods.10 Trust and personal credibility form the foundation for leadership. They should also form the foundation of leadership development. Successful leaders must be able to build and sustain trusting relationships with a highly diverse group of people. Intensive training in interpersonal skills is fundamental to every successful leadership effort. Trust and leadership abilities cannot be built over the internet. Leadership is a relationship between human beings and if successful leaders are to be developed, they must be brought together in one room.10 One of the most valuable ways to build trust and to assist the leader in getting a rounded view is to provide 360 degree feed back. This is the single most valuable tool to provide leaders with a realistic agenda for development. Forward-looking is the one attribute that differentiates leaders from other credible people. Constituents want their leaders to have a vision of the future, to know where they are heading. A respectable business cannot be built without predicting the stumbling blocks that can occur down the road. Proactivity is the key to successful leaders. Leadership development should be offered to all employees. Leaders can come from anywhere and must come from everywhere. Everyone who wants to lead must have a plan for her or his own development and take charge of executing that plan. Potential leaders need to be encouraged to get clarity about their strengths and weaknesses. The desire for learning can be inspired, but it must be nurtured continuously. Coaching is critical to that process.5 Conclusion Basic economic resource ¦.is no longer capital, nor natural resources ¦.nor labor. It is and will be knowledge. 4 There is no question that continued learning has merit. However, blinded by cost issues, some organizations forfeit guaranteed return on investment by not implementing a consistent training program for employees. Unfortunately, some learning takes place only after we acknowledge our mistakes and faults.9 Health care organizations are being subjected to ongoing changes in technology and consumer interests and preferences. Learning capabilities help organizations adapt to the ongoing changes. Focusing on training and development is making an investment in the organizationâ„ ¢s future. True success comes from emphasizing both short term operational considerations and long term developmental ones. Health care leaders must creatively meet the demands of these complementary priorities. References 1 Baptist Health Care: Where Staff Retention Drives Patient Satisfaction, A Case Study of the UCSF Center for the Health Professions from cpp.com. 2 Bring Out the Leader in Each, from allbusiness.com 3 Bolstering Staff Soft Skills Helps Hospital Face Major Challenges, A Case Study of St. Lukeâ„ ¢s Hospital and Health Network from cpp.com. 4 Druker, Peter (1993) Capitalist Society. HarperCollins, New York, NY. 5 Flynn, Walter J, Robert L. Mathis, John H. Jackson, Patrick J. Langan (2007) Healthcare Human Resource Management, Second Edition. South-Western Cengage Learning, OH USA. 6 allbusiness.com 7 Oâ„ ¢Toole, James, Edward E. Lawler III (2006) The New American Workplace. Palgrave MacMillan, New York, NY. 8 Smith, Shawn, JD, Rebecca Mazin (2004) The HR Answer Book. AMACOM, NY USA. 9 Spath, Patrice L. (2007) Guide to Effective Staff Development in Health Care Organizations: A Systems Approach to Successful Training. 10 Ukens, Lorraine L. (2001) What Smart Trainers Know, The Secrets of Success from the Worldâ„ ¢s Foremost Experts. Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, San Francisco CA. 11 Wells, Wendy, William Hejna (2009) Developing Leadership Talent in Healthcare Organizations: There are five key areas in which healthcare organizations can better foster the development of strong leaders among their employees. Healthcare Financial Management, from http://findartticles.com. Cascio, W. (2010). Managing human resources: productivity, quality of work life, profits. United States of America: McGraw-Hill. ?   Colquitt, J, Lepine, J, Wesson, M. (2011). Improving performance and commitment in the workplace. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Future of Natural Gas in the Mediterranean Basin Essay

Future of Natural Gas in the Mediterranean Basin - Essay Example Shale gas is obtained from shale, a sedimentary rock, and in the past decade has become an important source of natural gas in the United States and Canada. North Africa possesses massive oil and gas reserves, viewed as strategically vital because of their proximity to European consumers across the Mediterranean Sea. "In terms of natural gas reserves, Algeria, Libya and Egypt contain the majority of the regional resource, except that Algeria is the main site of the reserves. Algeria is the eighth largest country worldwide in terms of proven gas reserves. Algeria possesses the majority of the gas resource at around 159 trillion ft3, followed by Egypt with 58.5 trillion ft3and Libya at 54.38 trillion ft3. Proved gas reserves have grown significantly over the past decade, with the most significant new finds in Egypt. Egypt joined the ranks of LNG exporters in 2005" (Yamaguchi, 2009) These African countries have an edge over their Russian counterparts in terms of supplies of gas to these southern European countries. The Russian companies are far away from southern European countries as compared to these African countries. In future the supply from these African countries will continue to cater to the demand of the Mediterranean region. These African countries are also encouraging foreign investments in this sector. With demand in the southern European countries rising each year, more and more European companies are entering into collaborations with the North African companies in all the segments including upstream, midstream and downstream. With these investments, new gas field are being found, more pipelines are being constructed in the Mediterranean region. On combustion, natural gas produces less harmful gases as compared to the petroleum products. For this reason, the future demand for natural gas is increasing with every passing year. In the Mediterranean region as well, this demand is expected to grow in the coming years. Europe does not have reserves which can cater to its 100% demand. Hence southern European countries are dependent on North African countries for their gas requirement. In the last decade, shale gas has become an increasingly important source of natural gas in the United States and Canada. There are speculations that shale gas may be present in other parts of the world as well. Very recently, the United States has also offered to help other nations in determining whether they have natural gas resources trapped in shale rock. This is a good move from the Government of the United States but the whole process of finding out reserves, taking out gas from shale rocks, bringing this to market; all this will take time. The countries around the world are looking at this shale gas with suspect eyes because of the technology required to extract gas from rocks. Solar energy is increasingly becoming a big source of energy supply to the ever increasing demand for energy in the European countries. North African countries have huge deserted lands where huge solar plants can be installed and energy could be supplied to Mediterranean region. But the question is, is this feasible enough It has been proved that solar power is much costlier than the power