Talent Practices at the Home Depot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Talent Practices at the Home Depot - Essay Example Therefore the only manner in which the company can truly differentiate itself is through its service standards. Employees are key to offering customers with the highest levels of service. Home Depot is aware of this fact and therefore uses its employees to gain competitive advantage over its rivals in all the different countries that it operates in. In order to gain competitive advantage through its employees, the company communicates the strategic importance of them to the company (Burke & Cooper, 2004). The performance levels that are expected of them are constantly communicated to them and they are provided with ongoing training to help them to update their knowledge and upgrade their skills, based on the area of the business the work in, whether it is on the shop floor or the office (Adamson, 2006). However since the company has to differentiate itself from its rivals in a highly competitive market, the company pays special attention to employees on the shop floor, who are the first line of contract with the customers and hence the most able to make a difference. Since this is the 'do it yourself' industry, the best employees are those who can help customers in their 'do it yourself' projects. ... refore when recruiting individuals to work on the floor in the retail outlets the company always looks for individuals who have an interest in 'do it yourself' projects (Clarke & Layman, 2004). The company gives priority to individuals who have specialist trades knowledge in areas such as plumbing, wood work, crafts, painting etc. Further individuals who are home owners themselves and have embarked on many different 'do it yourself' projects at home and have the necessary experience to help a customer are given priority. This is not to say that the company does not employ teenagers, high school and college kids. The company does recruit many such individuals but does so only if they have some interest in gardening or home maintenance or areas specific to electronics and home appliances. Therefore the company appeals to the above segments through various means such as trade schools for individuals who have specialist knowledge in such areas, these individuals not only work on the shop floor and as independent contractors for Home Depot but they also deliver work shops in areas such as gardening, wiring, tiling, etc. Next the company also uses the Internet through its website and also job sites such as Workopolis to recruit individuals. Another channel used by the store is in-store advertising for associates during high seasons, and walk in interviews. Discuss the critical programs used by Home Depot to keep talent in their pipeline. The company works with many different trade and vocational schools and builds relationships with these schools to gain access to their graduates, thus having a pipeline of qualified candidates to work for the company as independent contractors. Likewise all individuals who apply for positions within the company but are not successful at

Syria Revolution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Syria Revolution - Research Paper Example The Syrian uprising compared to the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions was grounded on the revolt of peasants, a Sunni periphery protest against the regime of Baath that turned its back on the Syrian local population, (Hinnebusch 12). Later on, the uprising took on diverse dimensions with Muslim Brotherhoods – Jihadists – entering into the conflict because of the heretical aspects of the regime and due to its alliance with Iran Shiites and Hezbollah. Consequently, because of Jihad, various demonstrators from across the Arabic and Islamic world have emerged in Syria, although, the slogan of Jihad did not trigger Syrians to enter into the uprising. Another dimension that emerged during the uprising is revenge, basing from the extreme violent efforts from the regime to halt the protest waves. According to experts, the brutality of the reign acted to extend the circle of the protestors involved in the uprising, (Starr 41). A number of people who later joined the protest were encouraged by the desire to avenge their family member, friends, and relatives’ bloodshed, and destruction of their properties, cities, and settlements by the forces of the regime during the uprising. ... Similarly, the regime appeared to have neglected the periphery and the local populations. In the start of 2006, the Syrians faced a tremendous and acute drought and the Jazira location in the south and northeastern part of the nation experienced such as Hawran and Dara experienced the extreme destruction. This is because such regions were extremely affected the new economic policies of the government that sought to alter the Syrian economy character from a socialist to a social market oriented economy, (Phares 74). These policies intended to open the nation to the global economy, foster foreign investment and create activity in the local and private spheres to promote growth of economy and allow the regime to bear the economic and domestic limitations. The policies too enabled economic growth to allow the nation to overcome other challenges such as rapid population growth, infrastructural underdevelopment, overdependence of agriculture, and lack of technological industry. Assad suppo rted the new policy and overlooked the significance of the socialist party ideology of Baath, its networking and institutions in the local region. Assad response and effects of the uprising Assad responded to the revolution and protest by providing reforms and ordering the military to calm the uprisings. Various clashed have occurred in Hama, Homs and other places, however, bombings and demonstrations have started occurring in Aleppo and Damascus. Syrian protests have proved their staying power irrespective of the various deaths and substantial joint efforts to suppress the protest, daily demonstrations have continued. Similarly, the longer the