Enhance Jobseekers Level Of Employability Education Essay

The intent of this survey is to find the extent to which the Employment and Training Corporations preparation programmes enhance jobseekers degree of employability. The thesis is divided into chapters to supply: a reappraisal of related academic literature, an overview of the methodological analysis, a presentation of the findings, and a decision drawn from the survey. The appendices contains paperss used during the research procedure such as the inquiries used for treatment, the questionnaire, the superior lists and rating sheet, the moralss blessing signifier, the engagement letters and consent signifiers and a list of ETC preparation programmes for mention. In this thesis, there were two cardinal countries which needed to be tackled ; the acquisition procedure and employability. Therefore each nucleus subdivision is structured to give consideration to these issues. The first chapter provides an overview of the Maltese labor market and of the services offered by Malta ‘s public employment and preparation corporation, the ETC. The purpose and intent for this survey will besides have in this chapter.1.1 The Maltese Labour ForceMalta is a little island with a little population. Though â€Å" aˆÂ ¦ the population of Malta has about doubled, from 211,564 in 1911 to 416,055 in 2011aˆÂ ¦ † ( NSO,2012a ) . Harmonizing to the ETC ( 2011: 12 ) , at the terminal of August 2011 there were 149,751 gainfully employed persons on full-time footing with an addition of 2,551 when compared to August 2010. Therefore despite the unfavorable economic alterations, Malta registered an addition in the figure of individuals in employment ( ETC, 2011:12 ) . Last July, the Times of Malta ( 2012 ) announced an addition of 180 in the figure of registered unemployed in Malta and a lessening by 26 in Gozo. Besides it is interesting to observe that every bit presented by the NSO ( 2012b ) , this twelvemonth in Malta the rate of employment among females increased by 3 per centum points whilst there was a little lessening of 1 per centum point among males. This activity rate indicates that there was a strong betterment in the labour market public presentation amongst females. Whereas the chief part of males was in the 55 and older age brackets bespeaking an ageing labour force and the consequence of the addition in the retirement the ETC ( 2011: 7 ) . In add-on there was a lessening in the employment rate for young persons ( ETC, 2011: 7 ) . The ETC claims that this may be attributed to occupation hunt and economic alterations which may be making some troubles for immature jobseekers ( 2011: 7 ) . Furthermore the ETC besides keeps records of the little and average sized endeavors that make up the Maltese industry. The private sector is the major sector in fact â€Å" The private sector represented 72.6 % of entire full-time employment, which increased by 1.8 % between August 2010 and August 2011 † ( ETC, 2011: 12 ) . Tourism and related services are considered as cardinal employers in Malta. Harmonizing to the Institute of Tourism Studies ( 2012: 7 ) ; â€Å" Tourism is inseparable from the Maltese economic model † and it is portion of the Maltese civilization.1.1.1 European TargetsThe undermentioned two sub-sections will exemplify the European and National marks with respects to instruction and employment. As stated by the European Commission ( EC ) ( 2012 ) , a figure of employment schemes were implemented by the EU such as the ‘Europe 2020 ‘ for economic growing and increasing employment across the Union. Harmonizing to the EC ( 2012 ) , by 2020 th e EU must make the undermentioned marks with respects to instruction and employment ; 75 % of the population between the ages 20 and 64 must be employed ; early school departers must be reduced to be under 10 % and ; at least 40 % of those between ages 30 and 34 must hold pursued higher instruction.1.1.2 National TargetsThe local authorities enterprises can be found in Malta ‘s first National Reform Programme which contains 27 different steps aimed at guaranting that Malta reaches the Europe 2020 marks ( MFIN, 2012 ) . The marks were developed on Malta ‘s demands to advance growing and occupations and as: â€Å" Government believes that a timely and effectual bringing of the proclaimed policy steps in the first NRP under the Europe 2020 Strategy is a requirement for driving frontward economic reclamation every bit good as beef uping Malta ‘s fight † ( MFIN, 2012: 19 ) . Furthermore the marks set for the European Union ( EU ) , related to employment and preparation in Malta are outlined below: Puting the employment mark rate at 62.9 % by 2020. Reducing the rate of early school departers to 29 % by 2020 and ; Escalating the figure of those that completed third instruction from 30 boulder clay 34 old ages old to 33 % by 2020 ( MFIN, 2012: 75 ) . Despite the addition in the rate of employment in Malta from 58.2 per cent in 2000 to 62.0 per cent, it is still below the EU-27 norm, 71.4 per cent ( MFIN, 2012: 4 ) .1.2 The Employment and Training CorporationIn Malta, the employment information is gathered by the ETC which maintains a national computerised database of employees and jobseekers to place and react to labor and skill deficits ( ETC, 2011 ) . In add-on the ETC ( 2010e ) offers general and specific preparation to registered unemployed jobseekers and to individuals in employment who wish to heighten their cognition, competences and accomplishments. More specifically, ETC aspires in: â€Å" Enhancing employability by urging policies and implementing enterprises aimed at authorising, helping and developing jobseekers to ease their entry or re-entry into the active employment market, advancing work force development through accomplishments and competence development, and by helping employers in their enlisting and preparation demands † ( ETC, 2010a ) .1.2.1 ETC Employability ProgrammesThe corporation is besides actively involved in the development of a figure of employment steps such as: The ‘Occupational Guidance ‘ where occupation searchers are assisted by ETC employment advisers to place their occupational penchants and are referred to allow preparation programmes organised by ETC or by other administrations ( ETC, 2010b: 6 ) . The ‘Personal Action Plan ‘ which takes topographic point when a individual goes to the ETC to register on portion 1[ 1 ]of the unemployment registry for the first clip and is allocated an employment adviser ( ETC, 2010b: 6 ) . The ‘Supported Service for Persons with Disability ‘ and ‘Bridging the Gap ‘ which mark registered handicapped individuals and individuals in deprived state of affairss by offering them all the support needed for them to happen employment ( ETC, 2010c ) . The ‘Community Work Scheme ‘ which aids the long-run unemployed[ 2 ]addition work experience and to heighten their accomplishments ( ETC, 2011: 17 ) . The ‘Work Trial Scheme ‘ ( WTS ) which was launched in 2009 and is good as it provides a 13 hebdomad on-the-job preparation for the disadva ntaged groups ( ETC, 2010b: 19 ) . The ‘Employment Aid Programme ‘ ( EAP ) which besides helps disadvantaged groups by aiming those with no work experience, or who have been unemployed for a long period ( ETC, 2011: 21 )[ 3 ]. The ‘Employment in the Social Economy ‘ which AIDSs disadvantaged and handicapped individuals in happening employment with non-commercial administrations ( ETC, 2010d ) .1.2.2 ETC Training ProgrammesIn add-on to its services, the Corporation operates a figure of developing programmes and strategies to ease the integrating of jobseekers in the labour market: The ‘Training Aid Framework ‘ ( TAF ) which offers direct subsidies of the cost of developing to heighten cognition and accomplishments of the employees in the private sector ( ETC, 2010b: 22 ) . The ‘Apprenticeship schemes ‘ to develop childs to get the accomplishments needed in the labor market and to fix them for employment ( ETC, 2010b: 19 ) . The ETC ( 2010 ) besides offers preparation classs which range from direction and development classs to basic accomplishments and trade classs ( Appendix I ) .1.2.3 Political and Legislative AspectsFurthermore the ETC is affected by a figure of political and legislative issues modulating employment in Malta and its authorization derives from the Employment and Training Services Act ( 1990 ) ( PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2010: 1 ) . The Social Security Act besides affects ETC ‘s enrollment services, because a jobseeker must be seeking work to be entitled to societal benefits ( PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2010: 20 ) . Whereas the ETC ‘s employment licenses subdivision is governed in portion by the Immigration Act ( PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2010: 2 ) . The ETC is besides indirectly affected by the Employment and Industrial Relations Act and the Conditions of Employment ( Regulation Act ) which regulate employment ( PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2010: 1 ) .1.3 Research PurposeAdditionally t his survey will concentrate on Malta ‘s public employment bureau, the ETC in order to pull up a series of recommendations towards its preparation methods. This job was chosen as a scheme towards the type of acquisition and preparation needed to turn to the development of jobseekers that are willing to get new accomplishments. Therefore this survey seeks to lend to academic thought by foregrounding the importance of larning and development and by advancing employability. The extent to which the ETC preparation programmes enhance employability will be examined through a post-positivist attack and a mixed-methodology. In fact through the usage of focal point groups and semi-structured interviews, the research worker will derive the positions of both jobseekers and employers towards the ETC preparation programmes. The supply side will besides be taken into consideration through a concluding semi-structured interview with the Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ) of ETC. Furthermore the research worker chose to research this cardinal research job after detecting jobseekers ‘ behavior during assorted developing programmes at ETC, which is the research worker ‘s workplace. Besides the ETC has presently conducted a telephone study among persons ( registrants and non-registrants ) to happen out the ground why many of the appliers did non turn up for the preparation programmes recommended to them in the last twelvemonth therefore the survey is seasonably with the current events. Subsequently the thesis will seek to reply the research job by trying three research inquiries: What are the features of jobseekers seeking clerical businesss? What are the employers ‘ outlooks when seeking prospective recruits for vacant clerical stations? What are perceptual experiences of registering jobseekers and employers towards ETC developing programmes? These research inquiries will help the research worker in placing the employability degree of jobseekers and if there is a spread between jobseekers ‘ accomplishments and capablenesss and employers ‘ demands and outlooks. Furthermore the survey ‘s purpose and aims will help the ETC better its preparation programmes. Chapter 22.0 Literature ReviewWhile carry oning the reappraisal, there was a important sum of literature which was relevant to the cardinal countries explored in this survey. The challenge was to place the writers that contributed in the most important manner to the survey. The organic structure of the literature is classified into two countries: acquisition and employability.2.1 Learning, Education, Training and DevelopmentHodkinson ( 2005: 110 ) argues that larning can be understood from different theoretical places such as acquisition by take parting in activities and acquisition by building one ‘s ain apprehension. Hodkinson ( 2005: 116 ) portrays larning as being loosely similar in different contexts and it can be general or specific. While Jarvis ( 2010: 17 ) explicates that as society is altering so is the context in which we learn. Fragroso et Al. ( 2011 ) contribute to this argument by exemplifying development and grownup acquisition in Europe. The writers claim that t he current economic alterations should be considered as an chance to larn at a local and planetary degree ( Fragroso et al. , 2011: 42 ) . While transporting out the literature reappraisal, the research worker noticed that many writers differentiate formal acquisition from informal larning. Indeed Van Dam ( 2012: 49 ) provinces that formal acquisition is curriculum based and can develop an person ‘s competencies. Whereas Engestrom ( 2004 ) considers informal direction ideal in a workplace to guarantee that ends and marks are met. The work of Engestrom is supported by Boud and Middleton as it describes informal acquisition as another acquisition option. Boud and Middleton ( 2003: 195 ) portray informal acquisition as â€Å" portion of the occupation † or a mechanism for â€Å" making the occupation decently † . â€Å" Although acquisition is by and large perceived as a manner to better employees ‘ current occupation public presentation, so far no research has been conducted to research the possible relationships between formal and informal acquisition, on the one manus, and employability, on the other † ( Van der Heijden et al. , 2009: 19 ) . Van der Heijden et Al. ( 2009: 19 ) chose to research the consequence of larning on employability by administering an e-questionnaire amongst 215 Dutch non-academic university pupils. The work of Van der Heijden et Al. ( 2009 ) , demonstrates the demand of supplying more formal preparation chances to employees as practical acquisition is non plenty to heighten their degree of employability. Additionally the relevancy of Van der Heijden ‘s work will be discussed in the findings of the survey. Education and preparation are besides important in the acquisition and development procedure. In fact â€Å" Education is the longer-term procedure that is to make with the rounded formation of the whole person † ( Harrison, 2002: 4 ) . Durkehim ( 2004 ) defines instruction as the cognition gained officially from experiences. While preparation has been defined by Armstrong ( 2006: 535 ) as â€Å" The systematic development of the cognition, accomplishments and attitudes required by an single to execute adequately a given undertaking or occupation † . Additionally a societal experiment was conducted by Rosholm and Skipper ( 2009 ) , to find whether schoolroom preparation is good to the unemployed. In this experiment, the findings indicate that preparation may increase the clip spent in unemployment for an person who has merely completed the preparation programme ( Rosholm and Skipper, 2009: 361 ) . However this hazard is for a short term as in the long tally, preparation does heighten an person ‘s employability ( Rosholm and Skipper 2009 ) . Rosholm and Skipper ( 2009 ) insist that farther research should be done to verify if higher rewards are so offered to the trained individual. Apart from analyzing developing demands, this survey will besides mensurate the effectivity of the ETC preparation programmes in developing jobseekers ‘ potencies. Harmonizing to Baum ( 1995 ) ‘development ‘ can take topographic point at any clip and there is non a definite manner of how it occurs. Additionally Garavan ( 2007: 27 ) argues that larning and development are cardinal to ease the development of a learning civilization. The work of Garavan ( 2007 ) is of import for this survey as it demonstrates that development focuses less on larning outcome as possibly preparation does and is more on heightening employability. Antonacopoulou ( 2000: 260 ) argue that in order to understand the relationships between acquisition, instruction, preparation and development there is a demand to understand these procedures at different degrees of the hierarchy ; at an person and organizational degree. Antonacopoulou ( 2000: 260 ) claim that the holographic position can assist heighten the apprehension of the nature of acquisition, instruction, preparation and development in society ( Illustration 2-1 ) . Illustration 2-1: The relationships between acquisition, instruction, preparation and development Beginning: Antonacopoulou ( 2000: 260 )2.1.1 The Learning ProcessIn this thesis, the acquisition procedure is considered cardinal for heightening persons ‘ potencies. The acquisition procedure and the different acquisition manners adopted by jobseekers will be observed through the research methods adopted. David Kolb claims that â€Å" acquisition is the procedure whereby cognition is created through the transmutation of experience † ( Kolb, 1984: 38 ) . Harmonizing to Kolb ( 1984 ) the learning rhythm starts from experience, the development phase and so the decision-making portion ( Illustration 2-2 ) . Illustration 2- 2: The Experiential Cycle of Learning ( based on Kolb, Rubin and McIntyre, 1974 )Concrete experience( Planned or accidental )Brooding observation( Actively believing about the experience, its basic issues, and their significance )Active experimentation( Trying out the acquisition in other similar state of affairss: creativeness, decision-making )Abstract Conceptualisation( Generalizing from contemplations, analyzing, in order to develop a organic structure of thoughts, a theory or principlesaˆÂ ¦ ) Beginning: Harrison, R. ( 2002: 8 ) In add-on Chan ( 2012: 406 ) tested Kolb ‘s theory by carry oning an experiential undertaking to detect pupils ‘ larning procedure. Through the findings, Chan ( 2012: 405 ) affirms that Kolb ‘s larning procedure produces a assortment of larning results. Chan ( 2012 ) supports Kolb ‘s theory as it allows the scholar to reflect, pattern and act in a cyclic procedure. â€Å" Experiential acquisition can be defined as the development of personal apprehension and accomplishments through the analysis of, and contemplation on, activity † ( Moody, 2012: 16 ) . In a survey conducted by Moody ( 2012 ) , even employers are confident that experiential larning delivers consequences. Furthermore Kolb ( 1976 ) identifies four acquisition manners which can be adopted by different sorts of scholars: The Activists- Learning through practise The Reflectors- Learning through observation and judgment The Theorists- Learning through enterprises affecting new thoughts, constructs and constructions Experimenters- Learning by proving theories. A learning manner is the ability of an single to obtain information in a peculiar manner or combination of ways ( Zapalska and Brozik, 2006 ) . Research on larning manner started in the late 19th century and it was documented that there were different manners adopted amongst scholars ( Zapalska and Brozik, 2006: 326 ) . Harmonizing to Rogers ( 2002: 111 ) we tend to utilize all acquisition manners but we prefer to utilize one or two more than the others. Illustration 2- 3: Learning manners based on larning rhythm Militants Reflectors Experimenters Theorists Beginning: ( Rogers, 2002:110 )2.1.2 Diversity of Ways of LearningFurthermore Rogers ( 2002: 88 ) explores four types of larning theories: those that focus on the scholar, on the context, on the undertaking undertaken and on the procedure involved. Learner-based theories include the behavioristic theories and the cognitive theories ( Rogers, 2002 ) . Harman and Brelade ( 2000: 14 ) , posit that the behaviorist theories enhance an person ‘s motive to larn by acknowledgment or honoring the person when marks and ends are met, by making activities to look frontward to and by offering all the support needed. Additionally Burns ( 2002: 114 ) describes behaviorism as the â€Å" comparatively lasting alteration in behavior † . Skinner ‘s work is besides of import within the context of this survey as it contributes to the apprehension of the acquisition procedure by external influences. Indeed Skinner illustrates the importance of positive and negative supports during acquisition ( 1978 ) . Skinner ( 1978 ) encourages uninterrupted support on behalf of the trainer as it increases the rate of larning whilst intermittent support retains what is being learned in an appropriate context. Furthermore in a survey conducted by Fuller and Unwin ( 2005 ) , the workers are seen keener to larn if the preparation concerned is relevant to their day-to-day undertakings and if it helps them better and work more efficaciously. Harmonizing to Fuller and Unwin ( 2005: 22 ) , there are two types of larning that new entrants experience when in a work environment ‘learning as attainment ‘ and ‘learning as engagement ‘ . ‘Learning as attainment ‘ involves all the preparation chances offered by the administration to heighten the new recruits ‘ accomplishments and cognition whereas ‘learning as engagement ‘ is the apprehension of larning to work in a societal environment ( Fuller and Unwin, 2005 ) . Harmonizing to Rogers ( 2002 ) other larning theories are built on the analysis of one ‘s personality and on the scholar ‘s actions. Besides Rogers ( 2002 ) argues that there is diverseness of ways of acquisition and there is no consensus about larning. In this thesis, acquisition is considered cardinal in heightening jobseekers ‘ potencies and employability.2.1.3 Analyzing preparation demandsIn add-on acquisition and public presentation happen during the transportation of preparation ( Vermeulen and Admiraal, 2009: 65 ) . Harmonizing to Vermeulen and Admiraal ( 2009: 52 ) , developing refers to the planned and organised learning while transportation is the application of what is learnt in different contexts. The analysis of developing transportation will assist place jobseekers ‘ specific larning manner. Zapalska and Brozik ( 2006: 237 ) argue that there are many techniques the trainer can utilize to place a learning manner and the first measure is to execute a preparation demand analysis. A preparation demand analysis provides a benchmark of the accomplishments trainees possess prior being submitted to a preparation programme and will increase the effectivity of preparation ( Blanchard and Thacker, 2003: 116 ) . Blanchard and Thacker ( 2003:116 ) imply that â€Å" A preparation demand analysis is of import because it helps to find whether a lack can be corrected through preparation † .2.1.4 Design, Development and Delivery of Training ProgrammesSubsequently in order to implement an effectual preparation programme, Vincent and Ross ( 2001: 37 ) suggest the undermentioned stairss: Planing including choice of trainers ; Planing and developing the preparation programme ; Implementing with the usage of presentations and interactions and ; Measuring and following-up productiveness and betterments. Similarly Ghosh et Al. ( 2012 ) imply that the choice of the trainer is the first and first of import component when be aftering a preparation programme. The trainer must possess cognition on the topic of the programme: â€Å" However, mere ownership of cognition is non sufficient ; the trainer must be articulate plenty to make out to the participants with the constructs being covered in a programme † ( Ghosh et al. , 2012: 198 ) . In order to implement an effectual preparation programme, the trainer should see the acquisition theories prior the design of the preparation programme ( Vincent and Ross, 2001: 37 ) . Additionally Werquin ( 2012 ) argues that cognition of larning results is cardinal during the class ‘s design and it is indispensable for the labor market and for employers. â€Å" The construct of larning results is at the bosom of many research programmes and policy responses † ( Werquin, 2012: 159 ) . Learning results focus non merely on the content of the preparation programme but besides on the aims and what the scholar is expected to accomplish at the terminal of the class ( Werquin, 2012: 159 ) . â€Å" Training research has typically found inconsistent relationships between trainees reactions to the existent preparation event ( besides normally referred to as developing satisfaction ) and larning results † ( Orvis et al. , 2009: 960 ) . A related issue is present in the findings of an experimental survey conducted by Orvis et Al. ( 2009 ) which investigates the acquisition procedure in an e-learning environment. The consequences suggest that farther research is needed on how to prosecute scholars for case by including learner control tools in the preparation programmes ( Orvis et al. , 2009: 969 ) . In fact Long et al. ( 2011 ) claim that games are an extra effectual method which trainers can utilize to excite acquisition and buttocks. Besides Dwyer ( 2004: 82 ) suggests that the ambiance and environment in which larning takes topographic point affects the sum of acquisition and the perceptual experience of scholar. This can be illustrated in a instance survey conducted by Hodkinson and Hodkinson ( 2004 ) , where the trainers ‘ temperaments and relationships with workers are seen holding an of import consequence on the acquisition procedure. Besides harmonizing to Arends ( 2009 ) trainers can change their lessons through formal or informal activities. It is interesting to observe that the development phase is the most clip consuming as â€Å" All elements of a peculiar preparation programme are determined during the development stage † ( Blanchard and Thacker, 2003: 23 ) . Harmonizing to Blanchard and Thacker ( 2003 ) once the preparation stuff is ready, pilot-testing can be performed during the execution stage and some minor alterations can be made in the developed content.2.1.5 Evaluation of Training ProgrammesFollowing execution there is the rating stage which involves informal and formal observation, and the usage of treatments or questionnaires to roll up feedback from the scholar ( Dwyer, 2004 ) . Likewise Scruggs and Mastropieri ( 2010: 222 ) argue that rating can take topographic point in a assortment of signifiers such as on a one-to-one footing, whole-class activity or written. The rating stage is critical to the success of a preparation programme ( Wang and Wilcox, 2006: 532 ) . In an article by Wang and Wilcox ( 2006: 529 ) , the rating procedure is classified into two classs: formative rating which provides information for the design of the preparation programme and ; summational rating which is more focussed on larning results and benefits. Tennant et Al. ( 2002: 234 ) claim that there are a figure of theoretical accounts for mensurating the effectivity of a preparation programme such as the Kirkpatrick theoretical account which measures the alteration in accomplishments as a consequence of preparation and the CIRO theoretical account which measures the alteration in accomplishments prior and after preparation. Furthermore when developing an evaluating methodological analysis, one must take into consideration the group concerned and in obtaining consensus from participants prior the rating procedure ( Dwyer, 2004 ) . Lee and Pershing ( 2002: 176 ) besides emphasise on the demand of analyzing the participants ‘ reactions to the preparation programme. In a survey conducted by Lee and Pershing ( 2002 ) , it was concluded that a well-designed preparation programmes occurs when there is a proper design standards.2.1.6 The ETC Training ProgrammesThe primary aim of this survey is to mensurate the effectivity of the ETC preparation programmes. Article 16 of the Employment and Training Services Act ( 1990 ) , states that the Corporation shall supply developing programmes to help persons in happening employment or to better or update their cognition and accomplishments to increase occupation chances and calling aspirations. Furthermore the ETC ( 2010b ) purposes to expect future labour market n eeds to prolong or construct persons ‘ employability. The ETC ( 2011: 14 ) declares that the current preparation programmes are funded by the Employability Programme which is a constituent of the European Social Fund 2.4 and are unfastened to both unemployed registrants and to use or inactive individuals ( Appendix I ) . Besides the ETC ( 2010g ) procures and provides the preparation equipment, the installations, and the clerical and administrative support to trainers. An of import constituent which was losing by the ETC is the Training Programmes Design and Quality Assurance Unit. This unit has been set to re-design and develop new ETC preparation programmes and is working for the acknowledgment of the preparation programmes sought from the Malta Qualification Council ( ETC, 2010f ) . It is interesting to observe that in 2011, â€Å" The entire figure of participants in ETC preparation classs was of 15,072 hence there was a 10 % addition on the old twelvemonth † ( ETC, 2011: 9 ) . In 2011 there was besides an addition of 27 % in female engagement in ETC preparation classs ( ETC, 2011:9 ) . However this twelvemonth a telephone study was conducted by the Research and Development Unit at the ETC, to analyze why about two tierces of persons using for Office Skills, IT, Trade, Technical and Care Worker developing programmes did non turn up on the day of the month scheduled ( R & A ; D, 2012: 2 ) . Consequently one inquires â€Å" Why do so many preparation Sessionss seem to blow everyone ‘s clip? † ( Dwyer, 2004: 79 ) . Harmonizing to the findings, the grounds why many of the respondents did non take part in the ETC class were the long waiting lists and others claimed that they were ne'er contacted to get down the class ( R & A ; D, 2012: 11 ) . A smaller per centum did non go to due to occupation committednesss whilst for the remaining, the clip indicated for the class was non suited ( R & A ; D, 2012: 11 ) . This survey will detect in more depth the jobseekers ‘ positive and negative positions towards the ETC preparation programmes.2.1.7 Developing a jobseeker ‘s possibleA similar research was carried out by Larson and Milana ( 2006 ) which establishes that the deficiency of engagement in grownup instruction and preparation is due to: deficiency of clip and/or energy deficiency of motive in re-entering instruction deficiency of courses/equipment deficiency of support and ; deficiency of assurance in ain competences. Harmonizing to Larson and Milana ( 2006 ) , deficiency of clip and/or energy is more likely to be a barrier to adult females than work forces, whereas deficiency of assurance can be more of a barrier to young person and seniors. Similarly when grownup instruction and developing engagement surveies were analysed in Canada, it was observed that the chief grounds for many non go toing classs were fiscal issues, developing conflicted with work agenda, deficiency of family-friendly steps and preparation offered at an inconvenient clip ( Peters, 2004 ) . This is farther supported by Cullen ( 2011 ) whose findings indicate that jobseekers express a negative attitude towards preparation and employment due to several societal barriers. Furthermore Martin and Grubb ( 2001: 32 ) argue that when labour market programmes are mandatory to jobseekers they are less effectual. Blanchard and Thacker ( 2003 ) widen this farther when saying that a individual ‘s public presentation depends on a figure of factors such as motive, cognition accomplishments and attitudes and the environment ( Illustration 2-4 ) . In this survey, the research worker will analyze the jobseekers ‘ motive to larn, their features and the environment in which larning takes topographic point. Illustration 2- 4 Factors Determining Human PerformancePerformanceMotivation ( M ) Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude ( KSA ) EnvironmentP= M x KSA x EBeginning: Blanchard and Thacker ( 2003: 75 ) Carr et Al. ( 2009: 16 ) imply that people must foremost recognize the ground they should use their accomplishments. Therefore in order to heighten 1s ‘ potencies, it is necessary that an person is made cognizant of possessing the cognition, accomplishments and competences needed for a peculiar occupation ( Carr, 2009 ) . â€Å" Most job-seekers wish they could unlock the secret expression to winning the Black Marias and heads of employers. What they wonder, is that alone combination of accomplishments and values that make employers salivate with exhilaration? † ( Hansen and Hansen, 2009 ) .2.2 Employability-Towards a DefinitionEmployability is another cardinal subject of the thesis. While transporting out the literature reappraisal, the research worker found many societal factors that can be of an employment barrier to jobseekers. In this thesis there will be a brief overview of these societal factors and an analysis of the employers ‘ demands and outlooks when enrolling. Furthermore the extent to which the ETC preparation programmes run into current labor market demands will besides be examined in this subdivision. The International Labour Organisation ( 2004: 9 ) provinces that ; â€Å" aˆÂ ¦the term employability relates to portable competences and makings that enhance an person ‘s capacity to do usage of instruction and preparation chances available in order to procure and retain nice work, advancement within the endeavor and between occupations and header with alterations in engineering and labour market conditions † . Brown et Al. ( 2002: 10 ) extend the definition of the term employability by imputing it on the supply and demand within the labour market, viz. on the employability degree of others. Furthermore Glastra et Al. ( 2004: 291 ) argue that in order to last in this competitory universe it is necessary for the work force to prosecute in womb-to-tomb acquisition. The current economic alterations altered the working life hence the demand of womb-to-tomb larning to heighten employability ( Glastra et al. , 2004: 305 ) .2.2.1 The Jobseeker ‘s PositionsThe jobseekers ‘ degree of employability is a affair of concern in this thesis. The chief factors which contribute to the passage from instruction to employment will be taken into consideration. These factors vary from unstable occupations, labour market conditions, population ‘s employability degrees and the instruction system ( CEDEFOP, 2010:30 ) . Indeed Mifsud et Al. ( 2006: 16 ) finds the passage from school to work, peculiarly disputing as without farther instruction and developing the jobseekers will miss the accomplishments and competencies needed in the labor market. Harmonizing to Muller and Gangl ( 2003 ) , the passage procedure is the period between the terminal of the primary instruction and the subsiding into the work environment. Likewise Braun et Al. ( 2001 ) distinguish between two phases in the passage period: the initial occupation hunt after go forthing instruction and ; the beginning of the employment experience. During this passage there are two types of hazards for new entrants, these being the inability to happen employment and instability of the first employment ( Braun et al. , 2001 ) . Besides harmonizing to ILO, due to this passage from instruction to working life, young persons need more encouragement towards happening a suited employment ( ILO, 2006: 20 ) . Additionally Yorke ( 2006: 2 ) provinces that many times â€Å" The transferability of accomplishments is frequently excessively easy assumed † . When look intoing the employability spread between the long-run and short-run unemployed, Thomsen ( 2009: 451 ) finds that there exist major differences for case in accomplishments and wellness position. These employment barriers make it harder for the long-run unemployed to happen work ( Thomsen, 2009: 451 ) . The deprived groups are besides happening it hard to acquire employed ; these groups include the aged, people with particular demands and former substance maltreaters who need farther support during occupation seeking ( ILO, 2006: 21 ) . Another factor that affects employability is the altering life style with more adult females take parting in the labor market ( NSO, 2012b ) . Despite the addition in employment rate, it still remains hard for adult females to keep a full-time occupation without shared duties ( Zerafa, 2007: 39 ) . Thus the demand of more family-friendly steps ( Zerafa, 2007 ) . Furthermore Ostrouch and Ollagnier ( 2008 ) show how hard it is for adult females to progress in professions considered untypical for adult females. Womans may besides be discouraged to analyze in their country of penchant due to gender stereotyping ( Ostrouch and Ollagnier, 2008 ) . â€Å" Previous surveies indicated that racial and cultural favoritism at work bound occupation chances and contribute to cut down calling aspirations and outlooks † ( Forstenlechner and Al-Waqfi, 2010: 768 ) . Forstenlechner and Al-Waqfi ( 2010 ) make up one's mind to analyze workplace favoritism in the context of immigrants and jobseekers. The findings of the survey indicate that prejudiced actions can take topographic point during the pre-employment phase ; or after the enlisting procedure ( Forstenlechner and Al-Waqfi, 2010 ) . Ultimately these prejudiced state of affairss influence jobseekers in their pursuit of happening a occupation.2.2.2 The Employer ‘s PositionThis survey will besides look into the employers ‘ positions towards larning and employability. The employers ‘ point of position is needed in this survey to analyze the extent to which the ETC preparation programmes are run intoing their demands and outlooks. Furthermore this survey will besides travel through the features employers seek in prospective employees and the troubles encountered during enlisting. Vera and Crossan ( 2004 ) indicate that a acquisition clime that adapts rapidly to alter will finally prolong an administration. Besides the survey conducted by Carrim and Basson ( 2012 ) revealed that a learning clime can be used in different types of administrations and should be aligned with the administrations ‘ profiles. On the other manus Warhurst ( 2012 ) implies that employers are more concerned with the current economic alterations so staff development. â€Å" In an age of asceticism with many administrations confronting cuts and imposed alterations, it might be assumed that larning within administrations would fall victim to force per unit area for the competitively efficient bringing of merchandises or service † ( Warhurst, 2012: 1 ) A related hypothesis investigated by Joyce ( 2008: 376 ) is that â€Å" Today many companies are engaging less and/or return longer to happen merely the right individual with the right accomplishments for the right occupation † . Employers, apart from using the general face-to-face interviews are returning to situational behavioral interviews and the usage of other trials including psychometric trials, written tests and a 2nd interview ( Joyce, 2008: 379 ) . This happens as â€Å" In today ‘s competitory universe, one can non disregard the fact that employers look for people who are good trained in the country of their employment † ( ETC, 2010e ) . Indeed the informations given by the NSO shows that frequently employers seek to enroll skilled persons instead than partly or non-skilled appliers to avoid the clip taken to develop ( 2001 ) . Consequently these long enlisting procedures are taking to more costs and are going stressful for employers ( Joyce, 2008: 379 ) .2.2.3 Labour DeficitsThe long enlisting procedures may besides be attributed to labor deficits though Cohen and Mahmood ( 2002 ) argue that occupation vacancies can be even at low employment rates. If one takes a expression from a local point of view, one finds that in recent old ages, a figure of low-skill fabrication companies in Malta have closed down like Denim and VF, ensuing in redundancies every bit good as decreased soaking up of lower-skilled school depa rters ( The Malta Independent, 2007 ) . This happens as â€Å" aˆÂ ¦Malta has non managed to pull adequate activity in growing sectors to replace worsening activities † ( MFIN, 2012: 10 ) . In order to change by reversal this, the ETC is join forcesing with assorted employers to avoid labour deficits and to implement its preparation programmes consequently ( ETC, 2010b ) . Additionally a survey by Fsadni illustrates the local labor and accomplishments deficits which employers predict for the period of July to December 2012. It is interesting to observe that harmonizing to the survey conducted by Fsadni: â€Å" In all sectors, the bulk of the employers are confident they will happen the right people for the occupations † ( 2012: 6 ) . Therefore Fsadni suggests employers are confident that supply will be run intoing labour market demands. The findings by Fsadni will be compared and contrasted with the concluding consequences of this survey.2.2.4 Skill ShortagesIn this subdivision, importance is given to skill deficits as frequently a low unemployment rate suggests a skill deficit. Although Cohen and Mahmood ( 2002:12 ) intimation that a high degree of employment does non needfully connote that there are no skill deficits. When analyzing the accomplishment shortages, one must take into consideration the economic activity as â€Å" The pupils population is going more diverse and instruction and preparation systems are holding to set to the demand of globalization and internationalization, increased in-migration, and quickly altering occupational profiles ensuing from technological and economic developments † ( Cedefop, 2010: 12 ) The ESF 3.75 Unlocking the Female Potential, considers accomplishments deficits in Malta and the chief mark group are females ( NCPE, 2012 ) . The employers, who besides had their say in this research, mentioned some of the preparation needed for inactive females which included computing machine accomplishments, specific proficient accomplishments, societal accomplishments like teamwork, and client attention ( NCPE, 2012 ) . The NCPE ( 2012 ) besides recommends that the ETC should supply more on-the-job preparation to adult females returning to employment. There is besides the demand to better the place of counsel particularly when it comes to young persons to do a smooth passage into work ( CEDEFOP, 2010: 16 )DecisionWhile carry oning the literature reappraisal, it was felt that the cardinal subjects of the thesis contribute in more important ways to academic thought, through the development and apprehension of the acquisition procedure and the employability construct. As seen from the literature reappraisal, the three chief factors to take into history when sing a successful preparation programme are: the jobseekers ‘ positions, the employers ‘ positions and the local economic system. Furthermore the attack chosen will help the research worker in measuring three hypotheses: The first hypothesis is that jobseekers do non admit their accomplishments and abilities in forepart of employers. The 2nd hypothesis is that the higher the degree of mismatch between the standards listed for clerical businesss by employers and those features possessed by clerical jobseekers, the lower are the employability chances of such jobseekers. The 3rd hypothesis is that during the enlisting procedure, employers seek for already trained campaigners. Finally these hypotheses will besides lend to the aim of the chief research inquiry in that to what extent do the ETC preparation programmes enhance jobseekers ‘ employability in Malta.

Corrections Accreditation and Privatization Essay

â€Å"Corrections accreditation is intended to improve facility operations through adherence to clear standards relevant to all areas/operations of the facility, including safety, security, order, inmate care, programs, justice, and administration† (â€Å"American Correctional Association†, n.d.). Going through these types of processes can be very beneficial to a corrections officer’s development. Going through these procedures, the experience will assist them in keeping and maintaining a professional outlook in any situation. Correctional facilities are equipped with officers who are trained to not only keep everybody safe in the environment, but to maintain security and order at all times. These officers need to be professional just as anybody else would in any position within a job. Their development lies in improving their thought process and their skill at the job when necessary and changes occur almost every day. Industry leaders can make good changes when hiring corrections officers. A good way simply being when hiring staff, there is no tolerance for illegal activities. Making improvements in their training programs, if need be. In addition to those, upgrading the facility with better measures as far as security. All of the things covered when being audited can make a difference to planning for better future outcomes. Prisons for some time have been dealing with not only major financial situations in local, state, and federal governments, but overcrowding as well is a huge concern. â€Å"Privatization as it refers to prisons is to both the takeover of existing public facilities by private operators, and to the building and operation of new and additional prisons by for-profit prison companies† (Cheung, 2004). Due to the rising in state and federal population it is a concern to consider the all-around costs of incarceration, operation and management. It seems as though state and federal prisons have more of a professional practice, whereas a private institution might suffer because of demands, rising costs, conditions (depending on location), etc

Generation Gap Paper Essay

Refer to the â€Å"General requirements for all papers† found in your syllabus. Submit a 2-3 page short essay discussing Generation Gaps. How is your generation different from your grandparents? What personal changes do you see? Name cohort changes. Do you agree with age grading? (Pg 83) How do they apply to you and to your career choices? Can you see area of your current job, or career goal; where age grading might occur? (a tip to doing well on papers: answer all the questions systematically; one by one. If you don’t answer all the parts to the papers, you won’t get full credit!!! ) Don’t forget your 2 outside sources. You must submit this paper in the â€Å"writing assignments† icon on the home page. Trying to find differences from my generation to my grandparents generation is going to be hard for me. My grandfather on my dad’s side died when I was 12, my grandmother on my dad’s side died about 5 years ago but really, I wasn’t very close with her at all. My grandparents on my mom’s side I don’t remember at all. If I had to start somewhere in differences between my generation and my grandparents generation my views between what I knew from both sides of my families would differ greatly. Let’s start with my dad’s side. My grandfather was a hard working, self employed Real Estate agent. I’m not sure at what age he got into the Real Estate business but he was young. He was originally married to my grandmothers sister. When she died she made my grandfather promise to take care of her sister. He married my grandmother and not only took care of the kids he had with his 1st wife, but also the 14 kids he had with his 2nd wife (my grandmother). He took his responsibilities very seriously. Hard working, he kept his grievances to himself, any problems were taken care of or dealt with. He didn’t complain about his hard life. He just did what he had to do and took care of his family. You didn’t complain about your life. I remember my aunt telling me once, â€Å"You complained to grandpa and you got knocked on your butt. He always told us to be happy with what we have and if we weren’t stop bitching and get to changing it. † Through my dad’s family I saw how my grandparents were. Hard working, loyalty to your family, taking care of your responsibilities, but I also saw the dark side of those times. Keeping feelings withheld, the hard working never complain mentality has done it’s number on my dad and our family. My dad treated my sisters and I the same. We disrespect our parents, we got our butts whooped. We obeyed out of fear not respect. We saw my dad work 16 hour days on a farm, come home and be completely miserable. We saw our mother not for the loving mother or housewife she was, but the miserable, lonely woman she was made into. Although I was instilled with the same hard working values, loyalty and determination that my grandfather instilled into my dad, aunt’s and uncles, I also see the damage that my grandpa’s generation has done. Instead of hardworking loving families, I see tired, resentful, angry people. I too have a desire to work hard. But I also had hidden anger issues, depression and a controlling nature. Between these generations I see more of an acceptance to want to change the way we do things. Therapy, work programs, counseling, a better school environment for children. My dad and mom did not graduate from high school, nor did my grandparents. Yet they still had jobs, albeit not the best ones, but they worked. I’m not so quick to spank my kids. I want to teach them respect through love and kindness. I want to make sure they know their voices are heard and that they have choices. I want my kids to know that their choices will affect them and that there is a cause and effect for what they do. I want to make my children proud when I get into the profession that I have worked hard to get into. I also want to teach my kids the values that were taught to my parents, that were taught to their parents and probably taught to their parents.

Depends on what you talk about Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Depends on what you talk about - Assignment Example The most vocal and obvious of these popular culture mechanisms is of course visual media; to include Hollywood and television programming. Through this mechanism, fairness, goodness, and trust within the criminal justice system are nearly daily portrayed to the stakeholder within society. One can hardly turn on primetime television without encountering a dozen â€Å"crime dramas†; each of which seek to imbue the viewer with a sense of awe, appreciation, and trust with regards to the judicial process. Interestingly, the film which will be analyzed and compared/contrast within this brief analysis, â€Å"The Maltese Falcon† helps the reader to trace the development of how this concept of trust in the judicial system was introduced into the American consciousness via the silver screen. Film critics and scholars alike have denoted that â€Å"The Maltese Falcon†. As such, with regards to the films in question, the viewer is presented with a flawed lead character; a detective who is quite obviously cast as experiencing a lack of luster for his job and yearning for missing elements to a rather unfulfilled life. By casting the lead detectives in this way, the film is able to draw a level focus to the fact that even though the individual may be flawed, the criminal justice system is impartial enough to ensure that justice is still served regardless of the personal shortcomings that those who work within the process might exhibit. Yet, the careers of the failed professional represented in â€Å"The Maltese Falcon† does not discount the tacit level of trust or belief in the criminal justice system that is reflected; rather, it compounds it be intimating that the criminal justice system is so perfect and so omniscient that even their jaded and rather flawed a pproach to it will still return the same high minded result. An interesting aspect of the file, with regards

Research Methods Exercise Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Research Methods Exercise - Assignment Example ter a lecture where some teachers purposefully used phrases like â€Å"this concept is difficult† and other teachers taught the lecture without this phrase, students completed a survey indicating their perceived level of difficulty of the content. Directions: Read the scenarios below and identify the following about each research study. One to two words or phrases are fine for answers. This exercise will prepare us for what is to come next week when we evaluate research studies! 1. Researchers wish to examine the behaviors of college students at local bars. They hire young graduate students and train them to go to local college bars every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday night for one month and record their observations of students. To be accurate, the graduate research assistants engage in conversations with the patrons and ask if they are college students. If so, they observe & record the number of drinks consumed and flirtatious behavior over the course of the night. At the end of the month, the graduate students turn in their observations which are synthesized into a descriptive summary of college student behavior at local bars. 2. Research out of the University of Washington examines what happens when students expect to be given alcohol but are actually given a placebo drink (non-alcoholic beverage that looks and tastes like alcohol but has no alcohol in it!). Students are invited to participate in the research study. Researchers then randomly assign students to one of four conditions: 1. expect alcohol/given alcohol; 2. expect alcohol/not given alcohol; 3. not expect alcohol/given alcohol; 4. not expect alcohol/not given alcohol (see the image below for clarification). Students are then instructed to come to the â€Å"Bar Lab† (a laboratory on campus designed to look like a bar; see image below) on their assigned day. Students in the expectation conditions are told that they will be given alcohol that day and then are either given the alcohol in group 1 or given

Control the Costs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Control the Costs - Essay Example This is at your discretion. c. lf you have difficulty obtaining figures, for confidential reasons, you may still itemize those costs incurred. lf possible, use percentage proportions to express the different costs. I believe that following costs could be reduced to improve efficiency: cost of raw materials, and direct labour and overtime hours. The cost of raw materials could be reduced if the company will make purchase raw materials for three months requirement instead of the present policy of buying only for one-month requirement. Buying at a bigger volume could be cheaper because of the discount that would be availed and the reduced ordering and set up cost because of making more orders that are frequent The cost of overtime cost, which is being part of the direct labour, could also be improved by avoiding overtime work by employees and instead increasing the wages of these present workers and hiring additional personnel. The present rate for over time work is 150% of regular rate and rendering overtime also increases the cost of other factory head like the increase cost of electricity because of longer time and higher maintenance cost because of longer use of the equipments. The monitoring of cost is  not successful because of lack of person responsible in controlling cost. What happens in reality is that there is no serious cost control program in the company. I believe that the processes involved in the processing of papers involving payment to suppliers takes too much time before the supplier is paid. The unnecessary hands and papers involved in the processing of payment is eating the valuable time of company officer that should have been involved in making good plans for the company. a. As to the proposal to purchase raw materials for three months requirement, the consequence would be wider space to place the delivered raw

Managing Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Managing Performance - Essay Example Many managers have been â€Å"speaking† and practicing effective performance management naturally all their supervisory lives, but don’t know it!†(A Handbook for Measuring Employee Performance, 2001, p.3). Manpower is the only active element in an organization whereas all the other organizational resources are passive in nature. Since human has emotions, intelligence, and the ability to think, his activities will be primarily motivated or controlled by these individual characteristics. No two individuals are alike and therefore a manager will struggle to implement a uniform management style in an organization. In short, individual differences have to be taken into the account while managers devise their strategies for managing employees. In other words, managing individual performance is a complex task. This paper analyses why the management of individual performance in an organization is a complex issue. Team work is encouraged in majority of the current organizations because of the advantages of team work over individual work. However, it should be noted that individuals constitute a team and therefore individual characteristics can affect team work also. Majority of the decisions in a team is taken after a team meeting. Frisch (2008) mentioned that â€Å"reaching collective decisions based on individual preferences is an imperfect science† (Frisch, 2008). Team meetings usually give more importance to the majority’s opinion while taking decisions. It is not necessary that majority’s decisions may always be the right ones. Members of a team may have some common interests and they will vote for safeguarding their interest. It is not necessary that such interests may suit to the interests of the organization. For example, majority of the team members may show reluctance in working overtime for the completion of a project. If the team leader accepts the majorityâ⠂¬â„¢s opinion, the completion of the project could be delayed. Majority’s opinion

Literary analysis on Seize The Day by Saul Bellow to describe, Essay

Literary analysis on Seize The Day by Saul Bellow to describe, analyze, and interpret - Essay Example Without evaluating the self, one’s own abilities, individual races after secular achievements, thinking that there is no world beyond the external world, the world as interpreted by the power of one’s intellect. Many are not willing to accept that the inner world exists within every human being. God, call Him the Omniscient Power, All-pervading Reality, Light-Consciousness or any other name that various religions hail him, can not be comprehended by one’s intellect. Howsoever great may be one’s intelligence, one can not understand him through the mind-apparatus. The mystery of Nature is beyond description and intellectual arguments. The final frontier of logic and reasoning is mind. The primary duty of the mind is to confuse the human being. The scale of materialistic civilization has two measuring points-success or failure. It eulogizes the successful and condemns the failure! But it ignores the process of living by an individual. How one has faced life i n is trails, tribulations duty and beauty. The protagonist of the novel, introduced to the readers at the age of mid-forties, has the wrong start and finds it difficult to cope up with the challenges of life. He is unable to join the mainstream of society and finds himself a loner. †¦then some thing happens on a particular day, about which his mind has forewarned him! How Tommy Wilhelm encountered the predicament and made efforts to meet the cumulative pressure that has been building up within his inner self? â€Å"As a young man he has rejected his father’s profession, medicine, tried for a career in Hollywood, been tricked by a phony talent scout, ended up in sales and lost his sales district due to nepotism.† (Cronin, 2003†¦.)A college dropout, married and divorced, with two children, his finances are in a mess. He somehow wishes to recover the lost ground and

Strategic analysis of a company and its competitive environment Essay - 2

Strategic analysis of a company and its competitive environment - Essay Example The company capitalises in the distribution high quality, stylish and great value home products and clothing. The business is also popular in selling food products, fashioned clothes, gifts, and home furnishing. The company has also establishment in financial service segment. In addition to coming up with effective means that can support its development, the business success can also be linked to its affordable prices of its products. In addition, the business vision is to offer great quality value and services. The business popularity is largely enhanced by its quality products as well as its ability to distribute products that meets international standards. The current success of Marks & Spencer can also be attributed to its effective and operational management strategies as well as it reliable and affordable promotion strategies (Burns, 2008, p. 12). Internal Analysis of the Firm Political stability in United Kingdom has proved to be effective in facilitating the success of Marks & Spencer. However, the Iraq civil conflict largely affects the activities and operations in Marks & Spencer. This is owing to the fact that, the business has several branches in Iraq. The political changes in United Kingdom have also affected the activities and operations of the business. ... The existing social situation in United Kingdom has also changed the customer concept in the market. This has forced the company to figure out and come up with new fashions that will meet the interest of its customers. In addition, the price sensitivity has produced a more competitive environment. Although a good number of the business products are old fashioned, the company has adopted new strategies of increasing its sales with limited loss. The new technology has also been vital in communicating new products to its customers. The company is currently relying on online services to promote its products in new markets. The new technology is also useful in identifying products that can meet the demands of its customers. Just like any other business in global market, Marks & Spencer has also been significantly affected by global warming. To counter the impact of environmental challenges, the company has introduced mechanisms that could be used to advance business operations. For instan ce, the business has embarked on a mechanism that aims at recycling plastic products. Marks & Spencer also sell legally acceptable products to its customers. In addition, the business sells high quality products that meet the set international and local standards (King, 2007, p.21). Compared to other competitors in the market, Marks & Spencer competitive rivalry is high. Studies have confirmed that Marks & Spencer faces high rivalry in clothing sector from new entrance in the market. The company is also facing huge competition in food industry for Sainsbury and Tesco. The company bargaining power of buyers is also high. This is owing to the fact that other huge retailers in their area of coverage surround the

Revaluation of Yuan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Revaluation of Yuan - Essay Example Although this devaluation will help the exports of the foreign countries to grow, it will hurt the domestic growth perspectives of China, including preservation of domestic growth and stability, and also the stability of political power. Unlike other countries, the communist political party of the country has maintained an equal distribution of goods and services and income among the poorest section of the country, being consistent with the high rate of economic growth. The author has opined that a sudden devaluation of Yuan will hurt the employment structure of the formal as well as the informal sector of the country. This reduction in employment will occur through shifting of â€Å"low-wage manufacturing to countries such as Vietnam and Sri Lanka†. This will cause the domestic rate of growth of income to reduce and thus the level of domestic protests and the degree of political instability will be accelerated in the country. However, as the country is willing to maintain its 8% annual rate of economic growth, with low rates of annual inflation of about 3%, the national propaganda of the country’s communist party is to stick to its current exchange rate determination process. Hence, the foreign countries and business organizations are expecting a much appreciated value of Yuan in the future; however, the future expectations of the economic and trade related effects on the Chinese and the global economy are required to be evaluated before proceeding with the revaluation policy (Lamont). The writer has wrongly revealed the point of view of the communist government of the country regarding the decrease in the amount of employment in the formal sector of the country. The devaluation of the Chinese currency in terms of other currencies will reduce the level of employment in the formal sector of the country and will increase the level of unemployment in the country as large section of the country’s industrial sector is dependent upon the indigen ous technologies. If the country is made open with significant reduction in the value of the Yuan, then it is most likely that the business leaders of the global enterprises will start investing in the industrial sector of the country. This will induce significant level of foreign technologies across the country that will increase the level of unemployment consisting of those laborers who are unable to work with those foreign technologies. However, the notion that the devaluation will reduce the level of employment and will hurt the growth process of the country is not entirely true. This is due to the fact that currency devaluation will increase the level of country’s exports of different goods and services. This will also induce the indigenous products and services to reach the global market and thus the level of production of these goods and services will rise up. This will essentially increase the level of income in these indigenous industries and thus the level of invest ments in technological development will be raised. Hence, not only the future level of income will rise up, this will lead to greater level of development of various indigenous technologies (with the help of significant integration of indigenous technologies with global technologies). Hence, the level of future growth rate of income will also rise up in the country and this will be sustainable as well. Greater amounts of exports will also help the informal

How does Socrates trial and punishment resemble those of Malcolm X Research Paper - 1

How does Socrates trial and punishment resemble those of Malcolm X Whose journey was more important or more significant - Research Paper Example Both surrendered themselves to the ideas they tried to communicate during their lives. Even if the death of Socrates was the product of legitimate trial and Malcolm X’s assassination was the result of a lynch-law, both punishments were the acts of human stupidity, killing talented leaders and making positive change virtually impossible. Some authors claim that the trial and punishment of Socrates resembles those of Malcolm X. The logic behind the claim is simple: both were prominent leaders and surrendered themselves to the ideas they were trying to communicate during their lives. Socrates lost his life, being confident that â€Å"wherever a man’s place is, whether the place which he has chosen or that in which he has been placed by a commander, there he ought to remain in the hour of danger; he should not think of death or anything but of disgrace† (Plato 9). Malcolm X, in turn, lost his life as a result of his natural striving toward justice and fairness, away from the political manipulation and deception. Those who say that the trial and punishment of Socrates and Malcolm X were similar are partially right. Like Socrates who drew his inspiration from his inner voice and other people, Malcolm X became a prominent civil rights leader and a changed man, because he had inner guts and skills to lead (Phillips 56). The movie Malcolm X tells the story of the young man’s conversion to Islam and exposes the tragedy of assassinating people as talented and spiritually rich as Malcolm X (Lee). Like Socrates, Malcolm X stands out of the crowd and seeks to communicate his message to people. Socrates disregards Athenian Gods but votes for the significance of honor, honesty, fairness, and justice (Plato 9). Malcolm X, in turn, claims that human rights are â€Å"the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth† (Malcolmx.com). Both men fell victims to their ideas and the striving to improve the lives of thousands. Both stood in front of the crowd

Politics and Other Social Sciences Essay Example for Free

Politics and Other Social Sciences Essay Man is a social animal. His social life has many dimensions – political, economic, sociological, psychological, historical etc. Social sciences deal with this multi-dimensional man, his collective life, social behaviour, organisations and activities. All of these dimensions of man are inter-connected leading to interrelationship among various social sciences. Political science, being one of the social sciences dealing with the political aspect of social man, has close connections with other social sciences. The modem approach in the study of social sciences is primarily interdisciplinary. It means that scholars of one specialized social science should work in coordination with scholars of other disciplines. This has resulted in a great deal of overlapping of disciplines. Interdisciplinary study has resulted in a rapid development of theoretical and applied aspects of politics and the sharpening of tools of research and analysis in the present century. Political Science and History Political Science and History are very closely connected. Jellinek remarked: It is almost a common-place today to affirm the necessity of historical study as a basis for a proper understanding of institutions, whether they be political, legal, or social.1 E.H. Carr holds that the dual function of history (is) to enable man to understand the society of the past and to increase his mastery over the society of the present} The cause and effect relationship of social phenomena can be understood by scientific understanding of history. History furnishes the political scientist the raw materials for comparison and induction. The relation of political science and history is well brought out in words of Seeley: History without Political Science has no fruit. Political Science without history has no root. In the words of Freeman, history is past politics and politics is present history. While political science is dependent on history for its material, it must be made clear that history supplies only part of its material. Again, all facts of history are not useful to political science. Garner rightly points out that not all of history is past politics. Much of it – like the history of art, of science, of inventions, discoveries, military campaigns, language, customs, dress, industries, religious controversies – has little, if any, relation to politics and affords no material for political investigation. Political Science selects relevant facts out of history. All political institutions are products of history. Without historical foundations, political science becomes merely speculative and abstract. History is a vast storehouse of facts and information from which political science draw its relevant materials for generalizations. Lipson writes: with its chronological treatment, history offers to the student of politics a sense of growth and development and thus affords insight into the process of social change. Political science has influence on history. Political ideas of thought leaders have contributed in shaping human history. Political revolutions and political concepts like democracy, liberty, equality and political ideologies like liberalism, nationalism and socialism have substantially influenced the history of societies. Garner aptly observes: to interpret history in its true significance we must study that politically. Behaviouralism with its stress on empirical method has undermined the importance of historical method in recent political studies. Traditional method relied more on history as it believed that history can assist in understanding the present and act as a guide for the future. Political Science and Economics Political Science and economics are very closely related and cover a common ground to a large extent. Early writers on economics considered their subject as a branch of political science and termed it ‘political economy’. Politics influences substantially the economic system. The state formulates the economic policies and regulates the economy. Production and distribution of wealth, price control, trade, taxation, government ownership of public utilities, banking, export-import and such other economic activities are regulated by political decision-making. The solution of many economic problems must come through political channels. Indeed many of the complex problems of the modern state are essentially economic in character: the reduction of economic disparity, removal of poverty and unemployment, the adjustment of the claims of capital and labour, nationalization and the achievement of a welfare state. The modern state, Galbraith writes, is an Industrial State. On the other hand, political and social life is profoundly influenced by economic conditions. Karl Marx regarded politics as a part of political economy and maintained that the economic basis of society influences politics which belongs to the superstructure. Political movements and revolutions are profoundly influenced by economic causes. All political ideologies like liberalism, socialism, imperialism, fascism have an economic basis. The political behaviour of man and various organized groups is influenced by economic factors. The main functions of modern welfare state are basically economic. There are economic motives behind many political policies. Political norms like liberty, equality, rights, justice are very often evaluated on an economic basis. Thus there is close relationship between political and economic life. The interaction of the two disciplines has resulted in the increasing importance given to political economy in recent years. Political Science and Sociology No two social sciences are as closely related as political science and sociology. Sociology is the fundamental social science. It is the root of all the social sciences. It is the most comprehensive social science which studies all aspects of the life of man in society. In the words of Small, it is the science of men in their associated processes. Sociology has a much wider scope than political science. It is a study of society in all its manifestations, while political science is primarily a study of the state and government. In other words, sociology deals with man in all his social relations, while political science deals with the man in his political relations. Sociology deals with both organized and unorganised communities and groups, while political science is concerned with organised political communities. The subject of sociology is social man and that of political science is political man. The relation between the two sciences is well brought out by Garner. He writes: Sociology derives from political science knowledge of the facts regarding the organization and activities of the state, while political science derives in large measure from sociology its knowledge of the origin of political authority and the laws of social control. State and politics cannot be studied objectively without an understanding of the general laws of social development. Political institutions and processes are influenced by social forces and factors. Not only does sociology influence political science, but politics also influences the social system. The political system controls and regulates social forces and customs. Politics engineers the process of peaceful social change and is engaged in maintaining social stability and cooperation. Political control is the most important and the most effective among all forms of social control. Contemporary political studies have borrowed concepts, methods and techniques of research from sociology. The current sociological impact on the study of politics can be traced back to the influence of Max Weber. Interdisciplinary study of political science and sociology got tremendous fillip with the emergence of political behaviouralism. A new branch of study named political sociology has emerged as a result of the interaction between political science and sociology. G. Sartori has observed that politics has got socialised and society has got politicised in the present times to such an extent that politics cannot be studied in isolation from sociology. Political Science and Psychology Psychology is the science of mental attitudes and human behaviour. It studies human instincts, attitudes, sentiments and emotions. It has been emphasized that scientific study of social phenomena must have a psychological basis. Psychological factors have become increasingly important for understanding what people believe about politics and how they act in political situations. Study of political behaviour has assumed great significance under the impact of behaviouralism in political studies. The psychological approach in political science goes back to 1908 when A. F. Bentleys The Process of Government and Graham Wallass Human Nature in Politics were published. The psychological approach received further impetus from Chicago School political scientists such as C. E Merrium, Stuart Rice, George Catlin and Harold Lasswell. Modern writers like Tarde, Le Bon, McDougall, Graham Wallas, Baldwin and Ellwood have attempted to explain and interpret political and social phenomena through the laws of psychology. Governments to be stable and popular must reflect the mental ideas and moral sentiments of the people who are subject to its control. Modern governments have devised subtle methods of the psychological manipulation of the masses. Public opinion is being moulded by ingenious propaganda as in politics the art of controlling the mass mind is increasingly becoming the key to political power and stability. Political Science and Ethics Political science has close historical links with philosophy and ethics. Initially, the study of state in Greece was a part of ethics. Ethics as a branch of study investigates the laws of morality and formulates rules of conduct. Ethics is the science of the moral order while political science is the science of the political order. Both have to deal with questions of right and wrong, good and bad, just and unjust. Plato conceived the notion of an ideal state in his Republic and believed that the state should train men in a life of virtue. The end of the state, according to Aristotle, is good life for the citizens. Modern idealists like Rousseau, Kant, Hegel and Green have accepted the state as an ethical institution which creates conditions for the fullest development of human personality. Lord Acton goes so far as to say: The great question is to discover, not what governments prescribe, but what they ought to prescribe. Fox held that what is morally wrong can never be politically right. Gandhis lasting contribution to politics is his insistence upon the spiritualization of politics i.e., application of truth, non-violence, love, self-suffering to mans social and political life. The end of the state has been formulated by the greatest political thinkers in terms of moral values. The state exists to promote social and moral good on the largest possible scale. A good citizen is possible in a good state and perfect state cannot be conceived where wrong ethical principles prevail. Laws are obeyed with greater readiness if they are based on the moral ideas of the community. Politics also influences ethics. Politics safeguards the ethical norms of a society. The state acts as the guardian of social morality. The attempts of some contemporary political scientists to create a value-free political science have not been successful. David Easton aptly observes: The goal of value-free research is a myth The utility of political research stems from the fact that it helps men to decide upon the kind of political system they would prefer and to understand how to go about changing social policy to obtain it. The inspiration behind political science is clearly ethical. Political Science and Jurisprudence The state is a social phenomenon as well as a legal institution. From the legal point of view, the state is a person with rights and duties. It is a juristic personality subject to the process of law. The state operates through law and hence jurisprudence, as the science of law, is closely related to politics. Strictly jurisprudence is a subdivision of political science but on account of its vast scope and technical nature it is studied as a separate branch of study. Jurisprudence has several branches, namely, civil law, criminal law, constitutional law, international law etc. Constitutional law defines the organs of the state, their relations to one another, and the rights and duties of individuals. International law regulates the relations of states and various international organizations: If law influences politics, politics also influences law. Different political systems have different legal systems; Laws tend to be a reflex of a particular social pattern and are influenced by the nature of the political system. Political Science and Anthropology Anthropology deals with man as a social being. It deals with the origin, classification and relations of races, languages and cultures found in different localities. Politics uses the vast material gathered by anthropology. Physical anthropology dealing with the conditions of primitive men and their environment facilitates the study of the origin and evolution of various political institutions. Similarly social or cultural anthropology dealing with the growth and interpretation of customs, traditions, habits and religious beliefs etc., explains the forces and factors operating in political institutions. Anthropological data have assumed great importance in the study of the formation of national character. Political Science and Geography Many writers have emphasized the influence of geographical conditions and physical environment upon national character. Even national policies have been shown to be determined by such conditions. The influence of climate, topography, character of the soil, insularity, the presence or absence of mountains, rivers and outlets to the sea has been emphasized by various political thinkers from Aristotle to the present. Notable among them are Bodin, Rousseau, Montesquieu and Buckle. The emphasis upon geographical factors as determinants of state policy and governmental functioning has resulted in the development of a new science known as ‘Geopolitics’. Since territory is an important element of the state, geographical factors naturally influence political activities. These factors have assumed great significance especially in the field of defence strategy. Political Science and Statistics Statistics is concerned with systematic collection, analysis and presentation of numerical data. Von Mohl described statistics as a means through which a picture of existing political and social conditions could be obtained. Social phenomena and the results of governmental action are quantitatively measured by it. Statistical findings serve as a guide for administrative action, as a basis for legislation, and as a means for testing the expediency or effectiveness of political policies. Therefore, all governments collect statistical information concerning finance, trade, military and economic resources, social conditions of the people etc. Behavioural approach to the study of political science has put excessive stress on statistical methods (quantification, techniques), thereby contributing a lot to the scientific character of political science. The foregoing discussion clearly shows the intimate relation of political science to other social sciences. A proper understanding of political institutions, processes and phenomena calls for reliance upon a number of sister disciplines. Specialization of social sciences should not lead to narrow compartmentalization. Interdisciplinary approach to the study of social sciences has resulted in the blurring of rigid boundaries of various disciplines and highlighting the need for mutual exchange and interaction among social scientists.

The Significance Of Outer Space Tourism Marketing Essay

The Significance Of Outer Space Tourism Marketing Essay Outer space tourism is not such a novel idea, after all. In 1954 Thomas Cook of Great Britain offered a Moon Register. Potential space tourists could purchase options on the earliest available commercial lunar tour, and more than one thousand people signed up, although Cook reportedly did no advertising (Eilingsfeld and Abitzsch, Space Tourism, 1993, 1). In 1968, after the motion picture 2001: A Space Odyssey excited the public imagination about space, airlines such as Pan American (Pan Am) and Trans World Airline (TWA) began taking reservations for trips to the moon. A paltry $5 got you a spot on the waiting list (Anderson, Space Tourists, 2005, 11). The only outer space tourists to date were Dennis Tito in 2001 and Mark Shuttleworth in 2002. In 2003, Russian space officials and employees at Space Adventures announced plans to send four tourists to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz missions by 2007 (Anderson, Space Tourists, 2005, 15) Travelling to space is not exactly a stroll to the park, but it is no longer a journey confined to the imagination, either. Knowledgeable instructors are ready and willing to help, advanced simulators are accessible, spaceports abound, and new spacecraft are making the trip easier and more comfortable than before {Space Tourists, 12) Near-term projections for the emergence of a viable outer space tourism industry are very encouraging, taken at face value. Near-term projections for the emergence of a viable outer space tourism industry are very encouraging, taken at face value. Virgin Galactic has purchased five spacecraft for $120 million from space pioneer Burt Rutan, and expects to begin operations in 2008. Virgin Galactic sources claim that 38,000 people have paid deposits towards the $120,000 ticket, and that ninety passengers have paid in full in advance (Radliffe, The News, 2006, 3). According to another report, it aims to eventually launch 10,000 passengers into space each Year (Webb, Spaceports Next, 2006, Al). By 2020 there might be 430 such tlights annually, according to one study, creating $550 million to one billion dollars in local revenue and 4,000 jobs. This estimate excludes the employment of 2,500 construction workers generating about $350 million in local spending during the building of the spaceport (Webb, Spaceports Next, 2006, A2). Collins et. al (1995) claimed that if costs per person were in the $10,000-20,000 range, approximately 100 million people in Japan, the U. S. and Europe would be willing outer space tourists (Demand for, 3). The Futron Corporation (2002) analysis. Space Tourism Market Study, decided that by 2021, there couid be 15,000 outer space tourists annually, resuiting in $700 million in revenue (2). Tens of millions of private citizens in the United States want to travel into space, far more if the global market is addressed, Aldrin and Jones (2002) suggested (Changing the, In Hudgins, Space, 180). Spencer and Rugg (2004) predicted {Space Tourism, 56). Edward L. Hudgins, one of the most esteemed individuals involved in outer space activity, concluded that Space tourism indeed seems to be a potential killer application that will offer opportunities and incentives to the private sector to develop low-cost access to space and places in orbit for private adventurers to go (Space, 2002, xxi). It has been concluded that the main barrier to outer space tourism demand is the price point, while the major barrier to supply is start-up cost. With current technology and systems, space flight is too expensive for most people. However, adequately capitalized space tourism firms could begin operations gradually, and over time expand operations to the point where per-person prices would be more affordable. The key to adequate capitalization may well be investor relations, since existing space tourism firms have found it difficult to attract sufficient capital for start-up needs Another expert analysis offered a rather gloomy conclusion, Unfortunately, the present tight payload market and the glut of existing launch vehicles means that any space launch new start-up is doomed to encounter serious difficulty in raising venture capital One thing is certain. The very future of the outer space tourism industry may depend on public relations, including Promotion, Marketing Public Relations, Lobbying, Investor Relations, Coalition-Building, Crisis Communication and Public Information. A ZOOM WITH A VIEW Space tourism may be closer than you think By David Wade TEN YEARS AGO, SPACE TOURISM was the stuff of fantasy. Not anymore. Already three tourists have paid $20m (Â £12m) each to spend a week aboard the International Space Station (ISS), with many more waiting their turn. You dont have a spare $20m? No matter. Other, more modestly priced options are currently in development, but youll have to join the queue of 34,000 other would-be astronauts. Lets assume that money is no object when it comes to booking your own trip into space. Would you really want to just visit the ISS? After all, three tourists have already beaten you to it. How about a vacation that is truly unique? The Russian Space Agency and the Space Adventures travel company recently announced that they could arrange a tourist flight which will circumnavigate the Moon en route to the ISS. The price for the two seats available on this inimitable voyage is $100m (Â £60m) apiece! Better start saving now. WINNING THE PRIZE On 4 October 2004, the 47th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1, SpaceShipOne was released at a height of 15km from its White Knight carrier aircraft. 76,000 Newtons of thrust, applied for 84s, then propelled SpaceShipOne to a speed in excess of Mach 3. At an altitude of around 80km, the crafts motor cut out, leaving it to continue, without power, to the apex of its trajectory a height of over 112km. To the astonishment of a watching world, the X-Prize competition had been won. The rules of the X-Prize competition were exacting in the extreme stipulating, among other demands, two 100km-high flights to be completed within a fortnight, a vehicle capable of carrying three people (or at least ballast sufficient to represent three people), and no more than 10% of the dry mass of the vehicle to be replaced between flights. Twenty-six teams registered an initial interest in competing for the prize, with many proposing extremely outlandish designs, including plans to modify fighter aircraft and the use of vertical take-off and landing. In contrast Burt Rutan, the designer of SpaceShipOne, backed by his Scaled Composites team, opted for an approach that was both elegant and simple. Rutans first decision was to go for an airlaunch (from the White Knight carrier aircraft) saving on fuel and dispensing with the need for a launch pad. His second crucial design decision was to use a hybrid rocket motor. THE MASS MARKET The objective of the X-Prize had been to kick-start space tourism following the example of early aviation prizes. The business still has a long way to go, but its on its way. Virgin Galactic, unveiled by Sir Richard Branson, is a service company that will operate a fleet of SpaceShipTwo vehicles, each carrying five fare-paying passengers. The company is already attracting attention, despite the first flight not being scheduled until 2008. So far, over 34,000 people have registered an interest in the $200,000 (Â £120,000) flights, and over $10m (Â £6m) of hard cash has been paid as deposits. Fortunately, the prospects for space tourism do not depend on anyone winning the ASP. The flight of SpaceShipOne and the establishment of Virgin Galactic have opened our eyes to the possibilities of commercial human spaceflight. Consumer demand is now expected to start to drive technological progress as much as competitions, just as it did in the aviation industry. The space tourism business is now firmly into first gear, and will just keep on gathering momentum. David Wade is a Lloyds satellite underwriter and specialist space writer GATEWAYS TO THE STARS worlds first private commercial spaceport in New Mexico Spaceport America will serve clients of Virgin Galactic, who have signed a 20-year lease on the building and have been involved in the design and construction phase. Its astronaut passengers will pay $200,000 a ticket for a threeday event, culminating in a two-hour flight to suborbital space, reaching 110km above the surface at the apogeeTo date, over 450 deposits have been received from people aged from 18 to 80 plus from all over the globe. All have passed medicals; many are wealthy, but not all; and they range from single individuals to whole families. Of Virgins first 100 customers the Founder group 81 have already taken part in centrifuge training that replicates the G-forces expected in flight Commercialization in Space Changing Boundaries and Future Promises ANTHONY L. VELOCCI, JR The concept of private enterprise exploiting space to build and grow thriving business ventures is nothing new. It has been around since 1965. Today, the commercial utilization of space is an essential component of telecommunications, financial markets, and a host of other critical sectors. But now the private sectors involvement in space is fast approaching a new paradigm, courtesy of a growing number of entrepreneurial pioneers, mostly in the United States. They are combining a vision, a can-do spirit and varying degrees of technical knowledge to set the agenda. A few of them-each a high-profile figure in aerospace circles who have a track record of disruptive innovations and self-promotion-have been claiming for a decade that commercial space was on the cusp of a new paradigm, but it never quite materialized. That is about to change, and a new era in commercial space is dawning. This is the decade in which skeptics will witness various firsts in commercial space. The Players That the private sector is pushing the boundaries and are on the threshold of achieving what amounts to a critical mass should come as no surprise to anyone who has been paying close attention. Enabling technologies, such as propulsion and aerodynamics, have made huge advances to the point where they can now be adapted to commercial ventures. The private sector also possesses the know-how developed over decades of collaborating with the government on manned and unmanned systems designed specially for space. Just as the idea of space tourism was unimaginable 50 years ago except to science fiction writers, the evolutionary paths that commercial space could take in the next decade or two might seem equally far-fetched. But the projects currently taking shape are no fantasy. Even the most well-grounded space program veterans agree that space tourism-among other bold new commercial space ventures-is likely to emerge as a niche but growing industry within the next 10 years. Like any nascent field of commerce, space tourism will begin modestly. As it now appears. Virgin Galactic, a spin-off of Richard Bransons Virgin Group, is apt to lead the way. Within the next year or two, a Virgin Galactic Spaceship will be carried alofr underneath a large aircrafr flying high above the ground. After it is released, the unusual looking craft will fall freely to a safe altitude and ignite its rocket engine to transport eight people on a brief excursion to the edge of space. Two of them will be pilots; the other six will be paying customers. In the meantime, scientists and would-be space tourists are taking a short course in suburban Philadelphia to learn what they open for business before the end of the decade. Orbital is collaborating with Russian space agency Roscosmos and Rocket and Space Corp., Energia to develop the Commercial Space Station (CSS), with financing f^rom private investors. The company is working with Vienna-based Space Adventures to market flights to the CSS, with prices comparable to flying tourists to the International Space Station (ISS)-US$50-60 miUion. That is the same price as top-of-the-line business jets, such as the Gulfstream 650 or the Bombardier Global Express. The commercialization of space is a fait accompli, and the thing that will change the whole equation is [space] tourism to low-Earth orbit, with revenue passengers circling our planet for a couple of days experiencing weighdessness and photographing Earth, says futurist Norman R. Augustine. Space Branding The end of the space shuttle era marks a new beginning for the Space Age. A new Generation of entrepreneurs are working with the worlds space agencies to bring down the costs of commercializing the high frontier. By the 2020s and beyond,we could see a historic expansion of human activity in space. The range of new commercial space businesses seems to be expanding almost Exponentially. To date, space tourism has been limited to an elite few. The space tourism company Space Adventures has flown a total of seven commercial passengers to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz spacecraft. This level of exclusivity is about to change. In 2012, Virgin Galactic is scheduled to begin suborbital passenger flights, and Bigelow Aerospace plans to have its orbiting hotel operational that same year. Its anticipated there will be significant growth of commercial space tourism during the coming decade. Futron/Zogby estimates that by 2021 there will be 13,000 suborbital passengers annually, resulting in $650 million in revenue. Many companies are currently working to make commercial space flight a viable industry. But even once the hurdles of developing commercial spacecraft have been overcome, there will still remain many challenges to protecting the health and well-being of paying space travelers. ADVENTURE CAPITALISTS: MEET TUE SPACE BILLIONAIRES Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc., and one of the 50 richest people on Earth. As one of six space billionaires who are fueling a new commercial space revolution, Allen financed the SpaceShipOne spaceplane that won the X Prize. He has helped to fund the Space- ShipTwo development that will carry Virgin Galactic passengers into space in 2013. He is also backing Stratolaunch Systems construction of the worlds largest aircraft, which will be powered by six 747 aircraft engines. This vehicle will carry commercial space launcher systems to very high altitude for launch, thus dramatically lowering the cost of commercial flight to orbit. Sir Richard Branson, the tycoon at the heart of Virgin Ltd. Branson has worked in partnership with Burt Rutan and Paul Allen to create Virgin Galactic. The space adventures enterprise now has 500 passengers signed up to fly on a suborbital flight to an altitude of more than 100 kilometers (about 65 miles) out into space. This high-risk enterprise is designed to accommodate celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Victoria Principal, as well as anyone with the money (about $200,000 per ticket) and the daring to want to see our planet against the blackness of the cosmos. Four minutes of weightlessness, some citizen astronaut training, and a waiver of all liability comes with the package. Elon Musk, The young billionaire who founded PayPal and then went on to found Tesla Motors and Space X. He developed the Falcon 1 rocket and is now testing the Falcon 9 launch vehicle with its Dragon spacecraft that is designed to fly cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) under contract to NASA as a robotic system. The rocket and the capsule, however, could be upgraded to hold human crews, as well. Musk is also a partner with Allen and Rutan in the Stratolaunch Systems venture. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com. His Blue Origin spacecraft company, shrouded in secrecy in rural Texas near the border with New Mexico, is developing launchers that could fly people into space-first on suborbital flights and then to low- Earth orbit. Robert T. Bigelow, the owner of the Budget Suites hotel chain. Bigelow has already launched two private space stations, called Genesis 1 and 2. These orbital stations are based on inflatablesystems technology that was developed but abandoned by NASA. He has plans to launch a private space station in low- Earth orbit that has more inside space than the ISS and could accommodate space tourists who wanted a hotel suite in space, as well as flight experiments. Bigelow has backed a $50 million prize for a private developer who could demonstrate a commercial flight capability to his space station, but his stipulations were sufficiently strict that no one was able to collect the prize.