Friday, January 31, 2020
Analyze, discuss, and interpet Machiavelli's Art of War Essay
Analyze, discuss, and interpet Machiavelli's Art of War - Essay Example In this case, through detailed discussion and analysis of the aspects of war, one can apply the theories, mores, virtues, and principles, to that of the nationââ¬â¢s affair and consequently to civilian life. Military and State Since the problem of an ideal society or state has already been exhaustively discussed by Aristotelian and Socratic philosophers; For Machiavelli, the problem that he would like to delve on is how to expand and maintain the power of the state, which must be ordered for the benefit of the greater good of the people. To answer this, Machiavelli always would look back at history i.e. Rome, Sparta, Greece, and discovered a very important patternââ¬âthat powerful empires emerge out of violent victories. And it is through this premise that he patterned his ideals of leadership as characterized by his ââ¬ËPrince.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"For men change their rulers willingly, hoping to better themselves and this hope induces them to take up arms against him who rulesà ¢â¬ (Machiavelli, ââ¬Å"The Princeâ⬠). Ergo, one of the many important points that could be derived from ââ¬Å"The Art of Warâ⬠is that military leadership is synonymous to civil leadership. Because war is innate and inevitable as man is in constant conflict with himself, political objectives would be the defining force and or limitation of it. War is fought because of political motivesââ¬âwhich again reinforces another premise that Machiavelli madeââ¬âthat civil and military life is inseparable. That the way we functionââ¬âthe mores, principles, and standards that we apply in the military is also applicable or could also govern civil actions. For instance, the discipline of the soldiers could be instilled to workers; the essence of always being prepared for battleââ¬âstability under pressure, is a mindset that could be adopted in civilian affairs to be able to handle pressures of everyday life. Military as an Expression of Power Another important poin t that Machiavelli made is that military capabilities of a nation are the direct expression of power. The prince, to be an effective and powerful leader must also have an effective army. To prove his point, he again drew example from history ââ¬Å"Rome remained free four hundred years while armed: Sparta eight hundred: Many other Cities have been dis-armed, and have been free less than forty years.â⬠If a nation does not have an effective army, it must hire foreigners to fight its battle or for it to have someone defending its borders and citizens. But Machiavelli also warned that hiring foreigners for military could pose more dangers, as compared to maintaining your own, as these people could easily corrupt the citizens. When a nation has its own military, it ââ¬Å"has not other fear except of its own Citizensâ⬠(Machiavelli, ââ¬Å"Art of Warâ⬠). Military Strategy and Tactics vis-a-vis Politics According to Sun Tzu, ââ¬Å"the art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which
Thursday, January 23, 2020
I have studied poems of World War II. I found that the poems fell into :: English Literature
I have studied poems of World War II. I found that the poems fell into two categories, Recruiting Poems and Reality Poems. World War II Poetry I have studied poems of World War II. I found that the poems fell into two categories, Recruiting Poems and Reality Poems. Recruiting poems were those which were written by poets who have never encountered war but were paid to convince the reader, usually in their twenties, to sign up with the army. Reality poems tragic and effective story of what war was really like. They were written after war by a person who has suffered the consequences of the battleground. Dulce Et Decorum Est, a reality poem written by Wilfred Owen describes the struggle of a group of people who have to fight through the extraordinary events of war day in day out. Wilfred Owen frequently uses highly emotive language throughout the poem for example "haunting", "limped" and "guttering, choking, drowning". These help the reader imagine the terrible pain the soldiers suffered. Owen uses rhetorical devices such as "you too could pace behind the wagon that we flung him in" The title, in English means It Is Sweet And Honourable To Die For Ones Country. Which at first suggests that the poem represents the army in a good way. However this is far from the truth. In a way I think that Owen was mocking the saying but I don't think he was mocking the army as a whole. Owen says "Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs" which means the soldiers are so tired that even when the flares go off behind them they don't have the energy to turn around to see them. He also says "Drunk with fatigue" which is saying that the soldiers are so tired that it is as though they are drunk. Owen says these to ethicise the tiredness of the soldiers. The pace changes in the second stanza. The soldiers are woken by a gas attack. This changes the mood that Owen has set in the opening stanza. The soldiers are now woken by the fact that their lives are in extreme danger and they now have to be fully aware of all their surroundings, which will be difficult because of their tiredness. "Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, as under a green sea, I saw him drowning" The green light is the view through the soldier's gas masks. This is a simile saying that the man is drowning in a green sea. But really he is drowning in a sea of toxic blood.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Questions 1-6 Sobel
TCP connections which can be blocked by firewalls.. Which command would you give to update all installed packages using yam? Um update but If you are using older versions the yum update might not work you would need to use the yum update command Why would you build a package from a source ode when a (binary) RPM file Is evolvable? = because a source code you can modify the shell and with a binary you cannot also some binary distributions require that you unpack the software from the root directory Suggest two advantages that RPM files have over source distributions? = automatic dependency resolution, faster installation, easier to deploy.When you compile a package yourself rather from an RPM file, which directory hierarchy should you put It In? = /USSR,'local/mend What deer some steps you should take before performing an upgrade on a mission critical server? Perform the upgrade on an identically configured spare system and see what breaks and how to fix It. In particular, look for r ampages files and see what configuration information needs to be changed manually, when would you use RPM -I instead of RPM ?u?You would use -l (followed by the name) to leave the old kernel intact when you install a new kernel and the -u (command) followed by the name of the file you would use when you want to upgrade the package and install the new package. And make sure you have everything backed up also as a safety precaution Page 582 chapter 14 questions 1-10 which commands can you use from the command line to send a file to the default printer? Ip filename or you can use Pr filename and either of those commands will print to the default printer or the only printer on the system.What command would you give to cancel all print jobs on the system? You can use either cancel -a or PRM ââ¬â but you have to be in root in order to have this command work Which commands list your outstanding print Jobs? You can use Pips or you can use Pasta and either one of those will tell you what print jobs are in the queue What is the purpose of sharing a Linux printer using a samba? Sheering d Linux printer using Samba allows Windows and SO/2 clients to send print Jobs to the printer Name three printing protocols that cups supports? Http, PDP/lap,SMB and jittered (socket) protocols and up Is the native protocol which command list the Installed printer drivers available to cups? Pippin -m head How would you send a text file toe printer connected to d first parallel port without using the print queue? Cat tile ; deeper that is a command you can use, the bad thing is that it does not check to see if there Is other files being printed and you could get bunch of garbled output which ends up wasting paper and the other bad thing about It Is that you do not get another command prompt till the printing is finished unless you add an ampersand to the end of the command.What command would you use to add the printer to the TLS USB port Witt the name USB printer Vitamin -p Sprinter -E USB:/deep/USB/loop -P unprinted. PDP How would you define a quota that allows each user to print up to 50 pages per week too printer named Laser? = Vitamin -p laser -o Job page-limit?50 Define a set of access control rules for a let;Location; container inside etc/cups/cusps. Con that would allow anyone to print to all printers as long as they were either on the local machine or in the madwoman. Com domain? = ;Location [printers;gt
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Monday, December 30, 2019
Strategic Analysis Strategic Human Resource Management...
Strategic Human Resource Management is an approach to organizational strategy and is evolving in the workplace. Since change is inevitable, it makes sense that HRM would try to take a pro-active step and forecasting for the future is one strategic way to plan rather than yesterdayââ¬â¢s thoughts of simply recruiting, training, and employee benefits. Another example that requires implementation of SHRM is of the aging workforce. Analysis and data must be conducted to determine how this new shift could affect the organization and what changes, if any, need to happen to provide the transition amongst its employees as well as hiring new employees of a golden age. The HRM team must plan for future replacement of these workers; however, due to their vast experience, it wonââ¬â¢t be an easy task with simply obtaining new qualified workers. One proposition would require coordinating seasoned employees with newer staff to be able to transfer some of the knowledge beforehand. Ongoi ng training programs that involves both sets of employees to promote cross-training could prove to be a proactive step towards retirement. These ideas would need to have systems in place that could be analyzed and evaluated for ongoing improvements. This could also create a further opportunity to execute more diversity within the organization. To implement diversity HR must: - LINK DIVERSITY TO THE BOTTOM LINE greater diversity- greater span of experience - MAKE DIVERSITY EVIDENT ON ALL ORGANIZATIONShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis And Practical Applications Of Strategic Human Resource Management Essay1348 Words à |à 6 PagesStudent no. 20160088 DMH702 HR Mngt. An analysis and practical applications of strategic human resource management in Hansells Case study Hansells Case study In most companies, one of the primary goals is to produce world class and quality products. It is also the reason why these institutions invest large portion of the budget in technology, employee training/enhancement and modernising its facilities. Furthermore, the most essential resource of every company is its manpower. It is the processRead MoreSwot Analysis : Strategic Human Resource Management1785 Words à |à 8 Pagesare a result of the Human Resource Management and implementation of a cost-oriented business approach and efficient operations. Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM), a branch of Human Resource Management, was proven to be a long-term strategic approach to keep sustainable competitive advantage. (Ryanair. 2015). Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) is identified as an effective macro-organizational tool to support the role and function of Human Resource Management according to focus onRead MoreStrategic Human Resource Management Case Analysis at Home Depot Company2907 Words à |à 12 PagesStrategic Human Resource Management Case Analysis at Home Depot Company By Musalia Doughty Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 1.0 Overview of the Organization 3 1.1 Corporate Hierarchy of Home Depot 4 2.0 Strategic Human Resource Management at Home Depot 5 2.1 Workforce Diversity Management at Home Depot 5 2.2 Disadvantages of Workforce Diversity 7 3.0 Strategy to Counter Diversity Issue at Home Depot 7 3.1 Employee Relations 8 4.0 Implementing Employee RelationsRead MoreRewarding Employees Through Compensation and the Role Job Analysis and Hr Planning Has on the Organisations Performance with Strategic Human Resource Management and Remedies6185 Words à |à 25 PagesREWARDING EMPLOYEES THROUGH COMPENSATION AND THE ROLE JOB ANALYSIS AND HR PLANNING HAS ON THE ORGANISATIONS PERFORMANCE WITH STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIES CONTENTS PAGE 1. INTRODUCTION 4 2. ASSIGNMENT ONE Read MoreHow Strategic Management Plan And The Human Resource Planning Process1410 Words à |à 6 PagesFor this assignment we will examine how strategic management plans are established and redefine to keep the organizations moving forward in growth. Management promotes and brings about a change in the structure to keep it active and efficient in the approaches to achieving its goals and objective. The strategy behind the approaches correlation is what leads to actually implementing and providing data to analyze on an ongoing basis to enhance the strategic plan of the organization. The relationshipRead MoreHuman Resource Planning : The Organization s Long Term Goals And Strategies Essay1082 Words à |à 5 PagesStrategic Planning are the procedures for making decisions about the organizationââ¬â¢s long-term goals and strategies. Human Resource Planning (HRP) is the process of anticipating and making provision for the movement (flow) of people into, within, and out of an organization. Strategic Human Resources Management (SHRM) is the pattern of human resources deployments and activities that enable an organization to achieve its strategic goals. Strategy formulation provides input as to what is possible givenRead MoreHuman Resource Management and Strategic Human Resource Management1136 Words à |à 5 PagesManaging Human Resources, 3rd edn, John Wiley Sons, Milton, Qld. In chapter 1 of the text, the author shows an overview of human resource management and strategic human resource management. The author also shows the relationship between HRM and management, managerââ¬â¢s role meaning of strategy, strategic approach to HRM and strategic challenges. Lots of diagrams and explanations are used by the author. This chapter has contributed to my understanding of strategic human resource management by analysingRead MoreResearch Proposal: Strategic Hrm1623 Words à |à 7 Pagesââ¬Å"Perspectives on Human resource strategy: A key role contributing to organization performance in Cambodian Contextâ⬠By Chit Uys Stevexo July 21, 2011 The strategic management of an organization s human resource has been recognized as one of the keys to business success. This particular strategy generally involved the optimization of the employees potentials mainly through training and performance assessment. This organizational strategy has been integrated in several businesses mainly toRead MoreStrategic Planning Within Ge927 Words à |à 4 PagesThe strategic planning process is the formulation of the companyââ¬â¢s major objectives and execution plans. This process is of particular interest in GE. Strategy formulation is the process of choosing the best methods for a company where customer needs; competitive position and internal capability are the three factors that play the main role in strategic planning. Every manager needs to have at least a simple notion of strategic planning to formulate his strategic plans. Strategic Planning is a wideRead MoreHuman Resource Activities and Strategies1599 Words à |à 7 PagesAbstra ct: Nowadays, human resource management strategies became an essential part in an organization. Just like other strategies as marketing strategies or manufacturing strategies, human resource management strategies is functional strategies and they guide the actions to be taken within a specific function. For example, some HR activities like recruitment, selection training and development are guided by an organizationââ¬â¢s HRM strategies. In any organization, functional strategies aim to support
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Questions On Critical Thinking Assignment Questions
Critical Thinking Assignment Questions You will choose 4 out of the 7 questions to complete throughout the semester. I suggest to pick one that is easiest for you and complete it first. Each question will be completed in APA format. This means you will need a title page, abstract, citations, and references. Remember, citations helps support your argument. You may only use the online research school database for your resources. If you use a reference that is not part of the online database, I will not count that as a reference and deduct points. Pay attention to the due dates on the Syllabus. All assignments will be uploaded via D2L dropbox under the Assessment tab. When saving your assignment on your computer/thumb drive, save in the following way: Jason Fernandez CT 1 This allows me to keep track of which assignments you have completed. Note* If you complete Critical Thinking # 4, you will receive an additional 5 points on your next exam. Critical Thinking # 1 The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in psychology. Some people suggested that certain things are inborn, or that they simply occur naturally regardless of environmental influences. The ultimate questions lies: Did this happen due to genetics, environment, or is it a combination of both? For this Critical Thinking assignment, you are to think of a topic that can be debatable from a nature vs. nurture perspective. You must compare the topic to both the nature and nurtureShow MoreRelatedEssay about Assessment of Critical Thinking976 Words à |à 4 Pagesor the course modified. The aim of this paper is to define assessment and critical thinking skills, and then review a State University course and suggest different assessments that could be used to demonstrate learning. Theoretical Foundations of Nursing will be the course reviewed, as it is the only course I have previously taken, and therefore the only course which I have assess to the curriculum. Critical thinking is recognized by accrediting bodies as an outcome for graduates of bachelorRead MorePHL 458 Complete Class Week 1 - 5 ââ¬â All Assignments, Presentations, DQs ââ¬â A+ Graded Course Material1177 Words à |à 5 PagesPHL 458 Complete Class Week 1 - 5 ââ¬â All Assignments, Presentations, DQs ââ¬â A+ Graded Course Material Click on the Link Below to Purchase A+ Work for PHL458 http://hwminute.com/downloads/phl-458-whole-wks-1-5-dqs-assignments-amaterial/ Week 1 Individual Critical Thinking and Society Exercise Write 150- to 200 words on each of the following topics: â⬠¢ Describe a situation in which critical and creative thought could have been used for a better outcome. Describe why it is important to think criticallyRead MoreEvaluation Of A Bsn Program876 Words à |à 4 Pages(Billings Halstead, 2016. pp. 110-111). This paper will evaluate one BSN and one MSN program outcome from the Grantham University Catalog for appropriate leveling based on Bloomââ¬â¢s Taxonomy Cognitive Domain. An assignment will be created assessing the nursing studentââ¬â¢s ability to use critical thinking to meet the outcome expectation in both programs. Granthamââ¬â¢s University mission statement is ââ¬Å"to expand a studentââ¬â¢s skills in areas of leadership, community concepts, research and professional practiceRead MoreMy Personal Rules for Success in College and Life1129 Words à |à 4 Pagesbetween work and study. I show up to classes and meetings in time. I participate and ask questions in class. I participate in extracurricular activities. I always work on my weaknesses. I allocate time for leisure. I maintain a healthy life-style. I maintain close relationship with my family and friends. I strive for best. While I gathered this list from the top of my head, thinking about rules that I want to follow and believe will help me achieve success in college and lifeRead MoreCritical Thinking And Social Media Defined1426 Words à |à 6 PagesCritical Thinking Social Media Defined According to criticalthinking.org, the definition of critical thinking is ââ¬Å"that mode of thinking ââ¬â about any subject, content, or problem ââ¬â in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it. Critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entailsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Outliers By Malcolm Gladwell866 Words à |à 4 PagesCritical thinking can be the foundation to learning and to success. Thinking influences every aspect of life yet it is often taken for granted. The ability to think critically requires practice but it is important to look past what might be the obvious way of seeing things. In doing so it becomes easier to formulate a claim based on facts rather than opinions. These are some of the skills that I began to develop in the first as signment on Arguing Ethically/Thinking Logically. This was based on ChapterRead MoreCourse Schedule of Philosophy 2511695 Words à |à 7 PagesPHL 251 Critical Thinking Professor Khristian E. Kay Donââ¬â¢t Panic! Program Council The Academic Program Councils for each college oversee the design and development of all University of Phoenix curricula. Council members include full-time and practitioner faculty members who have extensive experience in this discipline. Teams of full-time and practitioner faculty content experts are assembled under the direction of these Councils to create specific courses withinRead MoreThe Importance Of Critical Thinking On College Education1030 Words à |à 5 PagesThe article by Boarer- Pitchford (2014) discussed the importance of critical thinking in college education and encouraged educators to use authentic assessments that require students to demonstrate the understanding of course concepts and promote the development of critical thinking based on the results of their study that examined make up of test grades derived from traditional and authentic assessment and factors that influenced the educators use of assessment techniques. On the other hand, theRead MoreChapter 3 : An Purpose For Reading1324 Words à |à 6 PagesChapter 3 helped me get involve with my readings by annotating the text and developing questions within the text while I am actively engaging with my studies. Also, this chapter showed me different note taking styles which are mind mapping, outline, SQ3R, and Cornell notes. I can make a mixture of these note taking styles to my preference. Chapter 7 is another useful resource, this chapter discuss thinking clearly and communicating your ideas. One key aspect is presentation skills; able to deliverRead MoreAssignment Case Study Honda1227 Words à |à 5 PagesAssignment Case study Honda Marketing [pic] Introduction: This individual assignment will be assessed by means of a 3,500 à ± 10% word report. The assignment has been designed to allow you to develop and use your knowledge and skills in understanding key strategic issues relating to the Global Automobile Industry. You will be required to apply the strategic concepts and analytical techniques studied in this module. All the learning
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Strategic operations issues and Lean Synchronisation Free Essays
string(137) " the firm from all 20 plus solicitors are consistent and align with the objectives of the firm, the client and the insured is important\." INTRODUCTION: Lean synchronisation is an emerging practice that seeks to streamline the ââ¬Ëflow of products and servicesââ¬â¢ in order to eliminate waste (Slack et al. 2012 p. 352). We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic operations issues and Lean Synchronisation or any similar topic only for you Order Now The aim of this paper is to identify the strategic operational issues in relation to AB Partners (a law firm referred to as ââ¬Å"ABâ⬠), more specifically with the process of signing out mail, which is referred to in Figure 1.1 below. The paper has three sections. Firstly, the definition of lean synchronisation (referred to herein as ââ¬Å"LSâ⬠) will be defined, especially within the service industry, followed by outlining the current process of signing out mail at AB. By analysing the existing procedure in the context of lean synchronisation, the paper will highlight the delays and imperfections of the existing procedure, as well as provide recommendations to improve the process in order to improve the five performance objectives. WHAT IS LEAN SYNCHRONISATION? LS is a process of production with the ââ¬Ëaim of achieving a flow of products and services that always delivers exactly what customers want, in exact quantities, exactly when needed, exactly when required, and at the lowest possible costââ¬â¢ (Slack et al. 2012 p. 358). It has successfully been implemented in such corporations as Toyota and the Bolton Hospitals National Health Service Trust. Both examples aim ââ¬Ëto achieve perfect synchronisation through smooth and even flowââ¬â¢ (Slack et al. 2012 p. 358). It is important to note that LS cannot be achieved overnight, but it is a continuous process and should serve as an objective that managers should incessantly strive for (Slack et al. 2012 p. 353). Given that LS requires the co-operation of everyone involved in the process and the supply network, there needs to be transparency and communication between everyone involved, especially those involved with the operational components of the process and/or supply network (Jullien Tjahono 2009 p. 325). The goal of LS is to open up the work process and abolish the usual hierarchies of traditional management to provide ââ¬Ësmooth, uninterrupted flow without delay, waste or imperfection of any kindââ¬â¢ (Slack et al. 2012 p. 359). Whilst the idea of LS is well established in the manufacturing sector, the benefits of implementing the philosophy to the service industry can achieve equally valuable results. (Jullien Tjahono 2009 p. 321). Pixar Animation Studios adopted Toyotaââ¬â¢s approach to management and it has resulted in being a leader of computer graphics in filmmaking (Slack et al. 2012 p. 373). The encouragement of continuous advice and criticism from its creative teams, brings problems to the surface before it becomes and crises and affects the overall operation (Slack et al. 2012 p. 373). By encouraging open communication during LS the responsibility for solving the problem is now shared with everyone, ââ¬Ëimproving the chances of the problem being solvedââ¬â¢ in the most efficient and cost-effective manner in order to reply to the customerââ¬â¢s needs and demands (Slack et al. 2012 p. 355). à A B PARTNERS A B Partners (ââ¬Å"ABâ⬠) is a specialised insurance and commercial litigation law firm. The objectives of the business are to be the leader in the area ofà insurance law, more specifically motor vehicle insurance, public liability and home insurance. The firm acts for various insurance companies and there is often a panel of law firms acting for these insurance companies. Whilst in most law firms there is only one client, in insurance litigation there are various stake holder interests to weigh up. There is the insurance company (ââ¬Å"Clientâ⬠) who insures the insured (ââ¬Å"IOâ⬠) or the insuredââ¬â¢s company, motor vehicle or home, the shareholders of the Client and upholding the Clientââ¬â¢s obligations to the Insurance Commission Board, to which it is a signatory to. Weighing up these interests is sometimes a difficult and, often, a contradictory juggling act, which is made even more difficult with the solicitorââ¬â¢s obligation to the firm, his/her budget, the impact of settling one file affecting another file with the same opposition, complying with oneââ¬â¢s obligations with the Legal Services Board and a solicitorââ¬â¢s primary duty to the court as an officer of the court, which overrides every other obligation. In insurance litigation, more specifically, in motor vehicle insurance, there are often the same law firms within the ââ¬Å"gameâ⬠. However, occasionally the other driver involved in the accident (ââ¬Å"TPDâ⬠) chooses not to go through their insurance company and either goes through another law firm or a recovery agent law firm who specialises in issuing against insurance companies or choses to be unrepresented. Therefore, you often have more multiple matters against any one firm at the one time and, hence, how you interact with that firm on one matter will most likely influence how settlement negotiations will be dictated in another. Because of the contract AB has with the client, all new files must be actioned within 48 hours. This is high volume, low variety work which often sees a solicitor handling 100- 115 files. The main principles are: ââ¬â provide concise, practical and commercially focused advice ââ¬â proactively manage all disputes ââ¬â resolve disputes at the earliest possible opportunity ââ¬â build long term client relationship ââ¬â deliver value for money Because AB is often part of a panel of firms that continuously have to re-submit tenders every 5-7 years, it is competing with other firms to provide the best service. This is measured but to key performance indicators: 1. Total days it took to resolve the matter; and 2. Recovery/Settlement rate (how much the client spent on legal costs compared to how much was recovered or how much was paid out to the TPD). MAIL SIGNING Given the main KPIââ¬â¢s are total days turnover and recover/settlement rates, speed and accuracy of advice is important. Law is often a game of chess. Even though most matters follow the same formula there is often one detail that can change the solicitorââ¬â¢s strategic approach to the whole matter and anticipating the other solicitorââ¬â¢s move will determine your next action. Because AB is well regarded nationally as being one of the foremost leaders in its field, ensuring every document that leaves the firm from all 20 plus solicitors are consistent and align with the objectives of the firm, the client and the insured is important. You read "Strategic operations issues and Lean Synchronisation" in category "Papers" This has resulted in a policy that all outgoing mail/documents must be signed off by a Partner. There are two Partners that are in charge of the motor vehicle team which consists of twelve Solicitors. Throughout the day solicitors place their completed correspondence in a designated pile in the respective partnerââ¬â¢s office. Because each solicitor handles files from more than one jurisdiction, often the solicitors have to drop off correspondence in both partnerââ¬â¢s office. At approximately 3pm the process of mail signing and discussing any issues or problems with files commences. This is often a long and arduous process, eating into valuable billing time of the solicitors and partners, who also have 100 plus files of their own they are running. A minor mistake in a letter, for example an incorrect spelling of someoneââ¬â¢s name, will result in the mail not being signed out and having it beà forwarded back to the solicitorââ¬â¢s secretary for amending. By the time it returns to the solicitor to give back to the partner, it is the end of the business day, mail people have gone home or worse, the designated partner has left for the day and the letter must be re-amended to change the date to the next business day. What may be a simple task of forwarding documents to another party in the proceedings has taken more than two days to complete. Figure 1.1 is a process flow map of the procedure. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM The aspects of the current mail signing procedure do not comply with all of the performance objectives of AB. Quality The quality of work is high as most letters are of similar standard and style. Whilst most of the documents conform to some type of readymade precedent on the system, many do not. Furthermore, the precedents are often out of date and do not correspond with costs allowed by the court. Additionally, numerous new cases have been handed down, which contradict the precedent letters regarding advice on liability and apportionment of costs. Even though the decisions in these cases are not upheld strictly in the local court and the courts of similar jurisdiction in other states and territories, it does add to the persuasiveness of oneââ¬â¢s argument. Speed As previously stated one of the KPIââ¬â¢s is the total amount of days the matte was open with the firm and how long it took to resolve the matter Therefore, timing is crucial. It is generally a rule that all matters be issued or actioned within 48 hours of the files being received by the firm. However, one to two days are lost at the beginning with the claims department printing the file, and forwarding the said file to a partner who then allocates it to a solicitor. If, in the unlikelihood, the file contains all the documents needed to be actioned, it will still take a further two days at best to send out the first letter due to the backlog of dictation waiting to be typed up by the secretaries (at this stage, the ratio of secretaries to solicitors is 1:2.5), checked by the partner and ready to be sent out onà the first attempt. Within the first week of receiving the file, the file is sitting idle in a partnerââ¬â¢s office or in a dictation line for at least half of the time . Dependability Whilst every attempt is made to respond to a clientââ¬â¢s request within 48 hours, it is difficult with the amount of file load a solicitor has and the amount of ââ¬Å"urgentâ⬠matters that need to be actioned that very day. As every solicitorââ¬â¢s schedule is difference, (i.e time or hearings and amount of hearings) it is difficult to provide a guaranteed response time across the whole firm. Flexibility AB values its relationship with its clients. Ensuring that we are able to provide general advice that we do not bill for, whilst performing the billable work is essential in ensuring AB maintain client relationships as contracts must be re-tendered every 3-5 years. It is this ââ¬Å"extra-value serviceâ⬠that sets AB apart from the competition. Often it involves dropping whatever billable task is being performed and providing the client with a comprehensive researched advice based on current law and trends in a particular jurisdiction by the close of business that day or the next morning. Cost Due to the highly competitive nature of the market, AB have been the leaders in introducing a fixed fee pricing framework. If a matter only gets to a certain stage, AB will only charge a pre-determined amount no matter how many phone calls/letters were drafted or how much work was required. This has reduced the time solicitors spend on costing a file and it also forces the solicitor to adopt lean processes to ensure maximum results with minimum effort. Discounts are provided if the matter has not been finalised within a required time and if the settlement/recovery rate is not achieved. Conversely, solicitors are entitled to charge an uplift if matters are finalised withinà the agreed time frame and the recovery/settlement rate is achieved. The days of putting certain files in the ââ¬Å"too hardâ⬠basket and waiting for schedules to slow down are gone due to this new pricing framework. LEAN SYNCHRONISATION The rigidity of conforming to a certain style of writing affects the dependability, speed and, ultimately, the cost of the performance objectives of AB. Not enough training is provided to new solicitors as to the ââ¬Å"AB wayâ⬠of drafting and negotiating. Furthermore, the knowledge and experience of the partners are vital to the solicitorââ¬â¢s application of the law to current files. Seeing each solicitor individually and having to wait until mail signing time to request guidance does not assist with the firmââ¬â¢s objective of providing quick and efficient legal solution as it adds to the waste of irregular flow (Slack et al. 2012 p. 360). Given the new pricing framework, the importance of lean synchronisation has never been more important. The goal for all solicitors is to provide advice that will ensure an excellent recovery/settlement rate and quick resolution of the matter. With difficult files that do not fit the established precedent letters, advice from the partnerââ¬â¢s is essential. However, as stated above, waiting until mail signing time is not ideal as there are often other solicitors needing their mail signed out and often there will be corrections that need to be made. Often making an appointment the next available business day is required to go into depth the theory behind certain legal principles as well as formulating a response that ââ¬Å"fitsâ⬠the intended audience as writing to a client differs greatly to writing to other firms and there is even a difference in the style of writing depending on who the law firm is. Often the Partnerââ¬â¢s do not understand why things have taken as long as it has due to non-transparency and non-communication between the different processes; 1. The amount of dictating the secretaries have to type; 2. The file load of the solicitor; 3. The amount of extra research the solicitor is doing that is unable to be billed; 4. The insufficient claims documentsà being supplied by the Client and, therefore, the amount of time spent chasing the client or IO for additional information; and 5. The amount of time wasted whilst being on hold with the Client to seek further instructions. All of the above factors contribute to waste on a file that is simple and straight forward. Files that are complex are expected to take longer as it often needs to be explained to the Client and IO in more detail. RECOMMENDATIONS Given the word limit only two recommendations will be outlined briefly. DECREASE FILE LOAD OF THE PARTNERS Within the legal field imparting oneââ¬â¢s experience of a certain judge, opposition or client is just as important as oneââ¬â¢s knowledge of the principles of the law. Knowing the credibility of your own client will be a major deciding factor of any case. The wisdom and experience of a partner is vital. Therefore, the Partnerââ¬â¢s should assume more of a mentor role and harness their time to teach the solicitorââ¬â¢s the skills they have acquired throughout their careers. In time this knowledge can be passed on to the Senior Associates who can then share the responsibilities of signing out mail of the other solicitor, as well as aiding the solicitors with any queries. Access to knowledge and guidance will be readily acceptable, therefore, reducing the waiting time and delays between activities. REGULAR SOLICITORS MEETINGS Conducting regular solicitors meetings of 4-5 solicitors where each solicitor raises any problems they have with a file or a particular process (i.e secretarial support is spread to thin) can serve two purposes; 1.It communicates any processes to senior management that is not working on an operational level; and 2.It encourages solicitors to work together to resolve ââ¬Å"problem filesâ⬠whilst allowing greater access to knowledge from other solicitorââ¬â¢s successful (not so successful) negotiating techniques, approaches, legal strategy etcâ⬠¦ In time the solicitors will have confidenceà in their ability to provide correct legal advice that the inefficient process of mail signing will be eradicated for experienced solicitors. 7. CONCLUSION Based on the analysis above, we can conclude the current mail signing process is time consuming and involves unnecessary processes that can eradicated completely or modified to increase the time available the solicitors can bill the client for. Eventually, the aim of adopting LS processes should be to increase access to information, whether that is recent trends in specific courts to theoretical knowledge of the legal principles so as to avoid the current bottleneck system. Partnerââ¬â¢s should assume more of a mentor role and harness their time to teach the solicitorââ¬â¢s the skills they have acquired throughout their careers. Access to knowledge and guidance will be readily acceptable, therefore, reducing the waiting time and delays between activities How to cite Strategic operations issues and Lean Synchronisation, Papers
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