Developing Countries Are Plagued By Poor Maternal, Infant...

Developing countries are plagued by issues of poor maternal, infant and child health (WHO 2011). Approximately 358000 women die during pregnancy and 7.6 million children under five years of age die annually, worldwide (WHO 2011). Adequate maternal health and nutrition are imperative for child survival (WHO 2011). Maternal, perinatal and under-five mortality is still considerably high in South Africa [Department of Health (DOH) 2012]. This is despite efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four and five which aim to improve the health and well-being of children and mothers’ (DOH 2012). The concept of the first 1000 days is very important as this is a period from the start of conception until a child’s second birthday (Save the Children 2012). It is also the period where foundations on a child’s future health are laid (Save the Children 2012). Many mothers’ worldwide suffer from malnutrition (Save the Children 2012). Subsequently, mothers’ have a greater risk of death or giving birth to a preterm, underweight or malnourished infant (Save the Children 2012). Good nutrition during the first 1000 days is important to lay the foundation for optimal child brain development (Save the Children 2012). This is so they have better cognitive, motor and social skills, can be successful at school and be productive members in their communities and country (Save the Children 2012). Maternal malnutrition is a changeable risk factor for the prevention of negativeShow MoreRelatedDeveloping Countries Are Plagued By Issues Of Poor Maternal, Infant And Child Health Essay1268 Words   |  6 PagesAND ITS SETTING 1.1 Relevance of study Developing countries are plagued by issues of poor maternal, infant and child health (WHO 2011). Approximately 358000 women die during pregnancy and 7.6 million children under five years of age die annually, worldwide (WHO 2011). Adequate maternal health and nutrition are imperative for child survival (WHO 2011). Maternal, perinatal and under-five mortality is still considerably high in South Africa [Department of Health (DOH) 2012]. This is despite effortsRead MoreThe Leading Cause Of Death And Disability For Somali Women Of Reproductive Age Essay962 Words   |  4 Pagesduring pregnancy and childbirth, lack of access to skilled birth attendants, narrowly spaced births, early adolescent marriages, and female genital mutilation/cutting. Maternal mortality in Somalia is high and on the rise, it’s significantly higher than that of other developing countries. Country make steps towards reducing maternal mortality rates in Somalia. Cost is the main reason why mothers deliver at home and don’t seek help, even when there is a local clinic. By providing mothers with goodRead MoreEssay on Brazil and Maternal Health2146 Words   |  9 Pages Brazil Maternal Health: Brazil is the largest country in South America and is the fifth largest nation in the world, with a land mass of about 8,514,877 sq. km and a population of approximately 201,009,622 people (The World Factbook). The Amazon Rainforest accounts for a large part of this area, which is home to a majority of the indigenous people. Brazil also accounts for nearly one-third of Latin America’s population (Encyclopedia Britannica). The country gained its independence in 1822,Read MoreFamily Planning Methods And Methods Of The Rapid Population Growth Worldwide1911 Words   |  8 Pagesweapon to control the rapid population growth worldwide? 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A child’s poorer school performance results in future income reductions ofRead MoreThe Role of Financial Institutions in the Economic Development of Bangladesh11088 Words   |  45 Pagesconserved. Limiting the trader to an SSI also lowers the likelihood of a fraud. Regulation Financial institutions in most countries operate in a heavily regulated environment as they are critical parts of countries economies. Regulation structures differ in each country, but typically involve prudential regulation as well as consumer protection and market stability. Some countries have one consolidated agency that regulates all financial institutions while other have separate agencies for differentRead MoreArticle: Performance Appraisal and Performance Management35812 Words   |  144 Pagesemployee. Enhancing employee‟s effectiveness: helps the employee to overcome his weaknesses and improve his performance by providing appropriate training and development program. Help identifying employee for the purpose of motivating, training and developing them. Generate significant, relevant, free and valid information about employees. II. Early History Somewhere or other, everyone had the experience of performance appraisal in some context. This can be traced back for thousands of years

Essay about Why the Mirabel Sisters are Butterflies

Dictator, a word that has haunted people throughout history, it means a leader who rules a country with absolute power, usually by force. Trujillo was a dictator of that kind, he was a role model in front of his people, but a murderer in the shadows. There were those who went against him in order to gain their freedom, among those brave souls were the Mirabel sister who fought for their freedom. These radicalists were known as The Butterflies, which consisted of the Mirabel sisters. The Butterflies went through a metamorphosis just like butterflies; they transformed themselves into symbols of peace through stages in their life. Although the Mirabel sisters were four ordinary children growing. As young girls the sisters had learned of the†¦show more content†¦In addition, Trujillo was friends with the head of the armed forces, and friends with his wife’s lover. One day Trujillo told the general about his wife having an affair with another man, and Trujillo became the head of the armed forces soon after the general shot his wife and her lover. (17). Even though the sisters didn’t want to believe it the accusations against their president, but began to realize how true they were. Over time the sisters met others that didn’t agree with their president’s ways, and that is how the Mirabel sisters came to join the Virgilio Morales. Although the sisters joined the revolt to stop Trujillo, they also joined to make the Dominican Republic a better place. During their involvement with the rebels, the sisters became known as The Butterflies, because they were a sign of hope and change. The sisters had a unique characteristic that they sparked a change in people. Rufino, their driver, said, â€Å"A Dio’ Dona Dedà ©, you think I’ll let anything happen to the butterflies? They’ll have to kill me first† (269). Rufino said he would give his life so save the sisters during their prison break of the men captured by Trujillo. Rufino was willing to put his life on the line for the Butterflies, because he knew they were a symbol for their movement due to their dedication towards a better future. The Mirabel sisters truly are butterflies in every way, because they go throughShow MoreRelatedThe Time Of The Butterflies1079 Words   |  5 Pagesto take books that they normally wouldn’t think to analyze in a certain way and opens a whole new spectrum on literature. In the TIme of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez connects with the idea and principles of Foster’s book if you take a deep look in the book you are reading. Like Foster says in chapter seven or the bible, In the Time of the Butterflies is a literary work able to connect with this chapter, having a bible reference to extend or emphasize the story thematically. In the bookRead MoreAnalysis of Julia Alvarezs Book, In the Time of the Butterflies1198 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Time of the Butterflies four sisters fight to take their given right of freedom in the Dominican Republic. In order to achieve this freedom the Mirabel sisters had to give up their childhoods, their safety, and even their very own lives. The author of the book, Julia Alvarez, took the readers through the sisters journies of fighting against Trujillo, and the many horrible times they endoured while under his political control. Some sisters had to be leaders while other sisters had to be followersRead MoreComparison of 2 Articles1120 Words   |  5 PagesTime of the Butterflies is a book about sisters that fight to take their god-given right of freedom in the Dominican Republic. To win this freedom, the Mirabal sisters had to give up their safety, give up their childhoods, and give up their lives. Julia Alvarez, the author of the book, takes the readers through thes e sisters journeys of fighting against their dictator Trujillo, and the many hardships while under this political oppression. It is evident in the book that some sisters had to be theRead MoreFeminism : A Patriarchal Society2654 Words   |  11 Pagesthe second wave of the feminist movement definitely questioned the norm and brought more benefits rather than pitfalls as women explored the workforce. One novel that took place during the 1960’s is In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez. It is a story about four sisters who grew up in the Dominican Republic. Even though this story takes place in the Dominican Republic rather than in America, the story still represents patriarchy and ways women are trying to seek justice for their work

Organizational Change the Effect on Employee Morale and Motivation Free Essays

string(56) " where downsizing is being discussed or is in progress\." Abstract News of job losses (whether we label them as downsizing, layoffs, or restructuring) reaches us daily. And sometimes the reality hits close to home – loss of a job of a family member, a close friend, a valued coworker or someone you supervise. According to McKinley, Sanchez and Schick (1995), â€Å"This process of deliberate personnel reduction has been justified as a cost-cutting measure and as an incentive to increase productivity. We will write a custom essay sample on Organizational Change: the Effect on Employee Morale and Motivation or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, evidence has shown that downsizing negatively affects employee morale and productivity. While people who lose their jobs can be strongly impacted by loss of financial security, fear for the future, and even decreased self-esteem, it’s important to recognize that people who survive job cuts face their own set of negative consequences. This group of â€Å"survivors† may experience stress as well as feelings of anxiety or depression. This paper examines these issues by reviewing the numerous organizational and leadership changes that have taken place at WellPoint, Inc. within the last two years. In addition, a small sample of WellPoint associates was surveyed to assess the effects that the organizational restructuring and leadership changes have had on employee morale over the last two years. The results of that survey are presented in this paper. Introduction What single change causes the most consternation in the work place? The announcement of job cutbacks. With all the recent staff reduction announcements, this news is all too familiar. With it comes the immediate negative effect on employee morale, both for the laid-off employees and the remaining staff. Emotional turmoil resulting from an event such as organizational change can leave lasting scars on individuals and organizations. Disruption of normal operation can be short-lived if normal feelings of grief, loss, fear, and even guilt and anger are allowed to be expressed when the organizational change is being announced and/or is occurring. However, if these feelings are not allowed expression, they may be manifested later in more serious and damaging forms such as increased illness; absenteeism and turnover; decreased productivity and morale; and isruption in communication among employees and between employees and managers (Abbasi and Hollman, 1998). This can lead to massive chaos and interruption in the smooth flow of work activities? Abbasi and Hollman. (1998) emphasize the following, â€Å"There has been a clear change in corporate philosophy among American firms in the past two decades. Firms which once perceived employees as long-term assets to be nurtured, developed, engage d, and empowered by management, now see them as commodities. Workers are short-term expendable costs to be jettisoned at a moment’s notice when downsizing. The steady drumbeat of layoffs in recent years has made many workers feel that the days of career security are gone for good, no matter how dedicated they may be. † K. Mishra, Spreitzer and A. MIshra (1998) support this idea with the following, â€Å"Downsizing has become almost a way of life for U. S. companies. In fact, a first round of downsizing is generally followed by a second round a short time later. Sixty-seven percent of firms that cut jobs in a given year do so again the following year. † The outcome of these changes and the resulting impact on employees’ morale is discussed. This paper reviews literature that addresses corporate downsizing, what it is and why it is important. The literature review includes books and various articles. To assess the effect that these changes have had on employee morale, a 15-question survey was given to a small sample of WellPoint associates to measure their current feelings that impact their self-confidence. The results of the survey are offered, along with an analysis of the data, including conclusions. Literature Review Current business literature supports the idea that although managers implement downsizing to enhance profitability and productivity, research reveals that downsizing does not always result in higher earnings, improved productivity and better customer service and that workforce reductions often adversely affect employee attitude and morale. Abbasi and Hollman (1990) point out that throughout the early 1990s, the newspapers and airwaves were filled with stories of major American companies announcing layoffs of several thousand additional employees. Companies large and small were cutting jobs at a rate never seen before in American economic history. The trend toward downsizing is so pervasive, and its impact so profound, that it literally shapes the business strategy of many companies. In a study by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, it was reported that fewer than half of the companies it surveyed after the 1990 recession met profit goals after downsizing. Furthermore, study after study has challenged and often contradicted the long-term benefit of staffing cutbacks as a means to return to profitability. However, according to Carol W. Garnant, â€Å"The number one issue that companies immediately face when downsizing is employee morale. † She adds that â€Å"prompt resolution of staffing and organizational issues is essential to the first step in change. The longer the process takes, the more painful it becomes, and the greater the chance of losing key employees in the disruptive environment. † Abbasi and Hollman (1990) contend that today’s organizations no longer provide workers with a secure and stable workplace. It’s an unstable environment where workers work for managers who often find their compassion and concern for workers in sharp conflict with the pressures of relentless competition and investor expectations. Over the years, many employees stayed in their organization because the believed it was a good place to work. They believed in the organization, were loyal to it, and had expectations of periodic pay increases and regular opportunities for advancement. Their interests were aligned with those of management. The old paradigm is now gone. The myth that institutions will take care of their employees has been shattered. Lately, each round of organizational restructuring results in more bodies on the corporate scrap heap. Abbasi and Hollman (1990) agree that one of the biggest problems arising from workforce reduction concerns the devastating impact on employee morale and attitudes. A sense of foreboding usually pervades the workplace where downsizing is being discussed or is in progress. You read "Organizational Change: the Effect on Employee Morale and Motivation" in category "Papers" Employees often feel that their long years of work and dedication to the company are not reciprocated. They may perceive themselves as victims of some abstract management exercise which is outside their control and beyond their capacity to comprehend. Cutting staff doesn’t always work; in fact, it frequently has the opposite effect. The American Management Association surveyed 700 companies that had downsized between 1989 and 1994. Employee morale plummeted in 83% of the companies. Employees who survive the unsettling and disruptive effect of downsizing also tend to experience a disproportionate amount of problems. They feel that management has put them at the very bottom of its priority list. According to Abbasi and Hollman, they feel betrayed, suffer ebbing morale, become dispirited and self-absorbed, submit a larger number of stress disability claims, become obsessed with layoffs and internal politics, and exhibit various behavioral problems. Many workers are forced to struggle with heavier workloads and become overburdened to the point of burnout. Others experience heightened anxiety as they wonder who will be next to go and if they will be able to make it safely to retirement before being forced out in a subsequent downsizing. After all, downsizing seems to beget more downsizing. Three out of four firms that downsize in one year plan to do it again in the next year. With some of the surviving employees having trouble getting to work on time and spending their day just going through the motions, no longer enjoying what they do, companies are finding that these employees are suffering from workplace depression. Corporate psychologists coined this phrase to characterize the feelings of suppressed anger and anxiety that are widespread in today’s workplace. According to Marjorie Whigham-Desair (1993), â€Å"The symptoms run form a general lack of enthusiasm and low productivity to high absenteeism coupled with a low rate of voluntary employee turnover. â€Å" This results in delays in projected deadlines and lackluster employees. Psychologists agree that the recent wave of corporate layoffs has taken its psychological toll on the nation’s workforce. When companies eliminate large numbers of workers, those who remain experience anxiety, says Therman Evans (1993), MD. , president and CEO of Whole Life Associates, a stress-management firm based in Elkins Park, PA. This leads to higher workers’ compensation claims and extremely paranoid employees. â€Å"As companies downsize, responsibilities shift to those who remain, this can result in frustration, irritability, fatigue and ultimately burnout, adds Michael D. Cox (1993), Ph. D a psychologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. As authors and human resource consultants Kenneth N. Wexley and Stanley B. Silverman (1993) point out in their book, Working Scared: Achieving Success in Trying Times, organizations that downsize violate two fundamental factors that motivate workers; the need for security and the desire for justice. Not only do surviving employees distrust the company, they also become more cautious. As a result, innovation and creativity are stifled. People worry about the unknown and need time to prepare for it, says Cox. â€Å"They don’t like to be given bad news abruptly; they don’t want to feel out of control. † Those managers who must implement layoffs suffer too. Two researchers found that managers often become abrasive, narcissistic, withdrawn, alienated, apathetic or depressed. Mishra et al. 1998) found, â€Å"the irony is that downsizing companies are unwittingly destroying the very qualities they need for competitive advantage, namely their employees’ trust and empowerment. At the same time they are downsizing, many companies are advocating the implementation of high-involvement work systems and total quality management strategies. Yet employee trust and empowerment, often shattered in the process of downsizing, are the engines that make these initiatives work,† resulting in a decrease in employee motivation and increase employee absenteeism. Mishra et al. 1998) call attention to the fact that â€Å"trust between managers and employees is critical for effective work relationships, especially under conditions of high uncertainty and conflict. † Trust is defined as an individual’s willingness to be vulnerable to another based on the belief that the other party is competent, open, reliable, and concerned about the individual’s own interests. Employee trust and empowerment decline considerably during downsizing. Survivors may no longer trust top management’s openness because communication is not credible or information is withheld. Survivors may not believe that management cares about employees’ needs if they see that their welfare has been sacrificed for top managers’ personal gain. Survivors’ sense of empowerment may suffer and their competency also may be threatened as they take on the jobs of laid-off coworkers, which often require different skills. Their sense of personal control may suffer because of unclear or constantly changing job responsibilities or frequent layoffs that leave them wondering if they are next. Not surprisingly, their willingness to take risks may decline, and they may become more resistant to change (Mishra et al. 1998). Isabella (1989) suggests, â€Å"Companies that downsize may be unprepared for the strong emotions, lengthy adjustment time, diminished morale, and lower productivity experienced by the survivors of massive restructuring. In fact, companies often have surprisingly little information about the adjustments and assessments of those ultimately respons ible for revitalizing the company. † Isabella (1989) adds, â€Å"The downsizing also can trigger substantial uncertainty and concern for one’s professional and personal future. Feelings of security can be of significant concern because years spent in an organization can create a level of familiarity that is difficult to rebuild elsewhere. † Therefore, it is not uncommon to employees update their resumes and begin seeking employment elsewhere during these stressful times. This certainly has been the case for employees of WellPoint, Inc. Shortly after the Anthem/WellPoint Health Network merger in 2004, when the company became known as WellPoint, Inc. , numerous attempts have been made to reengineer the company and minimize duplication wherever possible. Even after several rounds of layoffs, WellPoint, Inc. once again decided to trim more positions as it faces a still-sluggish economy and uncertainty from potential health-care reforms coming out of Washington. â€Å"As the economic environment changes, WellPoint reviews the size and skills of our work force and makes adjustments as necessary,† WellPoint spokeswoman Kristin Binns said in an email. Job reductions by businesses across the country during the downturn have caused shrinking membership in many of WellPoint’s employer-sponsored health plans. The company said it is looking for ways to operate more efficiently in 2010. Early this year, WellPoint trimmed about 1,500 jobs in a move that included about 600 layoffs (Lee, 2009). This leads to those who are left behind feeling very uncertain about their own job security, wondering if they will survive the next phase of layoffs. Gibbons and Brenowitz (2001) acknowledge, â€Å"Only the luckiest businesses in any industry will survive their entire lifecycles without experiencing the wrath of corporate downsizing. In the aftermath of downsizing, fewer people are left to do the same or increased amount of work. The organization, once designed for and built around a greater number of people, is now left in a state of imbalance. While survivors usually move from denial to acceptance, they often struggle to get there. † They further state,† At a time when they’re feeling the lowest, middle management must perform at their best. Although the company appears to be in a state of chaos, managers must seem calm, confident and in control. It’s their job to begin allocating tasks, confirming work objectives, making sure people stay focused on appropriate tasks, and pulling together a new team. What many companies may not realize is that the design of an organization cannot withstand such turbulence without some degree of consequence. Senior management cannot assume to rebalance the company’s design by moving around a few boxes on the organizational chart. The fact is that organization design goes beyond the company structure. It addresses issues more systemic than the lines, boxes and arrangement of people and functions. It includes such factors as information and reward systems, management and decision making processes; mission, vision and values; business strategy and people (Gibbons and Brenowitz, 2001). In addition to impacting management, downsizing also has a profound effect on those who survive. Some of the most common challenges survivors of downsizing face include: guilt, some remaining employees may feel guilty that they were â€Å"saved† from the job cuts; stress, not only do employees have to cope with the stress of job insecurity, but they also have even more work to do with fewer resources; and anxiety, the anxiety engendered by job cuts doesn’t end with initial layoffs, survivors often live in a state of shock, wondering if the worst is over or still to come (Harris, Rothenberg International, LLC, 2008). In conclusion, as downsizing continues to become an increasingly normal business practice, managers need to find ways to improve their ability to manage the change. This includes motivating traumatized employees and getting operations back on track. It means addressing the drama of the situation, not denying it. Can-do attitudes are badly needed and understandable goals must be spelled out. Yet, nothing promises post-downsizing success like the practice of open, honest communications? Methodology To determine how the organizational changes have affected employee morale, a survey was administered to a small sample of employees. Twenty WellPoint employees were surveyed. About the same number of surveys was given to male and female employees. Eight State Sponsored Business and 12 Shared Services employees participated in the survey for a total sample size of 20. The survey was adapted from the 2008 WellPoint Associate Engagement Survey developed by Kenexa and the WellPoint, Inc. EAP website self-assessment tools. Although the original survey created by Kenexa and those found on the EAP website consisted of a number of additional questions, the questions for this survey has been reduced to 15 questions. Each of the 15 questions was rated according to a five-point Likert scale response, ranging from a numerical score of one, if the respondent strongly disagrees with, to five, if the respondent strongly agrees. A total score of 75 is the maximum possible for the survey. Quantitative results were placed into tables and the mean and standard deviation were calculated for each question. The results were analyzed and interpreted in the Analysis and Conclusion sections of this report. The survey follows. Associate Morale Observation You are invited to participate in this survey to help Pamela Forrest with a research paper for an MBA class project. Your participation is entirely voluntary and your responses will be kept strictly confidential. If you are willing to participate, please answer all of the questions and return this survey to Pamela by Monday, October 12, 2009. To complete this survey: In the space to the right of each statement below, please place a number from 1 to 5 indicating how true the statement is about your experience working at WellPoint, Inc. using the following scale: =Strongly Disagree 2=Disagree 3=Neither Agree nor Disagree 4=Agree 5=Strongly Agree 1. I feel that I am part of a team. _____ 2. I am involved in decisions that affect my work. _____ 3. My job makes good use of my talents and abilities. _____ 4. I feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with my responsibilities or with trying to please everyone. _____ 5. WellPoint provides me with the opportunity for learning and development. _____ 6. I have the training I need to do my job effectively. _____ 7. I receive the coaching and feedback I need to do my job effectively. ____ 8. I feel that I have limited control over the outcome of my job. _____ 9. I am satisfied with my opportunities for career advancement. _____ 10. I am able to manage my work responsibilities in a way that allows me to maintain a healthy balance between work and home. _____ 11. I regularly receive appropriate recognition for my contributions. _____ 12. I am paid fairly for the work I do. _____ 13. I dread going to work, especially on Sunday night. _____ 14. I receive the information and communication I need to do my job effectively. _____ 15. My immediate manager does a good job communicating the reasons behind important changes that are made. _____ Thank you for your time and support for this class project! Questionnaire adapted from the 2008 WellPoint Associate Engagement Survey developed by Kenexa and the WellPoint, Inc. EAP website self-assessment tools. Results A total of 20 surveys were distributed to WellPoint associates. Twenty surveys were completed and returned, for an overall response rate of 100 percent. The average total score for the survey, calculated from all 20 respondents, is 51. 5 out of a possible maximum of 75. This equates to an average total rating of 68 percent. The mean was calculated for each of the 15 rating-scale questions. The mean for the results ranges from a high of 4. 25 to a low of 2. 85. The standard deviation was calculated for each of the 15 rating-scale questions. The results range from a high of 1. 459 to a low of . 7539. The results for each of the 15 rating-scale questions are give n below. Question 1: I feel that I am part of a team. The mean for the total results is 4. 25 and the standard deviation is . 8507. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 5, â€Å"strongly agree. † Question 2: I am involved in decisions that affect my work. The mean for the total results is 3. 6 and the standard deviation is . 9947. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. † Question 3: My job makes good use of my talents and abilities. The mean for the total results is 3. 45 and the standard deviation is 1. 191. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. Question 4: I feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with my responsibilities or with trying to please everyone. The mean for the total results is 3. 15 and the standard deviation is 1. 04. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 3, â€Å"neither agree nor disagree. † Question 5: WellPoint provides me with the opportunity for learning and development. The mean for the total results is 3. 4 and the standard deviation is . 9403. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. † Question 6: I have the training I need to do my job effectively. The mean for the total results is 3. 6 and the standard deviation is . 7539. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. † Question 7: I receive the coaching and feedback I need to do my job effectively. The mean for the total results is 3. 45 and the standard deviation is . 9445. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 3, â€Å"neither agree nor disagree. † Question 8: I feel that I have limited control over the outcome of my job. The mean for the total results is 3. 35 and the standard deviation is 1. 1367. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. † Question 9: I am satisfied with my opportunities for career advancement. The mean for the total results is 2. 95 and the standard deviation is 1. 099. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question was tied between 3, â€Å"neither agree nor disagree† and 4, â€Å"agree. † Question 10: I am able to manage my work responsibilities in a way that allows me to maintain a healthy balance between work and home. The mean for the total results is 3. 4 and the standard deviation is 1. 39. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. † Question 11: I regularly receive appropriate recognition for my contributions. The mean for the total results is 3. 4 and the standard deviation is 1. 0463. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. † Question 12: I am paid fairly for the work I do. The mean for the total results is 3. 45 and the standard deviation is 1. 1459. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. Question 13: I dread going to work, especially on Sunday night. The mean for the total results is 2. 85 and the standard deviation is 1. 4244. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question was tied between 1, â€Å"strongly disagree† and 3, â€Å"neither agree nor disagree. † Question 14: I receive information and communication I need to do my job effectively. The mean for the total results is 3. 15 and the standard deviation is . 9333. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. † Question 15: My immediate manager does a good job communicating the reasons behind important changes that are made. The mean for the total results is 3. 8 and the standard deviation is . 7678. The most frequently occurring response given by all respondents for this question is 4, â€Å"agree. † Analysis The overall survey score of 51. 25 percent indicates that the employee morale for WellPoint associates is average. While these scores could be a little higher, they still are quite positive in light of the major organizational changes that recently have taken place across the company. In fact, WellPoint is doing better than one would expect considering all of the organizational changes it has experienced within the last couple of years. The survey question with the highest mean score overall (4. 25 mean) was number one, â€Å"I feel that I am part of a team. † This is largely due to the fact that the majority of associates who took part in this survey, work for a highly creative department whose direct management has fostered monthly team-building activities and encouraged collaboration when completing everyday tasks. The question with the lowest mean score overall (2. 85 mean) was number 13, â€Å"I dread going to work, especially on Sunday night. † Because this question had a negative spin on it, the fact that it received a low mean score actually is a positive indicator. Based on their responses, the majority of associates surveyed enjoy coming to work, even when the week is just getting underway. Consequently, the next lowest mean score overall (2. 95 mean), which actually indicates a considerable amount of discontent is number 9; â€Å"I am satisfied with my opportunities for career advancement. This has been a trouble area for quite some time, due, in large part to the fact that a majority of the associates within our department have realized little or no career advancement within the last few years. To further assess this study’s survey results, questions were evaluated based on the percentages of answers for each question, adding together the percentages for response #4, â⠂¬Å"agree† and response #5, â€Å"strongly agree. † These figures were compared to the sum of the remaining three percentages for response #1, â€Å"strongly disagree,† response #2, â€Å"agree† and response #3, â€Å"neither agree nor disagree. The fact that some of the questions had a negative spin, resulted in reversing the percentages for a more accurate representation. For question 1, â€Å"I feel that I am part of a team,† a total of 85% either agreed or strongly agreed as compared to 15% who either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed. This shows that the team-building efforts initiated by management have had a positive affect on associates. For question 2, â€Å"I am involved in decisions that affect my work,† a total of 55% either agreed or strongly agreed as compared to 45% who either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed. This shows that associates feel that they have a say in their daily decision-making tasks. For question 3, â€Å"My job makes good use of my talents and abilities,† 60% either agreed or strongly agreed as compared to 40% who either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed. This shows that associates feel that they are utilizing their skills in their daily work routine. For question 4, â€Å"I feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with my responsibilities,† 65% either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed as compared to 35% who either agreed or strongly agreed. This shows that associates feel that their workload is balanced and they are able to accomplish their daily tasks with a limited amount of stress. Question 5, â€Å"WellPoint provides me with the opportunity for learning and development,† primarily was split almost down the middle with 55% either agreeing or strongly agreeing and 45% either strongly disagreeing, disagreeing or neither agreeing nor disagreeing. This reveals the possibility that opportunities for learning and development may not be offered equally to all associates; some associates may be favored to take educational courses over other associates. For question 6, â€Å"I have the training to do my job effectively,† 65% either agreed or strongly agreed as compared to 35% who either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed. This shows that most associates feel well-equipped to adequately handle their job duties. However question 7, â€Å"I receive coaching and feedback to do my job effectively,† predominantly was split down the middle with 45% either agreeing or strongly agreeing and 55% either strongly disagreeing, disagreeing or neither agreeing nor disagreeing. This shows that management may not be communicating effectively nor providing adequate coaching and feedback on a regular basis. And question 8, â€Å"I feel that I have limited control over the outcome of my job,† was split down the middle, 50/50, which shows that associates feel that external factors may have more direct impact on their job than the direct contributions they make on a daily basis. For question 9, â€Å"I am satisfied with my opportunities for career advancement,† 60% either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed as compared to 40% who either agreed or strongly agreed. This demonstrates the belief shared by a majority of WellPoint associates, that there is little opportunity for upward mobility with the organization. For question 10, â€Å"I am able to maintain a healthy work-life balance,† 65% either agreed or strongly agreed as compared to 35% who either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed. This shows that most of the associates feel that they are maintaining an adequate balance between their work responsibilities and their leisure time. And question 11, â€Å"I regularly receive appropriate recognition for my contributions,† was split down the middle, 50/50, which shows that appropriate recognition may not always be given equally to all associates; some associates may be favored over others. For question 12, â€Å"I am paid fairly for the work I do,† 65% either agreed or strongly agreed as compared to 35% who either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed. This shows that most of the associates feel that they are satisfied with their rate of pay for the work that they do. For question 13, â€Å"I dread going to work, especially on Sunday night,† 65% either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed as compared to 35% who either agreed or strongly agreed. This shows that associates feel content with their jobs and look forward to coming to work. For question 14, â€Å"I receive the information and communication I need to do my job effectively,† 60% either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed as compared to 40% who either agreed or strongly agreed. This reveals that WellPoint needs to improve their channels of communication. And finally, for question 15, â€Å"My immediate manager does a good job communicating the reasons behind changes,† 70% either agreed or strongly agreed as compared to 30% who either strongly disagreed, disagreed or neither agreed nor disagreed. This shows that most of the associates feel satisfied with the way their immediate manager is communicating with them. Conclusion Depending on the scope and size of the organizational change and the number of staff affected, consequences can be disruptive. Employees may find even the act of reporting for work very stressful. They may have difficulty sleeping or eating. People respond differently and recover at different rates. For most people, the effects of the event will subside within a few weeks as people adjust to the changes. For others, the symptoms may become worse. However, surprisingly, the results of this study refute most of the literature on this subject. While downsizing is a workplace trend that is here to stay and that undeniably creates anger, stress, fear and even trauma for surviving employees, according to the findings in this survey, this has not proven to be the case for WellPoint associates. This study’s survey results indicate that WellPoint has been reasonably successful to this point. Employee morale and attitudes are at or slightly above national norms, which is rather commendable considering the recurring layoffs that have taken place over the course of the past two years. While the industry trend indicates otherwise, WellPoint associates who have weathered the storm by remaining gainfully employed with the company, increase their engagement while striving to achieve superior performance in their daily work activities. Evidence can be seen in the high survey rankings reported in this paper on questions such as â€Å"I have the training to do my job effectively† and â€Å"I am able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. † Even under the most extreme circumstances of additional impending layoffs, the morale of the surviving associates at WellPoint is surprisingly high. I am inspired by the fact that WellPoint associates have managed to hold onto employee morale in spite of some tough economic conditions. Some of the survey results that support this include the high survey rankings reported in this paper on questions such as â€Å"Associates feel that they are part of a team† and â€Å"My job makes good use of my talents and abilities. † However, the common rationale that downsizing is necessary to financial health and that greater efficiency always follows job cuts is questionable. Therefore, WellPoint also must give attention to alternatives that may cause less turmoil and still achieve the desired economic results. There are numerous alternatives to downsizing that are far less demoralizing to employees. Some of these alternatives include gearing down to a four-day work week or using job-sharing techniques, where employees lose pay but keep their job. Other alternatives include pay reductions, taking vacations without pay, having fewer paid holidays, retraining or redeploying workers, or providing early retirement buyouts for workers past a certain age. Finally, some other ideas include imposing wage and hiring freezes, restricting the amount of overtime available to employees or cutting back on executive perks. The negative effects of downsizing can be eased by acknowledging the situation, asking questions and communicating honestly, listening to others and exploring new ideas and ways of doing things. Taking an active, positive role in reducing the trauma of downsizing can enhance WellPoint’s chances of being part of a creative, profitable company and enhance its professional growth and opportunity for the future. In addition, if there don’t seem to be any alternatives to layoffs, WellPoint can make the layoffs seem less arbitrary and cruel by keeping the lines of communication open and explaining with dignity the strategy behind them. In the opinion of this author, WellPoint needs to turn its attention to cultivating the staff that is ultimately responsible for revitalizing the company by providing more opportunity for learning and development and career advancement as well as expanding the lines of communication. Questions in the survey show that WellPoint is weak in these two key areas. Evidence can be seen in the low survey rankings reported in this paper on questions such as â€Å"I am satisfied with my opportunities for career advancement,† and â€Å"I receive the information and communication I need to do my job effectively. Therefore, providing more opportunities for associates and improving the flow of communication, not only would be a worthwhile investment for the company, but also a vehicle for providing a worthwhile work environment for the associates. This in turn would result in a direct benefit to the organization by increasing associate engagement and providing the necessary tools for assoc iates to do their job more effectively. This, in turn, would make the most of the human capital available in the 41,000 WellPoint associates. Appendix A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |SSB Survey Results | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Associate Morale Monitor | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Results for WellPoint, Inc. Associates 10. 9. 09 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Question | |Respondent # |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |Avg. |SD |Mode | |1. Part of a team | | |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |4 |4 |5 |5 |5 |4 |4 |4 |5 |5 |3 |5 |5 |2 |5 |4. 5 |0. 85 |5 | |2. Involved in decisions affecting work | |2 |3 |3 |3 |4 |3 |5 |5 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |5 |3 |4 |2 |2 |5 |3. 6 |0. 97 |4 | |3. Job makes good use of talents abilities | |1 |1 |4 |2 |3 |3 |5 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |5 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3. 45 |1. 19 |4 | |4. Feel overwhelmed trying to keep up | |2 |4 |2 |5 |4 |4 |1 |3 |3 |3 |3 |4 |3 |3 |2 |2 |4 |3 |5 |3 |3. 15 |1. 04 |3 | |5. WellPoint provides opportunity for develop . | |4 |1 |3 |2 |4 |4 |4 |5 |4 |3 |3 |2 |3 |4 |4 |3 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3. 4 |0. 94 |4 | |6. Have training to do job effectively | |3 |4 |3 |4 |2 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |5 |4 |4 |3 |3 |4 |3. 6 |0. 75 |4 | |7. Receive coaching and feedback | |3 |3 |3 |3 |2 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |5 |5 |4 |4 |3 |4 |5 |3. 45 |0. 94 |3 | |8. Limited control over job outcome | |4 |5 |4 |4 |2 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |5 |1 |3 |3 |2 |4 |3 |4 |5 |2 |3. 35 |1. 14 |4 | |9. Satisfied with career advancement opportunity | |2 |1 |3 |1 |2 |4 |3 |3 |4 |4 |2 |2 |3 |4 |5 |2 |3 |3 |4 |4 |2. 95 |1. 1 |3 | |10. Healthy work-life balance | | |4 |4 |4 |3 |2 |1 |5 |4 |4 |4 |4 |1 |4 |4 |5 |4 |2 |5 |1 |3 |3. 4 |1. 1 |4 | |11. Regular recognition for contributions | |3 |2 |4 |2 |2 |2 |5 |3 |4 |4 |3 |2 |4 |5 |5 |3 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3. 4 |1. 05 |4 | |12. Paid fairly for work done | | |4 |1 |4 |4 |2 |5 |5 |3 |4 |3 |3 |1 |4 |4 |4 |4 |2 |4 |4 |4 |3. 45 |1. 15 |4 | |13. Dread going to work | | |3 |5 |3 |5 |3 |2 |1 |1 |1 |3 |4 |2 |4 |2 |1 |4 |5 |3 |4 |1 |2. 85 |1. 42 |3 | |14. Receive info. communication to do job | |3 |2 |2 |4 |2 | 2 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |4 |5 |3 |3 |3 |2 |4 |3. 15 |0. 93 |4 | |15. Mgr. effective communicator about changes |4 |3 |4 |3 |2 |3 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |5 |4 |5 |3 |4 |4 |3. |0. 77 |4 | | Appendix A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Survey Scores | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Survey Scores | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Question | |Respondent # |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 | |1. Part of a team | | |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |4 |4 |5 |5 |5 |4 |4 |4 |5 |5 |3 |5 |5 |2 |5 | |2. Involved in decisions affecting work | |2 |3 |3 |3 |4 |3 |5 |5 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |5 |3 |4 |2 |2 |5 | |3. Job makes good use of talents abilities | |1 |1 |4 |2 |3 |3 |5 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |5 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 | |4. Feel overwhelmed trying to keep up | |2 |4 |2 |5 |4 |4 |1 |3 |3 |3 |3 |4 |3 |3 |2 |2 |4 |3 |5 |3 | |5. WellPoint provides opportunity for develop. | |4 |1 |3 |2 |4 |4 |4 |5 |4 |3 |3 |2 |3 |4 |4 |3 |4 |3 |4 |4 | |6. Have training to do job effectively | |3 |4 |3 |4 |2 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |5 |4 |4 |3 |3 |4 | |7. Receive coaching and feedback | |3 |3 |3 |3 |2 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |5 |5 |4 |4 |3 |4 |5 | |8. Limited control over job outcome | |4 |5 |4 |4 |2 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |5 |1 |3 |3 |2 |4 |3 |4 |5 |2 | |9. Satisfied with career advancement opportunity | |2 |1 |3 |1 |2 |4 |3 |3 |4 |4 |2 |2 |3 |4 |5 |2 |3 |3 |4 |4 | |10. Healthy work-life balance | | |4 |4 |4 |3 |2 |1 |5 |4 |4 |4 |4 |1 |4 |4 |5 |4 |2 |5 |1 |3 | |11. Regular recognition for contributions | |3 |2 |4 |2 |2 |2 |5 |3 |4 |4 |3 |2 |4 |5 |5 |3 |4 |3 |4 |4 | |12. Paid fairly for work done | | |4 |1 |4 |4 |2 |5 |5 |3 |4 |3 |3 |1 |4 |4 |4 |4 |2 |4 |4 |4 | |13. Dread going to work | | |3 |5 |3 |5 |3 |2 |1 |1 |1 |3 |4 |2 |4 |2 |1 |4 |5 |3 |4 |1 | |14. Receive info. communication to do job | |3 |2 |2 |4 |2 |2 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |4 |5 |3 |3 |3 |2 |4 | |15. Mgr. effective communicator about changes |4 |3 |4 |3 |2 |3 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |5 |4 |5 |3 |4 |4 | |Sum | | | |46 |42 |50 |49 |41 |45 |58 |53 |55 |56 |51 |39 |53 |61 |63 |49 |56 |50 |52 |56 | |Score (%) | | | |61% |56% |67% |65% |55% |60% |77% |71% |73% |75% |68% |52% |71% |81% |84% |65% |75% |67% |69% |75% | | Appendix A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Survey Results Sorted by Mean | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Results Sorted by Mean | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Question | |Respondent # |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |Mean | | |1. Part of a team | | |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |4 |4 |5 |5 |5 |4 |4 |4 |5 |5 |3 |5 |5 |2 |5 |4. 5 | | | |2. Involved in decisions affecting work | |2 |3 |3 |3 |4 |3 |5 |5 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |5 |3 |4 |2 |2 |5 |3. 6 | | | |3. Job makes good use of talents abilities | |1 |1 |4 |2 |3 |3 |5 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |5 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3. 45 | | | |4. Feel overwhelmed trying to keep up | |2 |4 |2 |5 |4 |4 |1 |3 |3 |3 |3 |4 |3 |3 |2 |2 |4 |3 |5 |3 |3. 15 | | | |5. WellPoint provides opportunity for develop. | |4 |1 |3 |2 |4 |4 |4 |5 |4 |3 |3 |2 |3 |4 |4 |3 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3. 4 | | | |6. Have training to do job effectively | |3 |4 |3 |4 |2 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |5 |4 |4 |3 |3 |4 |3. 6 | | | |7. Receive coaching and feedback | |3 |3 |3 |3 |2 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |5 |5 |4 |4 |3 |4 |5 |3. 45 | | | |8. Limited control over job outcome | |4 |5 |4 |4 |2 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |5 |1 |3 |3 |2 |4 |3 |4 |5 |2 |3. 35 | | | |9. Satisfied with career advancement opportunity | |2 |1 |3 |1 |2 |4 |3 |3 |4 |4 |2 |2 |3 |4 |5 |2 |3 |3 |4 |4 |2. 95 | | | |10. Healthy work-life balance | | |4 |4 |4 |3 |2 |1 |5 |4 |4 |4 |4 |1 |4 |4 |5 |4 |2 |5 |1 |3 |3. | | | |11. Regular recognition for contributions | |3 |2 |4 |2 |2 |2 |5 |3 |4 |4 |3 |2 |4 |5 |5 |3 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3. 4 | | | |12. Paid fairly for work done | | |4 |1 |4 |4 |2 |5 |5 |3 |4 |3 |3 |1 |4 |4 |4 |4 |2 |4 |4 |4 |3. 45 | | | |13. Dread going to work | | |3 |5 |3 |5 |3 |2 |1 |1 |1 |3 |4 |2 |4 |2 |1 |4 |5 |3 |4 |1 |2. 85 | | | |14. Receive info. communication to do job | |3 |2 |2 |4 |2 |2 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |4 |5 |3 |3 |3 |2 |4 |3. 15 | | | |15. Mgr. effective communicator about changes |4 |3 |4 |3 |2 |3 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |5 |4 |5 |3 |4 |4 |3. | | | | Appendix A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Survey Results Sorted by Standard Deviation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Results Sorted by Standard Deviation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Question | |Respondent # |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |St. Dev. | | |1. Part of a team | | |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |4 |4 |5 |5 |5 |4 |4 |4 |5 |5 |3 |5 |5 |2 |5 |0. 507 | | | |2. Involved in decisions affecting work | |2 |3 |3 |3 |4 |3 |5 |5 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |5 |3 |4 |2 |2 |5 |0. 9947 | | | |3. Job makes good use of talents abilities | |1 |1 |4 |2 |3 |3 |5 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |5 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |1. 191 | | | |4. Feel overwhelmed trying to keep up | |2 |4 |2 |5 |4 |4 |1 |3 |3 |3 |3 |4 |3 |3 |2 |2 |4 |3 |5 |3 |1. 04 | | | |5. WellPoin t provides opportunity for develop. | |4 |1 |3 |2 |4 |4 |4 |5 |4 |3 |3 |2 |3 |4 |4 |3 |4 |3 |4 |4 |0. 9403 | | | |6. Have training to do job effectively | |3 |4 |3 |4 |2 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |5 |4 |4 |3 |3 |4 |0. 7539 | | | |7. Receive coaching and feedback | |3 |3 |3 |3 |2 |2 |4 |3 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |5 |5 |4 |4 |3 |4 |5 |0. 9445 | | | |8. Limited control over job outcome | |4 |5 |4 |4 |2 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |5 |1 |3 |3 |2 |4 |3 |4 |5 |2 |1. 1367 | | | |9. Satisfied with career advancement opportunity | |2 |1 |3 |1 |2 |4 |3 |3 |4 |4 |2 |2 |3 |4 |5 |2 |3 |3 |4 |4 |1. 099 | | | |10. Healthy work-life balance | | |4 |4 |4 |3 |2 |1 |5 |4 |4 |4 |4 |1 |4 |4 |5 |4 |2 |5 |1 |3 |1. 3139 | | | |11. Regular recognition for contributions | |3 |2 |4 |2 |2 |2 |5 |3 |4 |4 |3 |2 |4 |5 |5 |3 |4 |3 |4 |4 |1. 0463 | | | |12. Paid fairly for work done | | |4 |1 |4 |4 |2 |5 |5 |3 |4 |3 |3 |1 |4 |4 |4 |4 |2 |4 |4 |4 |1. 1459 | | | |13. Dread going to work | | |3 |5 |3 |5 |3 |2 |1 |1 |1 |3 |4 |2 |4 |2 |1 |4 |5 |3 |4 |1 |1. 4244 | | | |14. Receive info. communication to do job | |3 |2 |2 |4 |2 |2 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |2 |3 |4 |5 |3 |3 |3 |2 |4 |0. 9333 | | | |15. Mgr. effective communicator about changes |4 |3 |4 |3 |2 |3 |4 |4 |4 |4 |3 |4 |4 |5 |5 |4 |5 |3 |4 |4 |0. 7678 | | | | Appendix A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Survey Results – Percentage of Answers for Each Question | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Percentage of Answers for Each Question | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Question | |Percentage for Each Response | | | | | | |% Ans. 1 |% Ans. 2 |% Ans. 3 |% Ans. 4 |% Ans. 5 |Total | | | | | | | | | | | | |1. I feel that I am part of a team. | | | | | | | |0 |5 |10 |40 |45 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |2. I am involved in decisions that affect my work. | | | | | |0 |15 |30 |35 |20 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |3. My job makes good use of my talents and abilities. | | | | | | |10 |10 |20 |45 |15 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |4. I feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with my responsibilities. | | | | |5 |20 |40 |25 |10 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |5. WellPoint provides me with the opportunity for learning and development. | | |5 |10 |30 |50 |5 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |6. I have the training to do my job effectively. | | | | | | | |0 |10 |25 |60 |5 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |7. I receive coaching and feedback to do my job effectively. | | | | |0 |15 |40 |30 |15 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |8. I feel that I have limited control over the outcome of my job. | | | | |5 |20 |25 |35 |15 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |9. I am satisfied with my opportunities for career advancement. | | | | |10 |25 |30 |30 |5 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |10. I am able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. | | | | | | |15 |10 |10 |50 |15 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |11. I regularly receive appropriate recognition for my contributions. | | | | |0 |25 |25 |35 |15 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |12. I am paid fairly for the work I do. | | | | | | | |10 |10 |15 |55 |10 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |13. I dread going to work, especially on Sunday night. | | | | | | |25 |15 |25 |20 |15 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |14. I receive the information and communication I need to do my job effectively. | | |0 |30 |30 |35 |5 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |15. My immediate manager does a good job communicating reasons behind changes. | |0 |5 |25 |55 |15 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Appendix B Charts of Results for Each Survey Question Sources Consulted Abbasi, Sami M. Hollman, Kenneth W. (1998). The myth and realities of downsizing. Records Management Quarterly, 32. n2, 31(6). (Document ID: A20776055). Business Editors. (2000). Workforce Growth Averages 5. 9%, Annual AMA Survey Finds. Business Wire. Retrieved from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0EiN/is_2000_Oct_25/ai_6632 Canada and the World Backgrounder. (1996). Downsizing or dumbsizing? Canada and the World Backgrounder, 62. n2, 12(1). (Document ID: A18927954). Cummings, Thomas G. Worley, Christopher G. (2005). Organization Development Change. Ohio. Thomson South-Western. See pages 287-297. ) Garnant, Carol W. (2001). Who re-moved my cheese? Responding to staff reductions. Tax Executive, 53. 4, 283. (Document ID: A79052297). Gibbons, Tracy Brenowitz, Randi S. (2001). The Impact of Downsizing on Corporate Culture. Data Center Management. Harris, Rothenberg International, LLC. (2008). Helping Employees with Organizational Change: A Guide for Managers. Retrieved from www. wellpoint. com. Harris, Rothenberg International, LLC. (2008). Managing in Uncertain Times. Retrieved from www. wellpoint. com. Harvey, Don Brown, Donald R. 1996). An Experiential Approach to Organizational Development. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Isabella, Lynn A. (1989). Downsizing: survivors’ assessments. Business Horizons, 32. n3, 35(6). (Document ID: A7739163). Lee, Daniel. (2009). WellPoint Says Economy Could Prompt It t o Cut More Jobs. The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved from http://www. istockanalyst. com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3499717. McKinley, William, Sanchez, Carol M. Schick, Allen G. (1995). Organizational downsizing: constraining, cloning, learning. The Academy of Management Executive, 9. 3, 32(13). (Document ID: A17452339). Mishra, Karen E. , Spreitzer, Gretchen M. Mishra Aneil K. (1998). Preserving employee morale during downsizing. Sloan Management Review, 39. n2, 83(13). Retrieved from http://find. galegroup. com/ips/start. do? prodID=IPS. Noer, David M. Healing The Wounds: Overcoming the Trauma of Layoffs and Revitalizing Downsized Organizations. New York. Jossey-Bass Inc. , 1993. (See pages 3, 4, 10-12. ) Whigham-Desir, Marjorie. (1993). Strategies for coping with workplace depression. Black Enterprise, 24. n2, 77(4). (Document ID: A13287127). How to cite Organizational Change: the Effect on Employee Morale and Motivation, Papers

System Protection and Automation

Question: Discuss about the System Protection and Automation. Answer: Introduction: IEC61850 is a standard integral to the application of modern networking technology for the purpose of automation, control and protection of electric power substations. It is a systems architecture, a modelling approach and a protocol. Beyond automation, this protocol was developed to simplify communication between several types of utility systems, as well as save on the cost of applying hundreds of different proprietary communication and information systems. Devices from different manufacturers required proprietary communication systems specific to them which presented a huge challenge where systems were composed of devices from several different manufacturers. The basic concept of automation dictates that there exists little or no human intervention. For this reason, it is necessary that various protection and control systems or protocols be integrated into the system. Supervisory control and data acquisition, SCADA, interfaces are also a necessity in an automated power system. The objective of IEC 61850 is to provide for seamless information integration across the utility enterprise using off-the-shelf products implementing these international standards. As noted earlier, an automated system requires little or no human supervision, and since no system can be said to be perfect, errors are bound to occur. To correct such errors, human intervention is required. Some of the services provided by IEC61850 include event logging and reporting such that the system is capable of recording events as they occur and communicating the same to a manned node or human-machine interface. The feature is referred to as digital fault recording (DFR) and enables the user to quickly identify failure using built-in diagnostic tools. This is made possible by GSE, (generic substation events) a control model which provides a mechanism for data transfer within a network or peer to peer messaging. There are two different models of GSE namely GSSE (generic substation event) and GOOSE (Generic object oriented substation event). The difference between the two is that while the GOOSE message may include several data types such as analog, binary, and integers, the G SSE message is limited to support a fixed structure of binary event status data. The latter allows for multicast messaging meaning that the same message can be transmitted to several nodes at the same time using an Ethernet address known as a multicast address. In the occurrence that any data item known to the system is changed, a GOOSE message is said to be published and any device on the network can subscribe to the data and use it as needed. This publisher-subscriber communication concept is used in favor of client-server communication which is considerably more time consuming since it must use the full seven layer stack. The IEC61850 system architecture consists of what is known as a station bus. This component connects all the devices within the system and defines the mechanism that enables multicast communication, GOOSE. One GOOSE message can replace hundreds of wires that would normally be used to enable inter-device functionality. These features allow the system to convey me ssages to a human operator who can take the necessary corrective actions required in any given situation. In this way, IEC61850 facilitates error recovery as well as system protection. It is also worth noting that the standard provides time-stamped data thereby conveying time specific information to the human operator. Real time data is an invaluable asset especially in the case of automated systems. The reason being that the sooner data can be processed and transmitted, the sooner it can be acted on. Real time data means that data is made available to the recipient as soon as it is processed with little or no time delay. In a system such as that found in a substation whose coverage stretches over a vast scale, influencing hundreds of businesses as well as households, a small delay in resumption of normal service after an error may result in adverse effects. The IEC61850 supports real time data exchange leaving no room for delays on its part. It achieves this through MMS, (manufacturing message specification) which is a standardized protocol that supports requirements for various high performance services such as make or break connections between client and server, send an unsolicited read response to a client and get the definition of an object. IEC61850 also enables time synchronization across al l the devices within the network. Time synchronization is realized through the Simple Network and Time Protocol (SNTP) which is specific to the standard. Since all devices are time synchronized, the data is time accurate. However, data can never be truly presented in real time due to transmission delays which are unavoidable. Another service provided by IEC61850 is the process connection feature which allows information transfer between instrument transformers, protection equipment and circuit breakers. This transfer of information between devices is made possible by a core characteristic of the IEC61850 referred to as interoperability. Interoperability is the ability of a system to exchange information between intelligent electronic devices from different manufacturers. The standard is critical to process connection since this service requires timely information transfer. As discussed earlier, IEC61850 provides for real time transfer of data between systems as well as devices. The timeliness of the information has a direct impact on how long the protection function takes to react. The protection function must trigger as fast as possible to prevent further damage to the equipment in direct danger and by extension, replacement costs. IEC61850 also requires an Ethernet LAN connection between protective rela ys to enable communication. The high speed Ethernet connection is also able to exchange analog data between relays in the same message, so actual values of currents, voltages and power can be sent to other IEC61850 based IEDs. IEC61850 is also used during planning of a substation. Various tests must be carried out to ensure the compatibility of various devices to each other and more so to the IEC61850 standard. One such test is the system performance test. Its purpose is to check the performance classes as defined in the mandatory part, IEC 61850 for the device in a system (system conformance) independent from a project, the IEDs may be tested in a test system with reasonable data traffic in the background . Another test is the factory acceptance test which has to prove that the system, as far as assembled in the factory, fulfills the given specifications of the customer. For this test, all parts must be compatible with IEC61850 and all SCL files must be present for the purpose of configuration and implementation. Not all parts may be available during the test and as such they must be simulated to ensure accurate results. The purpose of the tests is to ensure that all parts will work properly and to the cu stomers specifications once the project is completed, and to avoid incurring any reworking costs. They also ensure that the system will continue to run seamlessly thereby continually providing protection for the individual devices and for the system as a whole. Time over-current is another protection feature integrated within IEC61850. This features purpose is to protect the system from excess current and interphase faults . The feature also replaces traditional fuses which cannot be fully depended upon in an automated system. This is because once a fuse melts, the system cannot resume normal functionality until the melted fuse is replaced which also means that remote operation is not possible. Although fuses are the primary source of protection for distributed energy resources, another fault lies in the fact that one cannot control the time to trip. This creates difficulties in primary back-up coordination activities . The back-up protection to the fuse is provided by overcurrent relays at a feeder point. Overcurrent relays must also play a dual role in that they provide both primary and back-up protection. In the event that a fault goes undetected by the first set of relays, and the relays fail to isolate the device, an additional set of relays is opened. The second set of relays must not be opened unless the first set has already been opened. This requires what known as a wait state which is enabled by another feature referred to as Time Multiplier Setting (TMS). By increasing or decreasing this setting, one can vary the trip time appropriately such that the second set of relays are subjected to a time delay to allow the first set to open first. SCADA interfaces are the only way through which data and information can be exchanged between the human component and the system. It is basically an input and output terminal which at its core is powered by IEC61850 in that the standard enables communication between the different devices including SCADA. A typical function of SCADA is the creation of alarm lists and event lists. SCADA enables automation and protection in a multitude of ways. First and foremost is that it receives data from the system in form of event logs and reports and conveys it to the human operator or protection engineer who acts on it accordingly. It is also the means through which the human operator manipulates data within the system when it is required. In this way, IEC61850 provides a link through which several operations are made possible. For this reason, it is also referred to as a human machine interface (HMI). Another service provided by IEC61850 is the read/write feature which means that the system can give and receive instructions. This means that the system can react to various situations that were foreseen before or during system planning. The client can send commands to the server to modify its behavior by performing changes in internal data, change of parameter sets, analog set-points, enabling or disabling functions and so on. The system consists of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) which facilitate the read/write feature also known as device control. IEDs implement control, but only after receiving instructions from a master computer. IEDs are also referred to as slave components. Device control means that the system can effectively trigger an action or stop one if required. This feature negates the need for human intervention when it comes to some common errors in the functionality of the system. This is, in itself, automation. A suitable example is the predefined quality flag s which may force the system to report or take corrective action if possible where the quality of the power produced is below the required limit, perhaps in terms of stability. IEC61850 provides object mapping and no manual mapping of equipment is needed. All devices can be viewed through a SCADA interface and all of them share a similar naming convention. Through a feature called self-description, devices and their details such as the model as opposed to data points are automatically generated for the user on the SCADA interface. Self-description also allows a device to tell its master what particular data it is going to report and enables the master to configure itself for a particular device. Object names can be retrieved from the IEC61850 automatically to effectively and efficiently report errors or events. Automatic object mapping shows the location of devices in relation to one another. This way, the user can identify devices with high precision in the event that some device requires repairing or replacement thus avoiding reworking and/or losses as a result of errors in the equipment ordered. Device configurations can also be implemented using SCL (su bstation configuration language) files. Devices from other suppliers use such files to document the messages. However, such devices require firmware changes to modify message configuration. Substation Configuration Language is a standardized method of describing substation power systems and device configuration. Substation Configuration Language is beneficial in that there is little conflict between equipment, devices and applications where one is changed for one reason or another. The user is only required to move a few files around such as SCL files and firmware files to configure new equipment. Configuration of an automated substation system, a task that would otherwise require a substantial amount of human labor, is automated and therefore saves greatly on time and money. IEC61850 communications based protection and control systems can also be used to implement a lockout function. Traditional lockout relays typically serve to trip and isolate or keep out of service a given zone, especially during repair or inspection. The protection zone could be any single component within the system, for example a transformer, a bus, transmission line or a collection of equipment. This function protects both the personnel on site as well as the equipment undergoing repairs from suffering even further damage. Integrating a lockout feature with the IEC61850 communication protocol is a step into the future of protection and control systems. However, some core features required of a traditional lockout scheme must be present in any new lockout design. They are briefly described below. Zone based lockout; this means that each protective zone that implements lockout must have its own lockout state. It must not be combined with other zones. Local and remote indication; a means must be provided for operators to be able to determine the particular lockout in effect so as to determine the cause and remedy for each lockout. Close inhibit; a breaker cannot be closed so long as any lockout is still in effect regardless of any lockouts applied to it that may have been reset. Loss of protection system power; even if the protection and control system is de-energized, and then later re-energized, all the lockouts that were in effect remain in effect. Single procedure reset; resetting a particular lockout only involves one procedure. All the equipment within the protective zone associated with a particular lockout is reset as a group when the lockout itself is reset. Although the IEC61850 standard was initially developed for communication purposes within the substation, it can just as well be re-purposed to incorporate and automate traditional protection systems using GOOSE messages. GOOSE messages not only replace hard wires within the system, but can also monitor the health of virtual wires. The control model performs such checks to ensure that all protection protocols and devices are in good working condition if and when they are called upon to protect the system. GOOSE messages can do this because they are constantly re-transmitting in between certain intervals which the user can define. In the event that a message is received later than it was expected, the subscribing IED sends out a GOOSE alarm message notifying SCADA of the error. The IED then modifies its internal logic to address the error. This re-transmission feature also ensures that each message is delivered in the event that the first transmission is dropped or corrupted. Corrupted transmissions can be attributed to a high volume of Ethernet traffic or interference caused when control and power cables share a cabling tray with the Ethernet cable. The narrower the time window defined, the better. Reason being the channel may still fail in between transmissions where the probability of that occurrence is directly proportional to the time window set. Integration is the ability of computer based applications to interact with other systems in order to perform a useful function for the user. Integration is specific to the IEC 61850 standard. With this in mind, experts have realized a new frontier in substation communication. IEC 61850 is expanding outside the substation through communication between substations and control centers. IEC61850 communication, modelling and system engineering between stations are dependent on Ethernet communications. An Ethernet connection between stations can be established in a number of ways. One such way is through a direct wideband LAN interface. This involves the use of a LAN network possessing considerably high data transfer capabilities. That is, a large bandwidth in order to facilitate the timeliness of data. This option is disadvantageous in that it can only be applied over physically proximal networks. Another method, one that is perhaps better in terms of the scale that can be covered, is a t unnel that filters and directly passes packets over a Wide Area Network (WAN). WAN is a network spread over a large geographical area. WAN is composed of several LANs between which it transfers data. This is the only way it can facilitate data exchange between substations spread over hundreds and even thousands of miles. Integration, in conjunction with Ethernet enables the creation of a larger singular system which aids in coordination of protection and control services over a larger scale. A larger system controlling smaller systems under its umbrella also enables enhanced service delivery. In addition, with substations able to communicate between themselves, a higher level of automation is achieved. Another application of IEC61850 lies in the start/stop feature. This feature is not standard to the IEC61850, but it can be integrated. As the name suggests, this feature can start or stop operations within a substation if or when the system deems it necessary. Through this level of automation facilitated by IEC61850, the system provides protection for itself in the event of an error. In conclusion, IEC61850 avails several benefits in the way of cost reduction time saving and protection of power systems. It is the basis for all communication that occurs within a substation and is therefore critical to the protection and automation of the systems within a substation. The value of IEC61850 lies in the testing it allows and the standard that it provides with regard to communication between different components and devices within the system. Testing individual IEDs and their interoperability is critical to the success of any IEC61850 project. IEC61850 also considers future developments which is an important factor for any technological platform. It can thus be said to be future proof in that it follows the progress in mainstream communication technology. Through standardization of a communication protocol, IEC61850 saved several utilities from having to implement several different communication systems and also paved the way for other standards such as wind power and hydro-electric power. With such advancements it is clear that the same technology can be used as a basis to develop standards for other forms of distributed energy resources in the near future. References Y. Gao, "IEC61850-Based Analysis of Coal Mine Ground Transformer Substation Integrated Automation Communication System",AMR, vol. 619, pp. 199-202, 2012. S. Yin, "Research on the Application of IBE in IEC61850 Substation Automation System",AMM, vol. 130-134, pp. 2805-2808, 2011. H. Kirrmann, "Introduction to the IEC 61850 electrical utility communication standard", 2012. I. MESMAEKER, "How to use IEC 61850 in protection and automation", 2016. A. Ehsani Fard, "Using IEC 61850 Protocol in Automation Systems of High Voltage",Automation, Control and Intelligent Systems, vol. 4, no. 2, p. 28, 2016. L. Rocca, P. Pinceti and M. Magro, "Can we use IEC 61850 for safety related functions?"Transactions on Environment and Electrical Engineering, vol. 1, no. 3, 2016.

Newt Gingrich - Address to the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC 2009) free essay sample

Graduating FROM High School and College

Graduating FROM High School and College Graduating FROM High School and College Graduating FROM High School and College By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, When did it become acceptable to drop the preposition after the verb graduate, as in â€Å"I graduated high school in 2000†? This nonstandard usage has become common in colloquial speech, but it is still not acceptable in formal English. The American dictionary Merriam-Webster includes an example from ESPN that suggests that dropping the from is acceptable: †¦ smiling like dudes whove just graduated college or just reached the legal drinking age †¦ - Jeff Bradley, ESPN, 23 Aug. 1999. However, the American style guide published by the Associated Press rejects this usage: Graduate [verb] is correctly used in the active voice: She graduated from the university. It is correct, but unnecessary, to use the passive voice: He was graduated from the university. Do not, however, drop from: John Adams graduated from Harvard. Not: John Adams graduated Harvard. Other respected American commenters on usage also reject the nonstandard form: You can’t â€Å"graduate college† anymore than you can â€Å"go college† or â€Å"arrive college.† In this instance, the verb â€Å"to graduate† is acting as an intransitive verb, and intransitive verbs cannot take on an object.- dmatriccino, Writer’s Digest. If you go around saying you graduated college, you sound illiterate.- Grammar Girl. In certain dialects (notably that of New York City), it is common to say, â€Å"He is going to graduate high school in June† rather than the more standard â€Å"graduate from.† When writing for a national or international audience, use the â€Å"from.†- Paul Brians, Common Errors in English Usage. In a Web search, the nonstandard form outstrips the standard form, but in the Ngram database of printed books, â€Å"graduated from† prevails. In an academic context, schools graduate students, but students graduate from schools. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsUsing the Active Voice to Strengthen Your WritingJanuary 1 Doesn't Need an "st"

ACCOUNTING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

ACCOUNTING - Essay Example He successfully included all the expenses and related each with one or more cost centers. The report will concentrate on providing a thorough investigation based on the seven vital issues that have been given. 1. Management accounting system does not necessarily relate to a whole new form of accounting system but it concentrates more on providing valuable information to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the business. (Johnson, Kaplan, 1991, p.4). It can be regarded as an extension given to the concept of cost accounting which helps in giving more economic information to the management helping them in decision making, policy formation, detect the major flaws on the business etc. According to the Anglo-American Council Management Accounting is defined as â€Å"the presentation of accounting information in such a way as to assist management to the certain policy and the day to day operation of an undertaking.† From the definition it is being understood that the financial data is basically processed and analyzed in a manner that the management can run business operation more systematically. Apart from business planning and policy formulation there are other certain objectives of this system. This system essentially is being used as a process of interpretation. Unlike cost accountancy it does not always identifies the cost element of the business but it is more dynamic in nature as it analyzes the data and reveals the vital information like where in the company is doing bad or good in its operational processes.( Johnson, Kaplan, 1991, p.4). These identifications in turn help in the decision making of any organization. In this case, the company Thomela though was making profits up to a certain level; there were difficulties in their activities and production, which were exposed when the market collapsed. Thus with the installation of the management accounting system,

Legalizing marijuana Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Legalizing marijuana - Essay Example Yes, marijuana can make you crazy so legalizing it is wrong. We can cite the country of Jamaica, one of the largest producer of marijuana in the developing world where marijuana is very common. And if we think that authorities approve marijuana there, you are very wrong. Marijuana is one of the main culprit of the countless number of adolescents who committed petty crimes having police records early (Campbell, 2013). Marijuana makes a youngster susceptible to crime because it impairs one’s judgment. Or in short, you cannot think straight when you are in the influence of cannabis. Worst, if you like it too much and you do not have money to buy it because you are only a student, you will either sell things or steal. And worst, if police catches you, you will end up in jail and have police record early affecting your future because it will be hard to find a job if one has a police record. School will also likely to kick you out if you have a criminal record for stealing because of marijuana. Campbell, Dayton. "Legalising Marijuana Would Be Wrong - Columns."Â  Jamaica Observer News. 22 Sept. 2013. Web. 9 Nov. 2014.

Business & Society case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business & Society case Study - Essay Example Market stakeholders aid Disney Corporation in delivering its services to the community, notably the provision of job opportunities to the surrounding communities, though commuting from the less expensive surrounding community since the area is considered to being a business location and not for settlement. The first key market stakeholders are the creditors who play an important role in the day to day running of the business in most corporations as they provide the unavailable funds that companies and businesses require to invest in as the aim to boosts its business activities (James E. Post 6). Disneyland is a business location in which their major business is the tourist and resort centre which is a booming industry. The creditors of the companies involved in the tourism and resort business are the major stakeholders because they have lent their money expecting the returns of capital principal as well as the interest (James E. Post 15). The second key stakeholder in this case study are the employees who contribute the relevant knowledge and experience as the workforce to the company in which, in return, they get wages benefits, salaries and the chance for personal realization and satisfaction. The third suppliers who are the holding key backbone on the going concern of the tourist and resort business in Disneyland, the suppliers supply services, energy, raw materials, other various inputs in return for payments. The final non-market stakeholders are the wholesalers, distributors and the retailers who are the main chain of the distribution in the whole process thus aiding its movement to the final consumers (Post et al. 25). In this case, the non-market stakeholders are the surrounding society, the general public, media, non-governmental organizations and the business support groups. All of these non-market stakeholders are generally not affected by the economic exchange of the company. It is important to note that the decisions of

Aspects of Thai Buddhist Culture

Aspects of Thai Buddhist Culture CHAPTER V Thai Culture At the outset of this study I had intended to have two sections in the final chapter, one section detailing the Buddhist roots of all things Thai and the other showing Hindu / Indic influence. This idea has been abandoned by the author due to the limited solely Buddhist influence. There are many aspects of Thai culture that have combined elements of other countries such as China, Laos etc but I have chosen to limit the comparisons to Buddhist / Hindu wherever possible. The study will instead focus on detailing the aspects of influence and state whether they have a combined influence or whether they have been influenced by only one of the subjects. The reader will by now appreciate the massive scope of Hinduism and as such it will prove very difficult to find aspects of Thai Buddhist culture that do not have at least some basis in Hinduism. The common origin of the Indian sub-continent and the antiquity of Hinduism make such a subjective study difficult. For this reason I undertook a survey of many Thai people, including but not limited to, my friends, my students, neighbours, monks, etc. I asked them to make a list of 20 things that they considered to be Thai or that which they thought might be perceived by foreign visitors as representative of their country and culture. The answers were varied (and, at times amusing due to language) and from the answers they gave I have composed a list of the results. (shown on next page). The list has been arranged alphabetically and I have limited the list to the most common answers. The list may have been influenced by regional representation as many of the people gave regional answers such as Isan, or the rocket festival. The answers were unprompted by the author and I feel that the list is accurate for the purpose of this study. Almsround by the Monks Arts and Crafts Boat Races / Royal Barge Procession Buddhism Elephants Buffaloes Isan / Isarn Monuments Mai Pen Rai ! Offerings / Merit Making Rain Dance Respect for Royalty Rocket Festival Royalty Temples / Shrines Thai Smile / Friendliness The Wai ( Thai Greeting ) Thai Boxing Thai Festivals Ceremonies Thai Dance / Thai Dress Thai Food / Fruit Sculpture Thai language Thai literature Thai Massage / Traditional Thai medicine Thai music / musical instruments Thai Silk Tuk Tuk ( 3 wheel vehicle) Sanuk ! Sukhothai Kingdom The discerning reader will note that Hinduism is absent from the list. This was a little surprising to the author as I had distributed approx two hundred surveys and had about 60% returned completed and not a single reply had Hinduism or Brahmanism as an answer. Buddhism was on every single list returned to me and that was not in the least surprising. I had not thought to make my own list prior to asking the Thai people their opinion and I think this was a mistake or rather an oversight on my part. I am unable to remember exactly what I conceived of as Thai-ness, but the Thai smile and the Wai greeting would definitely have been included in any list. Westerners who visit the Kingdom generally know in advance about the Kingdoms Buddhist temples and the friendliness of the people. The Thai language appears to be very difficult for the average foreigner / westerner to master and for that reason I have chosen to begin my analyses by looking at the Thai Language / Thai Script. There was obviously a Thai language long before there was a written Script. By far the most interesting thing about the Thai script is that it was invented by a Thai king ! Not many countries can make such a claim, but is there any basis to the claim which is widely accepted by the majority of the Thai people? The sources I consulted all agreed that the Thai script has its roots in India. In fact, many of the South East Asian scripts are very similar as they all have the same root, namely the Brahmi script of ancient India. At the time of the Sukhothai Kingdom the country of Siam was under the control of the Khmer Empire. It is very likely that the Khmer alphabet had an influence on the Thai alphabet. A look at the first vagga/ varga of Khmer Thai consonants will show the striking similarities. Khmer Palm Leaf Script Modern Khmer Modern Thai The other Scripts which Thai has borrowed from are the Mon, Burmese, as well as the Khun, Tham or Lanna scripts which were existent prior to the first known Thai writing. Tham/Lanna Khun Burmese Burma Northern Thai Scripts Modern Thai Script The Tai Tham script, also known as the Lanna script is used for three living languages: Northern Thai (that is, Kam Muang), Tai Là ¼ and Khà ¼n. In addition, the Lanna script is also used for Lao Tham (or old Lao) and other dialect variants in Buddhist palm leaves and notebooks. The script is also known as Tham or Yuan script. The oldest Thai inscription dates from 1283. The Thai script is a syllabic alphabet based on the Brahmi script which was adapted to write the Siamese / Thai language. Its invention is attributed to King Ramkhamhaeng, who reigned over Sukhothai from 1275 to 1317. The Ramkhamhaeng Stele This stone, now in the National Museum in Bangkok, was allegedly discovered in 1833 by King Mongkut, who was a monk at the time, in Wat Mahathat. It should be noted that the authenticity of the stone or at least portions of it has been brought into question.[[1]] Piriya Krairiksh, an academic at the Thai Khadi Research institute, notes that the steles treatment of vowels suggests that its creators had been influenced by European alphabet systems; thus, he concludes that the stele was fabricated by someone during the reign of Rama IV or shortly before. The matter is very controversial, since if the stone is in fact a fabrication, the entire history of the period will have to be re-written.[[2]] Scholars are still divided over the issue about the steles authenticity.[[3]] It remains an anomaly amongst contemporary writings, and in fact no other source refers to King Ramkhamhaeng by name. Some authors claim the inscription was a complete 19th-century fabrication, others claim that the first 17 lines are genuine, that the inscription was fabricated by King Lithai (a later Sukhothai king), and some scholars still believe very much in the inscriptions authenticity.[[4]] The inscription and its image of a Sukhothai utopia remains central to Thai nationalism, and the suggestion that it may have been faked in the 1800s caused Michael Wright, a British scholar, to be threatened with deportation under Thailands strict lese majeste laws .[[5]] Phra Lewis, a western monk who has lived in Thailand for the past 8 years, went to great lengths to explain the construction of the Thai language and demonstrated that while the spoken language has evolved over time, ie the sound of the consonants changing, their position in the surd/sonant grid has not altered accordingly. This was very helpful to my research work in this study as I had encountered some difficulty researching Thai words due to the many different spellings I encountered. There is in fact a Royally approved system of translation, but it is not always followed and there are numerous informal systems in wide use. For example, the Sanskrit word Dharma is the Pali word Dhamma but the Thais call it Tam, another example is the Thai word Bangsakun which is actually Pamsakula in Pali. Written Thai is very structured and follows simple rules with no ambiguity as to the pronunciation like there is in English. The Thai language is tonal and that is where most problems arise for the foreigner. The old style of pronunciation was no doubt altered when the capital moved from Sukhothai in the north, to Ayuddhya in the central region. The letter ? (K) became G, the ? (C) became J and the ? (J) became CH, and so on. The vowels were also altered slightly. Unless consonants are otherwise marked they carry an inherent vowel. In Indian languages this is normally an a but in Thai the rules are slightly different. The inherent vowel is an o but if the word has more than one syllable then the first inherent vowel is an a and the second inherent vowel is an o. The example below shows the word for road Thanon Before moving on to examine festivals and ceremonies I would like to look at a remarkable feature of the Thai language. For this information I am indebted to Phra Lewis who not only pointed it out but explained it to me as follows :- The above 44 consonants of the Thai alphabet have been shown with their modern phonetic sounds. Some letters change sound change depending on where they are in the syllable. They have been shown horizontally in vaggas dependant upon where the sound is made. The first vagga is guttural, made in the throat. The last line are not shown in their vaggas. The first vertical column should show the surd, the second column the surd aspirate, the third column shows the sonant and the forth shows the sonant aspirated. Column five is the nasal sound made. In the first vagga of the diagram we can see that the G and K sounds of modern Thai have switched positions and if one looks at the next vagga ie the palatal vagga, we can see the J has also moved. The monk has speculated that this happened when the Thais moved their capital to Ayuddhya. The letters M, L, H in the chart indicates the class of consonant ie middle , low and high. This should not be confused with the tones of the language. Looking down the first column we see all the letters are middle class, the next column are all high class and the remaining letters in the 5 vaggas are low class consonants. The consonants in the last, longer, line can also be placed in their vagga, ie Y would belong to the palatal vagga, H in the guttural etc. This class of consonant feature is unique to Thai but the grid is the format of the majority of Indian languages. The king did not invent the grid but he may well have been the instigator for the format of the letters, a man in his position could no doubt summon the best minds in the Kingdom. Phra Lewis speculates that the need for a new script was prompted by the wish to write the Pali Canon. As the old Thai / Lao alphabet had only 18 consonants this would not be possible as Pali has 33 consonants. It was therefore necessary to add new letters for the sounds that did not exist is Thai. This is where the uniqueness of the script can show the root of the word for the Thai script was designed with this in mind. The king started with the basic grid and filled it with the letters existent in Thai. There were some gaps in the grid where Pali had sounds that Thai had no letters for, the aspirated G or the pallatal NY for instance. The first step taken was to add letters to fill in the gaps. These letters were (English letters give OLD pronunciation The ingenious part was the addition of letters where Thai already had a letter for the existing Pali sound. The Thais already had a letter for the aspirated K (KH), but they added an additional letter ? (KH) to be used in Pali / Sanskrit words. The practice has continued up until very modern times with foreign loan words being spelt in Thai using the new letters. This allows a person reading Thai to tell if the word is of foreign origin. Most ingenious, some modern English words may be able to trace their Greek or Latin roots from the spelling but this is not the norm as it is with Thai. Those wishing to delete obsolete letters from the Thai alphabet do not have a true understanding of its well thought out and practical design. The additional letters means that Thai has 44 consonants whereas Pali only has 33. The Thai letters used to write Pali in Thailand today should be pronounced differently from spoken Thai but most Thai monks do not do this. After this had been explained I found it a simple matter of looking at a grid chart in order to translate Thai words into roman lettering such that I could research the words online. All of this information was obtained from the monks personal notes and, after checking, I have found it to be correct though I wish to point out I have no linguistic training. The controversy over the Ramkhamhaeng Stele remains unresolved but that is of no concern to the study. The one thing that can be said for the inventor'(s ?) of the Thai script is that he or they were very intelligent and methodical in its design. I personally favour a single person as committees tend to mess things up and this system, in its original form, was perfect. ( and Indian influenced ) Festivals and Ceremonies The foreign visitors perception of Thailand and the Thais is not gained from the language but from the visual aspects of Thai culture such as festivals and ceremonies. There are some public holidays which have no Hindu or Buddhist roots such as days commemorating past kings or celebrating the founding of the constitution. The study has omitted these and others which may have there roots in other foreign countries ie Chinese New Year. To begin with I have chosen to look at three celebrated days which are definitely Buddhist in origin and are known as Puja days. Wisakha Puja Day Wisakha Puja Day is a very important day in the Buddhist tradition, for it was on this day that Prince Siddhattha Gotama was born, 35 years later became the enlightened Buddha, and in another 45 years, passed away into total Nibbana (Parinibbana). In each case, these events took place on the full-moon day in the Wisakha month (usually in May). Wisakha Puja Day is a great Buddhist holiday. It falls on the 15th day of the waxing moon in the 6th lunar month, i.e. full moon day. In Thailand, Wisakha Puja is celebrated throughout the country. On Wisakha Puja Day people put up religious flags outside their houses. They take part in ceremonies at temples and they make merit. They bring flowers, candles, and incense to pay respect to the Triple Gem, i.e. Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha (the community of followers). In the evening, people take part in candle-lit processions and walk clockwise around the main chapel of the temple three times. In the procession, each person carries flowers, three incense sticks and a lighted candle. The concept of walking clockwise around shrines etc is a Hindu / Indic practice clockwise for auspicious occasions and anti-clockwise for inauspicious ones such as death. Magha Puja Day Magha Puja Day is one of the most important Buddhist celebrations in the Thai Calander. This day, which falls on the full moon day of the third lunar month (either the last week of February or early of March). marks the four great events that took place during Lord Buddhas lifetime, namely; 1250 Buddhist monks from different places came to pay homage to Lord Buddha at Valuwan Vihara in Rajgaha, the capital of Magaha State, each of his own initiative and without prior notification or appointment. all of them were the enlightened monks (Arahants) all of them had been ordained by the Buddha himself (Ehi Bhikkhu) They assembled on the full moon day of the third lunar month. On the evening of that day, Lord Buddha gave the assembly a discourse Ovadha Patimokha laying down the principles of His Teachings summarised into three acts, i.e. to do good, to abstain from bad action and to purify the mind. It was unclear as to when the Magha Puja Ceremony took place. However, in a guide book of ceremonies for the twelve months written by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), it is said that, In the past, the Magha Puja was never performed, the ceremony has just been practised during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV)? Realizing the significance of this day, King Rama IV ordered the royal Magha Puja Ceremony to be performed in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in 1851 and this has continued up to the present day. In later years the ceremony was widely accepted and performed throughout the Kingdom. The day has been declared as a public holiday. Thai people go to the temple to make merit and perform religious activities in the morning and return to take part in the candlelit procession or Wien Tien in the evening. At this auspicious time, His Majesty the King will preside over the religious rites to mark the occasion at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and will later lead hundreds of people in a candlelit procession held within the temples compound. Asaha Puja Day Asaha Puja means the ceremony in the eighth lunar month. On the full moon day of the eighth lunar month, the Lord Buddha gave his first sermon and one of his followers became the first Buddhist monk. The ordained followers of the Buddha are collectively called the Sangha, (Asaha Puja is sometimes referred to as Sangha Day.) During his first sermon, the Buddha talked about The Middle Way, to be successful in Spiritual life, we should avoid the two extremes: Trying too hard, such as not eating or not sleeping enough and Not trying hard enough, such as eating and sleeping too much. The Buddha also spoke about the Noble Eightfold Path. This path instructs the faithful to to live in a way that does not harm ourselves or others, to help ourselves and others and to purify the mind. He advised the people to Do good: Avoid evil: Purify the mind. He gave eight guidelines to help people to live in this way, and they are commonly spoken of as the Noble Eightfold Path. He advised people to speak, act and earn their living in moral ways. He further advised them to practise meditation in order to purify their minds and gain deep wisdom (Panya in Thai). These three days are very low key as far as celebrations are concerned and a foreign visitor may not even be aware of them unless they choose to visit a temple or Wat. The next Buddhist ceremony or festival to examine is the Robe Giving ceremony of Kathina. Kathin Ceremony At the end of the three-month Rains Retreat (July to September / October), monks throughout the country are allowed to travel from place to place and are eligible to receive new robes in an annual presentation ceremony called Thot Kathin. Besides new robes, Buddhist literature, kitchen equipment, financial contributions and building materials e.g. nails, hand-saws and hammers etc. are also presented to monks on this occasion. In fact, the word Thot means making an offering to the monk and the word Kathin literary means the embroidery frame used in sewing the robes which, in those days, were collected from rags on dead bodies (pamsakula, rag robes) or rags found in the forset since clothes were not available in plenty as nowadays. Buddhist people regard the Thot Kathin ceremony as the most significant form of merit-making next to the ordination of their close kin. To sponsor a Kathin ceremony involves a lot of time, manpower and expense. Above all, an advance booking must be made with the Wat if a person wishes to be the sole sponsor of the Kathin ceremony but this may not be possible in all Wats, especially temples which are held in high esteem by many people. Nontheless, those who fail to be the sole sponsor of Kathin can also take part in the ceremony which, in this type, is known as Kathin Samakki or the United Kathin. Sometimes a Kathin group will travel for several hundred kilometers by bus, train, boat or even by plane to present the Kathin robes and other necessities to monks in remote temples or in other countries where Buddhist temples are established. People thus hold this merit-making festival not only for earning merit for themselves but also for enjoying a holiday free from the daily hectic life full of stress and strain in the city. During the Thot Kathin period, it is very common to see Kathin processions traveling to and fro throughout the country. In fact, anybody can take part in the event through the simple method of enclosing a small amount of money in the white envelope given by friends or relatives. Songkran Festival Songkran is a Sanskrit word in Thai form which means the entry of the sun into any sign of the Zodiac. But the Songkran in this particular instance is when the sun enters the sign of Aries or the Ram. Its full name is Maha Songkran or Major Songkran to distinguish it from the othes, though most Thais are totally unaware of this fact. Songkran is in fact the celebration of the vernal equinox similar to those of the Indian Holi Festival, the Chinese Ching Ming, and the Christian Festival of Easter. Due to the precession of the equinox the introduction of spring, ie when the sun crosses the equator, now occurs on or around the 21st of March. For the Thai people it is simply their traditional New Year when they can enjoy their holidays to the full with no economic hindrance. Songkran begins on the 13th April and ends on the 15th April, (occasionally, in certain years, on the 16th April). The Songkran Festival is the most striking, for it is widely observed not only in this country but also in Burma, Cambodia and the Lao Republic. On the eve of Songkran Day, i.e. on the 12th April, people clean their house and burn all of the refuse in the belief that anything bad belonging to the old year will be unlucky if left and carried on to the coming New Year. Early on the first day of Songkran, the 13th April, the people both young and old in their new clothing go to their local Wat or monastery to offer food to the monks. A long table is erected in the compound of the Wat where monks alms bowls stand in a row on either side of the table. The people donate many types of food and dainties by placing these in the monks alms bowls. In the afternoon of the same day there is a bathing ceremony of the Buddha images and in some wats this includes the abbot or statues of other famous monks of high regard. It is after this that the well-known water throwing begins. The bathing of images is done as ritualistic ceremony, which will be dealt with separately. Thai people will go on this day, and the succeeding days, to pay their respects and ask blessings from their elders and respected seniors. They will pour scented water into the palms of the old people and often present them with small gifts. In previous times it was an actual bathing where the young people helped the old people to take a bath and to change their old clothing and put on the new clothes which the young people presented them as an act of respect to the aged on the occasion of the New Year. An important thing to be done during the Songkran Festival is a religious service called Bangsakun (Pamsakula in Pali) performed in sacred memory to the dead. When a person died and was cremated, the remains were often placed in a chedi in the Wat. In later times a portion of the bones was sometimes kept in the house in a receptacle. On Songkran Day a religious service in memory to the dead may be officiated by monks at the place where the ashes and the bones have been deposited, or as in some localities the people bring their dead bones to a village wat in company with others where a joint memorial service is performed. In some parts of the country the guardian spirits of the village and town receive also their annual offerings on Songkran Days. Obviously there are reminiscences or traces of ancestor and animistic worship in by-gone days. The monks are presented with cloth, symbolizing the death shroud, which in olden times was cut up and used as rag cloth to make the robes of the m onks. Loy Krathong The most colourful festival during the year is Loy Krathong wich is held on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, usually in November. This is a festival to pay respects to the Mother of Water and to ask forgiveness for polluting the water in the past year. Loy means to float and a krathong is a kind of bowl. A typical krathong is made using banana leaves and the base is from the stem of a banana plant. Incense sticks, candles and flowers are placed inside the krathong along with small denomination coins. (perhaps this acts as an encouragement to the people who have to remove them from the klongs!) On the afternoon of the festival a parade normally takes place through the city or town. Krathongs of all shapes and sizes are placed on floats and carried by locals and their children. During the evening, thousands of people go down to their local river or klong (canal) to float their krathongs. They light the candles and incense sticks, say a prayer and then float it on the water. It is a wonderful sight with flickering lights bobbing up and down on the river, much more interesting to witness than to read about.There is a Loy Krathong song, (in Thai language) which is often played throughout the day. Below is a translation of this popular song: November full moon shines, Loy Krathong, Loy Krathong and the waters high in the river and local klong Loy Krathong is here and everybodys full of cheer Were together at the klong, Each one with his krathong As we push away we pray, We can see a better day The Loy Krathong festival dates back to the period of the Sukhothai Kingdom, 700 years ago. It marked the end of the rainy season and the main rice harvest. It is based on a Hindu tradition of thanking the water god(s). The farmers of Sukhothai held a festival of floating candles. One year, a beautiful woman called Noppamas, who was the chief royal consort, made special lanterns for the festival. She made them from banana leaves and shaped them like lotus flowers. The king was suitably impressed with what he saw, and announced that krathongs would be floated every year from then on. Today, in memory of her and her innovation, there is a beauty contest called The Noppamas Queen Contest. Laying the Foundation Stone Thai people like to consult the astrology charts (and / or Buddhist monks though this is spoken of as a low art in the Brahmajala Sutta) in order to find an auspicious time to do something important. This can be anything from the day of a marriage or when to make a business deal. The date and time for starting to build a house is also important. A special ceremony is arranged for erecting the first pillar or foundation stone. Previously I had the privilege to attend the ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone for the Paknam Tower. This is going to be a 139 meter high tower with amazing views over Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand. Thai people are mainly Buddhists, but ceremonies like this one are conducted by Brahmin priests dressed in white. During the ceremony a priest asks forgiveness from the guardian spirit of the land. He also asks the spirits permission to build on the land. This was followed by offerings for the guardian spirits. Although this ceremony is mainly Brahmin, nine monks were also invited to do some chanting. Local dignitaries offered food to the monks in order to make merit during this event. I was reminded of the fact that many Thais see no conflict of interest by partaking in both Brahmin and Buddhist ceremonies, even simultaneously. The Thais themselves would rather make auspicious offerings twice than not make them at all. According to Thai astrology, there are three days of the week when you should never start construction of a building. These are Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. For the consecration ceremony of the Paknam Tower the date chosen was Friday 18th May 2007. The time for the actual laying of the foundation stone was set for exactly 2:19 p.m. The number nine is considered auspicious by Thai people. Everything is done in multiples of threes or nines wherever possible. There were nine monks and nine different kinds of food offerings for them. As well as the marble foundation stone, nine symbolic bricks were used during the ceremony. Three made of gold, three made of silver and three made of an alloy. There were also nine symbolic pegs made of nine different types of wood. In addition to these items, there were jasmine garlands, flowers with popped rice and one baht coins which were all utilized during the ceremony. After the conch shell had been blown and the small drums sounded, it was time for the foundation stone laying ceremony to begin. Khun Anuwat Methiwibunwut, the Governor of Samut Prakan Province hammered one of the pegs into the sand. Each of the dignitaries then took turns hammering the remaining pegs into place, followed by pouring of the cement. The nine bricks had been laid in a star pattern where the pegs had been driven into the sand. Additional cement was then poured on top. At this point all of the senior dignitaries jointly placed the marble foundation stone onto the bricks. Following this, they then took turns to sprinkle flowers and coins onto the marble slab. Once the main ceremony was over, the local people, who had been patiently waiting and watching everything, were allowed to come forward to do the same with their own flowers and coins. There were two identical copies of this foundation stone. I presume that one will be covered in cement while the second one will be placed in a prominent place once the building has been completed. The photo below shows the dignitaries placing the marble foundation stone onto the bricks Ploughing Ceremony The Ploughing Ceremony, which is observed every year, is an age old tradition, and according to the Thais it dates back to the Sukhothai Period. It was observed in the Ayuttaya Period and passed on to the Rattanakosin Period. The Ploughing Ceremony is held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok during May and it signals the start of the planting season in this country where the majority of the population are farmers. The ceremony is aimed at making predictions about the years crops. In the reign of King Rama IV, the Ploughing Ceremony was held in the ancient capital of Ayuttaya as well as in Phetchaburi. Later, it was held on a field, called Som Poy, in the outskirts of Bangkok, it was at this time Buddhist elements were added to the previously Brahmin-dominated proceedings, these took place at the temple of the Emerald Buddha on the eve of the ceremony. This Buddhist part of the ceremony involved the processing of Khantarat Buddha images of the past reigns, along with citations blessing such grains as rice, glutinous rice and sorghum, sesame seeds, taro, potato, gourd seeds, melons and sweet basil. A ceremonial pavilion was built at Sanam Luang for the occasion, which was participated by the Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony (Phra Raek Na) assisted by four Celestial Maidens (Thepi) carrying gold and silver baskets full of grains. Before the start of the ceremony, the Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony and the four maidens were anointed on the foreheads and in the palms, and given a conch and bel leaves. Selected from among high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Phya Raek Na wore a ceremonial ring with nine different gemstones which the King had given him. The ceremony in the reign of King Rama IV was performed in grand style, with a processing of 500 people led by the Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony in resplendent attire and carrying his ceremonial sword. Before the start of the ceremony, the Lord of Ploughing Ceremony was offered three pieces of loincloth from which he chose one. The cloths were of different lengths four, five and six kheub (one kheub is about six inches) and the length of the