A Study of Hr Practice Essay Example

A Study of Hr Practice Essay On A Study of HR Practices in ITC Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of degree Of Master of Business Administration OF [pic] ITC Ghaziabad [pic] SESSION 2009 Submitted by: Raibahadur Singh Parihar Under the guidance of: MR. Ravi karan singh Contents 1. Declaration 2. Acknowledgement 3. Preamble 4. Objective 5. Certification of ITC 6. Policies of ITC 7. Company profile 8. Growth history 9. SWOT Analysis 10. ITC Philosophy 11. HR Management 12. HR Practices at ITC 13. Action Plan 14. Graphical representation of data 15. Research Methodology 16. Questionnaire 7. Results Conclusion 18. Suggestion DECLARATION This project report on â€Å"a study of HR practices in ITC† in ITC Ghaziabad is submitted by me for the partial fulfillment of the course of M. B. A from Sikkim Manipal University. This is an original work done by me expected the guidance received which has been properly acknowledgement in the report. This is not the copy of any other report or any part of it hasn’t been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma. Raibahadur Singh Parihar Sikkim Manipal University ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my gratitude towards Mr. Ravi Karan Singh for the valuable guidance, supervision and keen interest in study, progress and completion of this project. I would like to acknowledge the precious contribution General Manager H. R. who had been in continuous support through out the training period. I am also graceful to our faculty member Mr. Vishal whose precious guidance throughout the session has been of undaunted help to us in grooming our self and without which this work wasnt possible. I am also thankful to my friend Mr. Nitin Shukla (Senior HR Executive) whose help has given this shape to the report. We will write a custom essay sample on A Study of Hr Practice specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on A Study of Hr Practice specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on A Study of Hr Practice specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Submitted by Raibahadur Singh Parihar Sikkim Manipal University Preamble I have made this report as an essential part of IV semester course curriculum of MBA. The title of project is â€Å"a study of HR practices in ITC† at ITC Ghaziabad. In the course of my training I have had the golden opportunity of seeing the practical application of what ever theoretical knowledge was imparted to me in a class room studies at Learning Point Sec- 16 Noida I have had the good fortune in interacting with the executive and employee of ITC Ghaziabad who were very warm and cordial in their conduct toward me. My report mainly focuses on â€Å"study of HR practices in ITC†. I hope that the finding of the project work must conform with the companies expectation suggestion made on that basis must be useful for the total performance of the employees of the â€Å"ITC Ghaziabad. † Raibahadur Singh Parihar Sikkim Manipal University OBJECTIVE The main objective of the study is as follows: ? To know the recruitment selection procedures adopted in this company. ? To improve training and development programs used in the company. To know how the performance of the employees is being appraised. ? To provide better employee welfare. ? To increase the labor productivity. Certification of ITC ITC constantly endeavors to benchmark its products, services and processes to global standards. The Companys pursuit of excellence has earned it national and international honors. ITC is one of the eight Indian companies to figure in Forbes A-List for 2004, featuring 400 of the worlds best big compan ies. Forbes has also named ITC among AsiasFab 50 and the Worlds Most Reputable Companies ITC is the first Indian company and the second in the world to win the prestigious Development Gateway Award. It won the $100,000 Award for the year 2005 for its trailblazing ITC e-Choupal initiative which has achieved the scale of a movement in rural India. The Development Gateway Award recognizes ITCs e-Choupal as the most exemplary contribution in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for development during the last 10 years. ITC e-Choupal won the Award for the importance of its contribution to development priorities like poverty reduction, its scale and replicability, sustainability and transparency. [pic]ITC has won the inaugural World Business Award, the worldwide business award recognizing companies who have made significant efforts to create sustainable livelihood opportunities and enduring wealth in developing countries. The award has been instituted jointly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the HRH Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF). pic]ITC is the first Corporate to receive the Annual FICCI Outstanding Vision Corporate Triple Impact Award in 2007 for its invaluable contribution to the triple bottom line benchmarks of building economic, social and natural capital for the nation. [pic]  ITC has won the Golden Peacock Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility (Asia) in 2007, the Award for ‘CSR in Emerging Economies 2005’ and ‘Excellence in Corporate Governance in the same year. These Awards have been instituted by the Institute of Directors, New Delhi, in association with the World Council for Corporate Governance and Centre for Corporate Governance ITCs cigarette factory in Kolkata is the first such unit in India to get ISO 9000 quality certification and the first among cigarette factories in the world to be awarded the ISO 14001 certification [pic]  ITC Maurya in New Delhi is the first hotel in India to get the coveted ISO 14001 Environment Management Systems certification. pic]  ITC Filtrona is the first cigarette filter company in the world to obtain ISO 14001 [pic]  ITC Infotech finds pride of place among a select group of SEI CMM Level 5 companies in the world. [pic]  ITCs Green Leaf Threshing plant in Chirala is the first in India and among the first 10 units in the world to bag the Social Accountability (SA 8000) certification ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar has received several honors over the years. Notable among them are: |Year |Award | | | | |2007 |SAM/SPG Sustainability Leadership Award conferred at the International Sustainability Leadership| | |Symposium, Zurich. | |2006 |Business Person of the Year from UK Trade Investment, the UK Government organisation that | | |supports overseas businesses in that country. |2006 |Inducted into the `Hall of Pride by the 93rd Indian Science Congress | |2005 |Honoured with the Teachers Lifetime Achievement Award | |2001 |Manager Entrepreneur of the Year from Ernst Young Retail Visionary of the Year from Images, | | |Indias only fashion and retail trade magazine | |1998 |Honorary Fellowship from the All India Management Association | |1996 |Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT, Delhi | |1994 |Marketing Man of the Year from AM, the leading marketing magazine | |1986 |Meridien Hotelier of the Year | ITC has won the Enterprise Business Transformation Award for Asia Pacific (Apac), instituted by Infosys Technologies and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for its celebrated e-Choupal initiative. [pic]  ITC is the only Indian FMCG Company to have featured in the Forbes 2000 list. The Forbes 2000 is a comprehensive ranking of the worlds biggest companies, measured by a composite of sales, profits, assets and market value. The list spans 51 countries and 27 industries. [pic]ITC continues its dominance of The Economic Times Brand Equity listing of Indias 100 Biggest FMCG Brands, with three brands from its stable making it to the top five. Gold Flake remains Indias biggest FMCG brand in terms of sales. Navy Cut ranks at No. 4. ITCs Scissors brand ranks at No 5 and is the only new entrant into the top 10. pic]Restaurant magazine has chosen Bukhara at the ITC Maurya, New Delhi as the best Indian restaurant in the world and the best restaurant in Asia. Bukhara has also been adjudged one of the top 50 restaurants in the world by the London based magazine The Good Food Guide. Bukhara is the only South Asian restaurant to figure in the list. [pic]ITCs Lifestyle Retailing Business Division (LRBD) has won the Best Supply Chain Practices Award for time-effective and cost-efficient Logistics Management in Organized Retail. The awards were organized by Retailers Association of India (rai) in association with ITW Signode the International leaders in packaging solutions. ITC’s market strategies are: pic]  Create multiple drivers of growth by developing a portfolio of world class businesses that best matches organizational capability with opportunities in domestic and export markets. [pic]  Continue to focus on the chosen portfolio of FMCG, Hotels, Paper, Paperboards Packaging, Agri Business and Information Technology. Benchmark the health of each business comprehensively across the criteria of Market Standing, Profitability and Internal Vitality. [pic]  Ensure that each of its businesses is world class and internationally competitive. [pic]  Enhance the competitive power of the portfolio through synergies derived by blending the diverse skills and capabilities residing in ITC’s various businesses. pic]  Create distributed leadership within the organisation by nurturing talented and focused top management teams for each of the businesses. [pic]Continuously strengthen and refine Corporate Governance processes and systems to catalyse the entrepreneurial energies of management by striking the golden balance between executive freedom and the need for effective control and accountability. |[pic] | |Sustain ITCs position as one of Indias most valuable corporations through world class performance, creating growing value for the Indian | |economy and the Company’s stakeholders | [pic] | |To enhance the wealth generating capability of the enterprise in a globalising environment, delivering superior and sustainable stakeholder| |value | ITCs EHS Policy ITC’s mission is to sustain and enhance the wealth-generating capacity of its portfolio of businesses in a progressively globalising environment. As one of India’s premier corporations employing a vast quantum of societal resources, ITC seeks to fulfil a larger role by enlarging its contribution to the society of which it is a part. The trusteeship role related to social and environmental resources, aligned to the pursuit of economic objectives, is the cornerstone of ITC’s Environment, Health and Safety philosophy. ITC’s EHS philosophy cognises for the twin needs of conservation and creation of productive resources. In the multi-business context of ITC, Corporate Strategies are designed to create enduring value for the nation and the shareholder, through leadership in each business and the attainment of world-class competitive capabilities across the value chain. The objective of leadership extends to all facets of business operations including Environment, Health and Safety. ITC is, therefore, committed to conducting its operations with due regard for the environment, and providing a safe and healthy workplace for each employee. Various international and national awards and accreditations stand testimony to ITC’s commitment to EHS. Such external recognition further reinforces the need to direct the collective endeavour of the Company’s employees at all levels towards sustaining and continuously improving standards of Environment, Health and Safety in a bid to attain and exceed benchmarked standards, whether regulatory or otherwise. In particular, it is ITC’s EHS policy †¢ To contribute to sustainable development through the establishment and implementation of environment standards that are scientifically tested and meet the requirement of relevant laws, regulations and codes of practice. †¢ To take account of environment, occupational health and safety in planning and decision-making. †¢ To provide appropriate training and disseminate information to enable all employees to accept individual responsibility for Environment, Health and Safety, implement best practices, and work in partnership to create a culture of continuous improvement. To instil a sense of duty in every employee to wards personal safety, as well as that of others who may be affected by the employee’s actions. †¢ To provide and maintain facilities, equipment, operations and working conditions which are safe for employees, visitors and contractors at the Company’s premises. †¢ To ensure safe handling, storage, use and disposal of all substances and materials that are classified as hazardous to health and environment. †¢ To reduce waste, conserve energy, and promote recycling of materials wherever possible. †¢ To institute and implement a system of regular EHS audit in order to assure compliance with laid down policy, benchmarked standards, and requirements of laws, regulations and applicable codes of practice. To proactively share information with business partners towards inculcating world-class EHS standards across the value chain of which ITC is a part. All employees of ITC are expected to adhere to and comply with the EHS Policy and Corporate Standards on EH S. ITC’s EHS Policy extends to all sites of the Company. It will be the overall responsibility of the Divisional/SBU Chief Executives, through the members of their Divisional Management Committees, General Managers and Unit Heads, to ensure implementation of this Policy and Corporate Standards on EHS, including formation of various committees and designating individuals for specific responsibilities in respect of their Division/SBU. The Corporate EHS Department is responsible for reviewing and updating Corporate Standards on EHS, and for providing guidance and support to all concern. Corporate Governance P  r  e  a  m  b  l  e Over the years, ITC has evolved from a single product company to a multi-business corporation. Its businesses are spread over a wide spectrum, ranging from cigarettes and tobacco to hotels, packaging, paper and paperboards and international commodities trading. Each of these businesses is vastly different from the others in its type, the state of its evolution and the basic nature of its activity, all of which influence the choice of the form of governance. The challenge of governance for ITC therefore lies in fashioning a model that addresses the uniqueness of each of its businesses and yet strengthens the unity of purpose of the Company as a whole. Since the commencement of the liberalisation process, Indias economic scenario has begun to alter radically. Globalisation will not only significantly heighten business risks, but will also compel Indian companies to adopt international norms of transparency and good governance. Equally, in the resultant competitive context, freedom of executive management and its ability to respond to the dynamics of a fast changing business environment will be the new success factors. ITCs governance policy recognises the challenge of this new business reality in India. DEFINITION AND PURPOSE ITC defines Corporate Governance as a systemic process by which companies are directed and controlled to enhance their wealth generating capacity. Since large corporations employ vast quantum of societal resources, we believe that the governance process should ensure that these companies are managed in a manner that meets stakeholders aspirations and societal expectations. [pic] CORE PRINCIPLES ITCs Corporate Governance initiative is based on two core principles. These are : i. Management must have the executive freedom to drive the enterprise forward without undue restraints; and ii. This freedom of management should be exercised within a framework of effective accountability. ITC believes that any meaningful policy on Corporate Governance must provide empowerment to the executive management of the Company, and simultaneously create a mechanism of checks and balances which ensures that the decision making powers vested in the executive management is not only not misused, but is used with care and responsibility to meet stakeholder aspirations and societal expectations. Cornerstones From the above definition and core principles of Corporate Governance emerge the cornerstones of ITCs governance philosophy, namely trusteeship, transparency, empowerment and accountability, control and ethical corporate citizenship. ITC believes that the practice of each of these leads to the creation of the right corporate culture in which the company is managed in a manner that fulfils the purpose of Corporate Governance. Trusteeship : ITC believes that large corporations like itself have both a social and economic purpose. They represent a coalition of interests, namely those of the shareholders, other providers of capital, business associates and employees. This belief therefore casts a responsibility of trusteeship on the Companys Board of Directors. They are to act as trustees to protect and enhance shareholder value, as well as to ensure that the Company fulfils its obligations and responsibilities to its other stakeholders. Inherent in the concept of trusteeship is the responsibility to ensure equity, namely, that the rights of all shareholders, large or small, are protected. Transparency : ITC believes that transparency means explaining Companys policies and actions to those to whom it has responsibilities. Therefore transparency must lead to maximum appropriate disclosures without jeopardising the Companys strategic interests. Internally, transparency means openness in Companys relationship with its employees, as well as the conduct of its business in a manner that will bear scrutiny. We believe transparency enhances accountability. Empowerment and Accountability : Empowerment is an essential concomitant of ITCs first core principle of governance that management must have the freedom to drive the enterprise forward. ITC believes that empowerment is a process of actualising the potential of its employees. Empowerment unleashes creativity and innovation throughout the organisation by truly vesting decision-making powers at the most appropriate levels in the organisational hierarchy. ITC believes that the Board of Directors are accountable to the shareholders, and the management is accountable to the Board of Directors. We believe that empowerment, combined with accountability, provides an impetus to performance and improves effectiveness, thereby enhancing shareholder value. Control : ITC believes that control is a necessary concomitant of its second core principle of governance that the freedom of management should be exercised within a framework of appropriate checks and balances. Control should prevent misuse of power, facilitate timely management response to change, and ensure that business risks are pre-emptively and effectively managed. Ethical Corporate Citizenship : ITC believes that corporations like itself have a responsibility to set exemplary standards of ethical behaviour, both internally within the organisation, as well as in their external relationships. We believe that unethical behaviour corrupts organisational culture and undermines stakeholder value. ITC Ltd. Policy on Human Rights ITC believes that all its employees must live with social and economic dignity and freedom, regardless of nationality, gender, race, economic status or religion. In the management of its businesses and operations therefore, ITC ensures that it upholds the spirit of human rights as enshrined in existing international standards such as the Universal Declaration and the Fundamental Human Rights Conventions of the ILO. Policy ITC upholds international human rights standards, does not condone human rights abuses, and creates and nurtures a working environment where human rights are respected without prejudice. Implementation The Corporate Human Resources function of ITC is responsible for the Human Rights Policy design, implementation and updation. The policy is implemented at all locations of ITC through a set of separate policies and procedures covering each of the main constituents of human rights applicable at the workplaces. MonitoringAudit The assessment procedures for different constituents of this policy are defined against each specific policy. Consideration of Human Rights Impacts Across the Supply Chain As a large and multi-product enterprise whose products are benchmarked nationally and internationally, ITCs main supply chains can be grouped as follows: 1. For all its operations, technology, machinery and equipment are sourced from reputed and globally benchmarked suppliers/vendors who are expected to follow internationally accepted norms and standards on human rights. 2. ITCs major businesses are vertically integrated across several Divisions. A substantial part of the supply chain is therefore internal through strategic backward linkages. Common values relating to human rights performance are shared across this supply chain. 3. Being a major agri-based company, the agriculture sector is a major supplier of inputs for its operations. The bulk of agricultural commodities are procured from state controlled trading platforms and the open market. A very small proportion of ITCs business consists of supply chains comprising local vendors and suppliers. The policy framework for such entities is enunciated separately in Policy to Ensure Respect for Human Rights across the Supply Chain. Policy to Prevent Discrimination at Workplace ITC acknowledges that every individual brings a different and unique set of perspectives and capabilities to the team. A discrimination-free workplace for employees provides the environment in which diverse talents can bloom and be nurtured. This is achieved by ensuring that a non-discrimination policy and practice is embedded across the Company in line with corporate principles and benchmarked business practices. Policy ITCs approach to its human resources is premised on the fundamental belief in fostering meritocracy in the organisation which, pari passu, promotes diversity and offers equality of opportunity to all employees. ITC does not engage in or support direct or indirect discrimination in recruitment, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on caste, religion, disability, gender, age, race, colour, ancestry, marital status or affiliation with a political, religious, or union organization or minority group. Implementation The policy is communicated to all employees through induction programmes, policy manuals and intranet portals. The custodian of this policy is the head of each operational unit and Divisional Chief Executives of the respective business. ITCs complaints resolution procedure is premised on the freedom of employees to approach higher officials beyond his/her immediate superior. For the unionised employees, compliance of the policy is ensured through a robust grievance handling procedure and the presence of a union that brings violations to the notice of the unit HR head. MonitoringAuditing The accountability for the application of the non-discrimination employment policy rests with the Unit Head who reviews anti-discriminatory complaints annually or on a case-by-case basis. The Corporate Human Resources function conducts non-discrimination reviews annually on a sample basis with unit heads and through on-site assessments ITCs Core Values are aimed at developing a customer-focused, high-performance organisation which creates value for all its stakeholders: Trusteeship As professional managers, we are conscious that ITC has been given to us in trust by all our stakeholders. We will actualise stakeholder value and interest on a long term sustainable basis. Customer Focus We are always customer focused and will deliver what the customer needs in terms of value, quality and satisfaction. Respect For People We are result oriented, setting high performance standards for ourselves as individuals and teams. We will simultaneously respect and value people and uphold humanness and human dignity. We acknowledge that every individual brings different perspectives and capabilities to the team and that a strong team is founded on a variety of perspectives. We want individuals to dream, value differences, create and experiment in pursuit of opportunities and achieve leadership through teamwork. Excellence We do what is right, do it well and win. We will strive for excellence in whatever we do. Innovation We will constantly pursue newer and better processes, products, services and management practices. Nation Orientation We are aware of our responsibility to generate economic value for the Nation. In pursuit of our goals, we will make no compromise in complying with applicable laws and regulations at all levels ITC believes that all its employees must live with social and economic dignity and freedom, regardless of nationality, gender, race, economic status or religion. In the management of its businesses and operations therefore, ITC ensures that it upholds the spirit of human rights as enshrined in existing international standards such as the Universal Declaration and the Fundamental Human Rights Conventions of the ILO. Policy ITC upholds international human rights standards, does not condone human rights abuses, and creates and nurtures a working environment where human rights are respected without prejudice. Implementation The Corporate Human Resources function of ITC is responsible for the Human Rights Policy design, implementation and updation. The policy is implemented at all locations of ITC through a set of separate policies and procedures covering each of the main constituents of human rights applicable at the workplaces. Monitoring Audit The assessment procedures for different constituents of this policy are defined against each specific policy. Consideration of Human Rights Impacts Across the Supply Chain As a large and multi-product enterprise whose products are benchmarked nationally and internationally, ITCs main supply chains can be grouped as follows: 1. For all its operations, technology, machinery and equipment are sourced from reputed and globally benchmarked suppliers/vendors who are expected to follow internationally accepted norms and standards on human rights. 2. ITCs major businesses are vertically integrated across several Divisions. A substantial part of the supply chain is therefore internal through strategic backward linkages. Common values relating to human rights performance are shared across this supply chain. 3. Being a major agri-based company, the agriculture sector is a major supplier of inputs for its operations. The bulk of agricultural commodities are procured from state controlled trading platforms and the open market. A very small proportion of ITCs business consists of supply chains comprising local vendors and suppliers. The policy framework for such entities is enunciated separately in Policy to Ensure Respect for Human Rights across the Supply Chain Policy to Ensure Respect for Human Rights Policy across the Supply Chain ITC provides products and services of superior quality and value by sourcing its technologies, equipment and inputs from reputed international and Indian manufacturers and suppliers. Common values, relating to human rights performance, are shared across the entire supply chain because ITC is committed to the importance of a socially responsible and accountable supply chain. Policy ITC nurtures an internal working environment which respects human rights without prejudice. Likewise, it expects its business partners to establish a human rights compliant business environment at the workplace. Implementation The responsibility for implementation of this policy rests with the Divisional Chief Executive of the concerned business and the Unit Manager. The policy is communicated internally through policy manuals and intranet portals, and externally by the HR personnel of concerned units to vendors/suppliers. Monitoring Audit ITC has established a policy intent for mapping/monitoring progress and performance of existing and potential vendors/suppliers on human rights performance. Policy to Prevent Discrimination at Workplace ITC acknowledges that every individual brings a different and unique set of perspectives and capabilities to the team. A discrimination-free workplace for employees provides the environment in which diverse talents can bloom and be nurtured. This is achieved by ensuring that a non-discrimination policy and practice is embedded across the Company in line with corporate principles and benchmarked business practices. Policy ITCs approach to its human resources is premised on the fundamental belief in fostering meritocracy in the organisation which, pari passu, promotes diversity and offers equality of opportunity to all employees. ITC does not engage in or support direct or indirect discrimination in recruitment, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on caste, religion, disability, gender, age, race, colour, ancestry, marital status or affiliation with a political, religious, or union organization or minority group. Implementation The policy is communicated to all employees through induction programmes, policy manuals and intranet portals. The custodian of this policy is the head of each operational unit and Divisional Chief Executives of the respective business. ITCs complaints resolution procedure is premised on the freedom of employees to approach higher officials beyond his/her immediate superior. For the unionised employees, compliance of the policy is ensured through a robust grievance handling procedure and the presence of a union that brings violations to the notice of the unit HR head. Monitoring Auditing The accountability for the application of the non-discrimination employment policy rests with the Unit Head who reviews anti-discriminatory complaints annually or on a case-by-case basis. The Corporate Human Resources function conducts non-discrimination reviews annually on a sample basis with unit heads and through on-site assessments. Policy on Freedom of Association ITCs culture is characterized by cooperative relationships and high employee involvement that relies on building partnerships and interdependence. Adhering to these principles has helped build, sustain and strengthen harmonious employee relations in the organisation. Policy ITC respects the employees right to organize themselves into interest groups as initiatives of the workers, independent from supervision by the management. In keeping with the spirit of this Policy, employees are not discriminated against for exercising this right. Implementation The policy is communicated to all employees through induction programmes, policy manuals and intranet portals. The custodian of this policy is the HR head of each operational unit who reports directly to Unit Head on such issues. The actualisation of this policy is evident from the joint agreements and minutes that are signed between the union and the management. Monitoring Audit Each ITC Unit has appropriate systems and checks to ensure compliance with the Policy and statutory provisions, including means for filing of grievances, collective bargaining agreements and minutes from worker meetings. Compliance with the Policy is regularly monitored by Divisional and Corporate HR. Policy Prohibiting Child Labour and Preventing Forced Labour from Workplace The foundation of ITCs No Child or Forced Labour policy is based on the Companys commitment to find practical, meaningful and culturally appropriate responses to support the elimination of such labour practices. It thus endorses the need for appropriate initiatives to progressively eliminate these abuses. Policy ITC does not employ any person below the age of eighteen years in the workplace. ITC prohibits the use of forced or compulsory labour at all its units. No employee is made to work against his/her will or work as bonded/forced labour, or subject to corporal punishment or coercion of any type related to work. Implementation This policy is publicly available throughout the Company and clearly communicated to all employees in a manner in which it can be understood through induction programmes, policy manuals and intranet portals. The responsibility for the implementation of the policy rests with the Units HR Department and the security staff who do not permit underage persons to enter the factory as workers. Employment contracts and other records documenting all relevant details of the employees, including age, are maintained at all units and are open to verification by any authorized personnel or relevant statutory

Health, Safety, and Nutrition Worksheets for Kids

Health, Safety, and Nutrition Worksheets for Kids Nutrition, health, and safety are important topics to discuss with your children. Youll naturally discuss many facts about these subjects as you go about your daily life. However, spending some time focusing specifically on each can help children understand why their eating habits, hygiene, and exercise are vital to their overall well-being.   Additionally, talking about safety topics with your children helps to ensure that they know what to do in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.   Worksheets and coloring pages can make discussing these topics more engaging and easier to understand for young children. Use some of these free printable collections to guide or enhance your study of nutrition, health, and safety. Nutrition Worksheets Proper nutrition is an important part of a  healthy lifestyle. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), people should consume foods from the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein, and dairy groups every day for optimal health. The USDA suggests eating a variety of foods and limiting those with added sugar, sodium, and higher levels of saturated fats.   They may not be a students favorite topic, but fun printable worksheets about vegetables, which introduce children to a wide variety of veggies, can make learning better eating habits a bit more fun. So can following the USDAs recommendation to vary the way you eat vegetables. They suggest trying them raw, cooked, fresh, frozen, or canned. Roasting veggies in the oven or on the grill is a tasty treat, too! Dental Health Worksheets According to the American Dental Association (ADA), cavities remain the most prevalent chronic disease of childhood. Because they are so common, cavities may not seem like a big deal, but oral health is an important part of overall physical health. Poor oral health can increase a persons risk for health problems such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, and certain types of cancer.   Use a fun set of  dental health  printables  to introduce your children to the basics of good oral hygiene. Some of the simplest ways to ensure good oral health include brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing, eating a healthy diet, and visiting your dentist regularly.   Physical Education Worksheets Physical Education  is vital to a students understanding of the benefits of an active lifestyle. A good PE program will teach kids about health, physical fitness, and the importance of regular physical activity. One option for teaching PE is an  online physical education  course. Other options may include combining a personal health course with individual or team athletics to ensure that students remain active.   Individual sports may include golf, gymnastics, skateboarding, or swimming. Other sports such as tennis, badminton, and volleyball can also be played with only one or two players on each team. Kids may also enjoy getting active with team sports such as baseball, softball, basketball, or hockey. Safety Worksheets It can be frightening to think about emergencies and natural disasters, but knowing what to do in the event of such a situation can save lives. According to the American Red Cross, children under the age of five are twice as likely as other people to die in a house fire. It is important to teach children fire precautions as well as what to do in the event of a fire. Combine  fire prevention worksheets  that  introduce  terms such as fire drill and escape route with other tools to teach children potentially life-saving fire safety tips. These tips should include stop, drop, and roll if a childs clothing catches on fire and where to go in the event of a fire. Have an escape plan in place and practice it at least twice a year.   Teach your children what your homes fire alarms sound like, how to call 911, and the importance of going to fire fighters and getting and staying out of the house if there is a fire. Its also important to teach your children what to do in the event of a natural disaster based on what is most likely in your area of the country. Your children may need to know what to do in the event of a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake. For example, you might use a free set of  earthquake worksheets  to learn more about where earthquakes typically happen, what causes them and what safety steps to take if an earthquake strikes. Updated by Kris Bales

TV Serial Friends Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

TV Serial Friends - Movie Review Example This paper will expansively examine whether the show a barometer of the current cultural mood in America or whether it is an aberration. "This comedy show is about six friends who deal with their problems with jobs, friends and relationships." (Friends Show). This Sitcom probably shows a lot more than perceived by most people. For instance a character by the name Ross in the show has a son who gets married and later finds that his wife is a Homosexual, this goes to show the current trend of the US society. Homosexuality is fast spreading in the US society and this is a reality which no one can deny. The show merely presents this for the sole purpose of entertaining the people but the people just watch it and laugh about it instead of doing something about it. This is indeed a classic instance which goes to show that the show is presenting only the current image of the society. "Although the producers thought ofFriendsas "only a TV show",numerous psychologists investigated the cultural impact ofFriendsduring the series' run.Aniston's hairstyle was nicknamed "The Rachel", and copied around the world." (Jicha Tom). The serial brought a real revelation and it changed many a thing in the society some for good and the other for not so. Several Linguists believe that the serial was instrumental in bringing in phrases like "How you Doing" into common use, many people still use this phrase when starting a conversation and this is also used as a pickup line by several people across the globe. The serial also brought to light a very rewarding business opportunity in Central Perk Coffee House, several businessmen have tried to imitate the same concept and majority of them have been very successful. "Friends has made a notable contribution to some areas of popular culture - in particular fashion. The series has been noted for its impact on everyday fashion and hairstyles." (Cultural Impact). The phrase "We were on a break" has become enormously popular across the globe and used by countless people around the world. In addition to this the serial has also brought in several changes like "The series has made several people laugh over these years and they still watch the reruns every day. Most people usually don't like to watch reruns of any show, but it is different for Friends, even when they know the whole episode, it is still fun to watch the reruns for them." (Friends the TV Serial). Conclusion This paper threw light upon how the serial has portrayed the changes in the US society and in addition to this how the show has highly influenced the society. It is very fair to say that more and more people have started being in a living relationship after watching the show. This does not take place in the US alone but this has also spread to various other countries too. "Anyway good things come to an end, but then we always have reruns and ''friends'' is 1 serial that u can watch a million times and you are going to always laugh out the way u did the first time round." (Friends). This was the reaction of a very enthusiastic fan when asked about friends; this again reiterates that the show is a mere

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Project Management - Essay Example These individuals are normally picked from the team personnel in order to complete the project as planned. On the other hand, alternative scheduling has to be planned to enable successful completion of both tasks and progress on the project to continue (Pinto 357). Resource management is usually difficult in a multi-project environment because it creates several problems. A single project is advantageous because it fully depends on its allocated resources. However, a single project can lead to under utilization of available resources since it even relies on resources that are currently, not under use (Pinto 369). Team members in a given project are afraid to issue out their resources since they believe that it will be difficult recovering them. Similarly, sharing resources can create a delay in multiple projects. Finally, there can be a decrease in employees’ morality as they attempt to juggle through competing assignments (Pinto 371). Approaches use to allocate resources include mathematical programming, fist in line, greatest resource demand, and minimum late finish

Holiday Inn Strategic Management

Holiday Inn Strategic Management Management can be generally defined as a art and science of getting the things done from others. The previous definition explains that a manager plans and guides a particular work which is done by other people. In this assignment I will be discussing about different strategic management process. Strategic management process is one of the very important management process which are been used by different organisations. Strategy :- Strategy are the resources used by the managers to achieve long term objectives. In simple term, strategies are the ideas which are been used by the management. Strategic management : Strategic management is a conduct of drafting, implementing and evaluating cross functional decisions in enabling to achieve its long term objectives. There are different types of process involved in strategic management :- Marketing is accepted globally as a life blood of any organisation. In this analysis I felt that strategic management is at the same level as marketing which decides the future and prosperity of an organisation. Practicing the management of strategies is very crucial in the competitive world. Successful managers will have to know their business market situation and position and to implement the strategies when required. I kept these objectives in mind and invented some management qualities in myself while doing a research on this topic. I feel that I need more knowledge of the management practices. So in my research on strategic management I had a good understanding of strategic management and practices. Basically the concept of strategic management closely resembles elements of foresights; this means planning a head is a major element in the business. Strategic management is considered as a life blood of any organisation. This assignment on strategic management covers the change and development in the organisation. I have also understood that having a clear idea of strategic management is crucial in todays competitive business world. Companys now a days seek ways to achieve a competitive advantage with other players in the industry that they operate. The environment in which a company operates can provide circumstances where the outcomes may be positive or negative. Many organisational studies have presented numerous theories that help companies in taking new ways in dealing with their operations. Strategic management is one of those important management theories and process that has been employed constantly by any business to address their management and decision making needs. I have chosen Holiday Inn as an example to illustrate the adaptation of strategic management and its process. In this assignment I have written about how holiday inn hotels analyse and critically evaluate the organisation practice to solve the problem connected with implementing their strategies. Main body :- Now I will be giving a short history on Holiday Inn hotel. Kemmons Wilson initially came up with the idea after a family road trip to Washington, D.C., during which he was disappointed by the quality and consistency provided by the roadside motels of that era. The name Holiday Inn was given to the original hotel by his architect Eddie Bluestein as a joke, in reference to the Bing Crosby movie. In 1957, Wilson franchised the chain as Holiday Inn of America and it grew dramatically, following Wilsons original tenet that the properties should be standardized, clean, predictable, family-friendly and readily accessible to road travellers. By 1958, there were 50 locations across the country, 100 by 1959, 500 by 1964, and the 1000th Holiday Inn opened in San Antonio, Texas, in 1968. The chain dominated the motel market, leveraged its innovative Holidex reservation system, put considerable financial pressure on traditional hotels and set the standard for its competitors, like Ramada Inns, Quality Inn, Howard Johnsons, and Best Western. By June 1972, when Wilson was featured on the cover of Time magazine, there were over 1,400 Holiday Inn hotels worldwide. Innovations like the companys Holidome indoor pools turned many hotels into roadside resorts. The company later branched into other related enterprises, including Medi-Center nursing homes, Continental Trailways, Delta Queen and various related enterprises. Wilson also later developed the Orange Lake Resort and Country Club near Orlando and a chain called Wilson World Hotels. The family of founder Kemmons Wilson still operates hotels as part of the Kemmons Wilson Companies of Memphis. Wilson retired from Holiday Inn in 1979. Although still a healthy company, changing business conditions and demographics saw Holiday Inn lose its market dominance in the 1980s. Holiday Inns, Inc. was renamed Holiday Corporation in 1985 to reflect the growth of the companys brands, including Harrahs Entertainment, Embassy Suites Hotels, Crowne Plaza, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hampton Inn. In 1988, Holiday Corporation was purchased by UK-based Bass PLC (the owners of the Bass beer brand), followed by the remaining domestic Holiday Inn hotels in 1990, when founder Wilson sold his interest, after which the hotel group was known as Holiday Inn Worldwide. The remainder of Holiday Corporation (including the Embassy Suites Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hampton Inn brands) was spun off to shareholders as Promus Companies Incorporated. In 1991, Bass launched Holiday Inn Express, a complementary brand in the limited service segment. In 1994, Bass launched Crowne Plaza, a move into the upscale hotel market. In 1997, Bass cr eated and launched a new hotel brand, Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn, entering the North American upscale extended stay market. In March 1998, Bass acquired the InterContinental brand, expanding into the luxury hotel market. In 2000, Bass sold its brewing assets (and the rights to the Bass name) and changed its name to Six Continents PLC. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) was created in 2003 after Six Continents split into two daughter companies: Mitchells Butlers PLC to handle restaurant assets, and IHG to focus on soft drinks and hotels, including the Holiday Inn brand. Business relationship with Gulf Oil In 1963, Holiday Inn signed a long-term deal with Gulf Oil Corporation in which the lodging chain would accept Gulf credit cards to charge food and lodging at all of its hotels (in the United States and Canada). In return, Gulf would build service stations on the premises of many Holiday Inn properties, particularly those along or near major U.S. and Interstate highways. Many older Holiday Inns locations (including some no longer part of the chain) still have the service station properties intact today, either still in operation or closed down. With the exception of a few locations in the eastern U.S., hardly any of the still-open stations are now Gulf outlets. The portion of the agreement which permitted Gulf credit cards to be used for payment of food and lodging at Holiday Inns was copied by competing lodging chains and major oil companies during the mid-to-late 1960s. Most of those agreements fizzled out with the 1973 oil crisis. The Gulf/Holiday Inn arrangement ended around 1982 . The brand name Holiday Inn is now owned by IHG, which in turn licenses the name to franchisees and third parties who operate hotels under management agreements. In January 2002, The Wall Street Journal reported that the company, led by Ravi Saligram, was producing a new 130-room Next Generation prototype hotel to rebuild the brand. It would include a bistro-like restaurant and an indoor pool. The first of these prototype hotels, the Holiday Inn Gwinnett Center, was built in Duluth, Georgia, in 2003. On 24 October 2007, IHG announced a worldwide relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand. The relaunch is focused on delivering consistently best in class service and physical quality levels, including a redesigned welcome experience and signature bedding and bathroom products The first relaunched Holiday Inn is expected to open in the USA in the spring of 2008. The whole relaunch process is planned to be complete by the end of 2010. In September 2008, IHG announced the creation of a new timeshare brand, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, a strategic alliance with The Family of Orange Lake Resorts. As told before strategic management is a set of activities undertaken in the order of time. One of the first tasks in strategic management is environmental analysis. Environmental analysis is the study of an organisations environment to pin point the environmental factors that can significantly influence the organisational operations. It provides a frame work for understanding an organisations environment with the aim of helping to find the key issues and different ways of coping up with the complexity and change. A business organisation operates in an external and internal environment. The factors which influencing the external environment is known as PESTEL. PESTEL stands for political factors, economical factors, social factors, technological factors, ecological factors and legal factors. Analysis:- The political, economical and social context stood as a big challenge for the organisation of Holiday Inn when they entered the market. the holiday inn operations are highly influenced by the policies set by the government in which ever territory or country they operate. Most of the Holiday Inn are controlled by regulations of operations and policies of individual properties. The Holiday Inn group will also focus on concerns such as health and safety employment, laws , worker protection and environment. From my studies I think all these elements are seen in the control of government that authorises licensing of hotels in different states. Being in a business environment they have to abide by the employment procedures and tax obligations where they operate. As the company is widely expanded and well developed they must co-operate with the practices set by political body. After my research I think this company should get full co-operation from the political power to succeed in local an d international market. as many private enterprise when holiday inn was opened the management had very informal sense of direction setting up a few long time goals without implementing proper strategy. How ever by implementing a new scenario in their strategy with set an international competitive advantage in hotel industry as tourist increased every where and the hotel accommodation was in demand after this the management of Holiday Inn realised the need and development of planning strategies. The management achieved a competitive advantage position and enhanced the holiday inn groups performance in relation to its competitor. Company have taken a very good advantage of this point and served this market segment all the time. They have given market what they want according to the expectations. I think by going through company history the Holiday Inn is spread all over the world. This vast expansion is because of its good economical stability. The company has its own concerns involving economic factors. The branches and franchise like Holiday Inn has the tendencies to experience the hard ships in instances where the economy of the respective countries is hit by inflation and changes in exchange rates. Because of the disposable income of the citizens in developed countries the holiday inn group gave prior importance in marketing their business because of the economic stability of these countries. Holiday Inn is a world wide chain and its international functional strategies will always yield profitable returns. The potential customers are from all over the world. It is been noted that the holiday inn company has given the market such as Europe, Asia, America with regards to their social-cultural needs. Holiday Inn, like all other hotels has established a good system in determining the needs of the market. The company uses the concept of product, personality, behaviour of the customer and purchasing to its advantage. Now I am going to talk about the technical factors influencing the company. This is because of the technical advancement due to which the company could reach in a very short span to many people about their various products and service information. Customers can contact Holiday Inn by many means such as emails, telephone, travel agents, website etc. holiday inn is providing their guests with all modern amenities and facilities to their rooms to provide the best accommodation experience. Their hotels all over are fully equipped with modern amenities and technical advancement. The above mentioned study helped me a lot to determine how much the elements of PESTEL were helpful and positive for the development of the company After the analysis of PESTEL and depending upon that outcome I have also carried out SWOT analysis of the company Holiday Inn which gives me exact position of the company in the market. SWOT stands for strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. These are the factors influencing the internal environment. SWOT analysis is extremely useful for understanding and decision making for all source of situation in business and organisation. It also provides a frame work for reviewing strategy position and direction of the company. I think it is therefore important to evaluate the environment opportunities in relation to the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation resources. Strengths: as mentioned in the history of the company it clearly states that the Holiday Inn Corporation is a well established organisation and industry leader in hospitality. Holiday Inn is well diversified hotels in the high end, business and mid priced classes in their product mix. Holiday Inn also poses a solid integration features such as owning the companies that manufacture its furniture and has invested in online reservation travel enterprises. It also has easy access to all its customers to get information and also has a excellent reservation system. Weaknesses: according to my research Holiday Inn may be narrowly focused making it susceptible to the down turn in the global economy and other world wide catastrophes that could limit global travel. Holiday inn hotels may also be venerable to employees strikes and crack down on undocumented workers. I think the aggressive expansion policies may put the company in trouble during the global down turn. Some of the branches or franchises do not follow the holiday inn set standards, recruitment process efficient accounting systems. Opportunities:- Holiday Inn corporation is a global pioneer in hospitality industry. Their position is strong financially and they are widely expanding all over the world. They offer an array of distinctive and specialised services to their guests. They also have an opportunity to expand or acquire a cruise line company. The holiday inn corporation should take advantage of emerging markets especially with business clients and mid priced markets. The holiday inn corporation has a strong affiliation with REIT (real estate investment trust) or similar organisation that provides a strong back up for hotels. It has a strong skilled work force all over. Threats: Like all other business, the major threat for holiday inn will be an emergence of a new competitor. The competitors will be more active in promoting the concept of global brand name. Holiday Inn has its own resources to sustain their global brand name. In general the hotel industry faces a threat from internet reservation channels which represents a growing share of hotel room booking. To overcome these threats Holiday Inn has its own centralised reservations system. Looking at strategic direction of the company the mission statement says GREAT HOTELS GUEST LOVE shows that holiday inn makes all efforts to exceed their customer expectation. This statement covers all aspects on hospitality firm in a brief manner. The vision statement and the values of the company states that year after year holiday inn (IHG) and the management will be regarded as the best and most sought hospitality group. From my personal experience while working with holiday inn group I can say that they are following their vision and mission statements. By observing their strategic formulation they have adopted cost leadership strategies. They are one of the lowest cost providers for their product. This makes many customers to become potential and loyal. They have targeted very broad market from high and society to middle and the lower one. While offering this wide variety of offers to the customers they have developed and achieved best value strategy. During my analysis on holiday inn I discovered the difficulties faced by them or in other words we can say their weakness. They faced great difficulties while entering the Asian markets. The reason behind this was they were not familiar with Asian market. To overcome this problem they had to take a strong action plan by signing a joint partnership with Asian hotel firms. This provided them a base to learn about the Asian environment and their establishment. Holiday Inns vision for the future was a property that delivers new levels of customer convenience by extending hotel systems for guest and employee access using the hotels wireless infrastructure. RECOMMENDATIONS :- From my analysis since holiday inn is expanding it is wise to deal with proper authorities in the respective markets where they intend to operate. The company has to accomplish and satisfy all the prerequisites for doing business. The company should also carry out a well conducted market research before penetrating the new segments of market. the company should always obtain relevant information from the target market in addition to the individual customers of organisation. A comprehensive market research is a must before granting a franchise. I think similar research should be made in areas like consumer behaviour and purchasing patterns of the market. Holiday Inn Corporation has to re-evaluate its internal environmental factors like Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and threats to overcome with a strategic direction adjusting its mission and vision and at the same time maintaining its values. These are the few strategies that holiday inn must adopt to attract more diversified clie ntele. Therefore in order to survive and maintain the brand name holiday inn corporation should be consistent with their excellent service being always innovative. They should also create the role of middle managers and let them to be more innovative. I think the biggest challenge for Holiday Inn is expansion and franchises. The main features of Holiday Inn Corporation should be put as a standard one for the franchisers to follow. Will the franchisers really set the standards followed by Holiday Inn Corporation? What are the efforts that are to be put for the franchisers to follow the standards set by Holiday Inn Corporation? Holiday Inn is also using its technology to its advantage. The interactivity and the real time effects of communication is a good way to find suppliers. CONCLUSION :- Successful strategies always demand a company to choose the market in which their unique capabilities will gain competitive advantage. However the adoptive and incremental context of strategic management means that the company starting point leads the firm to a stable position. Corporate strategies of Holiday Inn have been able to use strategic management to stay in the competition in the global market. I believe that the strategies as well as the leadership styles used by the management of Holiday inn have been the major cause of their competitive position in the hotel market. Though Holiday Inn is considered as a leader in hospitality sector there is a need of flexibility. Slight changes in the market can effect their operations of the business. They should not rely on their past success but instead they should innovative and ready for any future uncertainties. Holiday Inn Corporation focuses on services rather than accommodation itself. I truly agree that the true asset of the organisation is the staff. The staff are the one who represent Holiday Inn hotels through their excellent services. So there is a need to make sure that the staff is always happy with the behavioural integrity of work place. The corporate strategy of Holiday Inn has been able to guide the company from challengers and opportunities that appears in the market environment in order to sustain the competitive advantage. Therefore I think the leaders of the company should continue their style to motivate their employees and become a major asset for the success of the company.

REI Marketing Environment Worksheet Essay

1. Consumer incomes- As consumer incomes change the ability to sell non-essential goods is directly affected. REI sells non-essential goods. If consumer incomes are rising they will have discretionary income and REI should benefit. If Consumer incomes are flat or decreasing REI will see a negative impact on sales. 2. Inflation- Inflation is a measure of the decrease in the value of money. This means that if inflation is increasing it will take more money to purchase the same product. Again with REI they sell non-essential products and would be negatively affected by inflation. Inflation has not been a problem but it is predicted to be in the future so REI must factor this into their sales and marketing strategy. Global Economy How does the current global economy affect REI retail operations? 1. Since REI is not a global company they are less affected by the global economy. They are not immune however as the global downturn affects the U.S. economy as a whole. This in turn does have a secondary effect on REI. 2. Since the global economy directly affects the U.S. economy any downturn in the global economy is going to have a negative impact on the U.S. economy therefore having a secondary effect on REI. This would have the same effect as mentioned in the U.S. economy in part one. Legal and Regulatory Environment What types of legal and regulatory forces affect REI in the U.S.? 1.Federal, state and local regulations and agency’s affect REI as well as every other business. The Federal Trade Commission regulates competition to avoid unfair practices. The Consumer Protection Agency helps protect the  health and safety of consumers. Since REI has many private label products they must make sure that they are safe to avoid lawsuits and huge fines. 2. Since REI is a consumer Cooperative they also have some other regulations that govern how they manage their business. This does give them some tax advantages over the competition but may be a disadvantage when it comes to retained earnings and investments. Socio-Cultural Forces What types of social and culture trends affect REI? 1. REI has built its business on cultural trends. They are very environmentally friendly and very involved in special causes that relate to their business. They market to a special group of consumers that have similar believes and are willing to purchase products to support that believe. This is an example of Relationship Marketing and REI has been very successful with this strategy. 2. REI, according to their website hosted over 750 volunteer events to help the local community and environment. REI started in Seattle which is a perfect market for this type of approach. This market is very socially driven and willing to support companies that also have similar believes with the environment. This also may be a limiting factor when looking at future growth for REI. Especially is the economy takes a further downturn. Technological Forces What type of technology changes affect REI? 1. Changes in manufacturing techniques can have a huge impact. If similar products that REI sells become cheaper from a competitor due to technology advancements it has a direct impact on REI. They will either have to advance with the technology, change suppliers and/or manufacturing, or reduce price and margin to compete. Either way this is a threat to REI. 2. Another example of how technology can affect REI is simply in customer information. Who their customers are, the purchasing habits, personal information, disposable income etc†¦ A company that is tied into this data and uses it as a guide to their marketing strategy will have an advantage  over a company that does not. As a consumer coop REI has the ability to have a more complete data base than a non coop. Competitive forces are also a part of the marketing environment, and we will review those in this unit’s second assignment.

The Other Side of Email

The Other Side of Email Electronic communication has become a part of every aspect of our society and is recognized as being one of the most important and influential aspects of the way we carry out business. The days of anxiously waiting by the mailbox for news from a long distance relative or lover are over. We no longer send cute, labor intensive, hand written letters to relatives, and close ones. Instead, they are sent via e-mails. Email-type technology has made it much easier to contact other people in the same city, and even others around the world. In other words, instead of actually taking the time to write a letter to a friend through the mail, one can send an e-mail that takes about three seconds opposed to three or more days. In the article â€Å"The Other Side of E-Mail,† author Robert Kuttner explains the other side of email and technology, the dark side. Kuttner says that although, technology offers us many conveniences, such as being able to send and receive messages instantly, it brings along many drawbacks, such as privacy infringement. I agree with Kuttner’s thoughts on these downsides of technology. In my opinion, internet and email technology has definitively made our lives easier, but it has put our personal information at risk, significantly limited privacy, and leads to a waste of our time on a daily basis. Kuttner describes several negative effects of messaging technology. First one is that we might waste too much time in the E-mail and our privacy might be compromised. Social networking sites, like Facebook, have gotten users hooked on to the internet as if it were a drug. Almost every person I can think of has a Facebook account now days. A recent survey estimates that more than 85% of all college students use Facebook and more than 30 million users update their status at least once each day. Although, Facebook is a marvelous communicating media, hardly anything gets accomplished there. From personal experience, I have found it to be a massive waste of time that has people from all around the world addicted to it. The new, fancy technology in general is a waste of money and time. College students get caught up in the sweet talks of salesmen, and buy tablets, and other expensive gadgets to allow them to take notes in class etc. however, none of that note taking ever takes place. Most end up playing video games and texting in class, which is a step backward, not forward. Statistics also show that there is a relationship between divorce rates and Facebook, as it conveniently allows couples to stalk one another. Gary Traystman, a divorce attorney in New London, Conn. , said that of the 15 cases he handled in 2011 where co mputer history, texts and emails are admitted as evidence, 70% exclusively involve Facebook. The biggest problem with internet and messaging technology, however, is security. The fact that every bit of information about us is stored on the internet and can easily be stolen is nerve-wracking. Communication sites like Facebook, MySpace have the user’s full name, their date of birth, email ID, and even their phone numbers. All of that information can be accessed with the click of a button. The consequences of that can obviously be extremely dangerous. The internet is also filled with email scammers, and hackers. My uncle was recently scammed via the email. He made an online deal to purchase a car, which turned out to be a scam that took away $15,000 from his bank account. The clever scammer was never caught. That’s just one instance of how upsetting, and demoralizing the internet can be. Email is the main communicating media of the 21st century. When you register for banking or gaming accounts online, or even make online purchases, you are required to enter an E-mail address. If that email account is hacked, which happens frequently, all of your personal information can be stolen. In 2011, Sony’s online gaming servers were hacked, and â€Å"Hackers may have stolen the personal information of 24. 6 million Sony Online Entertainment users†, the company said. More than 20,000 credit card and bank account numbers were also put at risk. † There are many other demoralizing aspects of internet based technology, such as pornography. Children that learn how to use a computer at a young age are introduced to such content at an age that they shouldn’t be. This significantly hinders their future progress and affects their morals. Children adapt a lifestyle of sitting at home, playing with their iPods, Laptops and other internet devices, as opposed to playing sports, spending time with their relatives and family. This has led to a social disaster, especially in the U. S. , where we are so consumed by technology. As final remarks, I believe that the internet and emailing technology have completely revolutionized the world, however, it also led to many serious problems, such as infringement of privacy, wastage of time, and aiding in the leakage of personal information to online hackers. These concerns along with many others make emailing and internet not as divine and marvelous as we may think. Works Cited â€Å"Does Facebook Wreck Marriages? † – Real-Time Advice. N. p. , n. . Web. 31 Oct. 2012. . Haisha, Lisa. â€Å"Is Your Facebook Addiction a Sign of Loneliness? † The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost. com, 13 Apr. 2010. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Sony Hacked Again; 25 Million Entertainment Users’ Info at Risk. † Wired. com. Conde Nast Digital, 30 Apr. 0011. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. .