Innovation Management in Honda

Introduction Innovation is change and for any change to be effective, it must be built on the previously existing systems and confer better results. Managers have to be keen on the innovation network for it to yield the desired results. There is also a need to involve other firms with the same vision as innovation is continuously being brought forward through collaboration.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Innovation Management in Honda specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More If innovation is successful, then it serves the parent company as well as the industry at large. For this to happen, there has to be a lot of interdisciplinary networking, a seamless chain of operations that minimizes wastage in terms of both resources and time. Innovation management is thus, the coordination of management and engineers with a view to the realization of set company goals through a laid out process. With a stable management process, opportunities arising both internally and outside of the company can be seized and new ideas presented and in the end, new innovative products. Innovation management is not only a management or engineer issue but also a process that is inclusive of all staff regardless of where they work. It is an evolutionary process and not a one off thing and hence, management must develop the culture of innovation by building the channels that encourage it in the company. A series of activities that include search, select, implement and capture must (Trott 2005) be instigated for there to be good innovation management. Innovation can either be pulled or pushed, with the push coming from already invented or existing technologies that the company aims at cashing in on whereas the pull process comes from the realization that a vacuum exists where customer needs are not being adequately met. The company thus focuses its efforts in trying to close that vacuum by innovating new products for that set of market. Both processes can only be achieved if enough information is acquired and teams that are versatile invested in. Due to the stiff competition in the market, product lifetimes have been greatly reduced and hence, innovation managers have to be faster in coming up with better products that improve on the quality of existing ones.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this paper, we are going to critically analyze the process of innovation management in Honda using the tools of search, select, implement and eventually capture. Finally, we are going to make recommendations that are aimed at improving the management of innovations. The reason we focus on Honda is that it has been a market leader in the motorcycle industry since 1959. Additionally, there was sufficient information on the company available for this research. Honda is also the leading manufacturer of interna l combustion engines by volume in addition to it being the largest producer of motorcycles globally. In 2001 it became the second largest vehicle manufacture in the Japanese market only exceeded by their perennial rivals, Toyota, the fourth largest automobile manufacturer in the US and sixth largest globally (Taylor 2008). They were the first to manufacture a luxury vehicle in Japan and have since diversified their products to include generators, gardening machinery, marine engines and aircrafts. The company spends about 5 percent of its revenue on RD (research and development). Honda released the first hybrid electric vehicle one month before Toyota’s release of the prius, touted to be the best hybrid. The EPA had it as the most fuel efficient vehicle commercially produced in the US. The problem arose from the failure of a follow up market plan to raise necessary awareness for the products to be well received in the market and also the release of the prius which was an impro vement on the Honda model. Honda thus shows sustainability where it comes to innovation and industry change. It has produced products that continually seek to change the dynamics of the market. In this research, I shall discuss various steps of innovation management namely; search, selection, implementation and capture. Finally, I shall make recommendations as to the best practices on the same. Through this format, it shall be easy to see how successful innovation management is done.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Innovation Management in Honda specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Search The 21st century is one that is characterized by many challenges. Traditionally, a company solely focused on delivering high quality products to their customers incurring the least costs while increasing efficiency. In this century however, the green movement has taken the forefront in advocating environmental responsibility. Glob al warming and dumping of wastes pose a challenge for environmentalists globally and the world at large unanimously accepts that the time for action is now, if the future of generations to come is to be secured. It is in the backdrop of these challenges that companies are working round the clock to come up with innovative ways of reducing emissions that are touted as the leading causes of ozone layer damage and consequently global warming. The companies that will manage these innovations most effectively are the ones that are likely to come out on top.  In this chapter, we will focus on searching for opportunities for innovation. As carbon emissions are the leading pollutants of the environment, automobile companies and other manufacturing firms need to take the lead in looking for ways of building alternatives to carbon. The reduction in emissions alone is not the greatest motivator of innovation but also the total process of bringing positive impacts into the environment as a wh ole including reduction of other wastes used in the manufacturing process, recycling water and land reclamation. This thus poses an opportunity for Honda to capitalize on and lead the way into the future of manufacturing without pollution. Honda can handle these issues by utilizing manufacturing methods that emit less carbon dioxide e.g. by using renewable energy instead of coal. Human life is very valuable. Therefore, automobiles need not be ambassadors of death but rather helpful gadgets with a multiple of useful ways.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is hence a need to make automobiles with increased safety features that reduce the risk of accidents and whose major priority is the reduction of fatalities resulting from automobile crashes. An opportunity thus arises that challenges automobile manufacturers like Honda to develop cars that prevent crashes a break from the crashing cars of today. With technology dictating nearly all aspects of our lives nowadays, the future can only present opportunities for better technological innovations that improve our lives further. Honda is not solely a vehicle and motorbike manufacturer, but rather a company with a wide range of products aimed at improving the lives of people. The future, with good management insight, will offer the company better opportunities to grow their range of products. Another avenue that presents an opportunity for innovation is the discovery of new markets. Infrastructure varies from country to country depending on a wide range of factors including the income levels of the residents and the natural conditions like the geography, topography or the climatic conditions of those areas. To build efficient machinery, a company must be able to face the challenges new markets pose and in so doing, remarkable innovations may arise. For example, vehicles that are primarily built with cold areas in mind cannot be expected to utilize the same cooling mechanism as those adorning the desert. Therefore, entry into new markets can challenge a company to be more innovative. In the meantime, as the world is tirelessly searching for an alternative source of energy and move away from petroleum, companies are choosing to take baby steps towards this goal by producing gadgets that are fuel-efficient. The company that develops the most efficient vehicle with no emissions detrimental to the environment is going to be the market leader in technological advancement. A multinational company looking to be the best in the market must also develop ways of producing its parts efficiently. This poses a challenge for the management in deciding where they source their raw materials centrally or individually. Innovative ways of managing this money-saving venture, can be developed and may be adopted by other companies in the future. In addition, Honda managers should encourage competition amongst staff. This could be through the setting up of bonus schemes and performance based benefits. This could act as a trigger for innovation. Finally, Honda should outsource those parts of its manufacturing processes that are bulky and unprofitable. This should enable the firm to focus more on issues such as research and development that require innovation but have higher returns. Select To choose what opportunities to capitalize on, management has to be on toes to ensure that priority is given only to those it deems most profitable and also those which champion the course of the company best and have the best interest of the wider society at heart including the environment. Strategies must therefore be crafted, which actions are going to be taken and why they are the best from the choices available. Since every company in the world is adopting the green concept, Honda has also joined the fray with a number of noteworthy interventions. The management has developed several plans over time aimed at the maximization of the available raw materials with minimum wastage and in line with the set international standards. It is important for the company to examine this option critically as it may be the difference between future success and failure. A company should venture into aggressive marketing (Tidd and Bessant, 2009) to communicate to its customers its products, philosophies and other information that may give it the cutting edge it requires to make headway into the future and win customer loyalty. Honda does market its products on different media, but rather than have a central point, their marketing techniques are disjointed and are not re flective of the collective outlook the company would like to project but rather reflect the company branches individually. To develop a successful product, regardless of where it is being marketed, there is need to set a common ground that the customers can identify with. Investment is the driving force behind the most innovative teams because it gives engineers the confidence to experiment without any financial constraints. The fear of failure usually caused by lean budgets and rigid company policies can stall innovation and in turn retard company growth (Arnold et al 2009), missing opportunities to make headways and in the long run loosing business. It is therefore important for a company to push for innovative thinking by encouraging failure as long as they learn from it. It is said that success only amounts to 1 percent of the effort made; otherwise, the other 99 percent is failure which preceded the success. Honda encourages its engineers and designers to challenge themselves a nd develop new ideas. This concept may sometimes backfire as usually the best way to correct a mistake is to go back to the beginning and examine the basics once more rather than persisting on the same path leading to inevitable failure, ruing wasted company funds. A lot of research work is needed to ascertain what the customer desires are. If the company products are parallel to the expectations of the customer, then the company is doomed to fail. Therefore, there is need for investment in market research and also in technology research as new materials are being developed, which may improve designs and systems tremendously. Honda has been successful in the development of products that are widely accepted by clients e.g. the minivans and courier motorbikes, albeit against the backdrop of immense failure. For example, the first type of motorcycles that were successful in Japan was not as nearly successful in the United States due to the differences in roads structures. In summary, H onda seems to be focused on the four areas of fuel, process, design and end-use when it comes to selecting what to capitalize on. However, Honda should not lose focus of innovation outside what is considered conventional. Even within the four areas, Honda can still come up with ideas that can lead to a new competitive edge such as recycling of old motor vehicles which can be much cheaper than direct production. Other ideas could include designing electric bikes or those that can utilize hydrogen and other commonly found elements to fuel them. Implement This is the part that deals with the actions taken in order to meet the set goals and with the recommended methods. Implementation can be relatively easy depending on the information provided or it can be difficult if the information is insufficient or looks good on paper but unattainable. Honda has over time developed a number of machines. From their initial identity as motorcycle manufacturers, they have diversified to other kinds o f machinery and are even the largest manufacturers of engines. This growth can obviously been attributed to the size of investment in money, labor and technology. The company developed its first jet which has 35 percent more efficiency in fuel consumption in comparison to jets of similar make. This was achieved by the utilization of superior materials, developed by the company, compounded by better aerodynamics, more efficient engine and body designs. This can be considered as a landmark achievement for the company worthy of commendation. However, poor marketing has led to the low sales of this particular product. In order to achieve the goal of achieving the car that protects against crashing, Honda developed a CRW model that featured improved systems that informed the driver if he was too near to the next car and would retract the safety belt if the driver moved forward. This navigation breaking system, albeit with wonderful designs, has not been largely accepted by the customers as it is not easily controllable and demands too much of the driver. Many people prefer their own judgments while driving and this has contributed to the low reception that has greeted this model. Honda has developed a pioneer humanoid robot which has intelligent capabilities after over 20years of experiments. This is a fast for the company on its many innovative fronts. More research is needed for this model known as ASIMO as it has received massive criticism from the humanists who claim that the company is aiming at substituting the human functions, however, the company claims that the development of this robot is meant to be of assistance to humans but cannot substitute the human basic senses which we heavily rely on. The only natural gas vehicle, which is sold in the US, is the Honda Civic GX (Gable 2008). This car has been in the market and it is the ‘most green’. With the emphasis on being green, you would expect this car to be the most sought. On the contrary, it has received a very low reception from dealerships and consumers alike although this has been coupled by the lack of a marketing strategy from the company for this invention. Consumers sight the hefty amount of money required to buy the car and the lack of natural gas fueling stations as the reason they have not considered the car. In an attempt to be green, Honda has outsourced its services having nothing to do with the actual manufacture of cars. The company has further set procedures it says are meant to reduce distractions in the manufacturing plants by having all staff in white laboratory coats. This they say, being a standard in all their plants worldwide, is aimed at making their operations uniform around the world (Dogson 2008). Their plants are also very well attended to and have well-trimmed gardens, and other aesthetics not typical of manufacturing plants. In furthering their green course, they do not expend any waste as all their material are recycled or converted into sources of energy. They have adopted a clean and green mantra and assert that what is produced under unclean circumstances cannot be expected to be of high quality. However, going green is yet to rake in actual profits for Honda, in fact it seems to be more of an obsession rather than an upgrade of operations. Capture This part involves getting the benefits from the actions taken during the implementation stage. It involves a coordinated efforts aimed at quantifying the monetary and the other benefits that accrue from the implementation of the innovations. Companies mostly apply the tactic of aggressive marketing to inform customers of their products. This is also a coordinated effort that requires extensive research, planning and budgetary allocation to be successful (Wang 2009). All innovation would be in vain if the products developed do not get the required attention in the market. In order to capture the markets attention and reap the benefits, there needs to be a relentless ca mpaign that focuses on getting vehicles off the factory and onto the roads where they are required. Honda has outsourced its maintenance department that deals with the upkeep of their plants in a bid to eradicating distractions that may arise from these activities. This is a laudable maneuver, as engineers are not expected to fully concentrate on their innovative obligations and simultaneously undertake the maintenance of the facilities. The benefit of having an expert in plant maintenance is that hazards that may arise from otherwise trivial occurrences are minimized. Innovation leads to the discovery of better materials that reduce environmental pollution. In order to attain the required levels of emission, Honda has endeavored into the production of lighter materials for their jets, which are recyclable with minimal wastages. The environmental benefits can be immense not only for the company presently but for even the future undertakings. Honda has the best concept in the world f or a vehicle that solely relies on natural gas and therefore very environmental friendly. In order for the obvious benefits to be realized from the sale of this model, the company needs to adopt a strategy that aims at reducing the purchase price of the vehicle and also availing the necessary ingredients needed for the model to run properly. This maneuver can ensure that people invest their money on this model. Considering that the model has been in the market since 1998 and has neither been embraced by the customers nor the dealerships, there is a need to refocus on the part of the company. Recommendations Employees are undoubtedly a valuable resource in any company whichever level they serve at. Therefore, for Honda to make great strides towards a better future, employee involvement in matters of management is paramount. Lack of a coordinated effort that aims at giving a voice to employees can spell ultimate loss of the innovative edge. It is not the engineers who have the greates t view of what vacuum exists in the market! It might be the staff member who is not involved in the manufacture of the vehicles but uses them on a daily basis as he commutes to work. In the past, when Honda was introduced into the US, the company was marketing motorcycles with large engine capacities. However, the company staff used scooters to commute to and from work. It is the scooters, rather than the big engine motorcycles that elicited interest fro the local folk. The company thus endeavored into the manufacture of the Supercub which was very well received by the US consumers. Honda’s management should venture into aggressive marketing of their products so that the customers are aware of the range of products they have. They have too many inventions that the low-key reception of some of their products point towards poor marketing strategies rather than the lack of a market. The company, in this respect should be in a position to determine what their competitors are work ing on and have times when they release their products into the market. Clogging the market with many new products simultaneously may be counter productive and forces customers to adopt a wait and see attitude, in anticipation for a better design of the product from the same company. Honda sources most of the parts they use in their assembly plants from Japan. This move is both laudable and regrettable. It is laudable in the sense that there is standardization in the manufacture of the parts and hence uniformity is possible for all models. The move is however, a miscalculation on the part of the company as shipments from Japan into other countries are subject to delays and other unforeseen occurrences (Yoshio 2011). Most recently, there was an earthquake in Japan that caused massive destruction and logistical nightmares and the company was inevitably affected. There should therefore be decentralization of production factors in a bid to spread risks and shelter the company from unnec essary losses. The natural gas driven car was a good concept for this era. It has however gone against the grain of expectation and while this may point towards the lack of a marketing strategy, it also points towards the lack of adequate investment in the support facilities required to run this car. Japanese models usually have a reputation for being affordable to customers and this is largely due to the adaptation of the concept of scale economies, where massive numbers of a product are manufactured attracting investments for support facilities, making the spare parts for these models available and affordable and consequently eliciting interest from customers. Honda should have implemented the concept of scale economies in order to realize more sales from a better reception of this model. Conclusion From the above, we can draw the following conclusions: Honda is one of the most innovative companies in the market today and this reputation has been built over a long period of time Its success can be attributed to visionary leaders who relentlessly continued to push for better products and more involvement. The company is just beginning to compete on a scale with other market leaders. The firm lacks a solid innovation management plan As initially stated, innovation management is not just the production of new technologies or products but rather the whole process including manufacturing and marketing (Burns et al 1991). It encompasses broadly all factors leading to the successful use of a product domestically or commercially without it posing a risk to either the consumer or the environment. With the shift of the market towards the reduction of over-reliance on petroleum, there is need to have a solid innovative plan that seeks to eradicate all sources of energy tied to petroleum. For example, when constructing a hydrogen-run car, there is need to ensure that the hydrogen used is not sourced from fossil fuels (Fackler 2008). This requires critical thinking and a total shift from the current way of thinking. To maintain sustainability, Honda should look into more long-term measures since their current policies do not seem to appreciate future challenges such as the insecurity of relying on petroleum products. If the company was to implement the recommendations outlined in this report, then it could be on the verge of a brighter and more productive future. References Arnold, H. et al. (2009) Applied Technology and Innovation management.  London: Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht Burns, T. and Stalker, G. (1991) The management of innovation. New York: Oxford University Press. Dogson, M et al. (2008) The Management of technological innovation: strategy  and practice. New York: Oxford University Press Fackler, M. (2008) Latest Honda Runs on Hydrogen, Not Petroleum. New York Times Gable, C and Gable, S. (2008) Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) Available. About.com: Hybrid Cars Alt Fuels. Web. Web. Taylor, A. (2008) America’s Most Admired Com panies: Honda. Web. Tidd, J. and Bessant, J. (2009) Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological,  Market and Organizational Change (4.ed). Chichester: Wiley. Trott, P. (2005) Innovation Management and New Product Development. Prentice Hall. Wang, W. (2009) Guangzhou Honda adopts new brand strategy to grab market share. Web. Yoshio, T. (2011) Honda Exports from Japan Unlikely To Decline Soon. Dow Jones newswire. Web. This report on Innovation Management in Honda was written and submitted by user Maginty to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Glow-in-the-Dark Crystal Snowflake

Glow-in-the-Dark Crystal Snowflake Learn how to make a glow-in-the-dark crystal snowflake or another glowing holiday ornament. This is a safe and easy project thats great for kids of all ages. The crystal ornaments are light-weight and inexpensive to make. You can use  borax to make ornaments, but if you try this project with younger children and are concerned about safety then you can use sugar (borax isnt particularly dangerous; just dont drink the solution and do wash your hands if you handle the ornaments.) The snowflake in the photo is a variation on the borax crystal snowflake project. Materials for a Glowing Ornament borax (or could use alum or Epsom salts equally well; sugar works but follow instructions for rock candy to grow the crystals)very hot water (I used water from my coffee maker)glow-in-the-dark paintpipe cleanersscissors or wire cutters (optional)butter knife or pencilglass or jar big enough for your ornamentmeasuring cup or larger glass for making the solutionpaintbrush or cotton swab (optional) Make a Glowing Ornament Shape your ornament. To make a snowflake, cut a pipe cleaner into thirds (doesnt have to be exact). Line up the pieces and twist them in the center. Bend the arms out to make the snowflake shape. Trim the arms to make them even, except the longest arm, which you can bend over a knife or pencil to suspend the ornament in crystal-growing solution. You can make other shapes, of course, like trees, stars, bells, etc.Coat the pipe cleaner shape with the glowing paint. Let your ornament dry or least set up to ensure good coverage. Allow it to sit 15-30 minutes, depending on how much paint you used.Prepare your solution. Pour hot water into your crystal-growing glass to fill it (this is measuring your volume). Dump this hot water into a larger glass or cup (where you will prepare the actual solution).Stir in borax or alum or Epsom salts until the solid stops dissolving and start collecting at the bottom of the container. The reason you are using separate containers for making the solution a nd growing the crystals is because you want a saturated solution for quick crystal growth, but no solids, which would compete with your ornament for crystal growth. Pour the clear solution into your crystal-growing glass. Rinse out your other container so no one accidentally drinks crystal solution.If your pipe cleaner has a long arm, attach the ornament directly to a knife or pencil (otherwise you will have to tie the ornament or use a second pipe cleaner, twisted onto the ornament and the knife/pencil). Rest the knife on top of the glass, being sure the ornament is completely immersed in the solution and not touching the sides or bottom of the container.Allow crystals to grow overnight or longer (until you like the way they look).Remove the ornament from the solution and allow it to dry. You can hang it over an empty glass or set it on a paper towel (unless you used sugar, for obvious reasons).You can store the ornaments wrapped in tissue paper. Tips and Safety Dont drink crystal-growing solution, dont eat the ornaments, etc. If you used sugar or alum (both found in food), the ornaments are very safe to handle. Even though the glowing paint is non-toxic, ornaments arent food.If you used borax or Epsom salts, rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Its safe to wash any of these materials down the drain.You can vary the size of the crystals by using a less saturated solution (like 3 tablespoons of borax per cup of boiling water) and by controlling the cooling rate of the solution. If you are up for some experimentation, try refrigerating your warm solution and see what happens. What do you get if you keep the solution warm, like on sunny window?

Second draft area studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Second draft area studies - Essay Example Art was quite heavily improved in the region of India under the Mughal rule as they developed several paintings that were rich in color. The art work was highly influenced by the Persian art work and this was because the Mughals invited Persian artists to come to India and provide training to the locals to produce similar high quality art work. Due to this the locals were able to create art work that comprised the essence of the art of both the Persians and the Indians. Another major contribution made by the Mughals to the society of India was that they taught the locals about how to tolerate each other’s religious and cultural practices. The tolerance towards culture was quite clearly depicted by different Mughal emperors especially by Babar and Akbar who are regarded as two of the greatest Mughal rulers. Both Babar and Akbar were Muslim leaders but they had immense tolerance towards the Hindu religion. During the period of Akbar several Hindu worship homes including temples were developed. Doniger states that Akbar was completely tolerant towards the Hindu religion and he believed that both the Hindus and the Muslims can live together peacefully. He allowed Man Singh to develop several temples in the region of Vrindaban and he himself provided material for the development of these temples (Doniger 560). Akbar further professed tolerance towards other religion by abolishing taxes that had been imposed on individuals who were not Muslims. There were various factors that contributed towards the end of the era of Mughal Empire. The Mughal Emperor who was highly responsible for the downfall and miserable end of the empire was Aurangzeb. The very first action due to which Aurangzeb came into power became one of the causes of the decline of Mughals. He attained the rule by taking the life of his own brother and imprisoning his own father. Due to this his own relatives stood against him. He performed various activities that

Reading response 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reading response 7 - Essay Example Punk rock has grown among the Korean youth giving them a day-to-day chance to expresses their energy and relieve stress as they dance wildly. He recognizes the consequent emergence of the Korean punk movement that expresses local resistance within an internationally recognizable form. Epstein acknowledges this growth to the relaxation of authoritarian control in Korea, depression caused by American suburban alienation, Korean exposure to the west and Western music, Internet use among Korean teens, and globalization I find the style of dancing to Korean punk, the energy, and enthusiasm with the artists and the audience, and dancehall mood very interesting. I think that this genre of music should be encouraged to Koreans of all ages as it promotes the Korean identity. I hence conclude that although punk Rock may never get full assimilation to the Korean pop music, the steps taken are increasingly resisting the oppositional

Understanding the principles and practises of assessment Essay Example for Free

Understanding the principles and practises of assessment Essay 1. Understand the principles and requirements of assessment. 1.1 Explain the functions of assessment in learning and development. An assessment has to be carried out to show that learning is taking place. The initial assessment will show me the learner’s knowledge, skills and capability in the hairdressing industry. The easiest and most effective way to show their understanding is by demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of the criteria that has been given. This can then help me and the learners to see if they have fully understood, and if not is should encourage the learner to ask questions. Sometimes a learner will need guidance to understand what exactly they have to learn, and if they are on track and how they can improve their skills/ techniques. For this to be effective it means that a thorough assessment will need to take place. Formative assessment is where a focus on monitoring the learner’s progress and response to instruction is taken place. This will allow me to observe the learners progress and then give feedback to the learner starting with positive first leading into the more negative feedback where I can then give information derived from the assessment to help improve the next time. Feedback is key and can be given in writing or oral. Learners can also do self assessments to reflect and monitor their progress. summative assessment take place at the end of an unit, this will help me find the right method for obtaining information about what has been learnt, and provides me with information about a students achievement of specific units. This can be done by getting the learner to create a project on a specified aspect of hairdressing e.g. colouring hair. This will then give me an understanding of the individual learner’s performance and understanding of the criteria that needs to be covered. Summative assessment is more formal and can be done through assessments, exams, professional discussion to confirm learn er’s achievement. 1.2 define the key concepts and principles of assessment Assessment is carried out to evaluate that learning has taken place. Assessment used as a progress of making judgements are important, as it helps me to measure where the learner is at, and also measures the attainment of knowledge and skills in the unit that is being assessed. It also helps me to ensure that learners are learning the right criteria.  Learners should know why they are being assessed and what they have to do to meet the assessment criteria. I should not assess the learner unless they are ready to be assessed. The validity of the learners work means that the work that is being produced is relevant to what is being assessed, and it meets the right criteria for the certain level. To ensure reliability of the learner, the work must remain consistent across all learners over a period of time. Evidence is key as it can determine the decision that is being made by me. Ensuring that the learner is doing the work and this it is kept up to date. The anticipated outcome of ass essment is that the learner will complete assessments of city and guild standards within the time frame given, with no assistance and show through answering questions so that they have full understanding of the subject. Evidence should be authentic, the only way I can gather authentic evidence is by observing, so I can witness the learner working. This work has to be produced solely by the learner. Sufficient work is important to ensure the work that is being assessed covers the requirements at that time. Benchmarking can help inform target setting for learners. If targets are not met the learners work will need evaluating so improvements can be implemented. Learners work needs to be current to ensure the learners are producing work that is relevant to the time of assessment. Work can be evaluated to inform current and future practise. Assessment has to remain fair, consistent and valid, to ensure all learners have equal and fair chance of receiving fair assessment. By following the awarding bodys criteria, when all judgements are made about a learner’s performance, it will ensure all assessment is marked to the same criteria to be fair with learners. My own interpretation and understanding of assessment requirements is important. It includes the transparency of making sure everyone who is involved in the assessment process clearly understands what is expected, and can see there is nothing untoward taking place. It is key that I am honest and open with the learners so they do not feel that they have achieved more than they have whilst under assessments. 1.3 explain the responsibilities of the assessor. My main role as an assessor will be to plan and carry out assessment according to the requirements of the qualification and specification of city and guilds. One of my responsibilities is to decide if an assignment having  been completed by the learner has reached the required standard, if it falls short of this then it is my responsibility to assist the learner in the understanding of the subject. To safeguard against standards failing my evaluation is then checked by and I.V, assessing both learner and myself. We both must maintain and improve the assessment process as they will then be assessed by an E.V. During planning my assessments for the learner it needs to be consistent and fair. I need to take into account individual needs of learners. An assessment could be an observation, test or questioning and when devising my own assessment I need to make sure it is at a level of achievements of that learner. There should always be a reason for my assessment, so then I can find out if the learner is ready to progress further. It is important I communicate with the learners so I can inspire and motivate them. I also need to provide feedback to the learners so that they can improve where needed. I should always remain professional and know my boundaries, not getting too friendly. Also I should be fair and ethical towards the learners with no favouritism. While carrying out assessments I need to make a right decision and be fair towards the learners.

The Fall of the Inca Empire Essay -- History, Ecuador, Peru, Chile

The Inca Empire, the massive nation that extended 2,500 miles along the western coast of South America and had a population of over 7 million at its peak. It included all of what is now Ecuador and Peru and most of Chile. Known as â€Å"The Children of the Sun†, they excelled at craftsmanship, weaving, and culture (â€Å"Children of the Sun†). A very religious people, they worshiped the Sun as their supreme god and held religious festivals monthly to appease these gods. Although they did not value it aside from its beautiful appearance, the Inca Empire was home to millions of pounds of solid gold and silver. The Inca had no use for it except to use it to craft decorations and statues. In fact, an Inca citizen valued cloth more than they valued gold or silver. Their collapse would be brought about because of the Spanish invasion, a brutal civil war that weakened the empire, and deadly disease brought over from Europe. The Inca Empire was a combination of many small tribes and nations that the Inca had conquered and placed under their rule. Their government was very well organized and efficient at ruling their subjects. The entire empire, however, was led by an emperor that was recognized by the Inca people as the â€Å"Son of the Sun†. The emperor selected his advisors and appointed governors for all of the territories under Inca control. They also had a very large, highly organized military consisting of around 500 thousand men. The Empire could have lasted centuries, if not for the Spanish invasion. Led by Hernando Pizarro, an accomplished conquistador, the Empire would be brought to its knees in just under thirty five years Before any conquistador had ever step foot in Inca lands, issues that would lead to the Inca’s downfall had been buil... ...ve died and the civil war would not have occurred. Who knows, Huyana Capac may have been a much stronger, brutal leader than Atahualpa and would have killed the Spanish as soon had he heard that they had landed in Peru. Pizarro, being the decisive, military leader that he was, would take advantage of the terrible plague and use it against the Inca. As he traveled from village to village, he would leave a person infected with smallpox in the village so that the whole village would become infected and die. When his men were in Cuzco while it was under siege from Manco Inca, he ordered dead bodies infected with small pox to be thrown into the Inca camps at night. Huge number of Inca soldiers died because of attacks like these. Pizarro and his men were from Europe, so they had some resistance to the diseases they brought with them, so they were not affected by them.

Interrelationship of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Essay

In the article â€Å"Interrelationship of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation† by Jerry Dermer, there are three different assumptions about the interrelationship between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation from three different researchers. Firstly, Deci, E.L. stated that an extrinsic performance-contingent reward reduces people’s intrinsic motivation. Secondly, Hofstede, G.H. supported that intrinsic motivation is a necessary co-requisite for extrinsic rewards to be motivating; however, intrinsic motivation is not reduced in the occurrence of extrinsic rewards. Thirdly, the general assumption of many motivational researchers believed that intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are unrelated. The purpose of the study was to firstly determine if there is a relationship between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, and then to help management in resolving the dilemma of whether or not they should provide rewards based on performance. The study conducted a questionnaire which was distributed to 81 department store managers in a large department store chain. The questionnaire included measurements for extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. For extrinsic motivation’s measurement, the questionnaire listed seven statements for managers to rate on the Likert scale. The budget performance in these seven statements was linked to seven extrinsic outcomes: recognition, advancement, job security, better peer relations, better supervisory relations, increased responsibility, and increased salary. For example, â€Å"‘exceeding budgeted performance will lead to more responsibility’† (Dermer, 1975). For intrinsic motivation’s measurement, the questionnaire only listed three statements asking the managers to rate the level to which higher order need satisfaction is affected by good performance. For instance, â€Å"‘Doing my job well gives me a feeling of accomplishment’† (Dermer , 1975). In order to have a fair and accurate result, both statements were presented in Likert format. Managers needed to rank the statements from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Also, the questionnaire was intermixed with other random statements to minimize halo effects and hence increase the accuracy of the result. The result reinforces Hofstede’s statement and overthrows Deci’s and the general assumptions. This research showed that the higher a store manager’s intrinsic motivation, the greater his responsibility, recognition, pay and motivation for advancement. The main finding was that intrinsic motivation was an essential co-requisite for extrinsic motivation. Meanwhile, extrinsic reward would not reduce workers’ intrinsic motivation. The research found out that the higher one’s intrinsic motivation, the greater his motivation for extrinsic rewards. Therefore, based on this concept, management should implement some strategies to stimulate workerâ⠂¬â„¢s intrinsic motivation. During the hiring process, the hiring manager of the organization should inquire about the interviewees’ interests. The main purpose of doing this is to make sure that the interviewee does like the job. The goal of the interview is to hire people who are intrinsically motivated because these individuals are more willing to learn and to accept challenges. Depending on the nature of the organization, the human relations department should carefully select candidates that fit the job requirement, as well as to consider one’s personality. For example, a hospital requires nurses to be extraverted and agreeable. As the employees achieve the person-job fit, which is defined as the workers finding the job that fits their values the most, the employees will have a higher level of intrinsic motivation. For example, when a patient is recovered, the nurse will be proud of herself, hence her intrinsic motivation will increase. Besides, management should work to increase the level of organizational commitment of the workers. The higher the affective commitment, the higher the level of job performance the workers achieve. The reason is that if the workers have high affective commitment, they are more motivated to stay in the organization and is happy to devote their time and energy in benefiting the firm. High affective commitment implies these workers are intrinsically motivated because they love their work. To increase the level of organizational commitment, management should provide a fun workplace and encourage them to think creatively. Moreover, managers should permit workers to have great autonomy and encourage new ideas at the workplace so that workers will be more willing to think about ideas in a greater depth. However, promoting intrinsic motivation may lead to several potential costs. Firstly, a long period of time is needed to foster each worker’s intrinsic motivation. Secondly, the strategies to nurture intrinsic motivation vary from person to person. Even though there are potential costs for promoting intrinsic motivation, the potential benefits resulting from intrinsic motivation are much greater. Firstly, an organization will be more profitable and efficient as its employees are more self-motivated and satisfied with their job. The more self-motivated the employees are, the higher their efficiency. Also, workers will be more motivated and will not need continuous supervision if they like the job. Another benefit from having intrinsically motivated workers is that these workers are less likely to be late as they like their job. Also they are more likely to excel at their jobs. Hence, the organization’s efficiency will be improved significantly. To conclude, the article â€Å"Interrelationship between Intrinsic Motivation and Extrinsic Motivation† by Jerry Dermer is informative in explaining the relationship between two different types of motivation. The reason is that Jerry found three different authoritative researchers and compared their views. Instead of taking away from the research, readers should think about Deci’s and Hofstede’s statement critically because Jerry Derman also talked about the saving grace of Deci’s statement. Lastly, the recommendations for management practices are appropriate as all of the organizations highly demand intrinsically motivated employees. Reference Dermer, J. (1975). The interrelationship of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The Academy of Management Journal, 18(1), 125-129. 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