Both prosperity and poverty are from Allah Essay Example

Both prosperity and poverty are from Allah Essay To limit spending will not bring prosperity nor over-expenditure cause poverty.It is an ethical obligation on mankind as a whole, not only Muslims, to care for and help each other i.e. for the wealthy to help the poverty-stricken amongst us. It is only right to help those in need as they are also human and have a right to live s humans.Islam is a practical religion concerned with the welfare of each and every individual. In fact, Islam is the only religion which has made charity compulsory.Wealth is a good asset if used in the correct manner but it can also be a very bad one if used in the wrong ways and so it is a test set by Allah. The prophet has said Every nation has a trial and the trial of my nation is their wealth.Wealth is regarded as a vital essential of support for both the religious and worldly affairs. Allah says: And give not unto the foolish your property which Allah has made a means of support for you.(Quraan 4:5)The spending of wealth is also an art as is the acquirin g. Wealth is meant to be spent; and not for hoarding so that one may become a miser. There are many lawful ways of spending: to spend on ones family, to spend in jihad, to give to the poor and needy, to spend on orphans and widows, and to free slaves are all examples.Poverty is very difficult to define, because, it varies from individual to individual. Although the Oxford English Dictionary is: destitution, deficiency, needy, and difficulties. Poverty is also a test, set by Allah. It isnt looked upon as a good factor; Islam rejects the notion of poverty as something holy. It should be fought. Islam urges us to make dua seeking independence of means. The prophet said in his duas O Allah I ask you forand independence of means.Islam uses numerous means to combat poverty, the principal being charity. Islam is the only religion which has made alms-giving obligatory. Muslims are given specific direction in the Quraan, Sunnah and ahadith to give charity. The right of a Muslim over another Muslim are five: Respond to a salaam to give a drink to the thirsty one. (Bukhaari)There are various types of charity, the most prominent is Zakah. The word Zakah means to purify/cleanse, it purifies the wealth from evil and the heart from greediness. Zakah is the third pillar of Islam. The prophet (p.b.u.h) said: Zakah is a great strong bridge. This means that it bridges the gap between the rich and poor and helps to bring about a feeling of equality.It is to give 2.5% of your wealth, annually to the poor. This applies to cash, property, businesses, and gold and silver jewellery. Zakah is obligatory on every free, mature, sane, Muslim, when he owns the amount which determines the payment of Zakah and has that amount for at least a year. Zakah is payable to 6 types of people: the poor, the needy, for those in debt, to the one fighting in the path of Allah, and for the stranded wayfarer.There are many benefits of giving charity, for example, increase of wealth, protection from calami ties, great riches in heaven, forgiveness, and the afore-mentioned purification of the soul. Verses 5-22 in Surah 76 describe the glorious riches to be bestowed upon those who help the needy, in heaven.Allah has also spoken of the punishments of those who do not pay in the Quraan: That which they hoard will be made a collar (in the form of a snake) on the day of the resurrection. This verse has been corroborated by a hadith of the prophet (p.b.u.h) which reports that he non-payers wealth will be turned into a venomous snake which will devour its owner and strangle him continuously thus Allah mentions the collar.There is one other essential charity known as sadaqat-ul-fitr which is paid on Eid-ul-fitr, so that the poor may also enjoy this occasion. It is à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1.50 per head and is to be paid before the Eid prayer. It is obligatory on those on whom Zakah is obligatory but age is not a factor and the father has to pay on behalf of his children.In addition to essential charities t here are also many voluntary charities for example:* Sadaqah-a voluntary act of alms for the cause of Allah, by Muslims who want to contribute more than their obligatory Zakah payment. There is no fixed amount for Sadaqah but rather you can give how much you want. The benefits are very similar to those of Zakah.* Sadaqah Jaariyah (continuous charity)-is money given for amenities which are purchased and their benefits are reaped and continued even after the death of the benefactor. The reward reaches him even after his death until the service has finished.* Waqf-property/land contributed to charitable organisations for use at their discretion.* Aqeeqah-refers to the ceremony which takes place on the 7th day of an infants life. The hair of head is shaved and its weight in silver is given to charity.* Qurbani-buying an animal whos meat is distributed amongst the poor on the festival of Eid-ul-Adha.The beneficiaries of charity must also try to support themselves, through lawful means, i f able to do so. Dependence of an able person on anyone else is a communal humiliation and a religious disgrace. Earning ones livelihood is a duty, which is blessed, rather than begging which is frowned upon in Islam. The holy prophet (p.b.u.h) has said: It is far better for one to take his rope, cut some wood, pile it and sell it rather than to beg others.Money can also be misused in many ways, the most common being interest or usury. This term, according to the oxford English dictionary, means lending of money at a ridiculous or illegal interest rate. The taking and/or giving of interest is totally haram in Islam. Usury gives to the rich and takes from the poor; this is totally against the concept of Zakah, and both parties lose out. The poor grow more indebted and the rich become richer and greedier, thus Islam forbids taking or giving interest.The North-South divide is the socio-economic divide which separates the rich North or the developed world, from the poor south otherwise known as the developing or third world. The phrase rich north, poor south is sometimes used.As countries become economically developed, they may become part of the Rich North, regardless of their geographical location, while any other countries which do not qualify for developed status are considered to be part of the Poor South.Every single human being, regardless of race, religion, or culture, has a right to live an average life and have the basic necessities of life, which are: clean drinking water, food, shelter, clothing, education, employment and medical care. The world is an unjust place and not everyone is fortunate enough to have these bare necessities.Education provides the key to a better future, helping people to fulfil their potential and pursue their goals in life. For millions of people across the developing world even basic education is simply out of reach.Poverty is closely linked to illiteracy-as both cause and consequence. Without basic literacy or skills the oppo rtunities for people to break free from poverty are limited. Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? (Quran 39:9)Living in unhygienic conditions with little food and no clean water, millions of people are prone to malnutrition and ill health. Poverty creates a vicious cycle where the weak and malnourished easily fall ill, while those already suffering from disease become especially vulnerable to severe malnutrition.Without water no human being can live for more than 3 days. Although these poor people have access to water it is nearly always deadly and contains illnesses such as cholera and diarrhoea. Nutrition is needed to live and this can only be obtained through food. Nearly 12 million children under the age of 5 die ever year, and half of these deaths are caused by the primary effects of malnutrition. Malnourished children are 12 times more likely to die from preventable diseases such as diarrhoea and respiratory infection. If all the food in the world were eq ually distributed, every person would be able to consume 2,760 calories a day and be healthy and well-fed but sadly, this is not so, which is why there is a need for world development.There is too much inequality and injustices in the world, developed countries are rich, developing countries are getting richer and less developed countries (LDCs) are still very poor which is also why there is a need for world development.Moreover, because governments themselves in the South prevent their countries developing, by taking loans, and so adding to this divide. For example, Nigerias wealth helps drive the global economy, yet almost a third of its people live on less than 50p a day. LDCs take loans from developed countries who charge sky-scraping rates of interest. They are forced to grow cash crops like coffee, tea and tobacco when they could be growing food for their people.There is a need for world development because lack of development leads to:* Suffering due to hunger* Inability to r espond to natural disasters e.g. earthquakes, floods etc.* Resentment which in turn can lead to wars and terrorism* Corruption in LDCs* Cycles of depressionFurthermore, because short term charitable organisations lead to recurring problems, over-dependence on aid, decline in self-esteem and self-reliance, all these and more reasons for the need of world development.The G8 summit is a group of 8 nations who gather together annually to discuss the major problems of the day. The G8 summits have already achieved many concrete things such as setting up the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Health Fund), establishing a new relationship with Africa with the G8 Africa Action Plan in response to the African-led New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD), making safe nuclear facilities in Russia, launching the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, an agreed process for cancelling the debt of the worlds poorest countries and action against money laun dering.My chosen Muslim Charity Organisation is Islamic Relief (IR).Islamic Relief is an international relief and development charity organisation addressing the needs of the worlds poorest people. It is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) founded in Birmingham and established in 1984. 20 years on, and the organisation has grown seven figure budgets and hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries. The Islamic Relief logo is shown on the left.It has only one central aim, which they try to achieve: to alleviate the poverty and suffering of the worlds poorest people.Islamic Reliefs work ranges from emergency relief to long-term impact on projects in areas such as water and sanitation, health and nutrition, orphan sponsorship. They have managed to improve the lives of millions of people over the last 20 year.Education and Training Education projects have a long-term impact on poverty reduction. Islamic Relief schools and training centres throughout the world provide the means by which the poor can find a way out of the cycle of poverty.Health Nutrition Islamic Relief is committed to providing healthcare and basic medication and health education to the poor and needy. Many hospitals and mobile clinics have been set up over the last 20 years.Orphan Sponsorship In ten countries around the world, Islamic Relief cares for over five thousand orphans and their families, either through one-to-one sponsorship or through general welfare funds.Water Sanitation Islamic Relief is committed to helping communities gain access to clean water through its various water projects. By digging wells, building water supply systems and creating sanitation facilities, they hope to give as many people as possible access to this essential service.Income Generation Islamic Relief believes in helping people to help themselves. Their income-generation projects aim to help individuals utilise their own skills and resources to become self-reliant and try to re-construct their li ves.Emergency Relief Their Emergency Response Unit is always on standby, ready to reach victims in the shortest possible time. Their priority is always to provide the basic necessities of food, water, shelter and medical treatment to as many people as possible.Here are a few of their projects underway in the Pakistan earthquake-affected areas:* Twenty earthmoving vehicles opening roads* Food distributions to 180,000 people over 6 months* Delivering medicines worth à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2 million* Providing access to clean water and to sanitation facilities* Supplying 10,000 families with tents* Warm clothing to 25,000 survivorsThey have also helped and are still helping for the Southeast Asia tsunami. Here is the Islamic Reliefs intervention in Banda Aceh (Indonesia) at a glance:* Distribution of 400 family sized tents among survivors* Loaning to the public to help re-establish businesses* Over 400 permanent homes under construction* Funding carpentry training for 42 people* Health clinics h ave been built and mobile health clinics are sent* Wells dug and pumps installed* 20 schools rebuilt* 174 lavatories built in 20 different locations* Tailors, fishing boats, rickshaws and other forms of aid have been suppliedIslamic Relief works in two general areas: It collects money on the one hand and implements projects on the other. Islamic Relief therefore maintains two types of offices: fundraising offices and field offices.Islamic Relief has 14 field offices spread across different countries where they work, including Albania, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Chechnya, Egypt, India, Iraq, Kosovo, Mali, Pakistan, Palestine and Sudan.Through the generosity of the donor community over the past twenty years, Islamic Relief has earned a reputation for its capacity to help the poor and vulnerable. Islamic Relief is now a well known and respected aid agency committed to the worlds poorest people.

Equilibrium Constant Kc and How to Calculate It

Equilibrium Constant Kc and How to Calculate It Equilibrium Constant Definition The equilibrium constant is the value of the reaction quotient that is calculated from the expression for chemical equilibrium. It depends on the ionic strength and temperature and is independent of the concentrations of reactants and products in a solution. Calculating the Equilibrium Constant For the following chemical reaction:aA(g) bB(g) ↔ cC(g) dD(g) The equilibrium constant Kc is calculated using molarity and coefficients: Kc [C]c[D]d / [A]a[B]b where: [A], [B], [C], [D] etc. are the molar concentrations of A, B, C, D (molarity) a, b, c, d, etc. are the coefficients in the balanced chemical equation  (the numbers in front of the molecules) The equilibrium constant is a dimensionless quantity (has no units). Although the calculation is usually written for two reactants and two products, it works for any numbers of participants in the reaction. Kc in Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous Equilibrium The calculation and interpretation of the equilibrium constant depends on whether the chemical reaction involves homogeneous equilibrium or heterogeneous equilibrium. All of the products and reactants are in the same phase for a reaction at homogeneous equilibrium. For example, everything could be a liquid or all the species could be gases.More than one phase is present for reactions that reach heterogeneous equilibrium. Usually, only two phases are present, such as liquids and gases or solids and liquids. Solids are omitted from the equilibrium expression. The Significance of the Equilibrium Constant For any given temperature, there is only one value for the equilibrium constant. Kc  only changes if the temperature at which the reaction occurs changes. You can make some predictions about the chemical reaction based on whether the equilibrium constant is large or small. If the value for Kc is very large, then the equilibrium favors the reaction to the right, and there are more products than reactants. The reaction may be said to be complete or quantitative. If the value for the equilibrium constant is small, then the equilibrium favors the reaction to the left, and there are more reactants than products. If the value of Kc approaches zero, the reaction may be considered not to occur. If the values for the equilibrium constant for the forward and reverse reaction are nearly the same, then the reaction is about as likely to proceed in one direction, and the other and the amounts of reactants and products will be nearly equal. This type of reaction is considered to be reversible. Example Equilibrium Constant Calculation For the equilibrium between copper and silver ions: Cu(s) 2Ag ⇆ Cu2(aq) 2Ag(s) The equilibrium constant expression is written as: Kc [Cu2] / [Ag]2 Note the solid copper and silver were omitted from the expression. Also, note the coefficient for the silver ion becomes an exponent in the equilibrium constant calculation.

Critically Analyse the Legal and Political System of England Regarding Assignment

Critically Analyse the Legal and Political System of England Regarding the Case Study - Assignment Example The Financial Services Authority and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are the two bodies monitoring the enforcement of the Companies Act 2006 in UK (Cahn 2010, p.19). It should be noted that the Companies Act 2010 contains strict rules in regard to a series of issues, such as ‘the involvement of directors in the trading of their companies’ securities’ (Cahn 2010, p.19) or the approval of critical transactions by the shareholders (Cahn 2010, p.19). However, the key mission of the above Act, as of company law in UK in general, is ‘to facilitate the operation of market forces’ (Hicks and Goo 2008, p.12). This trend is made clear in the following fact: privatization of companies in UK is continuously developed, mostly through the increase of employee share schemes across UK (Hicks and Goo 2008, p.12). The pressure on companies for aligning their activities with existing laws can be differentiated, under the influence of contradicting int erests (for example, the interests of employees as opposed to those of shareholders) and the need for securing competition. 1b. UK law and employee relations One of the most important characteristics of the legal framework of employee relations in UK is its inability to secure employee rights; the fact that the existing laws focusing on employee relations in UK are limited, compared to other countries, is considered as the key reason for the above phenomenon. Moreover, the laws related to employee relations seem to favour rather the employer, an assumption verified through the following fact: traditionally, the length of employment period has been a key term for deciding the right of employees across UK to ask for compensation in case of unfair dismissal (Hollinshead, Nicholls and Tailby 2002, p.519). Even employees in fixed term contracts are often asked to waive their rights to claim compensation in case of dismissal because of redundancy (Hollinshead, Nicholls and Tailby 2002, p. 519). Moreover, for the UK labour law, the rules related to employee relations can be applied only in cases of employees who work on the basis of a contract (Countouris 2007, p.78). This means that the UK labour law does not protect employees who work without an employment contract. In most European countries, employees’ rights are protected even if there is no employment contract; for instance, certain social security rights are recognized to employees who work without employment contract (Countouris, 2007, p.78). On the other hand, there is a series of legal texts addressing various employee relations’ issues; for example the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Wages Act 1986 (Countouris 2007, p.78-79). When evaluating the decision of Marks and Spencer to announce the closure of its stores in France just before the meeting with the employees’ representatives, reference should be made to the following fact: indeed, Marks and Spencer is primarily bound by the UK labour law. The application, though, of the labour laws of the host country, France, where the firm’s stores are located, cannot be excluded especially at the level that the local laws would be in opposition with the UK relevant legal rules. Marks and Spencer operates globally. This means that

The Leader Affects the Outcome of an Ethical Situation Essay

The Leader Affects the Outcome of an Ethical Situation - Essay Example The health provider and any other concerned person must respect any decision by the patient. The case of Eduardo Rosas Cruz, a 25-year-old tuberculosis patient, is an example of a patient that refused treatment, according to the principle of autonomy. The man who is from the northern California disappeared immediately he was diagnosed with tuberculosis (Fauria, 2014). He was arrested and taken to a medical center and kept under guard. The leader who is the health care provider influences the outcome by ordering the patient to remain in a hotel room under isolation. The patient violated the orders and escaped leading the health providers worried about the security of the uninfected. As a nurse leader, I would create a quarantine room in the hospital for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and offer quality services for those quarantined. The action will help the patient to feel comfortable and recover fast. I would also ensure that any other patient diagnosed with a similar disea se undergoes thorough counseling in the psychiatry department. American Nurses Association,. (2015). Short Definition s of Ethical Principles and Theories Familiar Words. What do they man. Retrieved 25 May 2015, from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/Resources/Ethics-Definitions.pdf Fauria, K. (2014). Arrest Warrant Issued For Santa Barbara TB Patient. The Washington Times. 26 May 2015, from

The university and colleges authorities Essay Example for Free

The university and colleges authorities Essay Blogging presents the users with a unique opportunity to express themselves and air their views on different issues. It gives the students a chance to communicate with their peers on different issue. To many this is an opportunity to tell others what one believes or feels concerning a certain issue. It also gives the user a chance to earn some income depending on the number of people who respond to the issues raised by the person initiating the blog. Basically what is a blog? Blog has been described as a term which is used to describe those website which maintain a continuos series of information which is arranged in a systematic manner. By systematic I mean the information is a arranged according to the time that it was posted. The site is frequently updated . This from of communication dwells on various issues from personal to politics. One can focus on a wide issue or a narrow one depending on ones wish. Therefore blog can be fun informative,entertaining and at the same time it can be used as atool of spreading malicious information concerning a person or a group of people. At the same time blog can be used to offend a certain person or a society. (Bruns, A and Joanne J 2006) Blogging can be used for various purposes by different people,in colleges and universities it has become a tool where students attack each other through posting information which can damage a personal character. Although the American constitution through the first amendment guarantees every citizen the freedom of speech the authorities in the laerning institution should control the use of blog to pass information which can interfere with other students learning process. Hate speeches are common among the students in our laerning institutions,internet has played a very big role in promoting this culture as students can post hate speeches anonymously in the internet. Since access to the websites which provide blog is not restricted to any user anybody can bump on such information. Through reading the content one may feel disoriented and will be affected negatively by the message. This will affect the person phychologically and may go to an extent of affecting the student education depending on the kind of message or information that was relayed. (Kline, D and Burstein, D. 2007 34) Restricting blog which are mostly used to insult and demean others is the best thing that can happen in our institution of higher learning. This will ensure that the learning process is smooth if all the other factors remain constant. This will also guarantee each and every srudents right to a dignified life in the institution. It will protect the most vulnerable group as far as hate speech is concerned. The most tergeted groups include the women,people from different races,disabled or basically those students who have some weakness as far as the college society is concerned. These are people who need protection since they are prone to such henous acts which can leave them traumatized to an extent where their education is intefered with. (Ringmar, E 2007 56) The freedom guaranteed by the American constitution does not give us a leeway to spread rumors against others, pass on some information which can hurt other people or even more give messages which are inciting in nature or pass on messages with a purpose of hurting others. The law clearly spells out that such an action would be tantamount to interfering with other people’s affairs in a manner that suggests that one is malicious and at the same time lacks respect for the others. Regulation of blogs which spread such kind of message will ensure that those vulnerable groups are protected from those malicious people who are only interested in hurting other people’s emotions. The universities authorities ought to take the first step in getting all those culprits who are out to hurt other feeling. Though such a move may attract great opposition it is a move in the right direction as the same constitution that promotes free speech articulates clearly the rights of very American to lead a decent life. Blogs which promote such kind information do not only violate a person freedom but also affects their lives. One may argue that why put so much emphasize on the blogs yet hate speeches are made day and day out in our colleges. One has to appreciate that internet is accessed by many people who are not restricted from visiting sites especially those which largely deals with the blog. This means that if a negative or a hate speech is posted targeting a certain group the message will spread far and wide within a very short time. This will affect the targeted people emotionally and psychologically because they may not be in a position to react or behave different in such circumstances. (Bruns, A and Joanne J 2006 38) Emergence of blog has presented some very complicated issues concerning the rights of those who may be targeted by some of the information posted. There have been several cases which have been filed touching on blog and hate speech. It is a form of defamation where perpetrators can be sued in a court of law. May be to start with ,the authorities in our learning institution should sue such character as their aim is harm others while trying to make themselves popular. Through such an action they will be moving in the right direction in curbing such practices in the institutions where students are supposed to be nurtured in a manner where they respect each other. It might be difficult to unmask some of the bloggers who use anonymous addresses but with the advancement of technology this should be an easy task. Involvement of internet service providers in unmasking these malicious people would yield some fruits since they have the proper machinery in netting the culprits. The effects of hate speech have far much reaching effects especially for the students who can be very vulnerable due to their conditions. It impacts some form of resentment to a certain group of people especially those who have characteristics which the blogger writes against. It may also lead to withdrawal of the victim as they tend to come to terms with the message being relayed. This means that the student will not be in a position to concentrate in their studies. (Alavi, N. 2005 26) The university and colleges authorities should not only aim at curbing the practice but should embark on a program where the students are sensitized on the dangers of hate speech especially through blogs. They should be made to understand hate speeches can ignite conflict between different people within the learning institution. Such a conflict can be detrimental to their learning process as they will live in fear of attack from the other group. Another danger as far as this practice is concerning is the time involved. Such a time is supposed to be used to study but most of the students will spend most of their time blogging, an activity which is time consuming. This means that the student will not have enough time as they embark on an activity which is very addictive in nature. Blog when used for the right purpose can have very positive effect but when it is used to hurt other people it has some serious effect on those whom are targeted and at the same time for those who post them. We should not abuse the systems provided for us to ease the process of communication and passing relevant information rather we should utilize such opportunities ti reap as much benefits as possible. The universities can be successful in addressing this issue as they have the capacity to control what the students’ access in the networks provided by the institution. Mostly giving the students the right information can also go along way in ensuring that hate speech is not spread through the internet in form of blog. Work cited Bruns, A and Joanne J Uses of Blogs, Peter Lang, New York, (2006) Alavi, N. We Are Iran: The Persian Blogs, Soft Skull Press, New York,( 2005) Ringmar, E A Blogger Manifesto:Free speech and cesorship in the age of internet,London,Anthem Press(2007) Kline, D and Burstein, D. Blog: How the Newest Media Revolution is Changing Politics, Business, and Culture, Squibnocket Partners, (2005).

Sri Lanka - Light at the End of the Tunnel? Essay -- Politics Governme

Sri Lanka - Light at the End of the Tunnel? The Sunday, March 3, 2002 issue of â€Å"The New York Times† featured an article by Barbara Crossette, â€Å"The War on Terror Points a Country Toward Peace. The second sentence of this article stated: "A week ago, the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, one of Asia's most ruthless and totalitarian rebel movements, agreed to a firm cease-fire, with the promise of peace talks to come".[1] But are the LTTE planning on keeping their promises this time? Is Sri Lanka's 20 year old struggle finally coming to its end? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? The history of the conflict extends into colonial times, when Sri Lanka was a formal colony of Great Britain. Even then â€Å"politics were already split along rigid ethnic lines†¦Ã¢â‚¬ [2] Sri Lanka is populated by two ethnic groups, the Tamils and the Sinhalese. The Tamils constitute only 15% of the total population in Sri Lanka. But, according to Stuart Bell from National Post, the Sinhalese still feel as a â€Å"minority within the wider region†[3], because of Sri Lanka’s geographic position, only 30 kilometers off the coast of India’s Tamil Nadu. Another factor to be taken into consideration is that Sri Lanka is the only place in the world that the Sinhalese culture exists in. There is no question that the Sinhalese feel even more threatened because of that. Additional differences adding oil to the fire between the two groups are: language (Tamil vs. Sinhala); religion (mostly Hindu vs. Buddhist); history interpretations; moral superiority claims; question of the original inhibition of the island. The post-colonial government took the path of an extreme pro-Sinhalese mood, after coming into power on Februa... ...n the weapons inflow. The LTTE have also been loosing their legitimacy among their supporters. Secondly, the country itself, seems to also have grown extremely weary of the constant human and economic sacrifices. Both sides, it seems, can’t go on, and are very ready to compromise. And thirdly, the growing global no-tolerance atmosphere itself, as mentioned earlier, is playing an important role in taming the tigers this time. As â€Å"The Hindu† asserts: â€Å"†¦the post-September 11 world might prove an increasingly tough place even for groups that fight their battles within a defined geographical territory in remote corners of the globe, like the LTTE, to use terror as a strategy.†[19] I think, that the combination of these three factors might result to be just the right mix to, finally, put an end to a 20-year long war in Sri Lanka. And the country will see the light.

Employee Involvement Essay

Why is a greater degree of involvement in employees’ personal lives inevitable in many international HRM activities? Explain using relevant illustrations. When an international assignment is not completed, necessitating a replacement of the expatriate, the cost of the failure to the organization are both direct and indirect. The direct costs include salary, training costs, travel and relocation expenses. The indirect costs could be loss of market share, poor relationship with the hosts. This is quite costly for an organization and therefore careful selection would be determined by the expatriate success rate in completing their assignments. Expatriate failure is primarily caused by error in selection. Historically, the selection of expatriates has been based on interpersonal factors of expatriates. For instance, Clarke and Hammer, (1995), found that interpersonal skills assist in the cultural adjustment of the expatriate and his or her family In the domestic setting the Human Resource department’s involvement with the employee’s family is limited. Most expatriate selection decisions are made informally because expatriate jobs require much more than the right skills. When an organization sends its employees to some other country, it takes over the responsibilities besides the basic functions of human resource management. They do not deal merely with the selection of the best employees for work in foreign countries but also have to be aware of the needs of the family that will accompany the employee to the new cultural environment. A lot of people taking on international assignments are unsuccessful since their spouses or families cannot adjust to their new surroundings. Hence it is necessary to organize training in the foreign language for the employee and his/her family. Also important is to organize everything necessary for the journey including visas. It is also important to prepare the residence in the new surrounding as well as to assure health services and enrolment into schools for the children of the employees. It is also important to find out if the spouse is working and whether they will be able to get a working permit in the new environment Particularly, as more and more spouses are working and children may not wish to leave their friends and other family behind, Aanne Harzing explains there are some companies that include spouses in the selection process, although this may be seen as a barrier to personal freedoms, to have the company so involved in the personal affairs of a given family. It may prove that preparing the family as well as the expartriate employee will reduce expatriate failure. Expatriate failure is the early recall of an expartriate from an assignment. In selection therefore, firstly is to ensure technical ability which is, does the candidate possess the required skills and managerial capabilities required to fill this position. For example, Hixon found that the expatriate selection was based on technical ability and willingness to reside abroad. Another factor is cross cultural suitability, will the candidate be able to function in the new environment, how adaptable is a person, does he have the requisite language ability, a positive attitude and emotional stability. There also may be family considerations, such as does the spouse and children see this assignment as positive experience. Another family experience is whether or not the spouse is working; the chances are quite high that the spouse will not be able to obtain a work permit in the assigned country. Owing to the above observations, the human resource department needs to ensure that the selection process is faultless by not concentrating only on the skills competencies but in the understanding that most failures on the expatriate assignments are actually related to the employees inability to adjust in the new environment and family factors. So when selecting, over and above the skills competencies requirement, it will be necessary to get involved in the personal life of the potential expatriate. This involvement will help the human resource department to access information including emotional stability, willingness to relocate, stability of the expatriates marriage, whether the spouse is willing to relocate, whether the spouse is working or studying and whether the children see relocation as good experience. If the children are school going.. The above information will be useful in planning the relocation process of the expatriate which will involve organizing appropriate travelling arrangement and getting adequate residence for post departure training and counseling when and if needed. It will also be important to get personal information on the spouse, on whether she’s working and if she would be willing to relocate even when at times it is not easy to get a working permit in the new country. Also whether the spouse may want to enroll for further studies. In the event of the spouse wishing to work then it will be the responsibility of the human resource department to get them a working permit and or enroll them in college. If the spouse has children, this information is important to the human resource department as they will need to enroll the children to schools albeit carefully since some learning institutions accreditation may not be recognized in the home country. If this is not carefully addressed it can have devastating effect on repatriation since the children will have to repeat classes and therefore loosing valuable time. This personal involvement goes as far as need to know the size of the employees family. This will assist in getting the right size of residence for the family. Again the human resource department will need to organize for health care and all aspects and all aspects of the organization package provided for the assignment. Expatriates and their families need time to become familiar with the new environment and to become comfortable living there. When they arrive, the newness of the experience is exciting. A few months later, when they have had more experience with the culture, expatriates might begin to feel frustrated and confudsed as they try to make sense of their new living situation. This feeling is’ culture shock’. At this point counseling services are necessary and the same should be availed by the human resource department. As expatriates get comfortable and understand more about the culture, usually six months after arrival, the culture shock will wear off, and they will experience a more normal feeling (Adler, 1997).