Human Resource Managers in a Multinational Company Essay Example for Free

Human Resource Managers in a Multinational Company Essay 1. ‘To what extent are human resource managers in a multinational company restricted by cultural and institutional factors in implementing policies and practices across their subsidiaries? Discuss your answer giving examples.’ In the face of globalization, organisations struggle to develop the human resource management strategy (HRMS) between global integration and local differentiation. This is regarded as a critical concern for multinational enterprises (MNEs) since they suffer from cultural and institutional differences to integrate HRM practices and shape HRM activities to operate abroad. Regarding that, each cultural and institutional factors are developed over its history with unique insight into managing the organisation, the appropriate HRM practice would vary. The differentiation in national culture and institution call the different management practices that need to be concerned significantly especially for multinational companies’ managers. Researchers highlight the congruence between these factors and HR practice for higher organsational performance. When the HRM practice fits with the basic value shared by employees, the job satisfaction, employee motivation and commitment will be attained. This comes with the implication that cultural and institutional factors are pivotal in shaping the decisions and policies of managers of organisations. In this essay, it will explain what is the institutional and cultural factor with theoretical approach. After that it will suggest implications of institutional and cultural perspective for International Human Resource Management to answer how these factors influence in implementing management policies and practices. According to Hofstede (1991), Culture refers to the â€Å"shared sets of beliefs, values and norms† that is programmed into an actor’s mind. It is regarded as the psychological ‘software’ and sets of informal rule, while institution is more ‘hardware’ of modified and negotiated legal systems that actors follow. The institutionalism emphasises the legitimacy, which organsations struggle to acquiring and maintaining in relation to the environment. One of the new institutionalist theories, the ‘Variety of capitalism’, treats the corporation as a relationships network that locates organisation in its  stakeholders with employees and with competitors. The approach highlights the importance of institutional complementarities that argue the success of an organisation depending on the capability to coordinate effectively. The theory draws two types of political and economic structures across nations. One is the liberal market economic orientation (LME) and the other is the coordinated market economic orientation (CME). Companies in some North-Western European countries including Germany and Switzerland with CMEs tend to have highly structured arrangements in labour market that form strong trade union. Banks in these countries are highly coordinated with firms and have long-term capital. In contrast, there are loose hire and fire labour market regulations and dispersed international investors in the U.K and U.S.A where classified as LMEs. The source of finance in these countries is the stock market, with the clear difference. The figure1 demonstrates that corporations in these different types of systems do not operate in the same market. Figure 1. Institutions across sub-spheres of the political economy Source: Hall and Soskice, (2001) It shows the positions of OCED countries that describe institutional character in the financial and labour market. The higher development in a stock market implies higher dependency on market coordination with emphasis on financial criteria, whereas a higher degree of protection for employees is likely to rely more on non-market criteria. The flexible labour market in LMEs is suitable to easy access to stock market capital. Due to the competitive market conditions, firms in LME markets highly emphasise the financial performance rather than long-term strategies. Nervous investors such as those from the hedge fund tend to hesitate to investing in companies with long-term and uncertain employee training that ties capital in workers’ skills. Conversely, long-term employment arrangement and long-term capital remain in the essence of CMEs. The institutional considerations lead to different types of organisational behavior and investment patterns that shape different HRM policies and practices. Firms in LMEs emphasise short-term competition that likely treat  employees as disposable resources. Employees’ performances are appraised individually with a financial incentive system so managers are empowered to control HRM with considerable autonomy. Investments in employee training and development are classified as ‘overhead.’ `In contrast, HRM polices in CMEs regard employees as valuable assets for sustaining a competitive advantage thus tend to make a greater effort in investments in product innovation and employee development encouraging employment stability. In the system, the higher degrees of job security and work force commitment are derived, since its employment regulation and laws are protected from strong trade union and government. Moreover, different business systems across nations also significantly impact HRM issues. The issues including working hours, scheme of performance appraisal and job contract are highly influenced by local institutional arrangement. The MNCs in Japan prioritize work organisation, which contains quality oriented and flexible practice, and their HR practices are adopted to be suitable with this approach. Likewise, German MNCs, where short run financial ratio is not a greater concern, rely more on long term strategies that highly regulate the hours of work and worker participation. In this regard, the ability of MNCs to fit various institutional arrangements with the local environment is essential to have an advantage in global operations. The evidence from the survey conducted by Guest and Hoque (1996) show that MNCs in Germany do not implement their ‘best practices’ into subsidiaries in the U.K. such as long-term employment plans, union perception and employee training. Another crucial factor managers from MNCs should consider for effective HRM is culture. It is assumed as ‘the major source of differentiation’ in managerial behavior among different nations. One of the most widely cited approaches to culture, Hofstede’s study (1980), classifies four cultural dimensions based on the survey data from 116,000 IBM employees. The study suggests possible origin and consequence for managerial behavior in different dimension contexts. Power distance reflects the dependent relationship between superior and subordinate. Companies in high power distance subordinate have high dependence to superior with greater reverence through the hierarchical structure. Uncertainty avoidance measures different degrees of preparation for future risk and ambiguity. In risk adverse  organisations, rule making and bureaucracy are placed to deal with possibilities of risk and members prefer to behave what they are expected. Individualism versus collectivism dimension reveals the different level of desire to feeling that they belong with a group. At last, masculinity versus femininity dimension presents different values that masculine and feminine society prefer differently. Highly masculine societies have a higher tendency to be competitive since high earning and challenging careers are important values for employees. In societies with femininity tendencies, values related to satisfaction, security and cooperation are emphasised. The study highlights the importance of culture to coordinate different managerial behavior for international businesses. Another cross-cultural approach, Hall’s study (1976) classifies cultures into low and high context cultures, each with distinct demands and preferences. The culture characterizes the nature of human relationship, communication and authority. For example, the line of distinction between high and low context cultural communication has been particularly documented. According to Hall and Hall (1990), in high context communication, speakers tend to utilize relative indirect style of communication. On the other hand, in low context communication, speakers often employ more or less direct communication style. Clearly, these communication dimensions area is an overlap of the individualism-collectivism from Hofstede’s study. Collectivist societies often concern about minimizing the chances of hurting other parties. These groups emphasise the value conformity and traditions. It is for this reason that they prefer to use high context communication. The team members of collectivists often prefer communicating directly with their leaders. They are often concerned about avoiding responses that are negative, a move that is aimed at maintaining harmony. Any form of communication is aimed at fostering interpersonal communication. The tendency is reversed in individualist societies where each member pays more attention to personal goals and interests. The different communication styles and human relationships naturally relate to the different preferences of organisational structure that shape the HRM practices and policies. The culture influences multiple aspects of HRM, thus it is likely to be  effective when HR practice and policy fit with the culture. In regard to recruitment, collectivistic cultures prefer network based recruitment method like employee referrals. The method is supposed to enhance employee commitment and loyalty that strengthens the social network. Since collectivism highlights cooperation rather than individual achievement, it more considers candidates’ ascribed statuses more than personal skills and knowledge. Conversely, employers in an individualistic organisation select candidates based on necessary abilities through highly structured methods such as bureaucratic interviews. Similarly, the organisation with high uncertainty avoidance index prefers open recruitment with the use of more structured selection method as it is highly correlated with formalisation. In terms of performance appraisal, individualised appraisal and rewards are highly correlated with individualism and lower degree of uncertainty avoidance. Regarding that various reward practices based on individual performance would result in uncertainty it is less likely to emerge in risk adverse society. The incentive scheme may also not be needed in high power distance cultures since subordinates are more likely to be motivated by superiors’ direction. The merit-based selection and promotion, which consider individual performance and contribution to the organisation is related to individualism and low level of power distance. It is opposed to the value from collectivism and femininity that emphasise group harmony and cooperation. In conclusion, institution and culture significantly influence in managerial behavior. It is needed to take institutional and cultural factors into consideration in shaping and adopting management policies and practices. Cultural and institutional factors are so varied that they integrate all the factors oriented towards social and ethical responsibilities, which is a major focus for contemporary organisations. Cultural values demands that decision and policies that managers make reflect the interests of the society, including those of the institutions. Since the inappropriate management concept may trigger misunderstanding and conflict among subsidiaries it is vital for effective management. Clearly, Institutional and cultural researches contribute to analysing and understanding various manifestations of HR across a border. However, managers should take careful  consideration before implementing specific HR practices or policies to prevent overly deterministic connection from the theoretical context. In order to achieve successful performance, MNCs have to adjust and moderate management practice in accordance with the local environment. The differences in a business system, local environment and culture between home and host countries are the significant determinants for both evolutions. References: [1] Aycan, Z. (2005), ‘The interplay between cultural and institutional/structural contingencies in human resource management practices’, International Journal of Human Resource Management, 16(7), pp. 1083-1119. [2] Earley, P.C. (1994), ‘Self or group? Cultural effects of training on self-efficacy and Performance’, Administrative Science Quarterly, 39(1), pp. 89-117. [3] Gomez-Mejia, L.Y Welbourne, T. (1991), ‘Compensation strategies in a global context’, Human Resource Planning, 14. pp. 29-42 [4] Guest. D. Hoque, K. (1996) National Ownership and HR Practices in UK Greenfield Sites, Human Resource Management Journal, 6(4), pp. 50-74. [5] Hall, E.T. (1976), Beyond culture, New York: Anchor Books [6] Hall, E.T. Hall, M.R. (1990) ‘Understanding Cultural Differences’, Yarmouth, MA: Intercultural Press. [7] Hall, P.A. Soskice, D. (2001) ‘An introduction to varieties of capitalism’ in Varieties of Capitalism: The Institutional Foundations of Comparative Advantage, Oxford: Oxford University Press [8] Hofstede, G. (1980), Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-related Values, California: Sage Publications [9] Hofstede, G. (1991), Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind, Berkshire: McGraw-Hill [10] Tsui, A.S., Nifadkar, S.S. Ou, A.Y. (2007) ‘Cross-national, cross-cultural organizational behaviour research: Advances, gaps and recommendations’, Journal of Management, 33 (3), pp. 426–478. [ 1 ]. Earley, P.C. (1994), ‘Self or group? Cultural effects of training on self-efficacy and Performance’, Administrative Science Quarterly, 39(1), 89-117 [ 2 ]. Hall, P.A. Soskice, D. (2001) ‘An introduction to varieties of capitalism’ in Varieties of Capitalism: The Institutional Foundations of Comparative Advantage, Oxford: Oxford University Press, Page 1. [ 3 ]. Hall, P.A. Soskice, D. (2001) ‘An introduction to varieties of capitalism’ in Varieties of Capitalism: The Institutional Foundations of Comparative Advantage, Oxford: Oxford University Press, Page 4. [ 4 ]. Tsui, A.S., Nifadkar, S.S. Ou, A.Y. (2007) ‘Cross-national, cross-cultural organizational behavior research: Advances, gaps and recommendations’, Journal of Management, 33 (3), pp. 426–478. [ 5 ]. Aycan, Z. (2005), ‘The interplay between cultural and institutional/structural contingencies in human resource management practices’, International J ournal of Human Resource Management, 16(7), pp. 1083-1119. [ 6 ]. Gomez-Mejia, L.Y Welbourne, T. (1991), ‘Compensation strategies in a global context’, Human Resource Planning, 14. pp. 29-42

blue cross blue shield :: essays research papers

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSFL) Operating Services is Florida’s largest insurer, serving more than 6 million residents in total. Three trends that redefine how Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida brings value to its members are through consumer empowerment, E-business, and financial services modernization. BCBSFL holds approximately 30% of the HMO market share in Florida, which is twice the share of its nearest competitor. BCBSFL offers a BlueComplements program filled with discounts and services that allow members to stay healthy. Theses advantages include Healthy Alternatives, Vision One, TruVision, Hearx, GlobalFit, SafeTech, and Walgreens Mail Order Pharmacy. BCBSFL offer a Complementary Alternative Medicine Program that allows its member to select Alternative Health Providers such as Massage Therapists, Acupuncturists, and Chiropractors. Members may receive up to 25% savings or more by using an Alternative Health Provider in the American Specialty Health Networks in Florida and nationwide. BCBSFL members may also save 15-45% plus free standard shipping on thousands of health products. For example, vitamins, health-related books, tapes, smoking cessation, and herbal supplements. Vision One is a discount program that allow BCBSFL members to receive comprehensive vision care through a program offered by Cole Managed Vision, which offers savings on both eyes and on eyewear. Members pay $35 for an eye exam for eyeglasses and receive discounts of up to 60% off retail prices for frames and lenses. Also, since this a discounted program offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida there is no claims to file for independent vision care centers throughout Florida. TruVision is a Laser Vision Correction Program offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida to those members who wish to have laser surgery to correct their vision. Affordable laser vision correction services are provided to members for a discounted fee for BCBSFL members of $895 per eye, and TruVisions offers 100% financing with approved credit. The services that TruVision cover are comprehensive eye exams, pre and postoperative care, and an enhancement warranty. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Hearx program offers hearing care and hearing aids. Hearx is the largest hearing care organization accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Members receive free hearing examinations and 25% off any hearing aids purchased through Hearx. BCBSFL offer through Hearx offer tolerance testing, speech discrimination, risk consultation, annual cleanings, and hear aid checks at no charge. The GlobalFit Fitness Program at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida allows valued members to receive discounted membership fees to top-rated fitness clubs.

Building shelf management system

Introduction to the undertakingManagement system means the methods by which an administration programs, operates, and controls its activities to run into its ends and aims by using the resources of money, people, equipment stuffs and information. Management information systems are used by companies to assist maintain them more organized in certain parts of concerns. For illustration, companies use databases as a manner or hive awaying information as it helps them to entree informations more rapidly and remain more organized. It is better than holding a paper-based system where relevant information can be lost or read falsely. Besides with paper-based systems, they take up a batch of room as you need a topographic point to hive away it all, for illustration, a filing cabinet. The undertaking I have decided to make will affect me analyzing, planing, and implementing a stock database system for warehouse operations in a little concern. In future this database could be used by other little concern companies as good. The company that I have decided to utilize is Biring ‘s News, which I have been working for over 4 old ages. The database will enable the company to pull off their stock that comes in and out of the warehouse. The ground I have chosen to make this company is due to the fact that I have been working at that place for such a long clip. I ‘ve learnt about how the concern itself runs and have seen jobs occur and become resolved or need to be resolved throughout the clip I have been at that place. Biring ‘s News has a concatenation of newsdealers which are based over Kent and London. The proprietors of the concern are ever either opening more stores in new locations or shuting them down in others. It would be utile for the company to hold a system that shows them how the stock is being managed, what is selling good and what is non.Background of the CompanyBiring ‘s News is owned by Jasbir Biring. They own a concatenation of newsdealers which are located in Kent and London. The stores are all situated within shopping Centres like Bluewater Shopping Centre and Westfield Shopping Centre. They sell a scope of stock such as, Sweets, drinks, magazines, coffin nails and newspapers. Biring ‘s News opened there first store in Lakeside shopping Centre, 1989, which was a great success and led them to open more and subdivision out towards London. In entire, the company has opened up to 8 newsdealers since 1989, some are still running and others have been sold on. At the minute, the company has one chief warehouse where all the stock is kept for all of Mr Biring ‘s stores ; so workers are ever in and out taking what they need when they want. The job with this is that there is no record of good coming in and good coming out, so there is no record of what points are low in stock and what points there are excessively much of. The result of this is that the director has jobs with stock that is non selling really good which leads to him holding excessively much in the warehouse which can besides so go out of day of the month, so he is losing out on money. Another job that would happen is that he may run low on stock that is high in demand ; therefore he will be losing out on gross revenues. The company besides have a concatenation of providers that they use. They use the same provider for magazines and newspapers as they receive that stock automatically on a day-to-day footing. When it comes to buying confectionary, they do non lodge to one provider. They go by which of all time supplier has the best monetary value for whatever they need or if any of them have particular offers. This is besides a job that leads to holding excessively much stock, as they are merely looking at what is on offer and merely buying it, even without detecting that they have plenty of the point in the warehouse. At the minute, the company has no record of what is kept in the warehouse, the lone manner of cognizing what is in the warehouse is by roll uping bills of what has been purchased or by staff advising the director about what is losing in the warehouse.Aim of ProjectThe purpose of the undertaking is to:Write in item what the job isState how the job could be solvedState how the system will work and what it is intended to makeIdentify all the demands for the systemAnalyse and plan the system that I intend to bring forthImplement the systemMake a user usher for the company so that they are able to utilize the systemAim of the UndertakingThe aim of the undertaking will enable the company to:Become more organized – they will be able to maintain path of what stock they have, so they wo n't hold the job off holding excessively small stock or extra stock.Save money – the system will enable the company to salvage money as they will cognize what they have, so they will non purchase stock that is non required.Think of some more aims! ! !ResearchManagement information systemsManagement Information Systems can be used to treat informations into utile information. For illustration, it could be a system used to do orders. There are three types of direction information systems which are:Decision Support SystemsInformation coverage systemsExecutive information systemsDecision Support systemsThis type of system allows strategic and tactical determinations to be made. Decision support systems are chiefly used to back up the tactical, semi structured determinations that need to be made as portion of the rating and planning of a concern. Executive information systems are targeted at strategic determination devising, which frequently involves unstructured determinations. This type of system is normally created by the terminal user as they are the 1s who normally use it. That manner they know how is works directly off. Examples of where determination support systems are used are to analyze informations and see if there are any tendencies, for case, looking at gross revenues figures over a period of clip.Information coverage systemsThis type of system helps companies as it produces studies which can assist them to do determinations within the company. For illustration, this type of system would assist Biring ‘s News as you could bring forth studies of what was in stock, so the director would hold an thought on what he needs to buy. There are two types of describing systems which are periodic studies and exclusion studies. Periodic studies are produced merely when required by determination shapers at regular intervals. Examples include a monthly fiscal statement and a hebdomadal gross revenues analysis. Exception studies are produced merely when asked for. This would be utile for Biring ‘s News as the director could easy publish a study out for himself whenever he needed it, for illustration, he would necessitate a transcript of the stock study when he planned to do an order from a provider.Executive information systemsProvides senior directors with a system to help them in taking strategic and tactical determinations. Their intent is to analyze, comparison and highlight tendencies to assist regulate the strategic way of the company. They are normally integrated with operational systems, giving directors the installation to ‘drill down ‘ to happen farther information on the job.Off the Shelf packageA criterion bing system is purchased from a package seller and installed on computing machines located within an administration. This type of package can be purchased by anyone and can be used to run by 1000s of people. You can buy many types of off the shelf package depending on what field you ‘re working in, for illustration, if you do photo use you could buy package such as Photoshop, which is really popular. With this type of package, it is moderately priced as it is popular. It is utile for smaller companies as they are chiefly capable of being able to make what the company wants. This package is non every bit utile to bigger companies as they prefer to hold package to make precisely what they want. For illustration, off the shelf package may hold characteristics that are non required by the company or they may be losing applications that the company needs. Bespoke package is a better option for much larger companies, as they can hold it produced to their demands. I will be bring forthing a stock database which will fit the demands for a warehouse storage system, so it will be able to be used by other smaller companies.The Waterfall theoretical accountThe waterfall theoretical account divides a undertaking up into phases. The theoretical accounts show that you should follow each phase in a specific order, as the diagram below indicates. Feasibility Study – This is the phase where the user has to research whether their planned undertaking is executable. The feasibleness is broken down into four stairss:Prepare for feasibleness survey by measuring the range of the undertaking.Define the job ( what should the new system do that the present 1 does non ) .Choose the best feasibleness option from those available ( typically up to five concern options and a similar figure of proficient options ) .Assemble the feasibleness study, including the principle for the selected option.Analysis – this can be broken down into two phases which are the probe of the current environment and concern systems options. Probe of the current environment – this is the most of import out of the two phases. For this, the user will hold made a list of all the demands in the feasibleness survey, so now they will hold to spread out on the demands and do them more elaborate by speaking about how they will be solved. They will besides hold to province what attributes and entities they will necessitate and how they will all be linked in the entity relationship diagram. They will besides hold to take a information theoretical account so they know how they are traveling to finish the undertaking and in what phases. The user will besides hold to set up the purposes and aims of the undertaking. Business system options – this phase comprises two stairss, the aims of which are to hold what the functionality should be. A figure of possible systems solutions for the perceived concern demands are formulated and the impacts and benefits of each will be evaluated. The solution selected will be the one that most closely catches the demands of the concern. The two stairss are:Define concern optionsSelect concern optionDesignSystem design means that the developers describe in item how the system will work, what the end products will be and what inputs are needed. Similarly, processs are described and hardware demands defined.ExecutionThis is the phase where you create the system. It should be made right under all the given demands.Care and TestingAt this phase the system should be completed and tested to see if it works. A user usher should besides be created so it can state the user how to run and keep the package.MethodologyI am traveling to utilize the Waterfall theoretical account to construction my undertaking. I have chosen this because it allows me to research all facets decently before traveling in front and making the system decently. This manner I will non hold the job of burying to add in parts or adding in applications that are non needed. I am traveling to bring forth a stock database system for the company warehouse, which could subsequently be used as an off the shelf bundle by other little warehouse companies. This system will enable the director keep his stock by ever holding a sufficient sum of all his stock. The system will work by holding all the provider information stored on the database. From there the director will be able to entree their web sites and look into what publicities they have and besides compare monetary values to see where he could acquire a better trade. He will besides be able to see all the stock he has in the warehouse. The stock will be shown under their appropriate headers, for illustration, Coke would be stored under drinks. Following to each point of stock, it will province how many of each is stored at the minute. Employee inside informations will besides be stored on the system so that they can entree the system to enter what they had took from the warehouse, so that all the stock de grees are shown right. To bring forth the system I will necessitate the undermentioned information to bring forth the system:Name callings and references of the newsdealersWarehouse inside informations – where it is locatedWhat stock is sold in the storeWhat stock is stored in the warehouse ( magazines and newspapers are non stored at that place, is at that place anything else? )How many providers they useDetailss of providers – what they specialise in sellingDetailss of employees ( this is because they all have entree to the warehouse, so the director will necessitate to maintain path of what they are taking )To happen out all the information I will carry on an interview with the director.Requirements for the system:Employee-Employees must hold their ain user name and watchword to log into the system ; this is to halt any unauthorized entree to the system.They must be able to hold entree to their inside informations so that they can change it if any alterations are needed to be made.They mus t be able to change the measure degrees of all the stock to maintain it updated.The inside informations that will be required of the employee are their first name, last name, which shop they work in, reference, contact figure.There should besides be a map that enables you to add and edit/delete employees.Supplier –The inside informations that will be required are the name of the provider, the reference, website reference, email reference, phone figure.There should besides be a map that enables the user to add and edit/delete providers.Shop-The inside informations that will be required are the names of the stores, what shopping Centres they are located within, and the reference, which employee works at that place.There should be a map available that allows the user to add and edit/delete stores.Warehouse-The inside informations that will be required for the warehouse is the warehouse figure, the reference, what is stored at that place.Stock-The inside informations that will be required is the name of everything that is sold in the store, for illustration, Sweets, magazines, coffin nails, etc. Besides you will necessitate to cognize the measure of it that is stored in the warehouse.There should be a map available that allows the user to add and edit/delete stock, either when they proprietor decides to halt selling it or when a new point is released in the market.Hazard AnalysisResourcesThe package that I am traveling to utilize to make the information system is Microsoft Access. Microsoft Access is a Relational Database Management system. It is a really popular database system and it is easy to utilize. Microsoft Access database contains a figure of different applications ; some of them are table ‘s questions, signifiers, studies, macros and so on. Tables – these are used for informations storage. The tabular arraies are presented in rows and columns to the user so that they can input at that place informations. The tabular array is shown in a similar manner to a spreadsheet format as all the gridlines are seeable. Questions – they gather certain information from different tabular arraies and expose them all on one screen. Using a question you can alter the order of records ( screening ) , retrieve single records or groups of records ( seeking and filtrating ) , count, amount, norm, and otherwise summarize informations values ( collection ) and compute new values from values held in the tabular array ( computation ) . Forms – this allows information from tabular arraies to be displayed in a more professional manner. With signifiers you are able to add in images as you ca n't infix them into tabular arraies. Reports- studies are used for showing information in different formats. They can besides incorporate images and graphs.MentionsBocij, P, Chaffey, D, Greasley, A, Hickie S. ( 2006 ) Business Information Systems Prentice Hall, Pearson instruction. Chapters 6 & A ; 7Boddy, D, Boonstra, A, Kennedy, G ( 2002 ) Pull offing Information Systems Prentice Hall, Pearson instruction. Chapter 1Dowling, N ( 1998 ) Database Design and Management utilizing Access Letts. Great Britain. Chapter 1Glanss, T, Grad, B, Holstein, D, Meyers, W, Schmidt, R ( 1968 ) Management Systems United States of America. Chapter 1BibliographyThe hired Institute for IT. Retrieved on: 12/10/09, from the World Wide Web: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.bcs.org/server.php? show=ConWebDoc.2767Hero Solutions. Retrieved on: 12/10/09, from the World Wide Web: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.hero-solutions.co.uk/articles/bespokevsofftheshelf.aspMicrosoft Office Online. Retrieved on: 13/10/09, from the World Wide Web: hypert ext transfer protocol: //office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HA101656301033.aspxMicrosoft Office Online. Retrieved on: 13/10/09, from the World Wide Web: hypertext transfer protocol: //office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HA101650211033.aspx

The Prewriting Stage of the Writing Process

The writing process consists of different stages: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Prewriting  is the most important of these steps. Prewriting is the generating ideas part of the writing process when the student works to determine the topic and the position or point-of-view for a target audience. Pre-writing should be offered with the time necessary for a student to create a plan or develop an outline to organize materials for the final product. The pre-writing stage could also be dubbed the talking stage of writing. Researchers have determined that talking plays an important role in literacy. Andrew Wilkinson (1965) coined the phrase oracy, defining it as the ability to express oneself coherently and to communicate freely with others by word of mouth. Wilkinson explained how oracy leads to increased skill in reading and writing. In other words, talking about a topic will improve the writing. This connection between talk and writing is best expressed by the author James Britton (1970) who stated: talk is the sea upon which all else floats.† Prewriting Methods There are a number of ways that students can tackle the prewriting stage of the writing process. Following are a few of the most common methods and strategies that students can use.   Brainstorming - Brainstorming is the process of coming up with as many ideas as possible about a topic without being worried about the feasibility or whether an idea is realistic or not.  A list format is often the easiest to organize. This can be done individually and then shared with the class or done as a group. Access to this list during the writing process can help students make connections they may want to use later in their writing.Freewriting - The free write strategy is when your students write whatever comes into their mind about the topic at hand  for a specific amount of time, like 10 or 15  minutes. In a free write, students should not worry about grammar, punctuation, or spelling. Instead, they should try and come up with as many ideas as they possibly can to help them when they get to the writing process.  Mind Maps - Concept maps or mind-mapping are great strategies to use during the pre-writing stage. Both are visual ways to outline information. There are man y varieties of mind maps that can be quite useful as students work in the prewriting stage. Webbing is a great tool that has students write a word in the middle of a sheet of paper. Related words or phrases are then connected by lines to this original word in the center. They build on the idea so that, in the end, the student has a wealth of ideas that are connected to this central idea. For example, if the topic for a paper were the role of the US President, the student would write this in the center of the paper. Then as they thought of each role that the president fulfills, they could write this down in a circle connected by a line to this original idea. From these terms, the student could then add supporting details. In the end, they would have a nice roadmap for an essay on this topic.  Drawing/Doodling - Some students respond well to the idea of being able to combine words with drawings as they think about what they want to write in the prewriting stage. This can open up cre ative lines of thought.  Asking Questions - Students often  come up with more creative ideas through the use of questioning. For example, if the student has to write about Heathcliffs role in Wuthering Heights, they might begin by asking themselves some questions about him and  the causes of his hatred. They might  ask how a normal person might react to better understand the depths of Heathcliffs malevolence. The point is that these questions can help the student uncover a deeper understanding of the topic before they begin writing the essay.Outlining - Students can employ traditional outlines to help them organize their thoughts in a logical manner. The student would start with the overall topic and then list out their ideas with supporting details. It is helpful to point out to students that the more detailed their outline is from the beginning, the easier it will be for them write their paper.   Teachers should recognize that prewriting that begins in a sea of talk will engage students. Many students will find that combining a couple of these strategies may work well to provide them with a great basis for their final product. They may find that if they ask questions as they brainstorm, free write, mind-map, or doodle, they will organize their ideas for the topic. In short, the time put in up front in the pre-writing stage will make the writing stage much easier.