Dissertation and Management Knowledge

Introduction A dissertation is an important piece of writing in the academic life of a scholar which demonstrates the ability to carry out individual and independent research on a certain topic. Apart from being an importance part of academic development of a learner, it is also very important in career development.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Dissertation and Management Knowledge specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A successful completion of a dissertation gives a good evaluation of various competencies in an individual. Since it is not an easy task, an employee who is involved in writing a dissertation develops specialized skills and knowledge which is considered valuable by employers. Qualities of a Good Dissertation A good dissertation takes into account a number of issues and exhibits good balance of various aspects . Complete research for a dissertation relies on materials from different sources among them class materials on a particular subject, practical knowledge gained from first- hand experience in a certain field, knowledge gained from literature review and knowledge gained from researched and analyzed data. All these sources of information are different since every single source presents different information that should be handled individually. However, a good dissertation incorporates all these sources of information to strike a balance. Differentiating the Different Types of Knowledge The knowledge acquired from management modules is important since it will broaden my scope of knowledge. By reading these modules I will get information on how other people attempted or attempt to do various things. Consequently, I can use this information to do what these people have done. I cancan also employ the experience of others after reading to secure success and avoid failure. However, I will not learn everything from the management modules. There are certain skills that are lear nt from practice. These skills are gained by having practical experience in the world of work. For example, having been a sales supervisor for a reasonable duration of time, I have learnt certain skills of dealing with the people I supervise. These skills cannot be developed by reading them in the management modules (White, 2002). There is also knowledge gained from literature review. This is knowledge gained by reading, making analysis, evaluating and then summarizing information that has been researched and written on a particular subject. This knowledge is different from knowledge gained through reading modules since when reading modules no analysis is done (White, 2002).Advertising Looking for assessment on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Reading modules involves reading all the content while literature review eventually comes up with a summary of the most relevant data concerning a certain topic. Literature rev iew is also different from knowledge gained from experience. Knowledge from literature review is basically information that has been researched and presented by other people while a person who has knowledge from experience has a real picture of the situations because of experiencing them first hand. Finally, new knowledge collected from the field and analyzed is different from all these other sources of knowledge. The difference is evident in that this source of knowledge presents the latest information collected first hand. Some of the knowledge from modules and literature review may be outdated but research presents the most recent data which is updated. Incorporating the Types of Knowledge In my dissertation, I will incorporate all these sources of knowledge since they are all important and none of them can be underestimated. Before I go out to collect any data, I will first read the management modules to get a wide scope of knowledge on management. Using this broad knowledge fro m class modules, I will conduct a comprehensive literature review because I have enough knowledge from the modules to analyze, evaluate and summarize information. As I undertake these procedures, the knowledge I have acquired from my work experience will be very crucial in guiding me. I will relate real life situations from my work experience with the content I learn from books. Collecting my research data will also require broad knowledge on the topic acquired through reading modules and literature review. I will employ my knowledge gained from work experience to analyze the new information and make conclusions from an informed point of view. Reference List Uwic. (2005). Dissertation Writing. Web.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Dissertation and Management Knowledge specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More White, B. (2002). Dissertation Skills for Business and Management Students. London: Cengage Learning. White, B. (2002). Writing Your MBA Dissertation. London: Cengage Learning. This assessment on Dissertation and Management Knowledge was written and submitted by user Ashlyn Douglas to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Aspects of Power through Machiavellis Eyes essays

The Aspects of Power through Machiavellis Eyes essays In 1517 Niccolo Machiavelli wrote one of the most famous dissertations on power to date, entitled The Prince. His insights on the elements of power include the struggles for every level of power, from strategies performed by world leaders to the executive struggling in the corporate world. The ideas he set forth in The Prince, known of as Machiavellianism, have been seen as evil throughout the ages; but as most business leaders and politicians would agree, Machiavelli has merely defined the aspects of power in a logical fashion. In fact The Prince was written as a guidebook for his own prince, Lorenzo De Medici, for the sole purpose of advancing him into Italys political arena. He analyzed power and the way that Italy could gain enough to become independent and then how to maintain that control. His elaborate explanations were inspired by his own fascination with power and his desire for Italy to become its own state. But Machiavelli was only interested in directly discussing the ele ments of power, and not necessarily power itself. "...Since it is my intention to write something of use, I deem it is best to stick to the practical truth of things rather than to fancies. Many men have imagined republics and principalities that never existed at all. Yet the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation."(Machiavelli) When Machiavelli mentions "fancies", he is referring to theories that were set prior to his own; those theories that viewed men as good, and could thus be achieved and maintained by good works. But Machiavelli points out the logical fact that that men do not and cannot live in such a fashion. Thus, those acts which are "other than good", are necessary to acquire and preserve power in society. Machiavellis ideas set the model for the cold and calculated in every century regardless of the dif...

Healthcare Informatics - The reassurance of Measles and the World Research Paper

Healthcare Informatics - The reassurance of Measles and the World Health Organization - Research Paper Example Besides, a detailed analysis of the issues in making better decisions especially on the selection, implementation and support of systems by various health organizations and departments would be taken into concern. Moreover, the discussion would also focus on assessing the current strategic procedures of the healthcare institutions for planning and managing informatics projects that ensures to meet clinical, compliance and financial needs of the organizations. Identification of Information Systems Technologies, Processes and Theories Applicable to a Healthcare Problem With reference to the empirical description of World Health Organization (WHO), measles has been identified as one of the highly transmittable viral diseases which affect mostly the children. However, according to the observation made by WHO, there does not lay any specific and appropriate treatment process for combating with measles and most of the patients suffering from this disease generally recover within two or thr ee weeks from its inception (World Health Organization, 2013). ... Moreover, the intervention of Computer Stored Ambulatory Record (COSTAR) system and Regenstrief Medical Record System (RNRS) also enables the physicians towards reassuring the recovery of measles at large. In order to determine the theories applicable to a specific healthcare problem, the integration of Health Evaluation through Logical Processing (HELP) can be regarded as one of the major aspects for the contemporary clinics to effectively address medical problems. The integration of this process enables the institutions to improve medication management along with reducing treatment costs of the clinics and the patients as well (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2002). Analyzing Issues important for Decision Making on the Selection, Implementation, and Support of Systems The selection, implementation and adequate support of systems of healthcare informatics have been recently observed to play a decisive role for different healthcare organizations. The organizations in this present healthcare industry are likely to select and implement the most appropriate technological aspects in order to increase the efficiency and accountability of their range of healthcare facilities. However, the decision making based on the aforesaid important often face various issues that have been analyzed in the following. Issues Important in Making Decisions The selection of appropriate technological features including infrastructure elements and other required tools along with applications in healthcare service often face with various sorts of issues. In this context, the selection of advanced technological elements can significantly create issues associated with convenience and costs that are incurred during the treatment process. In

Community care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Community care - Essay Example 1. The presence of joint marital estate and of laws that determine its equal division after divorce changed the legal situation in the majority of countries. Now women become more financially secured, as they receive a part of property. 5. Most incomplete families are headed by women, and this kind of family is assigned legally. Unfortunately, the standard of living in such families remains law, as the women often do not obtain enough welfare to provide their families with all necessary things. 6. The duty of educating and bringing children up still lies upon women. About one third of children in most countries of the world lives in single parent family, with no male who could serve as the example and support for the children. 9. Increasing mobility, urbanization and the development of the means of transport enlarged the opportunities in communication between men and women. This provided women with the opportunity to judge her partner and part with him, if she finds it necessary. 10. Women now are conscious of their needs, emotions and desires, due to global changes in society. But their social and family duties remain the same, so their behaviour and social patterns are often defined by their duties, rather than their identity. 11. 11. The notion of the roles in the family and family itself, are changing rapidly, and this is the woman who is regarded as the protector if the historical and traditional significance of the family as the cell of society organism. (Erickson, 2005) For achievement of full equality between men and women it is necessary to change a traditional role, both men's, and women's in the family and the society. However, at all times and at all peoples education of children was the basic female care and the role of the man in this business consisted only in intimidation. For woman it is necessary to survive and save the family in the created situation. Today to such main women's cares as continuation of a human race" and the care of children is added such family care as participation in replenishment of the family budget and participation in distribution of family incomes. In order to cope with the care assigned to them by a usual economic and political situation without damage to health, an effort should be made not only by women but by all the society, and basically by the state. The widespread views of patriarchy on the woman's position create additional difficulties. Attitudes between spouses, parents and children are

Advantages and Disadvantages of Going Public Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of Going Public - Essay Example Advantages for an organization for going public Although going public is an expensive process but there are several advantages. Some of the most important advantages for going public are as follows: More capital can be raised by a company if it starts floating its share in the market. By floating shares in the market, company can have a better growth rate. People know and recognize more about companies whose shares are in the market rather than firms that are privately owned. Going public is a way to brand and market the company as well. It also builds the brand image of the company and the company becomes more reliable and trustworthy (Glueck , 1980). Because of being a better and more renowned company, a public company is able to attract and retain better human resource which helps in improving productivity level of the company. While acquisitions, shares of the company can be used instead of cash. Debt to equity ratio of the company improves because of going public as the capital raised is included in the equity section rather than liabilities. Debt to equity ratio is one of the ways lenders analyze and assess the risk of the company and it explains the amount of debt the company has in comparison to its liabilities. Organizations can motivate employees by offering them stock options which are considered more valuable than other rewards like cash and bonuses. Disadvantages for an organization for going public Besides the advantages of going public, there are several disadvantages because of which many organizations do not go public and float their shares in the market. The most important disadvantages which restrict an organization from going to public are as follows: Going public is an expensive process and if an organization has other ways or options to raise money then it should go with the alternatives rather than floating shares in the market. There are several fees and costs associated with going public like accounting fees, expense allowance of underw riter, filing fees, cost of travelling, cost of printing and legal fees and all these costs are to be included while analyzing whether the firm would go public or not (Hoch, Kim, Montgomery, and Rossi, 1995). In addition to this, if the management of the company is not aware about the process of going public then it should not indulge in such activities because it is a difficult process and they should go public only when the management is not aware about the whole process and complications involved in it. Information about the company increases and more people know about the organization in comparison to the time when the organization was operating as a privately held company. Customers, suppliers, shareholders, investors, analysts, and other stakeholders of the company tend to focus a lot on the organization and strategies which it has adopted. As the company goes public, it has to follow the requirements of SEC and financial reporting of the company has to be in accordance with t he rules and guidelines provided by SEC (Kaplan, and Atkinson, 1998). Top management or entrepreneurs could feel like as if they have lost the control of the organization and thus it can have an impact on their decision making and productivity. Remuneration and compensation packages paid to the top management of the organization are known to others because public information and everyone would be aware about the salaries of people at the top managerial level. Because of going public, risk of shareholder litigation increases. Many shareholders are

The Importance Of Work Environment Construction Essay

The Importance Of Work Environment Construction Essay 3.1 Introduction This chapter reveals the importance of work environment and gives an over view on different types of office designs and its applications. Unit also provides an insight in to the evolution of the modern offices. Workplace and Its Importance A workplace is the physical work environment and it is very important to a person. The physical work environment is ranked one of the top three factors employees take into account when deciding to accept, decline or leave a job according to research carried out by the American Society of Interiors (ASID, 1999). Employee comfort, flexibility, access to equipments and privacy all depends on the physical work environment. Thus an unsatisfactory physical environment can lead to occupant dissatisfaction. The prime factors the employees value in a work environment (ASID, 2001); Comfort of the work environment, which includes the climate, ergonomics, lighting, noise, privacy, cleanliness and the overall atmosphere. Communication, which is the effective means of communicating internally and externally with co-workers and customers. Easy access to people, equipments and things needed in a workplace. Functionally Efficient making the employees perform their task in an easy and efficient manner and with the effective utilization of space. Workplace Productivity According to Clements-Croome (2000) workplace productivity depends on the following variables; Personal characteristics- the job itself Characteristics of indoor climate- lighting, acoustic, temperature, air quality and workplace layout Social factors- coworkers and the relationships with them Organizational characteristics- structure of the organization and the management Office productivity is a composite of the physical environment and the behavioural environment (Barry P. Haynes, 2007). Physical environment of productivity falls into two main categories: office layout and office comfort. The components distraction, interaction and informal interaction points relate more to the behavioural environment of productivity. Fig 3.3 Validated Theoretical Framework of Office Productivity (Barry P. Haynes, 2007) Factor Name Attributes 1 Comfort Ventilation, heating, natural lighting, artificial lighting, dà ©cor, cleanliness, overall comfort, physical security. 2 Office layout Informal meeting areas, formal meeting areas, quiet areas, quiet areas, privacy, personal storage, general storage, work area-desk and circulation space. 3 Interaction Social interaction, work interaction, creative physical environment, overall atmosphere, position relative to colleagues, position relative to equipment, overall office layout and refreshments. 4 Distraction Interruptions, crowding, noise Table 3.3 Components of Office Productivity (Barry P.Haynes, 2007) The primary goal in building design is designing spaces that are conducive to the tasks being performed in these spaces and to operate building systems in an efficient manner. The indoor air quality (IAQ) deteriorates and energy is wasted when the building systems that regulate and control indoor environmental conditions do not function properly. Conflict in performance requirements between several attributes, such as ventilation, lighting, or temperature can result from poor building performance. The cumulative effect of less than satisfactory performance culminates in environmental stresses perceived by the occupants. Building integrity depends on satisfaction of various factors (Preiser, 1989); Functional/ Spatial Quality Thermal Quality Air Quality Acoustic Quality Visual Quality The researchers have, for the most part, ignored the effects of building indoor environment on productivity and job satisfaction considering the great importance of the workplace, and the stresses related to it. The field studies were usually carried out by industrial organizations to determine the effects of extreme temperature and humidity conditions on workers. Most of the occupants in recent case studies have been highly dissatisfied with an environmental attribute even though some of the technical measurements indicate that current standards are being met. This shows the need to reassess the measurements and standards as they apply to more specific and newly emerging functional requirements. 3.4 Evolution of Modern Office Office is where people come to engage in activities for enterprise persevere and prosper. Office buildings in mid 1800s where rooms rented to a single company or to several firms for clerical and executive business. With a single purpose office building the workplace evolved with advances in construction technology, improvements in office equipment, and developments in organization theory. As the workforce grew, they were accommodated in larger general-purpose office spaces. Bullpens were the placement of enclosed offices on the perimeter created sizable interior spaces where hundreds of clerical workstations were placed in these expansive interior spaces. Fig 3.4 Open bullpen office space in 1926 (Adopted from Denice Jaunzens, 1997, RICS browsed on 09-07-09) It consisted of a rigid arrangement of desks in rows. With no visual or acoustic privacy, noisy, poorly lit environment they provided individual workers uncomfortable places to work. Ergonomics was not considered. A new office design called the Burolandschaft was developed in the late 1950s in Germany, which provide flexible office. Spacious layouts and high-quality furnishings were used. Space was divided into individual work areas tailoring to the occupants needs. Robert Propst, in 1960, developed an unconventional approach to furnishing offices by replacing traditional office furniture as desks and credenzas with furniture components and panels that could be assembled into a wide range of work settings. Storage units, work surfaces and other elements were hung on freestanding panels, which could be arranged as needed to form a complete office work setting. This was the beginning of systems furniture (GSA). Changes occurring in the organization, communication techniques as well as functional conceptions of office space are presented in table. Conventional Contemporary Pattern of Work Routine Individual tasks Isolated 9-5 Creative Group, project work Interactive Extended Occupancy Own desk/office Low utilization Low density Shared as needed High utilization High density Settings Status based Single setting Task based Multiple/varied Settings Table 3.4 Changes in functional concepts of office space (Adopted from Denice Jaunzens, 1997, RICS) 3.5 Types of Office Layouts in Modern Buildings 3.5.1 Closed Plan/Cellular Office In closed plan, full height walls or partitions divide the space into offices and support space by floor-to-ceiling partitions (walls) with doors. It usually has a desk and chair. The people (one or two) working in a cellular office use the same office everyday and leave their working material there. Private offices are situated along the window wall. Administrative support is housed in workstations along corridors or in shared rooms. 3.5.2 Open Plan Office (More Working in Less Space) Open plan office has a large open space and minimizes the use of small, enclosed rooms such as private offices. An open plan office saves spaces as compared to cellular offices. Cost, efficiency and communication are the major advantage of open plan. Fig 3.5.2 An open plan office in Abu Dhabi, UAE Open plan provides greater opportunity to maximize the utilization of space than closed plan and minimizes the circulation space required because workstations can be modified slightly to fit available space. The use of systems furniture in open plan can also improve space utilization because a job function can normally be accommodated in less space in a systems furniture workstation than in a closed-plan office. Most of the modern buildings in UAE are implementing open plan offices. This design saves money, promotes teamwork and improves flexibility for future renovations. But many employees view this design as a series of compromises in terms of space, prestige and privacy. As employees consider changing from closed plan to open plan cubicles, they often have concerns about their abilities to work productively in what they anticipate to be noisier, more distracting workplace. The most overwhelming complaint about open plan office design is the lack of acoustic privacy. New Environments for Working The behavioural component of productivity, interaction signifies the importance of work interaction with the functional spaces such as hive, den, club and cell and link analysis which relates to the position relative to the equipment. 3.6.1 Francis Duffy Theory Francis Duffy, chairman of international architectural practice DEGW and one of the leading thinkers and practitioners in the field of office design theorized that office design is closely related to increasing productivity at work through work-based layouts. Francis Duffy bases his theory on two organizational needs privacy and teamwork. This explains the dynamics of change in office design and throws light on the ways in which office layouts are likely to differ and to change. Privacy and teamwork are interrelated with many aspects of office design because they affect workers expectations about the layout and work settings. Duffy identified organizational types as hive, cell, den and club in a way to capture the distinct work patterns and distinctive design features of each. The implications of modern working practices for the specification and performance of building form and environment systems were studied in 1997 by DEGW in collaboration with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) (Laing et al, 1998). This led to the development of a model for design logic in new office comprising of four alternative office layout topologies according to the activities they support. These were designated as; Hive Hive office is characterized by individual routine process work with low levels of interaction and low autonomy. The user sits at the workstations for continuous periods of time. Examples are call centre, customer support offices, BPOs etc. Den Den office is associated with group work, interactive but not highly autonomous. This office is for group working in a simple setting, typically arranged in the open-plan or group room example, workstations in Advertising agency, Sales offices etc Cell Cell offices are for individual concentrated work with little interaction. Individuals occupy the whole office in an intermittent irregular pattern with extended working days, working elsewhere some of the time. This space is highly autonomous for example, CEOs cabins, lawyers Office etc. Club Club offices are for knowledge workers and are highly autonomous and  Ã‚   interactive. Occupancy is intermittent and over an extended working day. For example, conference rooms, meeting area, break-out areas and cafeteria where there are one off meetings, not ongoing interaction between the same people. ` Fig.3.6.1a Arrangement space based on functionality (Adopted from Denice Jaunzens, 1997, RICS) Cell Hive Den Club Fig:3.6.1b Typical arrangement in modern offices according to functionality (Source: http://ergo.in/paw_funatwork.html browsed on 08-08-2009 original source: unknown) 3.6.2 Spaces for Performance For the performance of workers three types of spaces are identified (BCO, 2008); Spaces to concentrate This is to provide space for workers for performing tasks, which require high levels of privacy and attention. These can be separate rooms, designated areas or rooms separated from noise and distraction of the office. These spaces are equipped with furniture and adjustable settings. Spaces to collaborate A collaborate space is a dedicated area for the teams to work and communicate freely. It should be well equipped with white boards, pen, paper, AV equipment etc. Movable furniture and flexible work settings should be there for personalized use. To suit the task and time of day, the lighting should be adjustable. Spaces to contemplate Contemplate space provide a space for the people to recover from stress and noise of the office environment. It should provide calm and noise free environment. Plants and adjustable lighting can make the contemplate space more relaxing. 3.6.3 Integrated Workspace The result of a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to developing and providing workspace, bringing together the organizations strategic real property plan with strategic business goals is Integrated Workplace. It provides the people in a workplace the physical space and tools needed for their success. Integrated workplace provides a flexible, efficient and cost-effective office environment that enhances productivity and retains quality work force. 3.7 Functional arrangement of office space 3.7.1 Link Analysis Link analysis is a technique used to represent relationships between elements in a design. It assesses the links or connections between areas, such as the frequency of peoples movements between two spaces. Applying this technique to the existing office environment will contribute to a conclusion of who needs who for the new office floor layouts. Avoiding any unnecessary movement around the office shall free up any possible hint of congestion. This technique will indicate where links are and most useful, but will not give the frequency. Therefore, an observational study of the current office structure will be concluded to see the frequency of events within the linking system. (Brooks, 1998) Link Analysis before reorganisation Link Analysis after reorganisation layout Fig 3.7.1 Link Analysis (Adopted from Brooks, 1998) Avoiding unnecessary journeys around a workplace can ease areas of congestion and reduce annoyance levels for workers seated near walkways. 3.8 Conclusion The selection of the work place is truly based on the work culture, work style and nature of the job. Workplace selection should be primarily based on the job demands. Each Job has its own requirements and if the facilitator is not able to meet the job demands that will lead to a decline in the productivity of the office workers. Chapter-4 Factors Affecting Workplace Satisfaction and Productivity 4.1 Introduction Before analysing the satisfaction level of the occupants we need to understand the factors related to workplace. This chapter provides and insight to the factors affecting the workplace, sick building syndromes (SBS) and indoor environment quality (IEQ) parameters. 4.2 Common Complaints in a Workplace Key aspects affecting workplace satisfaction and productivity (Hilary Davies, 2005, RICS ): Workplace layout: Most of the modern offices are open-plan to increase flexibility and allow changes in organization size and structure. Open-plan was intended to allow more communication among the co-workers. But according to study conducted by Pekala (2001) the work-success ratio for those who worked in open-plan was 74% less than those in enclosed offices. Thus the occupants were not satisfied with their work environment affecting their productivity. Distractions: In most of the modern offices, noise is more because of workstation density and use of more office equipments. Workplace grids create more distraction. Workers in open plan are 65% more distracted than in private offices (Olson 2000). Increased errors and stress is generated as a result of working in a noisy environment. Thus noise impacts productivity (Leaman and Bordass 1999) and 70% of the occupants agreed that productivity can be increased by decreasing the office noise (Carsia 2002) . Comfort, Health and Well-being: Air quality and ergonomics are the major areas which affect the occupants health and work environment. Repetitive strain injuries affect the health of the occupants leading to back pain and rehabilitation. Studies conducted by Kruk (1989) showed that an ergonomically designed chair can increase the occupant satisfaction in an office by 15%. Indoor air pollution also affects the occupant productivity which inturn can cause sick building syndrome (SBS). Indoor Environment: Indoor environmental factors such as insufficient day-light, lighting, smelly air, acoustics causes occupant dissatisfaction and discomfort. Occupant satisfaction and productivity is inter-related. 79% of the employees surveyed in a Steelcase survey (2003) believed that the physical environment had an impact on occupant satisfaction. Frequently reported unfavorable conditions in UK offices were: high/low temperatures, stale air, noise problems, low quality lighting and insufficient day-light (Clements-Croome and Kaluarachchi , 2000). Personal Control: This is one of the major problems affecting occupant satisfaction. Most of the occupants can be satisfied with individual control over their environment and when they are allowed to participate in the design decisions. Efficiency and morale increases when occupants are allowed to reconfigure their workplaces (Stern, 1991). The difference between a tolerable and intolerable workspace is the ability to fine-tune locally. The ability to control climate, reducing glare by able to move the desk, able to open the window, quiet space, storage space all boost employee satisfaction and productivity according to the survey by Knoll. Employee Stress: Stress affecting the occupants can be various. This can be work-related stress due to increased workload or inadequate resources or less time, stress from home and life aspirations. High stress office environment can result from unsupportive, monitoring supervisors and low levels of job control (Kaplan and Arnoff, 1996). An open plan office with less privacy, increased noise and disturbances can also lead to low levels of psychological privacy. Thus dissatisfaction with the physical environment lead to decreased job performance. 4.3 Spatial Comfort Productivity As the offices shrink in size, dimensions of the office furniture become more important to the worker. Occupant in a building evaluates spatial comfort in terms of the amount of space they have, storage and ergonomic comfort of furniture. Key aspects of office furniture, such as work surface dimension, file storage; partition height and choice of accessories also affect spatial comfort. Smaller offices and workstations at higher densities cause users to be more aware of the amount of work surface they have. All these have a direct impact on the functional comfort and performance of work in an office. Although modern office furniture is physically comfort, corporate tendency to standardize office and workstation layouts (one size fits all) and to density layouts at the cost of spaces to meet and work together makes a certain percentage of users functionally uncomfortable. Factors such as proximity to co-workers, varying partition height to enable contact with some colleagues and protect from contact with circulation areas and other workgroups, proximity to spaces to meet and work together and convenient access to shared storage and equipment all have a direct effect on how well people work. Spatial comfort affects productivity of the occupants in a building as workspace size, configuration, storage and shared work areas directly affect the performance of individual and team tasks. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a term used to describe a situation where the occupants in a building experience acute health or comfort problems during the time spent time in a particular building. The complaints can be widespread in a building or confined to a particular room or zone. The condition is temporary and most of the occupants find relief once they are out of the building. But some buildings can have long-term problems. According to the World Health Organization (1984 Committee Report) 30% of the new and re-modeled buildings may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Frequently reported symptoms or complaints of SBS are (Thad Godish, 1995); Sensory irritation in eyes, nose and throat Neurotoxic or general health problems such as headache, sluggishness, mental fatigue, dizziness, reduced memory Skin Irritations Nonspecific hypersensitivity reactions as running nose, asthma-like symptoms Odor and taste sensations 4.4.1 Causes of Sick Building Syndrome According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigation, the primary contributor to SBS is inadequate ventilation. Air contamination from sources within the building such as copying machines was reported to be major cause of contamination. Other indoor sources like adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, pesticides, and cleaning agents may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including formaldehyde, which can affect the health of the occupants, and at high concentrations be carcinogens. Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources which can enter the building through poorly located air intake vents, windows, and other openings and biological contaminants like bacteria, molds, pollen, and viruses can also cause sick building symptoms. 4.5 Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) The IEQ in a building can affect the health, comfort and well-being of the occupant and intern the productivity of work. Indoor Environment Quality is used to describe air quality and the attributes of enclosed spaces. The key components of IEQ are; Indoor air quality Thermal comfort Acoustic environment quality Luminous and visual environment quality 4.5.1 Indoor Air Quality Indoor air quality is a major concern as it can have a major impact on occupant health, .90% of the people spent their time indoor and most of their in an office environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency studies show that there can be more indoor pollutant levels than found outside which can increase the risk of illness. Indoor air pollution is ranked the most important environmental health problem. An improved indoor air quality can result in higher productivity. The factors that affect indoor air quality are; pollutants or odors; building ventilation systems; moisture and humidity occupant perceptions and susceptibilities Fig 4.5.1 Under floor air distribution system (Source:http://www.cbe.berkeley.edu/underfloorair/typicaloffice.htm browsed on 10-07-09) 4.5.2 Thermal Comfort Thermal comfort is defined as the subjective satisfaction with the thermal environment (Bligh and Johnson, 1975). Thermal comfort is the psychological state of mind and affects the overall morale of a person. Productivity decreases in a workplace as employee complaints may increase and in some cases people may refuse to work in a particular environment. Air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and air movement are factors of thermal environment which may also contribute to the symptoms of sick building syndrome.(HSE Guidance) 4.5.3 Acoustic environment quality An important attribute of commercial office building design is acoustics. One of the most prevalent annoyance sources in offices is noise which can lead to stress for occupants to maintain a high level satisfaction and moral health among occupants a good acoustic environment is very essential. The major sources of dissatisfaction include: Speech interruptions, such as people talking over the phone, in adjacent areas and corridors Equipment noise Excessive background noise from HVAC and lighting systems Lack of conversational privacy Lack of personal control over noise levels Space being acoustically too lively or too dead Fig 4.5.3 An open plan office with no acoustic privacy (Source:http://www.rockwool.com/acoustics/acoustical+comfort/acoustic+in+special+buildings/offices browsed 10-07-09) The levels of background noise and speech privacy and separation between particular types of spaces have important implication for the work environment and productivity of building occupants. Distractions due to the sound of speech have been found to be significantly problematic especially in open plan offices. This is because speech is more distracting than unintelligible speech or sounds with no information content. Conversely, office spaces with low background noise can have poor levels of speech privacy, which can also hinder communication. (Peter Newton, Keith Hampson, 2009) 4.5.4 Luminous and visual environment quality The luminous and visual environment quality is the totality of the characteristics of a building, which affects the occupants visual perceptions. The occupants abilities to perform tasks will be affected by the luminous and visual environment if they are visually intensive. Occupant perceptions can be affected by the following (Peter Newton, Keith Hampson, 2009): Luminance levels (ambient and task) for different task and their uniformity Glare levels and reflections in computer screens Levels of personal control through task lighting, shading or dimmers Access to daylight and views Lighting characteristics, such as color temperature and ballast flicker Visual appeal and color scheme of interior design Fig 4.5.4 An Office with abundant daylight for the entire office to gather (Source: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/12/1201_idea_factory/source/8.htm 12-07-09) Dissatisfaction with the visual environment can be due to limited access to daylight, inappropriate light levels, glare levels and lack of control over the environment. Appropriate task lighting and integration of day lighting and electric lighting systems for ambient lighting wherever feasible can be introduced for improving the luminous and visual environment and maximizing occupant comfort,. 4.6 Office Ergonomics Ergonomics incorporates the scientific and engineering disciplines that are concerned with the humans at work. An ergonomically designed workspace enhances peoples well-being, make work easy to do and allow people to perform efficiently (Kroemer, 2001). The elements of ergonomic assessment include general physical activity, lifting and handling, work postures and movements, accident risk, job content, job restrictiveness, worker communication and personal contacts, decision making, repetitiveness of the work, the need for attentiveness, lighting and vision, thermal environment and noise. Ergonomic parameters which are required in the design of a workstation are (Craig A. Langston, 2003); seat height with feet flat on the floor height to top of thigh when seated (for desk height) eye height above seat level (for use of computer) height from seat to underside of elbow (for arm rest height) near reach when seated and far reach when seated, affecting spread of equipment and functions on a desk and adjacent surfaces Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is the common type of injury due to poorly designed workstation. The RSI develops slowly and affects many parts of the body. An ergonomically designed workstation can reduce the possibility of RSI. Fig 3.8 An Ergonomically designed Workstation (Adopted from David A. Madsen, 1990) 4.7 Conclusion Every workstation has pros and cones while comparing openness, flexibility, privacy etc. While analysing the workplace satisfaction level the selection of type of workstation is an important factor. Furniture, accessories, flooring, ceiling, HVAC System, lighting, sound insulation, color schemes, interior design themes and corporate identity are the other ]factors affecting the satisfaction level of the occupants. Low Quality building design or interior design and poor maintenance will lead to sick building syndromes (SBS). Next chapter elaborates the method of research conducted to identify the facts.

Employee Appraisals Essay -- business, employee appraisals

Employee appraisals are a key component to a company’s long-term success. The appraisals should be objective, rational, and accurate (Sims, 1987). Without effective appraisals, the employee is not aware of how they are performing and a company is not getting the very best out their investment, the employee. In addition to appraisals, the employee should be afforded development feedback and opportunities. The appraisal allows the employee to understand what areas they are excelling in and what areas they need to work on and improve. Discussing with the employee the developmental opportunities will allow the employee to see the possibility for career advancement if they achieve the goals set out in the appraisal. The appraisal is also a time when the employee can openly voice their concerns and aspirations pertaining to their job. The employee can also get clarification as to what is expected of them and what it will take in the way of performance and goal fulfillm ent to advance in their career. Employees are well aware of the fact that appraisals for the basis for promotions and salary increases (Purwanti, 2011). The end result of both the employee appraisal and the opportunity feedback and opportunity is to allow the company to avoid employee turnover. Turnover is not only costly to the company but it can affect the overall performance of those employee left at the company when a unhappy employee either leaves by their own decision, or one that the company has to let go. The appraisal should be a structured approach and be consistent from employee to employee thereby not showing any type of favoritism. The expectations of the appraisal need to be addressed up front. Next the manager needs to let the employee sa... ...ted Minshew, K. (2012, July 31). 6 tips for better performance reviews. INC Magazine, Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/kathryn-minshew/best-practices-for-performance-reviews.html Purwanti, Y., Pasaribu, N., & Lumbantobing, P. (2011). Harmonization Process Between Individual Performance Appraisal and Business Unit Performance Appraisal Without Decreasing Employee Engagement. Proceedings Of The European Conference On Intellectual Capital, 577-581. Sims, J. P., Gioia, D. A., & Longenecker, C. O. (1987). Behind the Mask: The Politics of Employee Appraisal. Academy Of Management Executive (08963789), 1(3), 183-193. doi:10.5465/AME.1987.4275731 Swiercz, P. M., Bryan, N. B., Eagle, B. W., Bizzotto, V., & Renn, R. W. (2012). Predicting Employee Attitudes and Performance from Perceptions of Performance Appraisal Fairness. Business Renaissance Quarterly, 7(1), 25-46.