Chinese Traditional Religion Essay Example for Free

Chinese Traditional Religion Essay Strict practice in China today has components as old as the Shang and Zhou traditions and, dating from the Song administration (960â€1279 CE), is checked syncretismâ€the consolidating of various types of conviction or practice. A genuine model is the development of sanctuary special raised areas. It’s normal to discover Buddhist and Confucian figures in a Daoist sanctuary. Nor is it unprecedented to see a self-maintained Buddhist offer incense at a Daoist sanctuary to a recorded figure known for his Confucian temperances. China has been a multi-religion nation since the antiquated occasions. It is notable that Confucianism is an indigenous religion and is the spirit of Chinese culture, which appreciated well known help among individuals and even turned into the directing philosophy for feudalism society, however it didn't form into a national conviction. It makes the way of life progressively open minded to other people, in this way, numerous different religions have been brought into the nation in various administrations, however none of them grew incredible enough throughout the entire existence of China and they just give assorted individuals increasingly otherworldly help. Confucianism, not a genuine religion, is only a moral and philosophical framework, which created from Confucius’ considerations and later was treated as a sort of conviction to teach everyday citizens. Confucianism is a Chinese moral and philosophical framework created from the lessons of the Chinese rationalist Confucius (Master Kong, 551â€479 BC). The Confucius’ lessons contained the start of an arrangement of thought and conduct that formed into a modern ethico-strict custom. Confucianism was received by the Han line (206 B. C.E-220 C. E. ) as the scholarly reason for its arrangement of government and its instructive program for preparing authorities. Confucius underscored standards for self-direction. The way to creating an amicable life, he composed, is by they way we treat othersâ€our progenitors, pioneers, guardians, companions, neighbors, and companions. Two different ideas that were dominating in Confucius’s perspective were Tian (Heaven) and Dao (Way). His paradise spoke to a heavenly force associated with the desire of powerful progenitors, for example, the generally known Yao, Shun, and Yu. The Way, then again, established a characteristic way for mankind. While Heaven stressed decision, the Way required a yielding heart-mind (xin); both were pivotal for accomplishing amicability in the natural domain. Daoism is one of China’s significant religions indigenous to the nation. The essential conviction is in learning and rehearsing â€Å"The Way† (Dao) which is a definitive truth to the universe. Otherwise called Taoism, Daoism follows its underlying foundations to sixth Century BC Chinese rationalist Laozi composed the famous book Dao De Jing on the principles of the Dao. In the 1,800 years, Taoism affected the neighborhood culture profoundly, particularly on customary medication and writing. In view of certain speculations of chemists, for example, Wei Boyang in Eastern Han Dynasty, various types of medication medicines were made by Sun Simiao and numerous different specialists. In writing, numerous anecdotal characters are firmly related with Taoism, for example, the Jade Emperor. Their ways of thinking, however, resemble different sides of a coin. Laozi underscored agreement with the Daoâ€a referent to something that can't be namedâ€in request to accomplish balance throughout everyday life. To help this procedure, Laozi showed his supporters the ideas of non-activity (wuwei) and shade and light (yin/yangâ€primordial, dynamic adjusting of contrary energies). The standard of non-activity implied that one ought to perceive the normal course of things and help out that development. The lessons of Laozi and Confucius were not fused into a strict development until the Han line (206 BCEâ€220 CE). The outcome was a blend of theory and religion. Throughout the hundreds of years that followed, both Confucianism (Rujiaoâ€the lessons of the researchers) and Daoism (Daojiaoâ€the educating of the Way) created expound customs and holy works. Right up 'til the present time the methods of reasoning of Laozi and Confucius, and the strict developments their lives and lessons propelled, exist in dynamic structures in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese culture too. At the point when originally presented, Buddhism confronted rivalry from devotees of Daoism. While Daoism (likewise called Taoism) is as old as Buddhism, Daoism was indigenous to China. Daoists don't see life as torment. They put stock in an arranged society and exacting profound quality, yet they likewise hold solid otherworldly convictions, for example, extreme change, where the spirit lives after death and goes to the universe of the immortals. Since the two convictions were so serious, numerous educators from the two sides acquired from the other. Today numerous Chinese put stock in components from the two ways of thinking. Buddhisms fame, prompted the brisk transformation to Buddhism by later Chinese rulers. The ensuing Sui and Tang Dynasties all received Buddhism as their religion. The religion was likewise utilized by remote leaders of China, for example, the Yuan Dynasty and the Manchus, to interface with the Chinese and legitimize their standard. The Machus strived to draw an equal between Buddhism. an outside religion, and their own rule as remote pioneers. Notwithstanding Chinas move to skepticism after the Communists assumed responsibility for China in 1949, Buddhism kept on developing in China, particularly after the financial changes during the 1980s. Today there are an expected 100 million adherents of Buddhism in China and more than 20,000 Buddhist sanctuaries. It is the biggest religion in China. For a great many people in China, there is no issue with blending strict practices. In contrast to some different societies, where strict syncretism and even resistance are seen with suspicion or judgment, the Chinese have consistently could choose the strict practices and lessons that work best for them right now. On the off chance that a specific divinity doesn’t answer a supplicant’s appeal, at that point it’s on to the following sanctuary and god. All in all strict pluralism just adds to the numerous choices from which the Chinese can pick on their excursion toward an amicable life.

Brain Death

Demise happens at a person right now that their heart and lung quits working so that they would never be reestablished. At a similar occasion, the mind work likewise stops. Demise had been alluded to as cardio respiratory passing until innovation changed the setting passing through the presentation of what was known as cerebrum passing which alludes to the discontinuance of mind capacity and movement decided or estimated by various test, for example, EEG diagnostics. More often than not, the term mind passing alludes to a patient that lost cerebrum ability to do significant function.They may once in a while be continued by clinical contraption however isn't truly dead in the physical setting. Anyway in certain nations, these people are viewed as dead and organs can be transplanted to some different patients who need body organs and patients who are cerebrum alive. Along these lines, profiting the general public in general and just as the recipients of the organ. Despite the fact that the affirmation of cerebrum passing advantages the network, a few discussions and inconsistencies emerge. Such clash incorporates the various perspectives in regards to when the patient is to be viewed as cerebrum dead, which additionally incorporates the contentions with respect to PVS patients.Although new advancement on the fields of innovation emerges to have the option to decide whether one individual is truly mind dead, for example, Digital Subtraction Angiography, Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT), Dynamic Computed Tomography (DCT), Magnetic Resonance Imaginary (MRI), Echo Planar MRI (EPI) and numerous different sorts of hardware, an accord in regards to the acknowledgment of mind demise was never reached due to some moral and social concerns. Such factor incorporates the various perspectives and remain of the pubic with respect to organ transplant.Still, the principle factor against the accord of tolerating cerebrum passing is the public’s supposition and view, unc ommonly the groups of the patient who were viewed as mind dead, in regards to the issue. They are probably not going to acknowledge the entombment of a breathing human or to deliberately end the cardio respiratory capacity of a person through deadly infusions or some different methods. Because of a few debates with respect to cerebrum passing, a few arrangements had been made. Anyway debates and inconsistencies are as yet present, with respect to cerebrum death.Returning to Cardio Respiratory passing will dispose of complaints in regards to mind demise which was the first meaning of death. Present day progresses in clinical innovation are truly testing our origination of being human, to be alive. For a few, the idea of Brain Death is additionally a type of authorizing killing.DEFINITION OF BRAIN DEATH: ROBERT BLANKStudies demonstrated that the mind starts to kick the bucket because of nearly a few causes. One of the significant causes was maturing in which there exist a continuous l ost of tactile limits in one’s brain.The higher the age of an individual methods higher danger of having a decrease in memory and different elements of the mind. Maturing is the normal procedure wherein cerebrum capacities decreases. There are additionally causes which are not regular, for example, wounds, malignant growth, feed just as liquor and medication misuse. Be that as it may, the idea of mind passing doesn't really alludes to this procedure of synapse demise but instead to the end of capacities and action of the cerebrum as showed by a few test, for example, EEG diagnostics.This idea is not the same as what we ordinarily see as death. From a general perspective, mind demise alludes to circumstance to which the patient was analyzed to be not able to recapture cognizance or incapable to recuperate from their present condition of having cerebrum harm. At the point when an individual is viewed as cerebrum dead the person in question is viewed as effectively dead and alon g these lines, organs can be taken for transplants. In view of this definition, a few discussions and inconsistency occurs.In the start of the issue with respect to mind demise, a few rules were utilized presume that an individual was truly cerebrum dead: â€Å"(1) unreceptivity and lethargy; (2) absence of unconstrained developments or breathing and, (3) absence of reflexes† (Blank, page 3). Because of the reality of the issue, there had likewise been acts so as to decide whether the individual is cerebrum dead. The idea of cerebrum demise is as yet being bantered up to the contemporary time even within the sight of current innovative gadgets, for example, Digital Subtraction Angiography, CAT, DCT, MRI and others.WHAT TRIGGERED THE CONTROVERSEY OVER BRAIN DEATH?The very explanation behind the formation of the idea of mind passing was the headway of clinical innovation. Despite the fact that there are a few machines in the field that had the option to help the lungs and heart of an individual, the way that once the mind stem was genuinely harmed. Unconstrained breath would never be returned, giving a patient no expectation of recuperation. Along these lines, the passing of an individual was connected to the demise of certain mind work as opposed to the suspension of the heart and lungs.CEREBRAL DEFINITON OF DEATHThe thought of complete cerebrum passing has consistently been encircled by debates even it was acknowledged as the standard practice in the greater part of the Western Nations since some contends that it can't be alluding to the passing of the entire mind or the discontinuance of the considerable number of elements of the cerebrum. Since the idea of the entire cerebrum passing overlooks spinal lines reflexes just as the emanation of little electrical possibilities quantifiable by the EEG constant in some detached synapses. Then again, the cerebral demise was related to the discontinuance of the capacity of the cerebral cortex that is related wi th cognizance and mental activity.Thus at whatever point explicit higher mind elements of an individual stops, the person in question is viewed as cerebral dead as opposed to the end of all cerebrum action. The idea of comparing demise to cerebral passing depended on the suspicion that human life has no longer exist without the person’s awareness. Therefore, cerebral demise centers around the passing of personhood as opposed to the passing of the living being itself. On account of these suspicions, demise increases a ton of analysis and objectivity.WHY IT IS DIFFICULT TO INSTITUTE A POLICY DEFINING PVS PATIENTS AS BRAIN DEAD?Patients with PVS have a moderately unblemished cerebrum stem with the total lost of cerebral cortical capacity that might be because of absence of oxygen or blood stream to the mind for around 4-6 minutes. Accordingly, the patient is left with a transient unconsciousness for a considerable length of time and weeks that occasionally additionally brought a bout eyes-open awareness for quite a long time. Despite the fact that they have hack responses just as times of attentiveness and rest as a result of the cerebrum stem, they are totally ignorant of themselves just as their surroundings. PVS patients additionally experience no agony during the period.These attributes that makes PVS patients unique in relation to lasting trance state patients, patients with secured condition and irreversibly insensible are likewise the motivation behind why it is hard to establish a strategy that characterizes PVS patients as cerebrum dead.Summary: PETER MONAGHAN ARTICLEThe thought of alluding to mind dead individuals as dead brought about various perspectives and stands taken by various gatherings and societies. In the United Sates and Canada, the idea of mind was acknowledged and organs of individuals who are viewed as cerebrum dead can be taken for transplant.Several nations then again have various perspectives with respect to the issue extraordina rily those that that are outside the United States. Different nations have recognize the idea of cerebrum demise yet were reluctant to see mind dead people as dead and decided to adhere to the discontinuance of heart and lungs as the sign of death of a person. The distinctions in the perspectives on people in general with respect to mind passing makes a few issues, debates and just as protests of the concept.For a few, legitimizing cerebrum demise is only a method of authorizing murdering; others accepted something else, for the most part are experts in the field of medication who accepted that this idea will have the option to spare the lives of those people whose cerebrums are well working however are urgently needing organ transplant. The acknowledgment of the entire idea of cerebrum demise is probably going to deliver an extraordinary advancement in the field of organ transplant, cloning and other clinical fields. Notwithstanding, this would likewise mean changing the publicâ₠¬â„¢s meaning of dead; ignoring generally strict and organic convictions of the meaning of death.Medical innovation improvements additionally confuse the issues with respect to mind passing. Indeed, even the subject of when should an individual ought to be viewed as mind dead was as yet far from being obviously true up to the contemporary time. All things considered, the hugeness of death in the cultural setting despite everything supersedes clinical power with regards to a patient known to be cerebrum dead. Perhaps the most grounded issue that were against the idea of cerebrum demise was the trouble of relatives of a mind dead individual to recognize the entombment or even incineration of their love.Another issue that likewise emerges was whether sedation ought to be utilized for patients that were mind dead. The idea of cerebrum passing truly creates a great deal of discussions and questions that stayed easily proven wrong up to the present time.COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE USAIn the Uni ted States just as in Canada, when an individual was viewed as mind dead, their organs can be evacuated for transplant. Anyway not all the nations, as a result of social contrasts, doesn't see and acknowledge the idea of cerebrum passing in the equivalent way.In a few European Countries, specialists could play out the transplant except if the patient denied it. All things considered, there are those nations that acknowledged mind demise and think about it, yet at the same time favored natural passing and cerebrum dead people are not viewed as dead. There are additionally a few nations that were absolutely against mind passing. The idea of cerebrum passing was simply a show outside the United States and Canada. For instance, in Japan, it took

What color is that dress Check your perception.

What color is that dress Check your perception. The Blue-Black / White-Gold Debate There is a debate  raging across the internet about the color of the dress in the photo to the right. Is it blue and black? Or white and gold? I read about this debate and was skeptical. Was this some big scam? When I look at the picture I see blue and black and cant imagine it would be anything else. I decided to test this proposition my self. I was surrounded by people this past weekend at a family event, so carried around my laptop asking my relatives what color they thought the dress was. Reality Check? Of my first three subjects, my mom  saw blue and black. So did my cousin  Michael. But my cousin Carol saw white and gold. The more people I asked, the more I realized that this  is for real. People see the colors in this dress differently and each person is completely convinced about the rightness of his or her view. My cousin Michael was an interesting case. I showed him the picture a second time in different lighting, and he saw it as white and gold. But a minute later, he was saying it was back to black and blue. He still insisted he was right and I was playing tricks on him with the lighting on my computer. Wow. Being Right Do you think you know things like what color that dress is? I know I do.  My brain does not even want to consider that someone else really and truly sees it as a different color. That  dress is  black and blue! But many people I know and trust were right there  saying  with complete conviction, White and gold. This reminds me of another exercise where one person is looking at a mug from the handle side, and another is looking from the non-handle side. To one person, there is no handle. To the other, its clearly a handled mug. Heres the rub:  Both people are right!! And they are both stuck in a perspective. The Gift of Perspective If we could get this about other issues religion, the cleanliness of our kitchens, what it means  to leave on time, [insert your  issue here], imagine how much better our relationships could be. Imagine how much less we would fight over the not-important things.  We could be curious instead of right. We could truly be over there with the people in our lives, listening to them  accurately. How does this principle apply to writing? Whatever we write, whether it’s a blog article, an e-mail message, a book, or a resume, one person might read it one way and another person might read it completely differently. The same resume can be loved by one hiring manager and hated by another. I notice it with my e-book too: People rate How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile everywhere from 5 stars to 1. It’s rare to find any topic on which people agree 100%. If we can take that as a gift instead of as a point of contention, we can all grow and expand as we explore each other’s perspectives. I challenge you to try this at home. Make someone right today who you are totally convinced is wrong. Who knows what might emerge from there?

The Girls Of Their Summer Dresses By Irwin Shaw - 955 Words

There is no specific behavior, idea, or emotion that makes for a good marriage, though it is common for people to believe so. They think marriage will be easy, although the reality requires constant work. Good marriages consist of communication, honesty, passion, intimacy and commitment. In the short story, â€Å"The Girls in Their Summer Dresses,† by Irwin Shaw, Michael and Frances’s relationship lacks these qualities; therefore, their marriage was not ideal. Most importantly, the husband and wife need to both want the relationship and the lifelong commitment. In â€Å"The Girls in Their Summer Dresses,† part of the reason Michael and Frances’s marriage is falling apart, is because marriage is something Michael clearly did not want. When Frances asks him if he wants to be free from their relationship, he responds with â€Å"sometimes I feel like I would want to be free† (Shaw 8). Commitment is key to any relationship’s success. If two people enter a relationship, but have no desire or ability to work for it, the relationship is going to fail. Both people must commit to each other, as well as to the relationship. These are two different things. Commitment to another person, means being loyal, faithful, caring, and in touch with the other’s needs. Commitment to the relationship, means understanding your partner and working to put the relationship first. People often misinterpret putting the relationship fi rst, as being selfless and giving in to the other person. Unfortunately, theShow MoreRelatedThe Movie The Girls At Their Summer Dresses By Irwin Shaw866 Words   |  4 PagesWhat guy would not be tempted to catch a sneak peak of a beautiful girl wearing an extravagant dress or skirt? 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Eventhough Michael has desires for other women, his wife, Frances, isRead MoreEssay on The Girls in Their Summer Dresses1427 Words   |  6 Pages†­The Girls in their summer dresses Men like the way women look.†­ †¬Whether it†­ †¬is women on TV or in magazines,†­ †¬they seem to like to look at women.†­ †¬Is this common among all men to want to look at that girl in the cute dress or the tight jeans†­? †¬Or maybe†­ †¬it†­Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¬s only certain guys that have to stare at women as they pass.†­ †¬But what if the man looking is married†­? †¬That certainly changes the innocence of the stare. In The Girls in their summer dresses, by Irwin Shaw,†­ †¬Michael Loomis isRead More Women, Men, Love and Relationships Essays1647 Words   |  7 PagesCarvers What We Talk about When We Talk about Love Edna St. Vincent Millays Love Is Not Al, If you ask a woman want they want from a man, most women will provide a list of qualities that have been drilled in their heads since they were little girls. The perfect lifestyle has three things that have to be added together in order to come out with the correct equation. Money, kids, and most of all a wonderful man to provide these things are what women want most in life. One of the most known sayingsRead MoreCheating Is A Common Incident2921 Words   |  12 Pagesthere’s a good chance you eventually will. In this paper I’ll show you how often cheating happens, the definition of cheating, what constitutes cheating, and how to deal with it with sources from the internet and a story called â€Å"The Girls in Their Summer Dresses,† by Irwin Shaw. Read MoreHistory of the Development of the Short Story.3660 Words   |  15 Pagesare noted for their dispassionate stories about the ironies of suburban life, reflecting the major shift in American living patterns following World War II (1939-1945).[15,p.283] Other major authors of the modern story include Irwin Shaw (â€Å"The Girls in Their Summer Dresses,† 1939), J. D. Salinger (â€Å"Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut,† 1948), Anne Beattie (â€Å"A Vintage Thunderbird,† 1978), Tobias Wolff (â€Å"The Rich Brother,† 1985), Alice Munro (â€Å"Meneseteung,† 1989), and Lorrie Moore (â€Å"You’re Ugly, Too,† 1990)Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesthe Professional Practice Award from the Institute of Industrial and Labor Relations, University of Illinois. Books Published: H. G. Heneman III, T. A. Judge, and J. D. Kammeyer -Mueller, Staffing Organizations, 7th ed. (Madison, WI: Mendota House/Irwin, 2011) Other Interests Although he cannot keep up (literally!) with Dr. Robbin’s accomplishments on the track, Dr. Judge enjoys golf, cooking and baking, literature (he’s a particular fan of Thomas Hardy and is a member of the Thomas Hardy Society)

Customer service plan - 1735 Words

CONTENTS Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..2 Vision and Mission Statement †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2 Product Standards †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..2 Dimensions †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.2 Tolerances †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2 Pricing †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2 Material †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.2 Delivery †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦......2 Policies and Procedures †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..3 The RATER Model †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.3 Customer Complaints †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4 Managing Records and Data †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.5†¦show more content†¦These needs to be identified as often as possible; Innovative Widgets have decided every three months would be an appropriate amount of time between each over view. Staff who come in personal contact with customers, will be the staff who conduct this research and gather the information needed. PROCEDURES Identifying needs must be conducted in a standard procedure. The customer relations manager must create surveys/questionnaires etc. for customers to answer. These will be handed over to employees who work directly with customers, and gather as much information as they can. These will be answered by not on the external customers, but the internal customers also (employees and suppliers). A step-by-step procedure for Innovative Widgets includes: Consider what questions will be appropriate; you don’t want to upset anyone’s feelings, or invade their privacy Run through the questions with any other staff who are involved in the process Write up the survey/questionnaire, or even questions an employee may want to ask the customers face to face or over the phone Explain to the employees of the importance of this process, and to ensure they are respectful of the customers answers and to treat it all with 100% confidentiality using the RATER model - Ensure the employees make sure theShow MoreRelatedEvaluation Of Customer Service Plan1512 Words   |  7 Pagesevaluation of customer care strategy. I decided to do my report on Turkish Airlines because I had experienced their customer service and purchased products from them several times. Customer Service Plan Turkish Airlines values all of its customers and is continually working to improve its services and to offer the safest and most comfortable trip to every customer. The following Customer Service Plan provides a summary of the actions taken by Turkish Airlines to assist its customers. This Customer ServiceRead MoreCustomer Service Plan for Widgets1706 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Widget Innovation Customer Service Plan Customer service and commitment to our customers has been the driving force behind our brand. Widget strive to get it right first time, everytime.Incases where things don’t come out right we believe our professional workers will strive to correct the problem and our customers have the right to know what level of service they can expect from us all the time even in these times when we fall short of the very high standards we have set ourselves. Through ourRead MoreCUSTOMER SERVICE PLAN SAMPLE Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ [Insert Department Name] [Insert Department Logo] Customer Service Plan [Insert Date] This template includes directions and examples. Please remove all text in italics and replace with content for your Department’s customer service plan. Please note that the total length of your plan should be approximately ten pages. Executive Summary The Executive Summary should be 1-1.5 pages. In this section, provide an overview of the purpose of the document, thatRead MoreInsurance Customer Service Plan 20161037 Words   |  5 PagesMJD Insurance Customer Service Plan 2016 Contents Who are our customers and what are their needs? Who are we and what are our principals? Our 2016 Customer Service Objectives. Plans to action, the procedure changes being implemented. Stakeholder communication guidelines. Dispute resolution processes. Continuous improvement initiatives. Rewards for high service delivery and how this will be monitored and measured. Who are our customers and what are their needs? Our customers need competitiveRead MoreInnovative Widgets Customer Service Plan1059 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Innovative Widgets customer service plan Vision †¢ This is a statement of how you envision customer services being delivered in the future In five years’ time, Innovative Widgets will be the leader in customer service satisfaction, providing timely, responsive service with integrity, simplicity and a passion for excellence, while meeting or exceeding the customer’s expectations. Mission statement †¢ This defines what a company will do to achieve its vision. It may include the company’sRead MoreInnovative Widgets Customer Service Plan1104 Words   |  5 PagesInnovative Widgets customer service plan Vision †¢ This is a statement of how you envision customer services being delivered in the future In five years’ time, Innovative Widgets will be the leader in customer service satisfaction, providing timely, responsive service with integrity, simplicity and a passion for excellence, while meeting or exceeding the customer’s expectations. Mission statement †¢ This defines what a company will do to achieve its vision. It may include the company’sRead MorePlan For Transform Cigna Customer Service Rating1720 Words   |  7 PagesPlan to Transform Cigna Customer Service Rating Introduction For the purpose of this paper I have chosen a company that I am familiar with and one that my husband is subcontracted for now going on 16 years. The company is one that could use the improvement in customer service, and they are currently working on. By implementing Kotter’s 8-step Approach to what Cigna wants to accomplish they will defiantly accomplish their goal of increasing their customer ratings to 95%. As we will see, CignaRead MoreNew Employee Customer Service Training Plan1524 Words   |  7 PagesEmployee Customer Service Training Plan The most important skill a new employee must be able to perform to have a successful career at the Retail store is customer service. Customer service is defined as an organization’s ability to satisfy their customers’ needs and wants (Ward, 2016). The new employees must interact with customers. The purpose of employee’s interacting with customers is to help them find the items they’re looking for (Ward, 2016). At the Retail store, customer service has a directRead MoreEssay about Innovative Widgets- Customer Service Plan939 Words   |  4 Pagesin Australia. Established in 1952, widgets are used as components for a wide variety of machinery, including domestic and industrial machinery. All our widgets are functional, well designed and manufactured to the his highest quality standards. Customers across Australia look to us to provide high quality products at competitive prices. This is a family owned company with the sons and daughters of the founder forming the board of directors. We operate from one main factory which include severalRead MoreCustomer Service Manager All Talk About The Operation Plans1029 Words   |  5 PagesAt buycostumes.com Christa Gets, Purchasing Director, Dave Croft, Warehouse Manager, Maggie Karam, Logistics Coordinator, Julianne Hlavka, Customer Service Manager all talk about the operation plans that are needed to help this company succeed. For buycostumes.com, Halloween is the biggest business opportunity of the year and this means it brings a major operational challenge. Buycostumes.com offers the largest costumes on the internet. This company was founded in 1999 and has begun to grow more

More Technology More Problems Free Essays

These are some statements that show what the advantages of technology in our lives. Technological change has its advantages and disadvantages. itsolves problems. We will write a custom essay sample on More Technology More Problems or any similar topic only for you Order Now Modern technology makes life easier more comfortable and more convenient for most people.. However, there are many people who see the advantages of technology. first of all, the products of new technologies like electronic devices are very useful. technology makes the world become smaller. for instance 3G people connected at all times and in all places. ecnology put enjoable materials to our lifes like smart phones; tablets or even mp3 players.. and Companies need to use their competitive advantage in technology. Although the positive influence of technology on our lives is credible but at the same time various drawbacks of technology can not be neglected, technology has so many disadvantages it has created harzards to the health of societies. it damege human relations. for example people dont meet their friends and collateral kins in crowded dining out†¦ One disadvantage is that as technology develops, robots a will take over many jobs and people will loose their jobs by contrast. As people loose their jobs, they will have hard time getting money which would make it hard for them to continue to meet living expenses. it will create a large expense to repair them. To sum up even as there are as many advantages ad disadvantages of technology. I personally wish a more advanced world with great technologies. Don’t you think it will be awesome with in 3D to go stores and buy new clothes in our house confortably. I hope these days come within my lifetime. How to cite More Technology More Problems, Essays

Virtual teams free essay sample

Any team whose members are not all physically under the same roof can be considered to be virtual, as long as the participants have complementary skills and knowledge that produce greater value when they work together than if they worked separately. A virtual team can be local, national, or global, with members from one firm or many. Teams can be made up of full-time, in-house practitioners or full- or part-time contractors. They are enabled by technology, which allows members to work from anywhere in the world with phone, Internet, and wireless access as long as they produce work that meets the firm’s and the client’s standards of quality, and the client’s deadlines. Social changes in the workforce are leading more and more employees to demand more and more control over how, when, and where they work. The result, which is gaining increasing traction, is a rise in lifestyle-driven virtual teams. We will write a custom essay sample on Virtual teams or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 24/7? Running to Gate 9? Who needs them. Especially when forward-looking employers can accommodate the needs and wants of talented, ambitious employees by creating lifestyle-driven virtual teams. This author describes how professional services firms that can make this approach work will make them employers of choice. In recent years, professional services firms have watched as more and more senior talent, especially women with children, have left their employ. Many of these valued practitioners are not jumping to other companies or starting up competing agencies. Rather, they are walking away from their careers (and in many cases high salaries) because their employers are unwilling or unable to provide them with the flexibility they need to balance their work and family lives. The decision is rarely an easy one, and many women would have welcomed the opportunity to remain in the workforce if truly flexible options had been available. To stem the exodus, keep top talent, and remain competitive, professional services today must meet an imperative: They must create new arrangements to accommodate talented practitioners who need more choice when it comes to how, when, and where they work. They must consider ways to ensure that working parents (especially women) do not have to work long hours or travel extensively, but instead have the flexibility they need to raise a family or care for aging parents. And with Canada expected to experience a labor shortage that could begin affecting employers as soon as 2020, having these new work arrangements in place will become increasingly essential to the delivery of high-quality professional services. This article will examine how adopting a virtual-team model can help organizations attract and retain that top talent. The article will first define virtual teams and explain why they are on the rise. It will then outline the various benefits of virtual teams (for both employers and employees) and look at some of their unique challenges. Finally, the article will outline best practices for designing and implementing new work arrangements. VIRTUAL TEAMS DEFINED Any team whose members are not all physically under the same roof can be considered to be virtual, as long as the participants have complementary skills and knowledge that produce greater value when they work together than if they worked separately. A virtual team can be local, national, or global, with members from one firm or many. Teams can be made up of full-time, in-house practitioners or full- or part-time contractors. They are enabled by technology, which allows members to work from anywhere in the world with phone, Internet, and wireless access as long as they produce work that meets the firm’s and the client’s standards of quality, and the client’s deadlines. VIRTUAL TEAMS ARE ON THE RISE The popularity of virtual teams is being driven by social change. Women now constitute nearly one-half of the North American workforce, and in nearly one-half of households, all adults are working. As well, more working adults are pursuing educational opportunities to advance their careers; they therefore need the flexibility that a virtual arrangement provides. [1] When I was in the process of building my PR agency in 2008, I witnessed this social change first-hand and realized many senior women were caught in an unnecessary and intractable dilemma: how to pursue a fulfilling and meaningful career while meeting the demands of their personal and family lives. I spoke with dozens of senior women in the industry who were torn between the need to put in long, billable hours at their offices and the need to tend to matters at home. Some told me that they sacrificed family time by hiring nannies and placing their children in daycare. Others made career-limiting moves such as working four days a week or turning down promotions that would mean longer hours. And some of them left the workforce entirely or switched to less demanding careers because they were unable to balance their work and personal lives. Many women also told me they wanted to avoid lengthy, stressful commutes because of the time they took away from time spent their families. They talked about scrambling for childcare when a child was home sick from school or they had to work later than expected, and described missing important school functions and other milestones in their children’s lives. Some also said they were frustrated by the traditional approach to â€Å"flex-time,† whereby practitioners work four out of five days, at a reduced annual salary. With this approach, five days’ worth of work is often completed in four, which can actually add to workplace stress rather than reduce it. Talent is everything in professional services, and successful firms know that flexible work arrangements make them more attractive to a wider range of professionals. Recent studies have shown that flexibility is a growing trend. A 2011 U. S. study showed that the number of employees who principally work from home grew by 61 per cent between 2005 and 2009. [2] Two years earlier, Aon Consulting’s Benefits and Talent Survey reported that 97 per cent of organizations either planned to increase or maintain their use of virtual teams. [3] AN EMERGING APPROACH: LIFESTYLE-DRIVEN VIRTUAL TEAMS Once considered a way for companies to reduce overhead, the popularity of virtual teams is now being increasingly driven by employee demand. This is especially true in professional services firms, where both full-time practitioners and part-time associates or consultants are becoming more vocal about their desire to have lifestyle-driven schedules. As such, some firms are beginning to offer an emerging approach to flexible workplace arrangements – a lifestyle-driven one that rewards results over face time, so practitioners can maximize the time they devote to their personal lives. These lifestyle-driven virtual teams may not be a realistic option for all industries, or even all professional services firms, for example, those consulting firms that require staff to travel or be on site to meet with clients. However, the model can work for most professional services firms because much of their work is knowledge-based and often performed by individuals. As a result, it can easily be transferred to a home office with the right planning, processes and project management in place. When implementing this model, firms must also remove the focus on billable hours, and instead focus on the number of hours each associate wants to work – while planning project resources and compensation accordingly. This differs from the traditional model in which each practitioner must focus on billable-hour targets. For practitioners, there is some risk involved in using the virtual model, as they are not guaranteed a regular pay cheque. Experience has shown, however, that some part-time practitioners who are compensated hourly actually earn more than they did as salaried employees, even while working significantly fewer hours. This is particularly true of practitioners whose quality work and outstanding client service make them an obvious choice for recurring account management roles and back-to-back projects. VIRTUAL TEAMS BENEFIT EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES EQUALLY In a 2010 study, 80 per cent of respondents said they were part of a team based in various locations, while 63 per cent indicated that nearly half their team members were located outside their home country. [4] Supported by technology, practitioners are able to be as efficient and engaged as they have ever been while keeping far greater control over their work schedules and environments. The traditional billable-hour-driven agency model often requires practitioners to work 60 or more hours a week. However, the lifestyle-driven virtual model permits practitioners to be selective about their hours and often their projects, naturally making for a happier, more satisfied, and less-stressed practitioner. A company that can offer this kind of flexibility will find itself with better options when it comes to hiring and retaining talent, especially individuals with specialized knowledge and skills. This arrangement, which encourages true balance, will also create more well-rounded employees who will bring their varied experience to projects and who will be motivated to remain in the workforce. Many practitioners will also find the benefits of this model just as important as incentives such as paid vacation time, health benefits, and pension contributions. Indeed, it is hard to put a price on this type of flexibility. With the ability to bring on skilled team members when needed, professional services firms are better able to handle peak workloads, project work, and short-term assignments. For any particular project, they can hand-pick key team members from their roster of talent, regardless of where the individual is based. This means they can usually offer clients their â€Å"A team,† not whoever happens to be available. With infrastructure in place for teleconferences and other online collaboration, travel and other overhead expenses are reduced, if not eliminated. Margins improve accordingly and, most important, firms are able to offer a more family-friendly structure that attracts top talent who want to add balance to their working lives and still have a fulfilling and successful career. And since associates work on a freelance basis, each person’s performance is crucial to securing future projects. As a result, everyone is motivated to do their best and to collaborate effectively with other team members to produce quality work and results. ATTRACTING AND RETAINING A MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE For many practitioners, particularly those who embrace the philosophy that â€Å"work is something you do, not somewhere you go,† the increase in virtual teams is a welcome development. This applies to the future workforce, too. A recent study by Dr. Alison Konrad[5] of the Richard Ivey School of Business found that undergraduate business students in her class (most of them women in their early 20s) yearn for a meaningful career that allows them to contribute to business and society while maintaining balance in their lives. In the study, students were asked what an employer could do to make their chosen career more attractive. The most frequent responses were flexible hours, the ability to work from home, no face time, and a family-friendly culture. Surprisingly, these are many of the same characteristics sought out not only by working parents but also by people nearing retirement and wanting to slow down their schedules. Professor Konrad’s study shows that employers who most closely meet the lifestyle demands of a multigenerational workforce are in the best position to attract and retain the most desirable talent. VIRTUAL TEAMS ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE Employers need not see flexibility as either a concession or an additional cost for retaining talent. Research has shown that virtual teams are, on average, more productive than in-house teams. A recent article in the Harvard Business Review[6] suggests that properly managed virtual teams can lead to â€Å"increased efficiency and better business results,† for the following reasons: oThe best talent is more easily leveraged. oWith fewer office-related distractions and less small talk, more work gets done more quickly. oA â€Å"follow the sun† schedule enables people in India to take over from people in North America before passing work on to people in Japan. oA diversity of views allows for a more critical evaluation of projects and information. When it comes to these new, more flexible, and lifestyle-driven work models, the following axiom applies: a happy employee is a productive employee. And also one who shows up more often, as demonstrated in a study that tracked the decline in absentee rates among employees who participated in a flex-time program. [7] VIRTUAL TEAMS COME WITH UNIQUE CHALLENGES To be successful, virtual managers must be aware of the challenges of overseeing virtual teams: oThe absence of non-verbal communication. Subtle indicators such as the silent nod of approval or the raised eyebrow of disapproval are eliminated in virtual teams. Words of praise for a job well done should be conveyed in virtual meetings so that practitioners know they are on the right track. oWorking across time zones. Schedules for meetings must be sensitive to team members in multiple time zones. In extreme cases (such as a team with practitioners in both Asia and North America), the number of common waking hours is limited and finding meeting times can be difficult. oThe difficulty of building rapport. Rapport is essential for functional team work but often difficult to establish and develop when people don’t have the opportunity to meet in person and get to know each other. This can be overcome by facilitating social interaction between team members. oOver-reliance on email and telephone communication. The narrow communication channel available to virtual team members can lead to a sense of isolation. It can also cause frustration if colleagues err in causing email overload by their efforts to provide information. oManaging conflict at arm’s length. Research has cited conflict management as a challenge for virtual teams,[8] although it could be argued that less contact means less conflict. VIRTUAL TEAMS SUCCEED BY USING BEST PRACTICES The growth in popularity of virtual teams has prompted a number of researchers to take a closer look at what makes the good ones work. They have found that the most successful teams follow these best practices: 1. Institute strong leadership. Executives must fully support the virtual structure and be aware of the potential challenges of managing a virtual team. They should consistently monitor the team’s progress to ensure deadlines are being met and budgets are on track. 2. Choose the right team members. Individuals should be selected with a view to forming a successful team. Not all practitioners will thrive in a virtual environment. Those who are self-reliant and self-motivated will fare best. 3. Set expectations from the start. Articulate objectives and define team member roles up front to avoid the possibility of overlooking or duplicating aspects of the work. This is especially important given the geographical distance between members of a virtual team. 4. Implement strict protocols. Establishing protocols will ensure that each team member knows when and how quickly to respond to action items, and will determine the steps to take when a team member fails to do so. Team meetings should be run by a strong chair. People should be prompted to give their opinions as opposed to volunteering them. Digressions should be discouraged as they tend to disengage other team members. Multitasking during meetings should be prohibited. 5. Use proven processes. Teams need processes that govern the way they work and how the work will get done, from being aware of individual responsibilities and decision-making procedures to the consequences of poor work or missed deadlines. Virtual teams have little margin for error when it comes to project management, as problems can go unnoticed and grow into major issues. 6. Manage timelines and budgets carefully. Often a project budget will dictate the number of hours that can be charged to a client. Because freelance practitioners are paid according to the time they take, budgets can easily be exceeded if not properly monitored. 7. Establish meaningful project milestones. Milestones should be implemented to chart a project’s progress and act as checkpoints for the timeliness and quality of virtual team work. 8. Encourage interaction. Leadership must ensure that team members have some mechanism by which to develop strong working relationships. They should also bring team members together by organizing social functions every few months to help them build rapport. 9. Communicate more efficiently. Virtual teams can be connected by various technologies, including phone, email, instant messaging, as well as video and web conferencing. Use more than one of these options so team members can choose the technology they’re most comfortable with. In addition, more communications do not necessarily mean better communication. Too many emails can lead to information overload and cause important issues to be overlooked. The key is to convey only relevant information, and to do so clearly and consistently. 10. Minimize team conflict. Although conflict can lead to better ideas and solutions, conflicts within a virtual team should be dealt with immediately, because they can escalate quickly. Virtual teams do not build rapport as easily as other teams, and managers may have to become more involved in conflict resolution.