Business Ethics Reflection - 892 Words

Business Ethics Reflection When one is faced with ethical dilemmas he or she needs to look at the situation as a whole and determine what the outcome of the situation would be and to whom it may effect. As I remember facing a dilemma when asked to write this paper what came to mind was haven to decide how I was going to confront a fellow employee on knowing that she was stealing money and that she was abusing our friendship by coming into work late on a regular basis. She was a single mom of one and was struggling to make ends meet but that gave her no right to steal from the company and do not make it right to take advantage of†¦show more content†¦If I were to be faced with this type of situation again I think I would have done the same thing and reported it to the proper authorities. I would not want to put my job on the line to make sure a friendship stayed intact. I would have probably try to see warning signs and ask that person if there was anything I could do to help out or try to get that person more hours at work. I work from home so right now I am not put in situations such as that but thinking back I would most definitely take the same actions. I would also make sure not to work closely with good friends so that I am not put in such a situation. Keeping a working relationship but not one of a social relationship outside of work will help to keep me from having to be put in the type ofShow MoreRelatedReflection Paper On Business Ethics2881 Words   |  12 Pages Arion 1 Anthony Arion Reflection Paper Business Ethics Jeffrey Muldoon, PhD 1 December 2015 Declaring a major in college is a big deal, but declaring that one is majoring in Business gives a whole new meaning to the word. 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Can Brownfield Sites Become Multi-functional Landscapes Free Essays

1.Introduction The focus of this study is to investigate ways in which Brownfield sites can be developed to create sustainable, multifunctional public open spaces that don’t suppress natural processes. The investigation will centre on:- the importance of Brownfield sites; sustainable and viable development; and relevant case studies. We will write a custom essay sample on Can Brownfield Sites Become Multi-functional Landscapes? or any similar topic only for you Order Now What is Multi-functional Spaceâ€Å"Something that is multi-functional does several things or has several different uses†. (Macmillan Dictionary definition). In landscape terms, multi-functionalism is the making of design provision for the many demands that are placed upon a site. In the past, landscape design has focused on the need to solve one particular problem, such as purely aesthetic values. In recent times, a broader approach to design is becoming increasingly important, due to higher pressures on land use and the idea of social, economical and ecological sustainability. Historically, landscape design has not been concerned with multi-functionalism, although naturally, some landscapes have evolved to accommodate different needs, thus becoming multi-functional. Increasing pressures on land has forced designers to become progressively more aware that space needs to be utilised, as a result of population growth and the needs that this creates, such as industry, housing, energy resources and transport. As a result, designers need to find ways to warrant the creation of open spaces by making them multi-functional, thereby meeting different needs and fully utilising the space. 2. Brownfield Sites This section will look at what a Brownfield site is and why they are important. 2.1 What, Where and Why Brownfield sites are defined as â€Å"previously developed land† (London Development Agency). These can be found throughout urban areas, old residential areas or more commonly on ex-industrial land. As a result of this industrial past, many Brownfield sites are registered as contaminated, normally by low concentrations of hazardous waste or pollution. Many can be found in areas of high density that are under pressure for development and regeneration. There are over 66,000 hectares of Brownfield sites in England and about 30% are in high-growth areas (The Ecologist, 2005), resulting in most developments of Brownfield sites being residential. The government set a target that 60% of new developments are to be built on Brownfield sites. This has been met 8 years before schedule (Brownfield Land Redevelopment: Position Statement, 2003). The speed at which this target was met has called for targets to be made at a regional level rather that nationally, whilst also trying to promote the appropriate sustainable development uses, not focused solely on building. ‘Some Brownfield and derelict land can represent important wildlife habitat, public green space or a core part of urban green networks. These are important in providing good quality of life, and Brownfield reuse must strike an appropriate balance in the interests of sustainable development.’ (Environment agency, 2003) Brownfield sites are becoming more and more important to natural process as areas of land are become more urbanised. They contribute to the flood alleviation, wild life habitats and urban green space. 2.3 Important Assets of Brownfield Sites Brownfield sites are seen by most people as an eye-sore and waste land but they can support as many rare invertebrates as ancient woodlands. Though some may not be ideal habitats for invertebrates, they can be ideal for small mammals, birds, insects and plant species. This section will look at some of the benefits and assets that these sites may have. Vegetation Vegetation on Brownfield site is very rarely intentional and normally plants have naturally colonized the site or unintentionally be introducing to the site in foreign waste, such as waste soil and rubble. The majority of the time it is the hardy alien (non-native) species that initially establish but as Brownfield site do not have high grade soil they find it hard to take hold and native species, larger vegetation and tree and start to colonize the site. One of the most important factors of Brownfield vegetation it that it is unmanaged and as a result is constantly changing. Scrubland will become grass land and grass land will become woodland. This dynamic landscape is the reason why Brownfield site are among the most bio diverse places in urban areas. What’s more, they are one of the some sustainable place due to plants only growing where condition are right, in contrast with maintained parks where conditions are artificially changed to support the needs of the plant. This Quote state the typical approach to park maintains in Britain and questions its value. ‘Traditionally the design and management of British parks has favoured an ornamental and manicured appearance. This limits the potential of existing parks as ecologically functional green spaces. In order to enhance the opportunities for biodiversity, park management plans can be revised with the aim of encouraging more species-rich and structurally diverse vegetation. Common examples include reducing mowing to encourage wildflowers and the establishment of field and shrub layers under trees.’ (Town and Country Planning Association, Biodiversity by Design, 2004) Invertebrates One of the reasons why these Brownfield sites tend to be so good for invertebrates is due to the complex life-cycle of these invertebrates, with each stage of growth having different requirements. The repetitive disturbance and the poor quality soil of some sites, naturally promotes the development of a variety of different habitats that these invertebrates require. Due to the increasing pressure on countryside habitats from agriculture and development, urban Brownfield sites could be the saviour of some rare species. â€Å"The intensification of farming has led to the loss of flower-rich grasslands from the countryside, leaving Brownfield sites as the last refuge for species reliant upon such resources.† (Buglife-Brownfields, 2011) Brownfield sites are often used for unofficial purposes that result in areas with reduced vegetation or bare ground and this becomes an environment in itself. Significantly, the Brownfield site is one of the only places where this type of habitat occurs in urban areas. Bare ground warms up rapidly in sunshine and is used by burrowing and ground nesting invertebrates, which provides a foraging area for visual predators. A population of invertebrates will attract more animals and in turn, through increased opportunities for predators, there will be a greater variety of animals, bringing about a more complete eco system. Butterflies and Moths Moths and Butterflies are one of the insect groups that have been severely affected by changes made to the countryside through agriculture and re-forestation. This has resulted in urban ex-industrial land becoming of vital importance to support healthy colonies of butterflies and moths. There are a large number of butterflies that can be found on Brownfield sites, such as the Small Copper, Peacock and Common Blue. But Brownfield sites can also be home to numerous different rare and endangered species, such as the Small Blue, Grayling and Dingy Skipper, which are all on the UKBAP priority species list. As stated earlier, sites that have colonised slowly and naturally, often develop a variety of different micro habitats. Butterflies and Moths act as a perfect example of insects which need a variety of environments, due to their complicated life-cycle. The site has to provide areas of sparse vegetation, food opportunities for the young caterpillar and an array of nectar source for adults. The sites should also be sheltered and have good sun exposure. The reason why butterfly colonies are important on Brownfield sites is because they both create and are a good indicator of biodiversity, as they react very quickly to environmental change. This makes them a good measure of ecological health; if there are a large variety of butterflies, the site will usually support lots of other species. â€Å"Butterflies are increasingly being recognised as valuable environmental indicators, both for their rapid and sensitive responses to subtle habitat or climatic changes and as representatives for the diversity and responses of other wildlife† (UKBMS, 2010) Flooding Flooding is becoming an increasingly important issue as concerns about climate change grow. A study done by the University of East Anglia has shown that there has been an increase in heavy precipitation in the last hundred years, which cannot be seen as a result of man-made climate change. In parallel, we are covering our urban landscape with non-permeable surfacing such as concrete and natural paving, giving the surface water nowhere to go, leading to over-flowing sewers and damage to infrastructure. This is making our urban green spaces (including Brownfield sites) increasingly more important as a way of dealing with this water through infiltration into the soil and transpiration. There are ways to improve how these urban green spaces manage water, but some methods of cliff stabilisation and the implementation of flood defences can be detrimental to natural habitats. â€Å"Scientists at the University Of East Anglia (UEA) have found that winter precipitation – such as rain and snow – became more intense in the UK during the last 100 years.† (Science Daily, Feb. 15, 2008) The next group of images shows what the increasing urbanisation is doing to natural systems and the wider affect this is having on the environment. Brownfield sites can help alleviate this problem. 2.3 Options for the future management and development There are three options when looking at the future of Brownfield site as in the future it will not be possible to just continue to leave them. This section will look in to the three options available, Protect, Re-locate, re-establish Protection Protection of Brownfield site could be a good option for sites that have high ecological value. This would protect them for future development and any detrimental effect from human disturbance. As was mentioned before there are huge pressures on Brownfield site for development so there needs to be a viable reason for the blocking of development. There is already ways in which site can become protected, one of which is them become registered as a SSSI and there for very unlike to be disturbed. Even though some of these site could be considered as SSSI quality they rarely get recognised, this can be seen in a page by Andy Mclay titled ‘A review of non-statutory grassland sites within the Durham Magnesian Limestone Natural Area’. Another way that sites can be protected is as a habitat for protected species such as Bats and Great Crested Newts. Re-location Relocation is now being used by developers, to allow then to build of specific areas. If the site wanting to be developed has protected species then in some case these animals can be moved to a suitable location, sometimes this leads to the creation of new habitats. This has because very popular when dealing with newts and amphibians. There seems to be two issues with this relocation of habitats and most of these revolve around the relocated animals. One is that the species will not take to their new home and as result a decline in population. Another problem is that when relocating animals in to new, existing habitats they may have a negative impact on animals already inhabiting the site. Re-establish The final option is the re-establishment of use on the site. The site has to be adapted or change to accommodate necessary public or private needs. This is the area in which the focus of this essay is going to look at, whilst taking to account the other options. 2.4How are they perceived? â€Å"It has become conventional wisdom to see the modern city as the product of cheap energy, economic forces, high technology and a denial of nature; as the epitome of environmental deterioration† (Hough, M, 1983). As was mentioned in 2.1, a large amount of Brownfield sites are located in high growth areas. As these sites are located in developed or developing sites, new builds will already have a surrounding infrastructure, making them a safer investment for developers. Also, councils predominantly prefer to build on urban Brownfield sites to reduce urban sprawl. For these two reasons it is difficult to warrant green space development for public space unless it is multi-functional. The public attitude to Brownfield sites does not reflect their ecological and environmental qualities. Many see them as places for illegal activities, such as drug abuse and fly-tipping, mainly due to the lack of security, safety and maintenance. After taking a selected group to one of Leeds’s many ex-industrial Brownfield sites, this idea of public disapproval was confirmed. To gather some primary research as small group of people were taken to a Brownfield site in Armley, situated between the river Aire and the Leeds-Liverpool canal. Though this site is position away from the majority of the surrounding urban dominance, bored by two water course their initial reaction were very negative. Some of the words used to describe the area were; uninteresting, boring, dodgy, pointless, dangerous, lost and dirty. They were then asked what they would do to improve the site, not one of the answer mention the preservation of any of the existing areas. This high lights the main negative view the public have of these abandoned forgotten places. Human Benefits There are many human benefits to having quality, sustainable and bio-diverse public spaces. One is how these spaces can bring the community together, through volunteer work and a place to act as a meeting place. Cities are expanding at such a rate that districts are losing their individuality and community spirit. Could development of Brownfield site help to give back this community feelIs come cases public parks have be created trough community projects which can only be beneficial but volunteers tend to consisted of the older generation that have the time to spend. Mental health is becoming a growing concern in urban area as stress level increase year on year. There has been suggestions that having access to natural and urban green space can improve mental health, even recovery rates in hospitals. Further scientific research has been carried out to see if there are any significant benefits to mental well-being. â€Å"Access to good quality green space provides an effective, population-wide strategy for the promotion of good health, wellbeing and quality of life† (Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 2007, The Urban Environment, TSO). There was a wide range of different research method used which found that just having nature visible has powerful effect on human health as well as increasing children’s cognitive functions. The evidence collected is strong enough that councils should consider areas of natural planning in newly developed area and existing communities. There are also more physical benefits to have local green space. These include:- a place to take part in sporting activities such a walking, football and children’s play areas. In a survey carried out by Sport England 2003 walking was found to be the most popular activity (75%), then use of play area (43%) and relaxing enjoying the aesthetic qualities (28%). Hidden way in some Brownfield site can be remnants of significant cultural structures. These could consist of factory buildings, mines, important historical social building. These can be an important focal point for the surrounding community, reflecting what their community used to be based around. Conclusion Naturalised Brownfield sites can become ideal habitats for rare and endangered species and, as a result, form an urban connection with nature that is missing in many of our urban areas. However the huge ecological importance of these sites is not reflected the public views of them, most people see them as a place of crime, waste and are a negative aspect. The reason that they are so diverse is due to the lack of human interaction but this also makes then near unusable spaces. Also Brownfield space can have an important role in the natural systems they the urbanisation has disrupted, as well as benefitting the life of the city dwellers. The next section is going to investigate whether it is possible to develop these Brownfield sites in a way that makes then usable spaces whilst retaining some of their important assets, making them multifunctional. 3. Case Studies This section will explore three existing sites that and looked at the way that they have tried to improve Brownfield site from multifunctional public use. 3.1 Qiaoyuan Park Qiaoyuan Park, Tianjin, China is an excellent example of ecological design. It has been designed taking in to account natural processes and the demand for a relaxed recreational space for local people. Through natural processes, this park addresses such issues as soil contamination and the distribution of storm water. The concept of the design was â€Å"Adaptive Palettes†, planted with native species that were allowed to develop naturally. China’s dramatic urbanisation and economic boom has placed it in a perfect position to become the world leaders in sustainable city developments, where natural process will become a lynch pin in the longevity of the modern city. Densely populated at the south and east boundaries, the site is bordered on the west and north sides by a highway and an overpass. Originally, it was a 22 hectare shooting range, but due to the rapid urbanisation had become Tianjin’s rubbish dump and more importantly, a drainage sink for storm water. The development project for Qiaoyuan Park started in 2003 and the local government wanted the site to be transformed to provide instant impact. As I mention earlier in this study, the best way to encourage biodiversity is to let a site evolve and colonise naturally. Some of the aims for the site were to naturally improve the poor saline-alkaline soil, to reflect the natural surrounding environment, to help keep the park as low maintenance as possible and introduce a method of holding and purifying storm water through natural processes. The challenge for the designers was how to incorporate soil improvement, storm water purification, environmental education and useable public space with aesthetic qualities. The city of Tianjin is situated in North East China and was once surrounded by salt marshes and wetlands, which have now unfortunately, due to urbanisation and human pressures, disappeared. This is where the inspiration for the park was taken, with a focus on the variety that can be created through changes in the ph values, nutrient values and the water table. These varieties would then result in creating a range of pockets of different native plant and animal communities, with the slogan ‘let nature work’. The final design incorporates 21 pond cavities, ranging in size between 10 – 40m and 1 – 5m in depth. Each cavity was constructed at different levels, for example, some being excavated on mounds, others excavated to create lower points across the site, allowing the pond cavities to have their own changing characteristics throughout the seasons. Some became ponds, wetlands, seasonal ponds and some remained dry. Storm water leaves behind minerals and nutrients in the ponds and wetlands whilst the saline-alkali soil in the dry cavities is improved due to filtration. As mentioned earlier, the local government wanted an instant impact, so initially seed mixes were used to give the vegetated areas a kick start, but unplanned native species were allowed to grow. Looking at the park in plan view, you can see that it is made up of a collection of pockets of vegetation, split by several serpentine red asphalt walkways, which have along their sides, information boards to help educate the urbanites about ecology and the natural environment. In some of the cavities, wooden platforms have been constructed to allow visitors to experience each pocket from it heart. Overall, this park has been seen as a great success and in the first two months of opening, hosted about 200,000 visitors and now sees thousands of visitors every day. This park shows that a biologically diverse landscape does not have to be an ugly, rough eye sore, but can be usable, beautiful and a benefit to the local community. This park does fulfil all the aims it set out to achieve but there are some areas and people that is does not seem to cater for. Parks are generally seen as a place of leisure, which include playing sports and physical activity. This park does not accommodate for that at all. It asks the question, is it possible to have a truly multi-functional space for both people and nature? 2.3 Minet Park The park is situated in a heavily built up area in the London Borough of Hillingdon, measuring approximately 36 ha. The majority of the site is surrounded by public and private building but is also bored by the Yeading Brook and is a short distance from the Grand Union Canal. The Minet site was originally use as grazing land but by 2000 had become mainly wasteland. There has been a wide variety of uses across the site, these range from harvesting of brick and earth resulting in area that have had to be in filled with hardcore and subsoil, to areas that have been polluted with chemical waste. There was also evidence of illegal fly tipping that can been seen in the image below. However the site did have strong ecological values despite ground contamination issues and invasive plants such as Japanese Knotweed. The reason for developing this waste land was to create a public green space to break up dense urban areas, however the main focus was to protects, conserve and enhance the existing ecological benefits. For the ecological impact assessment the site was divided up in to three section, a north section, central section and south section. The north section was found to have the least species diversity but as it was relatively undisturbed, provided a good habitat for breeding and wintering birds. The central section, due to the high levels of human disturbance was mainly made up of hard standing and poor quality grass giving it low ecological value. The south section was found to be the most diversity, being made up of small fields, scrub, hedges and a pond with drainage ditch. This assessment also found a number different species, â€Å"including 11 dragonfly, 21 butterfly and 94 bird species (with 35 of these breeding on the site, including several of Conservation Concern).† (A Rocha, 2009) In 2001 and 2002 the first stage in the development started, to clear up all the rubbish and start work on improving the poor quality central section of the park. This was done up the creation of four large bunds what where planted with a wildflower and grass mix. Also in 2002 a bird ringing program was started in the southern section of the site. This was carried out due to the high number of different Warbler species found. Warblers are migrating bird and the purpose of this research was to see if these birds return to the site year on year. In 2002 a total of 452 birds where ringed. In 2003 more extensive planting took place. Blocks of tree where planted throughout the northern section of the park, each block with curved edges and fringed by low growing species to help create a woodland edge habitat. This planting did not continue in to the central section as this had been listed as a conservation area. In addition to this the pond in the southern section of the site was cleaned and enlarged, with it profiles changed to become gradual and more natural looking. Gravel paths where introduced across the site. These where carefully located so that they did not affect the areas that supported more sensitive wildlife communities. I addition to all the ecological based improvements, a large amenity grass area was created in the centre of the site to cater for the public’s needs. Throughout the design and construction of the site, a conservation charity called A Rocha was consulted. They helped by creating the ecological impact assessment and by allocating the areas that have to be isolated from human disturbance. Before the development of the Minet site it was cherished by the animals and plant that inhabited it. Through this redevelopment it is now appreciated by the local community, who as a result look after it. The importance and assets of the site have been highlighted. 3.3 Sudgelande Introduction Sudgelande, is a natural park located in central Berlin, which has now been made accessible to the public. Originally a shunting station, it was left unused for forty years and in that time was reclaimed by nature. It is now an official urban conservation area, where nature is protected by law, due to the rich bio-diversity. Many different design ideas have been used to accommodate the varying demands of the both people and nature. History – From freight rail yard to new wilderness The nature-park Sudgelande is situated on a part of a former much larger freight rail yard that was built between 1880-1890. The old photograph taken in the 1930s gives you an indication of its former utility and the fundamental change it’s undergone. The area was in full use until after the end of World War II when the train service was discontinued and only part of the site was used for repairing and housing trains. As the majority of the area was unused and neglected, the colonisation of native species occurred. After 45 years this natural growth became the foundation to the design, management and future public use of the land. Sites of this scale and location are very uncommon and this scenario only arose due to political reasons. Even though the site was in West Berlin, it was under East Berlin authority, as were all Berlin’s rail yards. Heavily used roads and tracks cut the site off, making it almost inaccessible to the public. As a result of this isolation and disuse, the site became forgotten. At the end of the 1970s there was a new awareness of the site, when the local authorities proposed the development of a new shunting station. The local citizens’ group opposed the plan for the new development and put forward an idea to create a nature park in its place. To support this, they asked for an ecological survey of the area to be carried out by the city government. The results of this survey showed that this abandoned rail yard was one of the most ecologically valuable areas in the city, due to the biodiversity that had naturally developed over thirty years. This survey and pressure from the local people culminated in the creation of a nature park. One of the reasons why the local authorities accepted the idea of the nature park was that the rapid development of Berlin in the nineties required some form of ecological colonisation. In addition, the property rights were handed over to the state of Berlin in 1996. One of the conditions for this handover was that the nature park would become an official protected area. This was open to the public in May 2000. The site is around 18 ha and around 1.5km in length. It is split into two conservation areas, one a nature conversation site and the other a landscape conservation site. The variety of geological and man-made features created the opportunity for the growth of multiple micro habitats and a large variety of naturally colonising flora and fauna to establish. Some of the geological man-made features are viaducts, ramps, embankments, open plains, and cuttings. From: Kowarik, 1992, Dahlman, 1998, Saure, 2001 (The following table 1 gives a quantitative impression of the diversity of the site.) Two surveys were carried out, one in 1981 and the other in 1992. These surveys showed a rapid increase in woody vegetation in this ten year period. The first survey showed that only 37% of the site was wooded. This figure almost doubled in the second survey when the wooded area was found to be 70%. This natural re-forestation would have been detrimental to the existing bio diversity values that the site had been protected for. The increase in tree numbers would have meant a decrease in other plant communities and a reduction in habitat varieties. from: Kowarik Langer, 1994 (according to Asmus, 1981 and Kowarik, 1992) The designers of the site used three main design principles to allow the site to be used by the public without adversely affecting the ecological qualities. The first principle was a direct result of some of the surveys mentioned above; this was the definition and maintenance of individual spaces. They grouped the site into three different area types, each with their own individual maintenance strategy. These were: ‘clearings have been opened and partly enlarged; stands that are light and open are to be maintained as groves; while in the wild woods the natural dynamics can proceed fully unfettered’. There are two reasons for the creation of these groupings, one is to maintain the ecological importance across the site, and the other is to increase aesthetic and spatial qualities. Some changes had to be made to the site to make it accessible for the public. Tracks were created based around the old railway structure. Underpasses and ramps were also developed to create path systems on different planes. This was all done to have minimal impact. In the more highly protected nature conservation area, raised metal walkways have been installed which follow old rail tracks, making this important area accessible whilst protecting vegetation, as the walkways are raised 50cm above all vegetation. Although the site has been developed as a wilderness park, some cultural elements have been kept, such as water cranes, signals and rail turntables. These were enhanced by a group of artists called Odious who also played a big part in the designs of the raised metal walkways. One of the most iconic structures that remain in the site is the old water tower, which is a registered landmark. Another cultural element that has been allowed is graffiti on the retaining walls of the cuttings and fly-over’s. Sudgelande has become an excellent example of a nature park for the local community to learn and enjoy nature but there where unusual circumstances to it creation. This study is looking at the possibility to turn a Brownfield sites in to a multifunctional public open space. A site a not be just left for 30 years to develop naturally, to then be made access and maintain, there need to be some kind of instant impact. Having said that, there could be stages of development that happen at different times in reaction to the dynamic landscape. 4. Findings and Conclusion This section will explore the findings, as well as looking at some of the possible and most viable opportunities for making a space multifunctional. These have been chosen to show a cross section of the option and opportunities available when design dual purpose public open space. There have been many findings throughout this study, the importance of Brownfield sites and the way in which this can evolve to become usable multifunctional green spaces. One of the key finds that this study has uncovered is the environmental importance of Brownfield sites. It has shown that the common belief that a grassy park is more beneficial than abandoned ex-industrial land is not justified. Not only has the ecological importance been highlight but the need of these spaces for local communities and mental health. A connection with nature has to be kept especially in urban areas. In addition, if the public appreciate the place and the assets are made visible, the site will have some kind of protection and care, this could not only be physical but political. For a site to be appreciated by an entire community it needs to for fill their multiple needs, in other word be multifunctional, if public open space can for fill many different needs and requirements they will be seen as a necessity rather than a luxury. Another find of the study is that collective needs can have a single solution. An example of this can be seen in section, 3.1 Qiaoyuan Park. Series of pools have been use to help create wildlife habitats, act as SUD’s and become an aesthetic feature. Conclusion The title of this study is ‘Can Brownfield Sites Become Multi-functional Landscapes?’, the answer is yes but it has also show more, it has shown that Brownfield site can and should be developed to create multifunction public open space but also that Brownfield site have so many important qualities that should not be overlooked. Designers should bear in mind that as country side habitats are being destroyed, urban parks are now not only for people but for nature too. After this study there are still some questions that arise. One is that, what makes green development viable, what are the makers, bearing in mind other development pressuresAnother is, is it possible for urban areas to take the place of declining country side habitats? This topic is important to the future development of urban landscape and these unused spaces could be the answer to some of the future problems. Bibliography Andreas Langer (2009) Urban Wildscapes [internet] Germany, Andreas Langer. Available from: [Accessed January 6th 2011] New York City Global Partners (2010) Best Practice: Railway Switchyard Converted into Green Space [internet]. New York. New York City Global Partners. Available from: [Accessed January 6th 2001] The Economist (2005) Blooms on brownfields: More private money is regenerating Europe’s industrial wastelands [internet]. London. The Economist. Available from: [Accessed 23rd November] Environment Agency (2003) Brownfield Land Redevelopment: Position Statement [internet], London, Environment Agency. Available from: [Accessed 27th December 2010] ScienceDaily (2008) Heavy Rainfall On The Increase In UK [internet], ScienceDaily. Available from: [Accessed February 24th 2011] United Kingdom Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (2006) Butterflies as indicators. Dorset. UKBMS. Available from [Accessed 3rd February 2011] A Rocha (2004) Butterflies as indicators [internet], Cambridge, A Rocha. Available from [Accessed 1st March] Richard M. Daley, Ken Greenberg, Hillary Brown, Robert Campbell, Douglas I. Foy (2005) Logical: Greening the 21st Century City [internet], Massachusetts, MIT. Available from [Accessed 29th November 2010] http://www.cabe.org.uk/ SLA (2010) The City as Artificial Ecosystem. [internet], Copenhagen, World Landscape Architecture. Available from http://www.worldlandscapearchitect.com/ [Accessed 11th November 2010] Ian Douglas (No Data) Psychological and mental health benefits from nature and urban greenspace. [internet], Manchester, Ian Douglas. Available from [Accessed 7th January 2011] Ian Douglas (2004) Urban greenspace and mental health. [Internet], UK MAB. Available from [Accessed 7th January 2011] N.Miller, Peter Werner (2010) Urban biodiversity and design. Conservation science series no.7. Chichester. Wiley-Blackwell. Dunnett, Nigel (2004) The dynamic landscape: design, ecology and management of naturalistic urban planting. London. Spon Press. Hough, M, (presented 1981 Vancouver) edited P.A. Miller and L. Diamond (1982), The Urban Landscape – The Hidden Frontier, published by Frontier Landscape, Vol XV No 4 1983. Dixon, Timothy J (2007) Sustainable brownfield regeneration : liveable places from problem spaces. Oxford. Blackwell House Builders’ Federation (1998) Urban life : breaking down the barriers to Brownfield Development. London. Housebuilders Federation. Michael Hough. (1984). City Form and Natural Process. London: Routledge. Don Gill and Pynelope Bonnett. (1973). Nature in the Urban Landscape, A Study of City Ecostystems.Boltimore: York Press, Inc O.L. Gilbert. (1989).The Ecology of Urban Habitats. New York: Chapman and Hall Middlesbrough Borough Council. (1993). Space for Nature , In Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough: Middlesbrough Borough Council. Berkowitz, Alan R. Hollweg, Karen S. Nilon, Charles H. (2002). Understanding Urban Ecosystems. New York: Springer-Verlag New York Inc. Great Britain. Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (2008). Start with the park : creating sustainable urban green spaces in areas of housing growth and renewal. London. CABE. How to cite Can Brownfield Sites Become Multi-functional Landscapes?, Essay examples

The Industrial Revolution and Its Impact

Question: Describing how the changes brought about during the Industrial Revolution have affected American society today? Answer: Industrial revolution took place in the United States of America in the year 1820 and lasted till 1840. Its impact continued and led to many reforms later on like the labour reforms, child rights reform, and technological revolution. It marked the beginning of transformation of American economy from agriculture to industrialisation. The impact of the Industrial revolution on the society: The industrial revolution in the United States of America has changed the method of production, labour distribution, wealth etc. The lives of the people in the cities have changed drastically. The new opportunities led to a drastic shift of people from rural to urban areas. There were new methods of labour management in the society. The laws in the country were not so tough. Mass production started in the country leading to maximum in the uses of resources in the country. Effect of industrial revolution on the government: The government played very crucial role at the time of industrial revolution. There were many changes in the laws of industries. The government had to be strong in implementing the laws because a major section of the society was transforming itself from a agricultural economy to a industrial economy (2015). Relevant movements after the industrial revolution: After the rise of the industrial America, the people of America were very strict regarding the laws of the country related to the industries. New labour rights emerged to protect the labours from exploitation. Child rights were followed very strictly so that the children were not exploited in the coalmines. These laws became the guiding principles and are in practice till date (Ushistory.org, 2015). Negative effects of the industrial revolution: Many major negative effects are still prevailing because of the industrial revolution. Like deforestation, pollution, mass production etc that have direct impact on our ecology. The environment has suffered a lot because of this. Effect of industrial revolution on gender roles: The society that we see today America has its major existence because of the revolution. The industrial revolution has given equal status to men and women in the society. The gift of gender equality is because of the revolution (2015). References (2015). Retrieved 12 February 2015, from https://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1981/2/81.02.06.x.html), Ushistory.org,. (2015).Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution [ushistory.org]. Retrieved 12 February 2015, from https://www.ushistory.org/us/22a.asp Webs.bcp.org,. (2015).Untitled Document. Retrieved 12 February 2015, from https://webs.bcp.org/sites/vcleary/ModernWorldHistoryTextbook/IndustrialRevolution/IREffects.html

Overtime Analysis

Abstract The main aim of this study was to determine the most cost-effective method that the Immigration Branch of Commercial Bank of Dubai would use to minimize their annual expenses. The choice to be made was between overtime and hiring of new employees.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Overtime Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From studies that have been conducted on the topic, it has been concluded that the difference between these two options is insignificant. However, overtime has always been the ultimate option since it is relatively cheaper as compared to hiring of new employees. From the results of the study, it was identified that the bank was understaffed especially on peak hours. It was also found out that the cost incurred while hiring new employees is higher than the cost incurred on overtime. Due to this fact, it was concluded that the bank should maintain its overtime policy. Howe ver, there are some regulations that have to be put in place to improve on operations and reduce overtime costs. Introduction The United Arabs Emirates (UAE) is one of the fasted growing regions of the world. From humble beginnings, the region has grown over the last several decades to be one of the strongest financial hubs of the world (Madar Research Group, 2008). The region supports a vast diversity of commercial activities. These include the oil and gas industry, tourism, infrastructural development, manufacturing industries, IT industries and many other commercial services. It is due to these factors that the GDP of the region has been growing at a tremendous rate especially for the last fifteen years. To support all these activities, the region has developed a strong banking industry. The financial sector of the UAE is undergoing a massive overhaul. This has come about as a result of the changes in the structure and composition of the population. Initially, the UAE population comprised mainly of old individuals who had a static ideology, illiterate and embraced their traditional morals and values. At the present moment, the population of the region has evolved. The region is now dominated by young enthusiastic individuals who are highly educated and more demanding. Their requirements, tastes and preferences have made the banking industry of the region to grow by increasing the diversity of its services and products (Hadjimonolis, 2009).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With the help of the government, the banks and other financial institutions of the UAE have developed regulatory mechanisms that have enabled a better monitoring of funds and generally improved the banking service. These are perhaps some of the reasons that have led to the success that these banks are currently enjoying. Due to the availability of favourably conditions, the se banks have invested greatly to in order to meet the standards of their international counterparts. At the present moment, UAE has a mixture of local and foreign banks. All these institutions strive to serve the clientele of this region. Due to the commercial nature of the region and the high competition that is present in the banking industry, it has been important for these banks to maintain high standards and offer quality services in order to maintain their customers and attract new ones (Quayle, 2010). At the same time, it is essential for these banks to ensure that their operating expenses are at the minimum in order to enjoy profitability. This will guarantee their sustainability in the short run and in the long run (Berry, 2009). Commercial Bank of Dubai is one of the leading banks in the UAE. Founded in 1969 by the late Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the bank has grown in its operations and services. The late Sheikh Al Maktoum is accredited for founding the modern Du bai. During its early days, Commercial Banks of Dubai was in partnership with Commerzbank, Chase Manhattan and the Commercial Bank of Kuwait. Only a small proportion of the UAE citizens were the shareholders of the bank. Majority of the bank owners were foreign investors. Approximately ten years after its incorporation, Commercial Banks of Dubai became a National Shareholding Company. Its operations were further boosted when the government of Dubai became the major shareholder of the company in 1982 (CBD, 2012). This not only increased the available funds but also increased the popularity of the company among the locals. With massive transformations, the institution gradually grew to be one of the leading commercial banks in Dubai and the UAE at large. At the present moment, Commercial Bank of Dubai offers a wide range of retail and commercial services to its customers. The bank has a network of branches spread all over the UAE. Given the growth and expansion that the bank is curren tly experiencing coupled with the advancement in technology, Commercial Bank of Dubai aspires to offer the best banking services in the UAE and the world at larger.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Overtime Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Bank’s Mission Statement is to be recognized as a quality focused, customer driven, financially sound and socially responsible bank. Its vision is to be the bank that leads the way to greater financial and social prosperity (CBD, 2012). The following are the mission statements of the bank: Clients – To be recognized as the preferred banking partner in our target client segments Employees – To be recognized as an employer of choice through the fostering of a motivational environment which rewards superior performance Society – To be recognized for our ethical banking practices and for our contribution to the social well-being of the communities in which we are present. Shareholders – To be one of the most profitable banks in the UAE. The values of CBD create its own culture that supports growing of the company for a decade: Client First Consistent High Quality Cooperation and Teamwork Despite the success that the bank is experiencing, there are a number of problems within its management. All of the branches of the institutions have always been reporting problems that derail them from meeting their short-term and long-term goals and objectives. This is a normal scenario in the normal operations of any institution. The Immigration Branch of Commercial Bank of Dubai has over the last few years been experiencing high operation costs due to a number of factors. Overtime pay has been one of the main reasons why this branch has been experiencing high operating costs. It is essential for an employer to follow the labour laws and pay his staff accordingly. With regards to this issue, Commercial Bank of Du bai is not against paying its employees their normal salaries and overtime for the effort that they have put beyond their stipulated hours of employment. The bank conforms to the Labour Law Article No. 67 and 68 that clearly stipulates the payment rates with regards to normal work and overtime. However, the management of the bank has realised that there is a problem somewhere since it is paying exorbitant amount of money for overtime. In 2011, the bank paid approximately AED 60,000 worth of overtime per month. This figure is lower than that of 2010 but it is still a huge amount. The rise in overtime has increased the budget of the bank for the last several years. In the year 2010, the bank paid approximately AED 1.2 million in overtime pay (CBD, 2012). In the Immigration Branch, approximately the salaries that were paid in the same year had increased by 10% as compared to those paid in the previous years (CBD, 2012).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The main aim this research study therefore is to determine critically analyze the problem that has been brought about by the overtime issue, the impacts it has on the operation of the branch and the bank in general. After all these issues have been identified and understood, proper recommendations shall be formulated to curb the issues that result to employees working overtime hence reducing the overall budget. Problem Statement A section of the management believes that paying overtime is still a better option of solving the employee crisis that the bank is currently experiencing. This is because, these employees understand the system and operation of the bank thus it will be easier for them to meet their targets and achieve the set objectives. On the other hand, there are those individuals within the management who believe that hiring of new employees will be a better option to the current crisis that the bank is facing. They argue that it is cheaper for the institution to hire new employees to meet the current back load in the branch rather than paying the current employees overtime. This study shall therefore focus on these two options and identify the most efficient option among them. Objectives and Research Questions The main objective of this research study is to identify the factors that lead to an increase in the overtime cost of the branch. Once this is achieved, corrective measures will be formulated to reduce the amount of overtime pay in the branch and still maintain the same level and intensity of operations. To achieve all these, the following research questions shall be used: Are there enough employees for each shift? How are employees allocated within the branch? Is it cost effective to pay overtime the current employees or to hire more employees in the branch? Is there any unethical use of overtime? Literature Review The world that we are living in is based on a monetary system. Therefore, for individuals, partnerships, corporations and stat es to be successful in the short run and in the long run, it is essential for them to maximize their earnings (Boone and Kurtz, 2011). According to Al-Hammad (2010), the best may that an organization can maximize its returns is through minimizing its costs and maximizing its benefits (Nelson, 2006). Once a huge margin has been established between income and expenses, the chances for a firm to maximize its profitability and be sustainable are also increased. It is with regards to this issue that managers have always strived to cut their costs to ensure that their organizations not only operate within their current budget limits but also maximize on their returns (Al-Hammad, 2010). It is due to this fact that many managers always eliminate unnecessary costs from their operations in a bid to reduce their operating expenses. Over the years, managers have minimized or cut the funds that were directed on a number of projects. Some of the funds that most organizations are fond of reducing or eliminating include entertainment and recreation allowance, transport allowance, passages, health benefits and funds directed to projects that are deemed as unproductive to an organization. These decisions have been successful in enabling these organizations meet their financial obligations while at the same time they have made others incur even more expenses. Careful consideration therefore has to be taken into account while cutting down funds and seeking alternatives for an organization. While undertaking such measures, the management has to ensure that the option that they take not only reduces the operating expenses of the firm but also maintains or increases the level and efficiency of operations within an organization (Al-Hammad, 2010). The banking industry is experiencing radical changes in the manner in which it is operating and the services that it is offering (Al-Hammad, 2010). In order to meet the ever-increasing demands of consumer and achieve consumer satisfaction, m anagers of banks have to consider the most efficient but cost effective option that will enable them to stand at a competitive edge over their rivals. Managers therefore have to analyze the existing and new staffing methods that will in order to formulate the most efficient method to meet their restrictive budgets (Nelson, 2006). There is a lot of controversy with regards to the staffing levels of different departments and the minimum amount of employees that a specific branch can have in the banking industry (Nelson, 2006). From the studies that have been conducted, it has emerged that the most expensive segment of a banking institution`s budget is the payment of salaries of professional staff Nelson, 2006 (). It has been approximated that almost 70% of the budget of all institutions, banking or non-banking, goes to the payment of salaries of professional staff. Most individuals who have conducted similar studies have arrived to the same conclusion. This is because it is the workfo rce that acts as a vessel of an organization to achieve its vision and missions. Due to this fact, many managers have come up with solutions of trying to reduce this unavoidable cost. One of the options that many organizations have adopted is via maintaining a minimum number of all the employees. To ensure that all the workload it attended to with this minimum number of employees and to eliminate employment vacancies, managers have opted for the overtime option to cover this gap. Indeed, overtime results to additional costs to an organization but most managers are willing to experience this costs rather than the cost of recruiting new employees (Nelson, 2006). Many organizations have accepted the fact that overtime spending is part and parcel of their operating costs. They view overtime as a means of maintaining a minimal staff level and at the same time ensure that the operations of their organization are conducted in an effective an efficient manner. While conducting her study, Le lja (2008) interviewed a number of branch managers of banks in downtown Georgia Atlanta. From her results, 68% of the managers accepted the fact that overtime is one of the best staffing methods that maintains the staff levels of their branches at a minimum while they still exhibit high performance. Of the 24 managers who were interviewed, 18 were using overtime as a means of achieving their targets while maintaining a low sized staff in their branches (Lelja, 2008). It has always been argued that overtime pay is a means of guaranteeing revenue increment in organization that wishes to minimize its operating costs (Lelja, 2008). The rate at which employees are paid for duties they perform in overtime is always higher than the pay they get while working on normal hours. Overtime rate is normally calculated using a number of methods. Despite the method that is used, employees are guaranteed to get more from their overtime efforts. The same concept applies in the banking industry. Out o f overtime, employees of a financial institution tend to make much more than they usually do. A study that was conducted by Nelson (2006) revealed that most of the employees who worked overtime made much more in overtime than their salaries. This study focused on all industries and professions. It emerged that fire fighters and bankers ended up accumulating much more than other individuals in the society as a result of their overtime pay (Nelson, 2006). In some cases, these individuals ended up earning two times or even three times much more that they earn on normal pay. This fact thus made them to feel respected in the society. This in turn motivated them to even work harder and meet the goals and targets that have been set by their employers. Nelson (2006) concluded that overtime not only reduces the overall expenses of an organization but it also motivates employees to work harder and meet their short-term and long-term targets. The exorbitant amounts of money that employees make out of overtime normally have a heavy blow on the budget of organization. Firms tend to allocate most of their funds to carter for the pay of their employees. However, much more money is even spent as a result of overtime. The managers of many banking institutions have always complained that the amount of money their branches are spending with regards to overtime is so high (Boone and Kurtz, 2011). Commercial Bank of Dubai is one of the banks that have been experiencing high costs for the last few years. In the year 2010, the bank spent approximately AED1.2 million on its Immigration Branch alone on overtime (CBD, 2012). In 2011, the branch required an average of AED 60,000 per month to meet its overtime costs. Most managers in the banking industry believe that the high costs they are experiencing with regards to overtime pay is as a result of the operating shifts that are being used in their respective branches. In her study Quayle (2010) asserted that there is a correlation betwe en overtime pay and the implementation of shifts that last for more than 12 hours. Quayle (2010) believes that the 8-10 hour shift in the banking industry is more effective and efficient than the 10-14 hour shift. However, other researchers argue that the 10-14 hour shift is more effective since it is beneficial to both the banking institution since it reduces the overall expenses and to the employee since such employees are motivated by the high overtime pay that they get. Quayle (2010) suggested that the 8-10 hour shift is more efficient since it requires minimal utilization of sick days and leave days, it requires minimal overtime pay and employees perform to the best of their ability due to the absence of fatigue that arises from long hours of work. The 8-10 hour shift is thus viewed as an efficient and cost effective option as compared to the 10-14 hour shift where more sick days and leave days are used, high overtime costs are experienced and employees are fond of making error s and other mistakes due to fatigue and stress that results from long hours of work. In the 10-14 hour shift, the performance of employees is in most cases not as per the expected standards as employees rarely meet their set goals and objectives as per the requirements of the management. According to Quayle (2010), such shifts have always been associated with decrease in production and quality of goods and services from the employee end point. Therefore, by adopting the 8-12 hour shift, financial institutions shall increase on their effectiveness and efficiency as the employees will be at their best while working (Quayle, 2010). This will ensure that they carter to the needs of their customers as per their expectations. This is an essential factor in achieving consumer satisfaction. On the other hand, the 8-10 hour shift also reduces the operating costs as fewer sick days are used and overtime is minimized. The issue of employing additional staff to meet the staff demand of an organ ization and avoid overtime has always been discussed in a number of studies. Sandberg (2009) conducted a study where he tried to determine whether paying employees at an overtime rate of 1.5 times more than their salary cost-effective as compared to hiring new employees. From the study, it was identified that it was 13.1% cheaper to pay employees overtime than to hire new individuals (Sandberg, 2009). This index was calculated by considering the employees current salary, their overtime rates and benefits versus the cost of recruiting and hiring new individuals. Hiring new employees in itself also has associated costs. These include posting the vacancy advertisement on various forms of media, screening the documents of the applicants, contacting successful applicants to come for an interview and conducting the actual interview. Other costs include hiring trainers to train the recruits, purchasing materials that will be used in the process of training, paying the recruits allowances i n the process of training and other miscellaneous costs that may arise (Sandberg, 2009). In the process, the level of production of these employees is not as per the expected standards of an organization. In addition, there are always high trainee turnover rates as only a small proportion of the employees who commence the training actually go through the entire process and become productive members of staff at the end of the process (Sandberg, 2009). There are also additional costs that are involved with maintaining permanent staff. These include insurance compensation, payment to pension schemes, retirement benefits, holiday pay, leave pay, payment of special tools, equipments and clothing that may be requires for specific works. It is thus essential for the management of an organization to consider all the associated costs while determining the best option to adopt. From his study, Sandberg (2009) concluded that it was cheaper for financially institutions to pay for overtime rathe r than experiencing the costs of hiring new employees. It is due to this fact that many organizations opt to maintain their employees even after their retirement ages. These institutions feel that it is financially feasible to pay such employees their benefits, salaries at a higher rate rather than hiring new employees. Such employees are normally maintained due their expertise that is difficult to get from fresh recruits. It has always been argued that the college live-in programme to be one of the best alternatives to meet the staffing requirements of an organization without straining its financial limits. With this program, organizations are able to meet their obligations without the hiring of permanent staff. The work overload that an organization may be experiencing is normally shifted to these students who work as part and parcel of the team. The main aim of these students is to gain experience and not to be paid. Such programs normally give students the change to put their th eoretical knowledge and skills into practice and gain experience and exposure in the process. Salary is not their main issue. This gives organizations the best chance of reducing their financial burden by administering chores to these students. The college live-in program is thus a better alternative than hiring new employees. In the course of giving these students exposure, there are possibilities that industrious students may be identified that will ultimately join the working team as permanent staff. This is a relatively cheaper means of organizations obtaining employees rather than recruiting from scratch. However, such programs are not expected to fill in the employment vacancies that may be available in an organization or reduce the overtime burden (Sandberg, 2009). Berry (2009) suggested that once overtime has been used for some period of time, it will reach a point that an organization will start o experience the diminishing marginal returns. In his study, Berry (2009) concl uded that it is cheaper to utilize the option of overtime pay for a couple of years than to employ new staff to meet the workload at an organization. This can be achieved by putting in place proper measures, careful planning and wise utilization of financial resources. Once these considerations have been put in place, an organization stands a higher chance of benefiting more from overtime rather than hiring new employees (Berry, 2009). It is thus advisable for financial institutions such as micro finances and banks to adopt and implement the option of overtime while adhering to strict rules and regulations to ensure that this option becomes part and parcel of their operating system. Once this is achieved, such an organization shall benefit a lot from in terms of cost reduction from overtime rather than recruiting new employees. Financial institutions advocate for overtime as a means of maintaining their employee level to a minimum (Al-Hammad, 2010). The minimum number of employees w ho can work in a specific department is normally determined by the volume of work that is expected to be encountered. However, there are always uncertainties that tend to disrupt the number of available employees in meeting their obligations. Holidays offs, leaves, sick leaves, injuries, workshops and training, major incidents and lateness are some of the factors that facilitate the need of overtime (Al-Hammad, 2010). These factors normally result in a decline in the number of available employees to meet the daily obligations of a branch. Due to this fact, Al-Hammad (2010) stated that it was essential for managers to put into consideration all factors that may lead to the occurrence of overtime. However, some of these factors are unpredictable thus difficult to quantify. Due to this fact, Al-Hammad (2010) in his study used historical data to determine the trends and occurrences of factors that led to the development understaffing in various bank branches. From the results that he fo und, he developed a breakeven point of hiring additional employees and advocating for overtime. In his study, he concluded that it was advisable for a branch or an organization to employ more individuals up to the breakeven point. Once this point has been exceeded, it was advisable for a firm to utilize the overtime option as it will yield more benefits and result to lower costs that hiring of new employees (Al-Hammad, 2010). With his results, he was able to develop a profitability formula that would calculate the optimal number of employees who are able to meet the daily staffing obligations of a specific organization. There are however a number of drawbacks that are associated with overtime. It has been argued that the process may be insidious (Berry, 2009). Once the act has been introduced in an institution, it will be virtually impossible for the management to cut on the resultant costs, leave alone eliminating it from the organization. In such circumstances, overtime becomes pa rt of the operating activity of an organization. All the employees of an organization accept it as a norm and it becomes part of their organization culture. Overtime, in some instances, is not successful in meeting the goals and objectives that it has been advocated to meet in the first place. This is because overtime requires employees to work for long hours. This normally leads to brain drain, fatigue and loss of concentration. As a result, employees tend to become less productive. This in some circumstances may lead to a decline in productivity of the entire organization since the employees are incapable of meeting the needs of their clients. From the literature that has been covered in this paper, it is evident that managers are always striving to come up with the best means of reducing their operating costs. One of their main methods has been to maintain the number of the staff at a minimal level. However, this has normally resulted in back loading. Due to this, most managers h ave advocated for overtime as the most cost effective method rather than hiring new employees. This study shall therefore go further on this area of study and determine whether indeed overtime is a cost effective option as compared to hiring of new employees. Methods Literature Review Literature review was a source of secondary information for the exercise. This data was obtained from books, magazines, peer reviewed journals, online articles and other relevant sources that had discussed the issue of overtime and related labour laws. Through literature review, some of the methods that had been used in the previous studies were borrowed and applied to the current study. Also the recommendations of the previous studies were considered in the current work and further research and analysis were conducted on the same. Information from literature review was therefore used as a guiding tool in conducting this study. Administering of Questionnaires To gain quantitative data, questionnaires w ere administered to the target groups using the following procedure: There were two sessions of interviews on each day. The interviews were conducted in the morning hours and in the afternoon. In each session, only one individual was interviewed. This was done to ensure that employees still meet their employment obligations while giving time for the study. Members of different ranks and departments were interviewed to ensure that the attitudes of different employees are tested. Each session lasted for around 60-90 minutes. Techniques: Construction (visual) I conducted all the interviews with the help of a moderator. This ensured that all requirements of the study have been precisely covered. To ensure this, a pre-determined agenda was used. Analysis of qualitative data and questionnaire designing To construct a questionnaire that was precise and straight to the point, qualitative data had to be analyzed and interpreted first. This information helped in the making the questionnaire . It ensured that the questionnaire that was used for the study became a powerful tool for the collection of quantitative data. The resulting questionnaire therefore was precise, flexible and be able to collect only the relevant data that was needed for the research study. Method: Qualitative data coding and survey conducting preparation The data that was obtained from the interviews that were conducted on the target groups was coded statistically to reveal the trends and sequences. Finally, the data that was obtained was used in the preparation of the final report. The inferences that were arrived at from the analysis of qualitative data together with the information from the literature review were used to structure the questionnaire to reflect only the relevant information for the study. Primary Research (quantitative) Primary data is used to refer to data that has been collected directly from the area of study (Hadjimonolis, 2009). For this study, questionnaires were used to coll ect this vital information. This was a critical procedure to obtain first hand information that helped to explore the research objectives and gain statistical data that is necessary for data analysis. The questionnaires were structured in such a way to minimize the occurrence of errors that would have otherwise made the data collected from the field to become unreliable. Careful measures were taken to avoid this. Prior to the conduction of the interviews, the validity of the questionnaires was tested and approved for use. Method: Survey Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from the target group. These questionnaires comprised of a total of 15 questions that were structured in such a way that one question led to the other. 20 individuals were interviewed face to face for five straight days excluding weekends. The interviews were only conducted on the Immigration Branch of the Commercial Bank of Dubai. The managers, heads of different departments and employees from all the departments formed the target group of the study. The target group was composed of individuals who held different ranks within the branch. This was essential as it assisted in the determination of the attitudes and perceptions of all branch employees with regards to overtime and hiring of new employees. Random sampling technique was used to get the individuals to be interviewed in the study to avoid biasness. Data Analysis Raw data from the field is of no use since it does not make any sense at all. It is mainly composed of numbers and codes that need to be analyzed to make sense. Analysis of data involves three major steps: Data preparation that involves the organization of the data that has been collected for easy analysis. Descriptive statistics that entails the description and interpretation of the data that has been collected. This can be done using charts and bar graphs to explain the trends that have been observed. Inferential statistics that is done to test whether the data that has been collected is consistent with the objectives and hypothesis of the study. This is where either the null hypothesis or alternative hypothesis is proved to be true. Method: SPSS 16.0 For accurate analysis of the statistical data, a computer programme called SPSS 16.0 was used for descriptive data analysis. The data was explored using descriptive statistics and histogram plots to determine the shape of the distribution for each sample variable. The name given to each variable for the data analysis was given in a table. Data analysis was carried out using parametric tests where the data followed a normal distribution and where the sample number was equal to or greater statistical power. Where the data did not follow a normal distribution or where the data was split into groups of less than the sample size (n), non-parametric test was used. For example, a Pearson correlation test was carried out on the data to explore any linear relationships between the variables. Eth ical Considerations For the data to represent a true and fair view, the study had a few considerations on ethics. The data collection exercise was conducted in only one branch but employees from all the departments and ranks were involved in the study. In addition, the issue of gender was also put into consideration as the members of all the sexes were equally represented in the study. This consideration was done to gather information on the immigration department and the data that was collected could be generalised to reflect all the the branches of Commercial Bank of Dubai and all the banks in general that have been experiencing the same problem. The questionnaire was structured in a manner that it avoided any conflicts with regards to ethical considerations such as traditions, religion, age, rank and gender. It mainly focused on collecting the data that was required for the study. Prior to the commencement of the research, the management, departmental heads, employee representati ves and all the employees of the Immigration Branch were notified. Results The results that were found from the study were very interesting. The data that was acquired from the questionnaires were interpreted using the Likert scale. These results clearly showed the attitudes and perceptions of the employees who were interviewed during the study. Each question in the questionnaire was used to measure a unique variable that was being tested in the study. Additionally, literature review acted as the main source of information for this study. Financial data from the branch revealed the data and statistics of hiring new employees and paying overtime. This data was essential as it guided the course of the research, its analysis and the results that were used to answer the research questions. Due to the ever-rising number of clients, Commercial Bank of Dubai has been employing approximately 80 individuals annually who were distrusted in all their branches. The Immigration Branch for instan ce receives at least 8 -15 new employees annually. In the process of hiring new employees, the branch experiences direct and indirect costs. Indirect costs include those costs that are charged directly to the human resource department of the headquarters while direct costs are those costs that are charged directly to the Immigration Branch. Table 1 below summarised the costs required to hire new employees. Table 1 Cost Amount per Employee (AED) Application of a Position 2500 Application Review 3500 Application Data Entry 2500 Application Status Notification 1300 Written Exam Administration 5500 Written Exam Notification 5500 Other Expenses (Facing the Panel etc) 18,500 Total Costs 39,300 Table 2 below shows other associated costs incurred in the process of employment. Table 2 Cost Amount per Employee (AED) Background Reference Check 5500 Background Educational Check 5500 Background Credit Check 5500 Medical Check 5500 Review of Background Informati on 18500 Fingerprinting 7200 Provision of Accessories 98,000 Total 145700 The total overall cost that is thus required to hire a new employee was approximated to be AED 185,000. This cost does not include the additional salaries and benefits that employees are entitled to. From the analysis of the employment records of the immigration branch between 2008 and 2010, it was evident that vacancies were available in all the departments and ranks. From this analysis, it was concluded that the backlog in work that the Immigration branch is experiencing is as a result of understaffing. This has prompted the manager to advocate for overtime as a solution to their current problems. It is due to this shortage that the management implemented the 10-14 hour shift instead of the 8-10 hour shift. The branch manager`s rank ranged to the no manager on duty to a full time manager. The same trend applied to other managers and departmental heads. For the tellers, their shifts ranged from a low of three 3 on duty to a maximum of 11. Accountants ranged from a low of 4 to a maximum of 12. The customer care department ranged from a low of 2 to a maximum of 6. The number of employees present in a single shift was determined by the peak hours of the day. The peak hours were experienced between 9 am to 10.30 am and from 2.30 pm to 4 pm. The bank also experienced an influx of customers during the period of end month and the beginning of a new month. Due to the seasonal nature of the consumer peaks, the management felt that during off peaks, the branch would be overstaffed hence incur unnecessary expenses. To determine whether overtime was cost-effective than hiring new employees, a thorough examination of the employees annual salary and the hourly rate determined. The hourly rate was determined by dividing the total compensation with the 2256 (the total numbers of hours an employee is expected to work in a year). The overtime rate was then calculated by multiplying the hourly ra te by 1.5. Table 3 below shows the summary of hourly rate pay for employees of different ranks. Table 3 Position Annual Income (AED) Hourly Rate (AED) Overtime Rate (AED) Managers 360,000 159.57 239.36 Accountants 144,000 63.83 103.25 Tellers 120,000 53.19 79.79 Customer Care Reps 96,000 42.55 63.83 To determine the impacts of hiring a new employee, the cost of training can be added to the annual salary that each employee is entitled to. This information can be analysed in the Table 4 below. Position Annual Cost Hourly rate Managers 545,000 241.57 Accountants 329,000 145.83 Tellers 305,000 135.2 Customer Care 281,000 124.56 From the above table, it is evident that paying overtime is cheaper than employing new individuals. The cost of employing new individuals becomes higher as one moves down the ranks and this are the positions that have the ultimate need of effort from employees. To determine the financial impact of overtime versus hiring new employees o n the branch, a Pearson Correlation was conducted. Its results are represented in the Table 5 below. Correlations Overtime Costs Recruitment Costs Overtime Costs Pearson Correlation 1 0.618 Sig. (2-tailed) 0.626 N 30 30 Recruitment Costs Pearson Correlation 0.618 1 Sig.(2-tailed) 0.626 N 30 30 A Pearson correlation of 0.618 implies a strong positive relationship with insignificance at 5% therefore suggesting that it is more expensive for the organization to employ new individuals rather than paying overtime. Discussion The main aim of conducting this research study was to determine whether is overtime was a cost-effective option for Commercial Bank of Dubai to employ on its Immigration Branch over the option of hiring new employs. Studies that have been conducted by Berry (2009), Quayle (2010) and Sandberg (2009) concluded that there is no significant difference between paying overtime and hiring new employees. However, from the results of this study, it i s evident that there is a significant difference between hiring new employees and paying overtime. The significance in difference increases as the ranks of employees in the branch reduces with employees on the customer care department exhibiting huge differences between overtime pay and the cost of hiring new employees. This was evidenced by the AED 60.73 difference in the hourly rate. However, it should be noted that this additional cost is only incurred during the base year of employment. Once the employee has been assimilated into the system, the overall costs are expected to reduce. However, it is due to this reason that Berry (2009) asserted that employers opt to maintain their staff rather than employing new ones every year due to the high costs that are incurred in the process of recruiting these individuals. It is due to this fact that the management of Commercial Bank of Dubai have advocated for overtime over hiring of new employees. Consequently, from the analysis of the e mployment records and performance, it can be concluded that the bank is slightly understaffed. It is due to this reason that the banks always have a backlog of work hence the need for overtime. However, the bank managers argued that this overload of work is only seasonal and is experienced only during peak hours. Once the operations of the bank return to normal, the number of staff that is present is capable of meeting the operational demand. However, if the bank had opted to hire new employees, its operations would only be efficient during peak hours. However, during off peak hours, the branch will be overstaffed hence it will incur unnecessary costs. It is due to this fact that the management prefers overtime over hiring new staff. Finally, there are some drawbacks that are associated with overtime. In her study Lelja (2008) proved that there is a direct relationship between decrease in employee performance and an increase in the amount of work and hours of work. The Immigration B ranch has also experienced the same effect since employees complain of fatigue as a result of working for long hours. In addition, there have been cases of errors and mistakes in the branch. Although these events did not greatly affect the performance of the branch, it is essential for the management to check these issues. However, at the current moment, the bank stands a better chance of meeting its short-term and long-term goals and objectives through cost cutting by embracing overtime over hiring new employees. From the results that have been presented in this study, it is evident that overtime is the most cost-efficient option as compared to hiring of new staff. Conclusion and Recommendation Management is an essential aspect in the determination of the long-term sustainability of an organization. In the process of running an organization, it is the role of a manager to minimize his costs and maximize his benefits in order to ensure that his/her organization is profitable in the short-run and in the long-run. The immigration Branch of Commercial Bank of Dubai has been experiencing high operating costs as a result of overtime. To cut costs, the branch had the option of hiring new staff or implementing overtime. From the results that were arrived at in this study, overtime was the most cost efficient option that the bank had. However, there are some shortcomings that are related to this option. The main shortcoming is the decline in efficiency and productivity of the branch. To avoid this, I would recommend that the bank develops a breakeven point that would determine the best the best staffing alternative with regards to the two options given the prevailing situation. This will ensure that the bank enjoys the benefits of overtime and hiring new staff at the same time. References Al-Hammad, I. (2010). The Obstacles of Instructional Supervision in Arabian Banks.  Unpublished Master Thesis. King Saud University: Riyadh. CBD. (2012). About Us. Commercial Bank of Dubai. Web. Berry, L. (2009). Relationship Marketing of Services, Growing Interest and Emerging Perspectives. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 23, 236–245. Boone, L. and Kurtz, D. (2011). Contemporary Management. New York: Cengage Learning. Hadjimonolis, A. (2009). Staffing and Ethics: A Case Study of Developing Nations.  Technovation, 19 (9), 561-570. Lelja, V. (2008). The Role of Gender in the Perception of Barriers to E-commerce Adoption in SMEs: A Case Study of the United Arab Emirates. IBIMA, 4, 121-147. Madar Research Group (2008). Dubai E-Commerce Special Feature. Madar Research Group. Retrieved from https://www.lowtax.net/information/dubai/dubai-internet-city.html Nelson, C. (2006). UAE National Women at Work in the Private Sector: Conditions and Constraints. Dubai: Trident Communications. Quayle, M. (2010). Management: The Challenge of Financial Institutions in the 21st  Century. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 22(10) , 1148-1161. Sandberg, K. (2009). An Exploratory Study of SME`s Management. Journal of Small  Business and Enterprise Development, 10 (4), 408-417. This research paper on Overtime Analysis was written and submitted by user Mariyah Page to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Multiculturalism in Germany Essay Example

Multiculturalism in Germany Essay Example Multiculturalism in Germany Essay Multiculturalism in Germany Essay Multiculturalism is the presence of many cultures in one place by having same political rights as other citizens regardless of their differences in private lives. In a multicultural society, the citizens must embrace immigrants who have different values, beliefs and religions. Besides, the government must accept immigrants as their own citizens and they must give political rights as well as civil and social rights. Thus, the integration of distinct cultures can be completed and ultimately it can be seen that multiculturalism works in this country. However, multiculturalism does not work in every place and Germany which is one of these places. The reasons of the failure of multiculturalism in Germany are the restricted political rights for immigrants by government, integration problems between Turks and Germans and also cultural changes in second and third generations. This essay examines the history of Turks in Germany and the reasons why multiculturalism does not work in Germany also it briefly provides some suggestions in order to achieve multicultural success in a society. The migration of Turks to Germany in 1961 was the fundamental turning point for multicultural society in Germany. Turks who are the largest minority group, nearly 2. 4 million, migrated to Germany due to the recruitment of labor by German government in order to strengthen their industry. (Hochmuth, 2006) After the defeat in WW2, German economy collapsed and they need workers from other countries because there were more available jobs than their unemployed people. Therefore, the agreement with Turkey was made by the German government. According to this agreement, Turkish workers had to stay in Germany at least 2 years because Germany wanted to guarantee the attendance of foreign workers. However, this period was extended because of the wishes of two sides. The German government did not want to lose skilled workers because training new workers would take a long time. Also, Turkish immigrants did not want to come back to Turkey because they did not have enough money to start new business in their motherland; therefore they wanted to earn more. In addition, they brought their families to Germany from Turkey. Their children who are the members of second generation of Turks were born there, and families did not want to interrupt their education. (Hochmuth, 2006) In 1973, Germany stopped the recruitment of labor from other countries. After that year, Turks preferred to stay in Germany permanently because they thought that if they came back to their motherland, the Turkish government would not allowed them to return to Germany again. Hochmuth, 2006) Since 1973, nobody has migrated to Germany as a worker, but the population of Turks in Germany continued to increase through births and now the third generation of Turks is residing in Germany too. The first reason why multiculturalism does not work in Germany is the restricted political rights for immigrants. Multiculturalism supposed that there is not any inequality between people whether they are immigrant. However, immigrants had to struggle with the lengthy and difficult proces s of having political rights in Germany because the government did not give them political rights without acquiring German citizenship. Citizens of other nations cannot vote in Germany even if they have lived there for 20 or 30 years. (Powell, 1995) In Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany’s constitution separates the rights into two as general and reserved. General rights are approved for all individuals in the country. These rights consist of liberty of person, freedom of expression and freedom of conscience. (Kaya, 2002) However, reserved rights are valid exclusively for German citizens. These rights include political rights, freedom of movement, freedom of association, and freedom of occupation. The separation of rights is determined with respect to people’s ethnic origin. Therefore, it can be seen as tragically associated with Nazi’s policy which is based on ethnic nationalism. (Kaya, 2002) If Turks want to acquire political rights, they must acquire German citizenship first. There are some ways of acquiring German citizenship. According to Article 116 of the Basic Law, Turkish people have to live in Germany at least 15 years for naturalization but this effort is not enough to be naturalized. They also have to accept to renounce their previous citizenship. Therefore, the requirement of relinquishing Turkish nationality blocked the integration of different cultures in Germany. In addition, until the new law in January 2000, which contained some modifications, children who were born and raised in Germany could not automatically have German citizenship. In order to acquire citizenship, foreigners between the ages of 16 and 23 are required to be resident for more than 8 years, attend school for at least 6 years and have not been convicted of serious offences. (Kaya, 2002) After the new law, the rules of naturalization had little changes. According to the new law, children who are born in Germany can acquire German citizenship at birth if one of their parents have lived lawfully in Germany for at least 8 years, holds entitlement to residence or has an unlimited residence permit for at least 3 years. (Kaya, 2002) There is however a problem about their dual citizenship because they have to choose one of their nationalities within five years between 18 and 23. This application which is prepared by the German government seems to be in contradiction with the essential principles of multiculturalism. The German government constrains Turks to renounce their Turkish citizenship and this damages their cultures too because unless Turks are Turkish citizen anymore, they become distant from their culture which is belong to Turkey. Therefore, it is hard to say that multiculturalism works in Germany. The second reason for the failure of multiculturalism in Germany is the integration problems between Turks and Germans. Turks in Germany are seen as foreigners and migrants by the Germans although Turks search for equality and they wanted to contribute as a part of the German society. Therefore, discrimination is one of the main problems why Turks cannot integrate with the German society. Although Turks have same the civil and social rights as the Germans, their jobs are less prestigious with respect to the German’s. Also, they work for less payment and their profits are identically lower than the German’s. (Powell, 1995) In addition, their education is not adequate for better jobs. Hence, they have to work as blue-collar workers who generally work on manufacturing and mining while Germans work as white-collar workers related to management because blue-collar workers do not require high education. In 1970’s, there were more jobs for unskilled and semiskilled workers like Turks. However, the rate of unemployment among Turks increased since 1980’s because job opportunities in manufacturing industry declined in Germany and education became more important for jobs. (Ozcan, 2004) Turks are not capable of solving the problems which are associated with discrimination in job, lack of employment and fewer educational opportunities. (Powell, 1995) This situation makes the integration of Germans and Turks more difficult. Under these conditions, Turks do not feel accepted by society therefore they also do not want to be accepted. (Hochmuth, 2006) They begin to develop strong ethnic structures and maintain ethnic boundaries hence the integration of these two distinct cultures become more troublesome. The last reason which supports the argument that multiculturalism does not work in Germany is cultural changes in second and third generations of Turks who lived in Germany. In contrast to their parents, the 2nd and 3rd generations speak German better than Turkish. Although their roots were in Turkey, they learn Turkish as a foreign language. (Waldhoff Tan, 1996) This is the indication of the existence of assimilation between two cultures because they are starting to lose their connections with their real homeland. In addition, when they use Turkish, they mix it with a German accent, dialect or words. However, the usage of both languages can cause understanding problem for an outsider. They also use some German words such as Tschu? , which means bye in English, when they speak Turkish and they mixed German and Turkish sentences such as ‘Urlaub ald? ’ which means having holiday in English. This type of blending violates the rules of both languages in terms of the semantics, phonetics and syntax. Also, it damages the characteristics of languages. Their music is another field which is affected by cultural struggle. They create their own cultural synthesis by blending two different cultures. For instance, they mix break-dance and Turk ish folk dance. Thus, they show that the ambivalence which they had because they are sandwiched between upholding tradition and assimilation. Waldhoff Tan, 1996) Due to these confusions between Turkish and German culture, it is clear that multiculturalism does not work in Germany because it is based on the respect to different cultures but in Germany, Turks suffer to protect their culture from German effects. Therefore, the diversity of culture can be reduced and the imagination of multiculturalism can end for ever. Multiculturalism is an integration process which is so difficult to work in any place. It supposed that the cultures can be consistent, unified and tructured in a place. (Kaya, 2002) However, multiculturalism is not a melting pot which absorbs cultures. It always supports the diversity of cultures in one place. Through multiculturalism, people can expand their horizons by comparing different cultures and they can make judgments upon their lifestyle, belief and values. ( Malik, 2002) In order to allow multiculturalism to work properly, first of all discrimination among people should be stopped because if people learn to live together peacefully and equally, multiculturalism can work. Also, the governments should take some responsibilities about this issue. They should protect the immigrants’ rights and struggle with problems of immigrants such as education and job. In addition, they should promote integration by means of counseling and language. (Powell, 1995) Xenophobia is other important obstacle for multiculturalism. The organizations, festivals, seminars should be arranged among immigrants and citizens in order to get rid of this fear. If these suggestions are applied, multiculturalism can work and thus the world can become more tolerable and peaceful place. REFERENCES Hochmuth, H. (2006). Turks in Germany. Retrieved April 29, 2007 from turkishweekly. net/articles. php? id=146 Kaya, A. (2002). The hyphenated Germans: German-Turks. Retrieved April 29, 2007 from tusiad. us/content/uploaded/pw11Hyphenated_Germans. pdf Malik, K. (2002). Against multiculturalism. Retrieved April 29, 2007 from kenanmalik. com/essays/against_mc. html Ozcan, V. 2004). Turks in Germany: aspects of their socio-economic integration. Retrieved April 29, 2007 from ces. boun. edu. tr/papers/feb/veysel_ozcan. pdf Powell, E. V. (1995). Notes from Hamburg: immigrants challenge Germanys social net. Retrieved April 29, 2007 from ssa. uchicago. edu/publications/advforum/v2n3/advocates2. 3. 12. html Waldhoff, H. P. , Tan, D. (1996). Turkish everyday culture in Germany and its prospects. Retrieved April 29, 2007 from ish. uni-hannover. de/Dateien/staff/hw/turkish_hw. html