Performance Standards and Appraisals Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Performance Standards and Appraisals - Term Paper Example In my workplace, performance appraisal is an ongoing process whereby employees are evaluated in a constant basis. The role of performance appraisal in my workplace falls solely on the nurse managers. It is done in the form of an interview whereby both the employee being evaluated and the nurse manager fills a performance appraisal form on the employees performance. Performance in all areas is evaluated and employees are gauged in a scale of one to five with one denoting poor performance and five denoting excellent performance. This, according to Laureate Education Inc (2006) is important as managers may have divergent views in regard to the performance of an employee. This also fosters dialogue between the manager and the employee aimed at ensuring the employee understands all the aspects of the evaluation (Laureate Education Inc, 2006). Areas of weakness are identified and strategies are implemented to help improve employees performance for instance through training. All through the process, the manager conducting the appraisal documents the process through taking notes which are then co-signed by the employee being evaluated. Performance standards in my workplace are created in collaboration with employees. This is important as engaging employees in designing performance standards fosters a better understanding of the standards and guidelines and hence they are more likely to exceed expectations in their performance (Laureate Education Inc, 2006). The manager guides the employees in identifying behaviors and attitudes that are beneficial and constructive, and those that could have negative implications. These performance standards in my workplace are communicated through trainings, either on-the-job training or formal trainings. Effectively training employees enables them to understand and comprehend what they are expected to accomplish and achieve in their jobs (Laureate Education Inc, 2006). One of the strengths of this appraisal system in my workplace is

Iran's Foreign Policy Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Iran's Foreign Policy - Research Proposal Example The election of President George Bush in 2000 dampened these hopes as he left moderate Iranians puzzled by his demonizing of Iran and the inclusion of the country in the 'axis of evil' along with North Korea (Katz, 2005, p.59). This set the stage for the election of the conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an Islamic nationalist that is suspicious of the US and capitalist countries, and has increased the tensions between the countries and elevated the risk of direct confrontation (Pirouz & Reed, 2005). The possibility that Iran may have a nuclear weapons program has made them a threat to the national security of the US. Iran poses a significant threat to the US national security from Islamic extremists that have considerable influence on the Iranian government. This has placed the advocates of a 'Holy War' against the United States in a position to disrupt trade or Iran's vital supply of petroleum. Regional disputes could spill over into Iran and involve a nation that may have nuclear capability. The current administration has professed the belief that Iran is going to get a nuclear weapon or the necessary resources to build one sometime in the near future (Sagan, 2006). If the US administration believes that Iran poses a significant economic or military threat there is a risk of the US taking preemptive action to prevent Iran from destabilizing the region or the world economy. The last 60 years have seen considerable swings in our relations with Iran. In 1951 Iranian Premier Ali Razmara, who was open to trade and favorable relations with the West, was assassinated and replaced by Mohammad Mossadeq. Mossadeq was a hardliner that planned to nationalize the country's oil reserves and limit the power of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, a pro-western Shah (Chronology US-Iran relations, 2005). In 1953 a joint operation between the CIA and British intelligence overthrew the Mossadeq regime in a military coup that put the Shah into power (Chronology US-Iran relations, 2005). This began a period of favorable relations with Iran that lasted until the Shah's removal in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The Iranian Revolution was accompanied by the taking of the American embassy and the kidnapping of its occupants in Tehran. This resulted in the Carter administration implementing sanctions against Iran and an embargo on Iranian oil. In 1995, Clinton banned all trade with Iran. These tough sanctions were temporarily eased as companies were allowed to sell food and medical supplies in 1999 (Chronology US-Iran relations, 2005). The current US policy has labeled Iran a terrorist nation and in 2002 Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stated that Iran was responsible for, " inspiring and financing a culture of political murder and suicide bombing" (as cited in Chronology US-Iran relations, 2005). This policy has continued with tougher sanctions and a policy of non-negotiations. The Bush administration has continued to escalate the rhetoric against Iran and Iran has responded by taking provocative military actions against the US and British interests in the region. This has led to the curren t policy of economically and politically isolating Iran in an effort to get them to curb their nuclear ambitions (Katzman, 2007, p.2). Faced with a hostile nation that may possess a nuclear weapon in the near future highlights the importance of having an effective policy in regards to