Understanding Hoarding Disorders

Understanding Hoarding Disorders OCD Types Print An Overview of Hoarding Disorder By Marla Deibler, PsyD facebook twitter Marla W. Deibler, PsyD, MSCP, is a licensed clinical psychologist and nationally-recognized expert in anxiety disorders and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial policy Marla Deibler, PsyD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on May 14, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 24, 2020 Del Henderson Jr / Getty Images More in OCD Types Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Living With OCD Related Conditions In This Article Table of Contents Expand Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment View All Back To Top Hoarding disorder is a mental illness that makes it hard for someone to get rid of possessionsâ€"even those of little or no value. As items accumulate over time, they clutter a persons home to the point where living spaces cant be used as intended. When extreme, hoarding can put a person (and others in their home) in danger. Symptoms A person with hoarding disorder is primarily unable to part with objects, items, or possessions, but the disorder can also include what is known as excessive acquisition. With this behavior, a person actively seeks to acquire more unneeded items. People who hoard have varying levels of insight into their behavior. Some are able to recognize their maladaptive thoughts and understand how they contribute to hoarding, while others fail to acknowledge that they hoard and dont connect how they think and feel with the behavior. People with poor insight may not recognize the severity of their hoarding despite being in uninhabitable living conditions as a result of it. When extreme, hoarding can put the person and anyone else in their home, including pets, in danger. Piles of items create fire hazards and may make some areas of the home inaccessible (or inescapable). Rotting food, garbage, and pet waste increase the risk of infectious disease, especially if it attracts insects and rodents. Other risks are specific to what a person hoards. For example, a person who hoards animals may have exotic pets who are more likely to carry pathogens. The risk of illness is increased further if a person who hoards cannot properly care for their animals. Pets that are not groomed or are unvaccinated are vulnerable to disease, which may be passed to their owners or other pets.?? Types of Hoarding Causes Around 2% to 6% of the general population in the United States is estimated to have a hoarding disorder.?? Hoarding behaviors often start in childhood or adolescence and progressively worsen as a person gets older. Over time, a persons level of daily functioning and living conditions become more impaired by hoarding, which is often exacerbated by a significant or traumatic life event (e.g., death of a spouse, loss of a job, children moving away to college).?? There isnt a single factor that predisposes someone to hoard or causes the disorder to start. As with other mental illnesses, its more likely that factors come together to create the right circumstances internally and externally for the disorder to flourish. Some aspects of hoarding may be inherited, as several studies have proposed genetic variables in people who hoard. Research also indicates that an inherent tendency toward generalized indecisiveness is common in people who hoard as well as in their first-degree relatives.?? Is Your Child Hoarding? Environmental factors, including traumatic or significant life stressors and changes, may occur prior to when the hoarding starts and can make the behavior worse. Hoarding is often complicated by mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, which co-occur in approximately 75% of individuals with the disorder.?? Interpersonal conflict, social isolation, impaired ability to prepare food or maintain personal hygiene, poor sanitation, and other health and safety hazards are major concerns for people with hoarding disorder and those who live with them. Its also not uncommon for people with hoarding disorder to run into problems with utilities and housing authorities. They also have a high rate of utilization of social service agencies.?? Diagnosis The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), classifies hoarding disorder in the category of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.?? The DSM-5 outlines the following diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder: Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions which may be seen by others as having limited value or utilityPerceived need to save items and distress associated with discarding themSymptoms result in the accumulation of a large number of possessions that clutter the living areas and compromise their intended useClinically significant distress or impairment in an important aspect of functioning, including maintaining a safe living environmentSymptoms are not due to a general medical condition (e.g., cognitive impairment)Symptoms are not better accounted for by another psychiatric disorder (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, or OCD) Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Treatment Many people who hoard do not get treatment, often because of poor insight, a lack of resources, or shame. Those who do seek treatment are usually 50 years of age or older.?? Hoarding-specific cognitive behavioral therapy, which involves assisting people to change the way they think and make decisions about their belongings, has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for the disorder.?? Treating hoarding disorder is a process. It can take time and may require more than one type of intervention, including: Psychoeducation to improve a persons insight and help them better understand the disorderA clinical interview and functional assessment of a persons behaviorCollaborative goal-setting between the person who hoards and the mental health professionals (like a social worker or psychologist) working with themCognitive therapy to identify a persons cognitive distortions and assist them with developing cognitive flexibility and adaptive cognitive restructuringAcquiring organizational and problem-solving skills through trainingExposure and response prevention to acquisition opportunities, as well as other types of behavioral experimentsExcavation exposure to guide a person through the process of de-cluttering, which can involve sorting through possessions while utilizing and practicing their newly acquired decision-making skills There is currently no FDA-approved pharmacological (with medication) treatment for hoarding disorder.?? Antidepressant medications (including SSRIs and SNRIs) may have limited potential as a treatment for hoarding, particularly when a person has another mental health condition such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Psychostimulants and cognitive enhancers are also being investigated as possible treatments.?? How Hoarding Is Treated A Word From Verywell Hoarding is a mental illness that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for someone to part with possessions, regardless of their monetary value or sentimental worth or lack thereof. The accumulation of items over time often renders a persons home and living space uninhabitable, and may even put them (and others in the home) in danger. As with most mental illnesses, the cause of hoarding is complex, and while effective treatment for hoarding disorders takes time and may require more than one approach, such as psychotherapy and medication, help is available. The Difference Between Collecting and Hoarding

Marriage Within The Victorian Century - 1030 Words

Cathylee Cueto Ms. Kitzie AP English Lit Comp 1 December 2016 Marriage Within The Victorian Contemporaries The Importance of Being Earnest has been referred to as â€Å"A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,† these â€Å"serious people† were those of the Victorian contemporaries. Wilde’s writings created this dimensional portal that allowed viewers to visualize and understand the actions that took place â€Å"behind doors† in this era. He suggested that these contemporaries should treat trivial matters with greater respect and pay less attention to what society regarded as serious. In Victorian society only several things were spoken about seriously: appearance, style, and money. Wilde not only expressed this philosophy in The Importance of Being Earnest, but in recently read, Lady of Windermere s Fan as well. Oscar Wilde’s most commonly trivial matter was marriage and how it was seen as an arrangement, way of gaining social status, and a game. When in reference to the Victorian contemporaries and society, Wilde is mainly speaking upon the upper class’s behalf. The upper class composed largely of those of royalty and aristocrats. Due to their enormous amount of wealth, the upper class predominately had very little tasks to complete throughout the day. They did not have to work so every day was holiday, every day was a day off. Their daily tasks included getting dressed, eating, and doing activities with friends and family. Since these are upper class people, their activities mainlyShow MoreRelatedMarriage and Divorce in the Post Victorian Era Essay765 Words   |  4 PagesMarriage and Divorce in the Post Victorian Era Marriage is a social structure. When couples get married they enter into a relationship that is societally recognized and to some degree societally regulated. Laws, customs, traditions and cultural assumptions are intrinsically involved in defining the path that a marriage will take. In the late 19th century many Americans had to come to terms in some way with the societal expectations of marriage, guided by the Victorian mores. But as theRead More Defining the Victorian Woman Essay1590 Words   |  7 PagesDefining the Victorian Woman      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Victorian Age, there existed a certain ideology of what constituted the perfect Victorian woman. In the beginning of the eighteenth century, young girls began attending schools that offered basic skills such as reading, writing, and math. Manuals of etiquette and conduct instructed young girls in manners of society and the home (Basch 3). All of this prepared a young woman for marriage, which, in the nineteenth century, was putRead MoreThe Victorian And Post World War I1590 Words   |  7 Pagesdivision between the two identities of the man and the woman permeated through the Victorian era and developed a template for prospective gender constructs. 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Despite this, it is the pressure of marriage that she cannot escape: eve n after she has married Shelmerdine, Orlando is thinkingRead MoreWomen s Gender And Gender Roles955 Words   |  4 Pagesvery structure of Victorian marriages relied on women s passionlessness because it supported women s demure and respectable nature in society, while also keeping men under control and containing sexuality to the home (Kushner, 9/25/15). The concept of respectability not only shaped how women and men acted in both sexual and non sexual ways but outlined the ways proper marriages ought to function. In order to understand the re-rise to conservatism in the mid- twentieth century post-war AmericaRead MoreWomen s Rights And Arranged Marriages1256 Words   |  6 PagesCullen Fellows English IV May 12th, 2015 Women’s Rights and Arranged Marriages In 1837, Britain and Ireland obtained their first queen in one hundred twenty-three years. Victoria was the only woman with no legal barrier due to her gender. She inherited the same rights as her predecessor. All other women were strictly controlled by their fathers until they were married. Middle and upper class men deemed their daughter’s education unnecessary. Working class fathers wanted their daughters in a millRead MoreWilliam Browning And Elizabeth Barrett Browning Essay1197 Words   |  5 PagesDifferent Perspective Literatures in the Victorian Era Many authors are influenced by the society, culture, politic and economy during their period. Therefore, their literary works usually describe the condition of their period directly or indirectly. The two authors, Roberts Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, also expose the culture and the condition of the society of the Victorian era through their works. The authors are married couple authors of the Victorian era. Roberts Browning’s a typical literary

Entrepreneurial Marketing Vs. Traditional Marketing

Entrepreneurial Marketing Introduction (what is EP) Entrepreneurial marketing is the proactive identification of opportunities for accruing and retaining profitable customers through: innovative approach, to risk management, to resource leverage value creation. (Morris, 2002) It is the marketing carried out by successful entrepreneurs, therefore it takes key elements of the entrepreneurship process such as: Opportunity Innovation Networking Entrepreneurial Marketing vs Traditional Marketing: Traditional Marketing- The basic philosophy is that every strategy and the activity of the organisations should focus on meeting the customer needs, where as entrepreneurs would not argue with this concept but they tend to adopt a very different strategy and methods while still fulfilling the customer needs. Entrepreneurial Marketing- Entrepreneurs do not tend to follow the traditional marketing principles, when undertaking marketing activities. As a result entrepreneurial marketing is different in many ways to the traditional marketing. Entrepreneurs use time, energy, and creativity of entrepreneurs rather than money. They also tend to use marketing methods which interact on a more personal level with the customers which is used on informal assessment of traditional marketing. (Morris, 2002) Intuitive innovation vs customer needs: Traditional marketing- The key assumption of marketing theory is that the customers should be the centre of the entire business. A detailedShow MoreRelatedEssay On Social Entrepreneur1602 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Entrepreneurs support economic activity and growth entrepreneurial process requires capabilities, such as skills, decision-making and business acumen technology entrepreneurs: the danger is having exclusive focus on the product or service without due consideration to whether it addresses a real market problem with customers who would be willing to pay for it. 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The Adventures of Lewis Carroll’s Alice Free Essays

From a young age Charles Dodgson’s fondness for writing was already made apparent. He had made several contributions to some national publications in England as well as to two local publications in Oxford (Karoline 31). It was in one of his contributions to the latter where he used the pseudonym by which he would be remembered: Lewis Carroll. We will write a custom essay sample on The Adventures of Lewis Carroll’s Alice or any similar topic only for you Order Now It took some time before Carroll finally came out with a published version of his manuscript for Alice in Wonderland. Among other things Carroll was also a mathematician and a deacon in his church (Collingwood 22-23). These occupations contributed to the delay in publication of the classic story of Alice. After its release and widespread acclaim however, it wasn’t long before Carroll published its sequel, Through the Looking Glass. The two texts have been popularized as children’s literature. However, closer analyses by critics have brought forth a string of explanations accounting for the uncommon descriptions and images in the texts. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the creation of the stories, it cannot be denied that the same were written for the enjoyment and benefit of children. Controversies Surrounding Alice The zeitgeist during the release of Alice in Wonderland was one of drug abuse resistance and a counter-culture of dependence on psychedelic substances. Such an air led scholars to deconstruct the text based on the prevalent norms in society. It was easy for scholars to relate Alice’s mushroom-eating and herb-use to regular pot sessions. Some scholars have claimed that the imageries in the story are akin to the hallucinations experienced when under the influence of addictive substances. From these factual circumstances arose the belief that Carroll himself was under the influence at the time that he wrote the text or that he was a habitual user. However, there is no evidence to show that at any point in his life Carroll was involved in drug abuse. There is evidence to support however that Carroll may have been ill thus prompting the hyperbolic descriptions in Alice in Wonderland and its sequel. It was observed that Carroll documented suffering from severe migraines which most often affected the ill person by skewing his or her perspective, such as making objects appear bigger then they actually were (Carroll 52). It is surmised that Lewis Carroll suffered from such an affliction all his life and thus the vivid imagery in his popular texts. The disease has now become popularly known as the Alice in Wonderland Syndrome or, medically, micropsia and macropsia. This is a neurological disease which affects visual perception in humans causing illusions in size, shape and color (Cinibis and Aysun 316). Some scholars have attributed the creativity in Carroll’s text to the fact that he was ailing from this disease. As regards the text Through the Looking Glass, critics have unanimously categorized the same as nonsense literature. It is not hard to imagine why, what with the text’s deconstruction of norms and the topsy turvy manner by which the text upends unquestioned customs – such as telling time for example. More than anything however, the text is a clear presentation on a play of words and wit. The Real Alice The first and strongest argument that Carroll’s stories were written simply for children to enjoy is an inspection of the life of Carroll. It has already been mentioned that Carroll was a deacon in his church. This paved the way to his acquaintance with a little girl who sparked the creation of his children’s masterpiece. In her text, The Real Alice, Clarks shows that sometime in 1855 Carroll met the Liddell family whose head, Henry Liddell, was the dean of Christ Church in Oxford. Because of his acquaintance with Henry Liddell, Carroll in turn became acquainted with Henry’s children. Alice Liddell was one of three girls belonging to the Liddell family. Carroll was quite fond of children and he often took the Liddell children to picnics and boat rides where he regaled the children with stories and make-believes. It was on one such occasion that Alice asked Carroll to tell them a story and the ensuing tale is what is known today as Alice in Wonderland. Although Carroll had told the children other stories prior to this particular one, the difference this time was that Alice Liddell had asked him to write down the story for her. Several pieces of evidence show that indeed Alice Liddell was the model, or at least the inspiration, for Carroll’s Alice. One of the strongest proofs is that Carroll actually dedicated the book to Alice Liddell thus demonstrating that Alice played a part in its completion. If it were merely a sign of the close relationship that he shared with the Liddell children, then Carroll should have dedicated the book to all of them and not just to one in particular. Moreover, a poem in Through the Looking Glass reveals an acrostic spelling out the name of Alice Pleasance Liddell. Although Carroll himself admitted using acrostics to spell out the names of young ladies with whom he was acquainted, the appearance of Alice Liddell’s name in both his books is quite significant. No other acquaintance of his was mentioned in both Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Certainly it was more than just the similarity in names of his friend and his protagonist that prompted him to spell out Alice’s name in the sequel of his story. There is also evidence showing that Carroll set the story on dates significant to Alice Liddell. The first story was set on May 4, Alice’s birthday, and the second story was set on November 4, Alice’s half-birthday (Wikipedia Alice Liddell). Carroll certainly went out of his way to allude to such significant dates in both his stories. Furthermore, when the fictional Alice stated her age it reflected the actual age Alice Liddell would have been at that time. Certainly that too could not have been mere coincidence. Although Carroll denied any association between his writings and Alice Liddell, the subtle hints that he planted in the story speak for themselves. A possible cause for the denial might have been the intrigue that eventually followed his intimate relationships with children. Karoline Leach first raised such a point in her book, In the Shadow of a Dreamchild, when she attempted to deconstruct the Carroll Myth. In essence, Leach insinuated pedophilia by observing that the relationship Carroll maintained with young girls was unnatural. Of course, with the stature and popularity that Carroll had attained, such statements, though founded with as much proof as other accepted historical facts regarding Carroll, were hotly contested and rebutted. This is not to say however that they have been debunked as such is not the case. Regardless of the relationship between Alice Liddell and Carroll, it is uncontested that the first book was dedicated to Alice Liddell while she was still a young child. Above any other proof of motivation, this clear manifestation of intent reflects that the story of Alice in Wonderland was written for the fancies of children. It necessarily follows therefore that its sequel also catered to children’s delights. A Journey into Wonderland Apart from the biographical setting, one may also look at the fictional setting which Carroll developed. The story starts out with a random romp in the woods with a little girl’s closest companion, her pet. It is a dull day and, upon falling into the rabbit hole, Alice finds herself in a refreshing change of scenery. The situation is not unlike the many dull summer’s days wherein children are wont to play make-believe. Wonderland itself is a crayon enlargement of pictures that are commonly drawn by children. The different colored trees and stark colors worn by the characters, both on their clothes and on their furs, shows a child’s easy use of colors. The scenery in itself has a nursery rhyme quality around it reflecting the target audience it was written for. The contrast in colors is very much the same manner by which children view the world. It is only the adult-world that defines colors by hues of black, gray, and khaki. Such a variety of colors as is seen in Alice’s adventures is the world of young children. The mere fact that children often like to reverse colors in their portrayals of the world around them shows that they enjoy such mismatches. This only serves to reveal the delight they must have felt to have been launched alongside Alice into a world filled with mixtures of colors. Furthermore, the skewed perception of size of objects was entirely in line with the perspective of small children. For children, size is magnified in proportion with their own size. More so, size is magnified in proportion to their understanding of the utility of a particular object. Take for example the larger-than-life portrayal of the chess board pieces. The game of chess is a game of knowledge and of skill. It is not unlikely therefore that a child would find such a game taxing, particularly so when he or she is free to enjoy the free terrain of nature. Another such example is found in the upturning of the concept of time telling in the story. One of the most difficult things to teach a child is how to tell time. The importance of the long hand, the short hand, and the second hand are sheer mysteries to a child who needs only to keep track whether or not it is night or day outside. The mockery of timepieces in the story is entirely in line with such difficulty. The concept may be refreshing to adult readers but it also allows child readers to completely relate with the story. Apart from the setting, Carroll’s use of characters already familiar to children showed that the story was indeed intended for them. The characters Tweedledee and Tweedledum for example, jump right out of the nursery rhyme to meet Alice in her adventure. This is very significant because to no other audience would these two characters hold strong bearing than to children. The language used in the story is also reflective of the genre for which the texts were intended. To most the language is mere nonsense. But the play of words, particularly in Through the Looking Glass, presents so much more than just play. The manner in which Carroll communicates his feelings with non-words is reflective of the way children themselves attempt to express themselves to adults. For example, in the poem Jabberwocky, Carroll uses the combination of words and the emotions evoked by non-words to paint out a story for his audience. Such mixture of words to express a new feeling or thought is most often observed in children who, for lack of vocabulary, resort to such splicing when the need arises. Furthermore, children often take meaning from the feelings that a particular word arouses in them, particularly so when they don’t know the meaning of the word. The use of language in the two stories is a play on such psychology of children. Finally, the variety of sounds that Carroll brings to life in his stories presents good exercise for children’s linguistic abilities. The spectrum of sounds that his stories present is good training ground for improved diction and muscle memory for his young readers. Finally, let us examine Alice herself. Alice’s disposition is that of an obedient young girl who is both shocked and amused by the play of the characters she meets. Alice presents the character of a child who has learned to believe the teachings of her elders without fully understanding why she should do so. This very character of Alice persists from her falling into the rabbit hole to her arguing against the disruption of norms. Yet every time that Alice is forced to explain her stands, she finds herself running out of thoughts and words. Such blind obedience is common in children, particularly those starting education but not yet fully being taught about the concepts behind the lessons being learned. It is argued that Alice’s adventures had a darker undertone to it, with Alice finding each of her hopes being crushed throughout the story. However, such an observation does not discount the fact that Alice’s story still holds for the benefit of child readers. If nothing more, such an undertone elevates Alice’s story to apply even to young adults. It seems that Alice’s realization that her fantasies and dreams are not always in line with reality and therefore must be discarded shows a coming of age theme in the story. As with most coming of age stories, it is not uncommon that adults themselves find the issues they face being addressed. However, the benefit that children may derive from the story is not undermined because the issues portrayed are particularly addressed to the ones that they themselves face. A Child’s Wonderland Scholars have applied the themes present in the stories to everyday life of more mature audiences. Moreover, numerous criticisms have been aimed at Carroll’s stories reflecting them to be no more than the products of a hallucinating mind. Despite these judgments regarding the source of the idea of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, it cannot be denied that both pieces have had a tremendous impact on its young readers. There is no doubt that these stories were created primarily for the enjoyment of children and for their beneficial understanding. This intention is the focal key in understanding the disjointed world that Lewis Carroll painted. To most adults and to the scholarly world, an in-depth analysis of the text was needed, particularly so when considering the intellect and the capacity of the man who rendered the same. But it is undeniable that the very reason why Alice’s Adventures are still loved today is borne of a deep affiliation between children and Alice herself. Carroll’s depiction of Alice and her Wonderland embodies the make-believe world that children often find themselves voiceless to express. In his masterpiece, Carroll is not only able to express the world of a child but he is able to impact the viewpoints of adults as well. Works Cited Alice Liddell. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. April 2008. 16 April 2008 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Alice_Liddell. Carroll, Lewis. The Diaries of Lewis Carroll. London: The Lewis Carroll Society, 1993-2007. Carroll, Lewis. The Complete, Fully Illustrated Works. New York: Gramercy Books, 1995. Cinibis, M. , and Aysun, S. â€Å"Alice in Wonderland syndrome as an initial manifestation of Epstein-Barr virus infection. † British Journal of Ophthalmology, 76, 316, 1992. Clark, Anne. The Real Alice. New York: Stein And Day, 1982. Cohen, Morton N. Lewis Carroll: A Biography. London: Macmillan, 1995. Collingwood, Stuart D. The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1898. Leach, Karoline. In the Shadow of the Dreamchild: A New Understanding of Lewis Carroll. London: Peter Owen Publishers, 1999. How to cite The Adventures of Lewis Carroll’s Alice, Papers

Optimal performance and appraisals

Introduction Performance appraisal is the process of evaluating an employee’s performance of an employee in the dispensation of his/her duties. A performance appraisal is a strategic method of integrating human resource functions with the policies of the institution. This essay seeks to recommend a performance appraisal system that a person serving as a retail-store manager can effectively use.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Optimal performance and appraisals specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Among the responsibilities that a person in this capacity is expected to fulfill include the scheduling and assigning of duties to junior workers as well as the identification and implementation of customer needs. A retail store manager is also tasked with the responsibility of hiring employees and ensuring that the individuals who are taken on board are committed to the attainment of the company’s s trategic goals. Theoretical Framework Wayne Cascio (2013) describes performance appraisal as â€Å"the systematic description of an employee’s job relevant strengths and weaknesses† (p.331). Among the elements that are evaluated at when conducting a performance appraisal are the employee’s initiative, loyalty and regularity in comparison with their counterparts in the same position and in consideration of the company’s laid-down objectives. When conducting a performance appraisal, there are three key terms of relevance. These are rater, ratee and rating. The rater (sometimes called the appraiser) is the person who is conducting the assessment of the employees’ performance (Peretz and Fried, 2008). The ratee is the person whose performance is being evaluated, while rating is the process of a performance appraisal (Katleen, Ashford and Buyens, 2001). The techniques for conducting performance appraisals are divided into two main categories; old and mo dern methods of appraisal. Among the old methods of appraisal are ranking, which can be done by simple ranking, alternation ranking and paired comparison, depending on the requirements of the task. Graphic rating scales were also used in the traditional appraisal systems and these worked by rating the employees on elements such as the quality of work done and their reliability. Confidential reports, prepared by the immediate supervisor of the ratee were also used in the past to conduct performance appraisals. In presenting the confidentiality reports, the supervisors used a number of methods including checklists, critical incidents and narrative essays, all of which focus on evaluating the strength of the ratee.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The modern methods of performance appraisal are more elaborate that the old methods. One of the popular modern methods of appraisal is referred to as Management by Objectives (MBO). This method is used to gauge the effectiveness of managers in the dispensation of their duties. The MBO process starts with the senior and junior managers setting common objectives and then making plans for the attainment of these objectives (Kondrasuk, 2012). The subordinate managers then put the plan into action before their performance is evaluated in comparison with the objectives. Any areas of weakness are corrected on time in order to allow the plan attain maximum effectiveness. The second method of modern performance appraisal is the usage of assessment centers. In this method, the ratees are given several psychological and management exercises, which are evaluated to help identify which individuals are ready for promotion. Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales (BARS) are also among the modern methods of employee appraisal. The BARS method works by assessing the ratee’s attitude towards his/her job (Scott and Ei nstein, 2001). Individuals with a positive attitude towards their job tend to be interested in gaining more skills to enable them serve well in the position. They will, therefore, be ranked much-higher than individuals who have a negative attitude and are not making any effort to upgrade their skills. The other technique that is popularly used to conduct performance appraisals is Human Resource Accounting (HRA). In this method, the raters evaluate the contribution of the ratees to the overall success of the company (Scott and Einstein, 2001). If the contribution of an individual is found to be more than the cost, then the performance of the ratee is defined as positive, and vice versa. One of the primary functions of performance appraisal is the improvement of the employees work performance (Cascio, 2013). When workers know that their work will be assessed periodically, they tend to put in more effort than if they are not worried of an evaluation exercise. Performance appraisals als o furnish managers and their juniors with information that can be used to make relevant business decisions (Cascio, 2013).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Optimal performance and appraisals specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By pointing out the areas that need to be worked on, senior-level managers and their subordinates can easily identify the workers that are not contributing well to the growth of the company. Performance appraisals also help to identify the developmental needs of employee in a bid to establish the objectives for training (Cascio, 2013). It is only after a performance appraisal that managers can point out the areas in which the employees need more training on. Performance appraisal for a retail store manager A retail store manager is personally held accountable for the conduct of other workers in the store. He/She is also directly responsible for handling customer complaints and deman ds in ways that leaves the clients satisfied and encouraged to continue shopping in the same store. With this knowledge in mind, the performance appraisal system for use by a person in this capacity needs to be handled from various dimensions. A combination of the MBO and HRA will give the rater more insight regarding the output of the manager. The primary objective for a retail store owner is to make as much profit as possibly, while incurring the least-possible expenses. In setting up an MBO for the store, retail store manager and other members of senior-level management need to hold a meeting with the junior managers, in which the objectives of the enterprise will be presented. The junior managers have to confirm that the set targets are realistic and achievable. At their stations, the junior managers are expected to implement strategies that will see them meet all the targets that were set in the meeting with store manager. This is because the store manager is expected to visit their quarters randomly to check on the gains made. The rationale for using an MBO is that because the junior managers pre-set their targets, they are driven to achieve them in order to avoid the embarrassment of being branded failures. The other gain made by using the Management by Objectives strategy is that the regular assessment exercises can easily confirm whether or not as strategy is working well, with the possibility of scrapping it for a better approach.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The HRA comes in handy to ensure that the store meets its primary target of making profits. The products in the store cannot sell themselves and that is why there are people working there. However, having the wrong person working for a retail store can lead to a loss in clients. It is of paramount importance that the manager of a retail store understands that each and every member of his workforce ultimately contributes to the profitability of the company. If the costs associated with keeping the junior managers and their workers in the company are much lesser than the financial gains by their presence, then they will be given a positive review. On the other hand, if retaining the workers in the company costs more than what the company gains, then they will be given a negative review and possibly recommended for release. Conclusion The discussion above has recommended the implementation of a combined MBO and HRA as the most-ideal appraisal technique for use by a retail store manager . The MBO has been selected because it has been seen as a technique that gets individuals to commit to particular strategy and are, therefore, be drawn to its implementation. The technique has also been selected because it allows for change to be implemented in a timely fashion, when a strategy does not appear to be working well. The HRA has also been selected to work with the MBO because it fits well in the nature of the business under assessment. By implementing the HRA, the retail-store manager is in a position to identify the individuals that are bringing gains to the establishment and setting them apart from those that are being burdensome. The major limitation of this combined strategy is that the two components both need a lot of time to implement and evaluate, time that may not be available when the institution is not doing well financially. Reference List Cascio, W. (2013). Managing Human Resources. New York: Mc-Graw Hill eduction. Katleen E.S., Ashford, S. Buyens, D. (200 1). Self-Regulation of Creativity at Work: The Role of Feedback-Seeking Behavior in Creative Performance. Academy of Management Journal, 84(4), 811-831. Kondrasuk, J. N. (2012). The ideal performance appraisal is a format, not a form.  Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 11(1), 115-130. Peretz, H., Fried, Y. (2008). National values, performance appraisal practices, and organizational performance: A study across 21 countries. Academy of Management Proceedings. 1(3), 1-6. Scott, G., Einstein, O. (2001). Strategic performance appraisal in team-based organizations: One size does not fit all. Academy of Management Executive, 15(2), 107-116. This critical writing on Optimal performance and appraisals was written and submitted by user Maritza Langley 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.

Battle of Copenhagen in the Napoleonic Wars

Battle of Copenhagen in the Napoleonic Wars Battle of Copenhagen - Conflict Date: The Battle of Copenhagen was fought on April 2, 1801, and was part of the War of the Second Coalition (1799-1802). Fleets Commanders: British Admiral Sir Hyde ParkerVice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson20 ships of the line (12 w/ Nelson, 8 in reserve) Denmark-Norway Vice Admiral Olfert Fischer7 ships of the line Battle of Copenhagen - Background: In late 1800 and early 1801, diplomatic negotiations produced the League of Armed Neutrality. Led by Russia, the League also included Denmark, Sweden, and Prussia all of which called for the ability to trade freely with France. Wishing to maintain their blockade of the French coast and concerned about losing access to Scandinavian timber and naval stores, Britain immediately began preparing to take action. In the spring of 1801, a fleet was formed at Great Yarmouth under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker with the purpose of breaking up the alliance before the Baltic Sea thawed and released the Russian fleet. Included in Parkers fleet as second-in-command was Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, then out of favor due to his activities with Emma Hamilton. Recently married to a young wife, the 64-year old Parker dithered in port and was only coaxed to sea by a personal note from First Lord of the Admiralty Lord St. Vincent. Departing port on March 12, 1801, the fleet reached the Skaw a week later. Met there by diplomat Nicholas Vansittart, Parker and Nelson learned that the Danes had refused a British ultimatum demanding they leave the League. Battle of Copenhagen - Nelson Seeks Action: Unwilling to take decisive action, Parker proposed blockading the entrance to the Baltic despite the fact he would be outnumbered once the Russians could put to sea. Believing that Russia posed the greatest threat, Nelson fervently lobbied Parker to bypass the Danes to attack the Tsars forces. On March 23, after a council of war, Nelson was able to secure permission to attack the Danish fleet which had concentrated at Copenhagen. Entering the Baltic, the British fleet hugged the Swedish coast to avoid fire from the Danish batteries on the opposite shore. Battle of Copenhagen - Danish Preparations: At Copenhagen, Vice Admiral Olfert Fischer prepared the Danish fleet for battle. Unready to put to sea, he anchored his ships along with several hulks in the Kings Channel, near Copenhagen, to form a line of floating batteries. The ships were supported by additional batteries on land as well as the Tre Kroner fortress at the northern end of the line, near the entrance to Copenhagen harbor. Fischers line was also protected by the Middle Ground Shoal which separated the Kings Channel from the Outer Channel. To hinder navigation in these shallow waters, all navigation aids were removed. Battle of Copenhagen - Nelsons Plan: To assault Fischers position, Parker gave Nelson the twelve ships of the line with the shallowest drafts, as well as all of the fleets smaller vessels. Nelsons plan called for his ships to turn into the Kings Channel from the south and have each ship attack a predetermined Danish vessel. As the heavy ships engaged their targets, the frigate HMS Desiree and several brigs would rake the southern end of the Danish line. To the north, Captain Edward Riou of HMS Amazon was to lead several frigates against the Tre Kroner and land troops once it had been subdued. While his ships were fighting, Nelson planned for his small flotilla of bomb vessels to approach and fire over his line to strike the Danes. Lacking charts, Captain Thomas Hardy spent the night of March 31 covertly taking soundings near the Danish fleet. The next morning, Nelson, flying his flag from HMS Elephant (74), ordered the attack to begin. Approaching the Kings Channel, HMS Agamemnon (74) ran around on the Middle Ground Shoal. While the bulk of Nelsons ships successfully entered the channel, HMS Bellona (74) and HMS Russell (74) also ran aground. Battle of Copenhagen - Nelson Turns a Blind Eye: Adjusting his line to account for the grounded ships, Nelson engaged the Danes in a bitter three-hour battle that raged from around 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Though the Danes offered heavy resistance and were able to shuttle reinforcements from the shore, superior British gunnery slowly began to turn the tide. Standing offshore with the deeper draft ships, Parker was unable to accurately see the fighting. Around 1:30, thinking that Nelson had been fought to a standstill but was unable to retreat without orders, Parker ordered the signal for break off action hoisted. Believing that Nelson would ignore it if the situation warranted, Parker thought he was giving his subordinate an honorable reprieve. Aboard Elephant, Nelson was stunned to see the signal and ordered it acknowledged, but not repeated. Turning to his flag captain Thomas Foley, Nelson famously exclaimed, You know, Foley, I only have one eye - I have the right to be blind sometimes. Then holding his telescope to his blind eye, he continued, I really do not see the signal! Of Nelsons captains, only Riou, who could not see Elephant, obeyed the order. In attempting to break off fighting near the Tre Kroner, Riou was killed. Shortly thereafter, the guns towards the southern end of the Danish lines began falling silent as the British ships triumphed. By 2:00 Danish resistance had effectively ended and Nelsons bomb vessels moved into position to attack. Seeking to end the fighting, Nelson dispatched Captain Sir Frederick Thesiger ashore with a note for Crown Prince Frederik calling for a cessation of hostilities. By 4:00 PM, after further negotiations, a 24-hour ceasefire was agreed upon. Battle of Copenhagen - Aftermath: One of Nelsons great triumphs, the Battle of Copenhagen cost the British 264 dead and 689 wounded, as well as varying degrees of damage to their ships. For the Danes, casualties were estimated at 1,600-1,800 killed and the loss nineteen ships. In the days after the battle, Nelson was able negotiate a fourteen-week armistice during which the League would be suspended and the British given free access to Copenhagen. Coupled with the assassination of Tsar Paul, the Battle of Copenhagen effectively ended the League of Armed Neutrality. Selected Sources British Battles: Battle of CopenhagenHistory of War: Battle of CopenhagenAdmiral Nelson.org: Battle of Copenhagen

Expository Essay

Expository Essay Expository Essay Expository Essay Expository essay writing should follow this simple structure: introduction, main text and conclusion. Writing expository essay you need to discuss topic and explain your point of view presenting illustrative material. In the introduction give background information on essay topic, to set the foundation for your main text. Expository essay should have a clear essay title and brief introduction.   Do not overload introduction with unnecessary information. You will have an opportunity to write all you want in the main body of your expository essay. Body of expository essay should be as detailed as possible.   However, you should not go beyond the narrowly defined topic as well as you should meet the specific word limit.   Writing an essay, start new paragraph with new idea; however, it should be linked to the previous one. Expository Essay Writing Writing an expository essay avoid using personal pronoun 'I' and passive voice. The final things you need to do before turning in an expository essay are proofreading and revision. Make sure that your expository essay does not fall out of the assigned topic.   If your expository essay is about nature, do not write about humanity.   You may mention the role of humans, but you should not focus is on humanity.   It can be used to support your main points, as an example; however, it should not be the focus of your expository essay. Custom Expository Essay We would like to offer you professional custom expository essay writing service.   Our writers are working hard to ensure high quality of every piece of writing.   Expository essay written by our writer will definitely meet academic requirements of your teacher.  We strive not to be late and assign a writer to help you within a very short period of time (less than 30 minutes).   Why to choose .com? We are honest and reliable, we are responsible and diligent.   Your questions are not left unanswered; your expository essays are not plagiarized.   We are young but educated and devoted writers. You may contact us 24/7 to get an answer on any question you may have.