The Labor Supply and China Economics Term Paper

The Labor Supply and China Economics - Term Paper Example This paper will discuss labor supply in China. It will highlight the concept of wages and employment in the Chinese economy and the outcomes of human resource development. Discussion Wages and Employment in the Chinese Economy The economic transitions that China has experienced in recent years are characterized by the adjustment of wage and employment by private enterprises in order to maximize profits. The government controls the wages and employment of the enterprises that are owned by the state. This is in an attempt to improve the quality of the income for the workers and to curb inflation. The government achieves this through setting a wage ceiling for each enterprise. The wages of the enterprises that are better performing are regulated strictly (Chow 53). Despite the strict regulation of the wages and employment for these enterprises in China, the firms have some influence on the wage and employment. The determination of wage and employment is like a bargaining process with th e social security and labor bureau playing a huge role. In the process, the government aims to lower wage and higher employment while the enterprises aim at reaching huge profits (Chow 53). Collective Bargaining and Its Effects on the Wages and Employment Collective bargaining has been used in many economies as a means of regulating wages and employment conditions. This instrument has been used in China to address the issue of decreasing labor supply, which needs immediate attention. It has become the most important source of strategies for the regulation of conditions relating to wages and employment in countries such as China. The coverage of the bargaining agreements is very high in China with the public sector witnessing the coverage of all the wage earners in all jobs. The private sector has a lower coverage of the collective agreements with this coverage varying significantly between various branches and employee categories. The corrective bargaining agreements contain compreh ensive regulations for the relationship of the employment with the inclusion of aspects that are regulated in other countries through the constitution or various statutes. Trade unions are of great importance in the achievement of the collective bargaining agreements as their importance is not limited to the establishment of conditions in the employment and wage sectors but they are also important in application and supervision of law in the firms. Employees are unlikely to realize their contractual rights in the absence of support from the trade unions (Li and Zax 3). In China, the collective bargaining agreements became the main form of regulation for wages and employment in the 20th century with the first agreements offering price lists for various kinds of work. These agreements became more comprehensive later as they encompassed rules that not only included time but also work rules, work time, freedom of association and peace obligations. The collective bargaining agreements we re at first concluded at the local basis, which covered limited enterprises. During this period, the collective bargaining concept had not been integrated into China’s legal system. Henceforth, individuals were not aware of the legal status and effects of such agreements (Ni, Wang and Yao 19). Macroeconomic Outcomes of Human Resource Development

PERSONAL PERSPCETIVE( REFLECT ) OF MANAGING CHANGE Essay

PERSONAL PERSPCETIVE( REFLECT ) OF MANAGING CHANGE - Essay Example Introduction Change occurs from time to time and change is the nature of things. Nothing in this world is constant or unchangeable. Would we like our own house for instance, if for years we had the same furniture, the same upholstery, the same colors? We like to make things different and we also know that any change around the house makes us feel better. The mind wants change but when the mind is not prepared for the change, it resists change. However, if we are informed of the change in advance we become mentally prepared for it and then we are not disturbed. This implies that change causes resistance when change is not accompanied or preceded by effective communication. Change is also a part of the life cycle of any product. When we speak of different stages in the life cycle of an organization or a product or service, change is implied. Abrahamson (2004) believes that without pain no change is possible and justifies that either one must change or perish. Why, then is change in the corporate world a topic for discussions, for theory formation and framework building? Focusing on the personal perception of change management this paper analyzes the factors that influence change as has been seen during the semester projects. The change management process studied during the semester will be reviewed along with the skills necessary for change. Change can occur in an organization for varied reasons ranging from change in the stage of the life cycle, to change during mergers and acquisitions, during downsizing, restructuring and during expansion and growth (Stanleigh, 2008). Change, in fact, is essential for progress as the human mind always seeks something new, something different, something exciting. However, I never realized that change could require so much planning to be effective. Having spent hours on the topic and having read about how changes have been implemented within different organizations, I realize that change has to be effectively managed. When I com pare it with an individual’s life, I find change in our life has to be equally well managed. Change cannot be a hap hazard process. This paper will reflect on the change management process adopted by Apple and McDonald's and what planning went behind the change. Critical Review We were first analyzed the organizational change undertaken by Apple. The drivers of change at Apple were competition, finances and open unidentified markets. These were arrived at through SWOT analysis and Five Forces Model which helped to understand the initiative for change undertaken by Apple. However, it appears that Apple’s focus was on enhancing profits as the employees as well as the customers were confused with so many models available at the same time in the market. They did not have a customer-centric approach which is essential for any new product launch. They did not try to understand customer needs and communication was lacking at Apple. Communication and information must precede c hange. This sounds so simple to implement but what I have learnt through reading and find it extremely interesting, is that communication is not a simple term that encompasses the quality or the ability to talk. It does not merely mean to inform or speak; it also means to listen. Having the strength and courage to listen to subordinates in an organization enhances communications (Pfeffer & Sutton, 1999). Thus, listening is also a part of communication. The