National Association of Home Builders Essay Example for Free

National Association of Home Builders Essay Purpose and Background The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is a trade association whose mission is to enhance the climate for the housing and building industry. A top goal for the NAHB is to provide and expand opportunities for all potential home buyers to have safe, affordable and decent housing. The NAHB also works with federal agencies on regulations affecting the housing industry in areas such as mortgage finance, codes, energy and the environment. According to the NAHB, about eighty percent of the homes built in the United States are constructed by NAHB members. In 1993 the NAHB and Reed Business Information, publishers of Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines established the National Housing Quality Awards (NAHB website). The National Housing Quality Awards (NHQ) was modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program and represents the housing industry’s highest recognition for achievements in total quality management. The NHQ award promotes and rewards best practices throughout the home building industry. It recognizes home builders for being focused on quality for the customer in construction, business management, sales, warranty service and design. The NHQ award is open to all U.S. home builders that believe their company meets or exceeds the qualities above. The home builder completes an application process and goes through an extensive interview process that requires a high level of commitment from the company and their management team. According to the NAHB application, every applicant will receive a written report and applicants that are chosen for site visits will receive detailed reports that provide objective benchmarking for quality improvement. The program is more than an award; many home builders use the award as a process for improving their processes to build a better home for the customer and a better company for their shareholders. In the home building industry, the expectations for high performance from the customers gets higher every year. Especially in the current housing market it is becoming more critical than ever that builders look for new products and processes that help to improve  their companies in areas such as leadership, performance management, customer satisfaction, strategic planning, construction quality, trade partner relationships, business results and human resources according to Steve Carroll of the NAHB. Award Criteria The NHQ awards are judged by a qualified experts who evaluate all the applicants and selects finalists who demonstrate high levels of quality achievement based on leadership, strategic planning, performance management, customer satisfaction, human resources, construction quality, trade relationships and business results. The experts can request additional information during the application process, including customer satisfaction surveys, company references and other information related to judging the criteria. In the Leadership category the panel experts will look at the company mission and values to determine if they guide the organization toward a common purpose. They review how senior management reinforce and instill the mission, values and vision in the company as role models and through empowering employees. They will also look at how the company demonstrates public responsibility and good citizenship while improving the home building industry. In the Strategic Planning categor y the experts will look at how your company assesses and will address the key strategic challenges that the company faces in the next one to five years. They look at how the challenges are identified and analyzed and the overall plan development, deployment and feedback for the company including how the plan is tied to the mission, vision and values. They will review how the plan leverages the company’s skills, experience, knowledge and the lack of skills, experience, knowledge and resources. In the Performance Management category the experts review how the company develops, manages, measures, and improves the key processes to achieve performance excellence. The Customer Satisfaction category allows the experts to look at the company’s design and delivery of products and services with a high level of customer satisfaction. The applicant will need to address how the company identifies market segments, the level of focus on the market segments, how product features and service are selected to best serve the market segments that were identified, how the company develops customer relationships, key factors in customer satis faction and how the company obtains and utilizes  customer feedback to improve performance. The Human Resource category addresses employee selection and development practices, motivation, satisfaction and compensation as it relates to the growth and success of the company. The experts will review the work environment, the morale of the employees, the benefits and the company culture. The applicant will need to address workforce development, staff performance management, and how both align with the company’s goals. The Construction Quality category will allow the experts to review the methods that the company uses to drive quality in the home construction process and ensure high performance and trouble free products and services. Applicants will have to discuss the quality standards that are communicated and demanded from the trades and how the company continues to educate and reinforce the quality standards to both employees and trades. The experts will ask how new plans are reviewed for quality and how the customer is involved in this quality review process. Applicants should be prepared to describe the customers’ post closing experiences, quality recognition programs and the company’s warranty processes. The Trade Relationship category allows the expert panel to review how the company creates high performance relationships with the trade partners. The applicant should be prepared to discuss how the company establishes mutually beneficial relationships, trade partner selection process, problem avoidance through trade involvement and trade partner feedback. The final category is Business Results. Applicants need to present the measurements of the business benefits resulting from the company’s high performance practices in the financial, operational, customer satisfaction and warranty areas. The experts may ask for customer satisfaction results from the last one to three years including the customers’ willingness to refer other buyers, financial results, employee satisfaction, trade satisfaction and operating metrics for the last three years. Benefits of the Award Many of the home builders that prepare the NHQ application feel that the application process and the experts’ comprehensive evaluation report are valuable tools for planning change to improve their business regardless if they win the award or not. Many of the award recipients find that the greatest rate of improvement occurs in the year following their application  or win (NAHB). Shea Homes and Pulte Homes found that the NHQ award process helped them identify opportunities to improve and allowed them to perfect processes that improved the quality of their product and service. Improving total quality management can lead to streamlining processes that will reduce costs, improve the quality for the customer, reduce warranty calls and increase the bottom line for the company. The NAHB encourages award winners to publicize and advertise the achievement to distinguish the company from the competition, establish the company as a top quality builder and raise the company’s re putation as an industry leader. Winners are featured in Professional Builder magazine articles that highlight their quality management principles and will participate in a NHQ award panel discussion at the International Builders show which is the largest home builders’ convention in the United States. Benefits to applying for the award are endless for home builders that are willing to commit the time and effort needed to complete the application process. The application process forces many of the applicants to look at the processes in the company that contribute to ensuring total quality and make changes to allow the company to improve and focus on the company’s mission, vision and values. The drawbacks to the NHQ award process is that it will take a commitment of time and energy to look at the quality processes in the company to analyze if it is moving the company in the direction of the mission, vision and values. Some companies may feel that this is a waste of time and energy or can be over whelmed at what processes need to be improved to get the company on track to improve quality. Past Winners Winners are recognized in three categories: gold, silver and honorable mention. The gold award is given to companies that have achieved a national benchmark level in each area of evaluation. According to the NAHB website, gold award winners have mature, fully integrated quality management principles and consistently demonstrate high level sustained financial results. The silver award is given to companies that are industry leaders in most evaluation areas, they have refined business practices and they exhibit good financial results. An honorable mention is awarded when companies are recognized that demonstrate an understanding of quality management principles, show an improvement process and good financial  results are achieved in most areas. Below is a list of winners, the award that was received and the year it was awarded (NAHB website). Many of the applicants that have participated in the NHQ process, whether the company was awarded or not, have said that the application process helped the company by having to look at all processes critically and make changes to improve the quality management for the company overall. Scott Thistle,  president of Brookstone Homes, said, â€Å"The award is a critical component of our commitment to customer satisfaction. By going through the NHQ program for the second year, it has enabled us to continually fine-tune our quality assurance systems and see a direct positive impact on our customers and their experience (Brookstone Homes).† Home Builders that apply for the NHQ award know that the process requires a lot of time and effort prior to submitting the application to the NAHB and could involve potential changes to the operational processes of the company to keep the company focused on total quality management. Grayson Homes president, Cindy McAuliffe said â€Å"At Grayson Homes, we differentiate ourselves from others with a deserved reputation for quality homes and products, processes, service, and people. Our participation in NHQ programs keeps Grayson Homes and its trades focused on product, process and experience improvement (Mid-Atlantic Builder).† Conclusion In reviewing the NHQ award and the process involved in applying for the award I found that it was a benefit to each of the home builders that took the time, energy and efforts even if the company did not win an award. Each of the companies that applied where able to review the quality processes that were in place, review the experts written report and modify the processes to achieve a higher level total quality management that improved the company’s quality focus for internal and external customers. While I do feel that this would be a benefit for my company I believe that we would have a lot of work to do in streamlining processes to ensure that company wide we are using the same quality processes that will allow us to grow while following our mission, vision and values. The company was a small company based in two markets that grew quickly to fourteen markets prior to the housing market boom. This fast growth did not allow for the company to ensure that quality processes were being handled in the same manner from division to division. The company has in the past three years established a strategic mission for the company and continued with the values that has allowed them to achieve the ranking of the 24th largest builder in the United States. The NHQ award process would force the management team to review what processes where in place in all divisions and get on track with companywide policies and procedures so a customer buying a home in one  division could expect the same great product and service in another division. References Brookstone Homes Newsroom. BrookstoneHomes.com. 15 Mar. 2008. http://www.brookstonehomes.com/newsroom/2006_august2.asp. Carroll, Steve. Telephone interview with National Association of Home Builders Research Center. March 14, 2008. Mid-Atlantic Builder Corner Newsletter. Mid Atlantic Builder. 16 Mar. 2008. http://www.homebuilders.org/file_depot/0-10000000/0-10000/48/folder/40005/ MBX_0105_60-70.pdf. National Housing Quality Award. National Association of Home Builders Research Center. 15 Mar. 2008. http://www.nahbrc.org/technical/awards/nhqa.aspx. Stromberg, Meghan. NHQ Best Practices. Professional Builder. September 2001. 1 Sep. 2001.

Unseen Effects of Title Nine :: Sports Female Social Norms Essays

Unseen Effects of Title Nine Using the four topics, history, race and class, gender, and sexual orientation in sport, assume you are a screen writer in the year 2010. You have been commissioned to write a movie script about women's sports and current society. What is the theme? Who are the protagonists? What are the issues and how does the movie end? When Annie came in with an idea to do a sports movie, the first thing I did was laugh in her face. She quickly cut me off. "Harry. Harry what do you know about Title Nine?" "What is that, some new soy product?" "Title Nine, enacted in 1972, represents a large change in attitudes toward women and their aspirations. Since sports affect boys and girls as they grow up, the way we treat women's sports may prove as important to changing social attitudes as anything else we do. If girls are socialized the way boys are in taking part in sports, and if boys and girls grow up with the idea that girls are strong and capable, it will change the way girls and women are viewed by themselves and by civilization." "Oh it's a movie about the fate of civilization! Are there any explosions? Aliens?" "Title Nine. It's this law that says that boys and girls are entitled to the same resources when it comes to sports. Like, at a public school they can't give nice basketballs to the boys and crappy sacks to the girls. And they can't hire this all-star retired big shot for the boy's swim team and get some lifeguard to coach the girls. Everything has to be equal opportunity across the board." "Well that's something I'm happy to see at PTO meetings, but I don't give a damn about seeing it on the big screen. Annie, no one wants to shell out eight bucks to read the Constitution." "Ok look. This girl, Jane, grows up in this wealthy family, goes to a prestigious prep school, plays lacrosse, the works. Her aunt from the Bronx comes to visit her one weekend, and her aunt and her mother get into a huge fight because the Bronx cousin accuses he mother of spoiling Jane. She says Jane will never have to fight for anything, everything's always handed to her. She doesn't earn any of the stuff and privileges she has, she just gets it. Naturally Jane gets all huffy about this and it affects he deeply.

Opportunities to work from home

Uncovering legitimate work from home opportunities in Canada We here at the Employment and Education Centre recognize that there are many capable and talented people who for a variety of reasons are looking for legitimate opportunities to earn a living from home. To support our clients who have a need and interest in creating a work from home situation we decided to do some research. Are there legitimate opportunities to find employment from home? How do you separate the real opportunities from the scams? What kind of work is available? These are Just a few of the questions we wanted to find answers to.We have worked elegantly to research, dig, and verify the information presented here. We Goggled a variety of terms, read articles, followed links, checked information on the WHO'S database, and then reached out to the companies presented below. Here are some symbols to guide you: Connected with the company via email, chat or telephone Link from a good source and requires further resea rch Be advised that this information comes from research on our part but we do not verify or warrant any of these sites. We are sharing this information with you and it is now your responsibility to pick up and continue to do the research.Our Professional Employment Counselors are here to support you in developing the skills and abilities to find work that suits and supports your life goals. We look forward to working with you, so please call, stop in or email us. Sincerely, The Employment and Education Centre Team 0 2012 The Employment and Education Centre 2 TELEPHONE BASED WORK Agents / Sales Lexicon Communications From their website: Lexicon Communications is looking for customer service representatives to be Independent telephone contractors, working from home.We are excited to further expand this opportunity across Canada. We offer phone opportunities (as little as 20 hrs per week up to 60 hours per week) for contractors to service the largest Communication Company in Canada. W age: $1 1. 35/hour & $12. 35 depending on your selection of shifts Payments are made to you on the 13th and the 28th of each month by direct deposit Requirements: Ability to work from home as a remote agent Availability to work a minimum of 20 hours per week between the hours of am-am with 4 of these hours on the weekend- $1 1. 5 per hour. We also have an evening option that does not require weekend work- $12. 35 per hour Complete a Voice audition Background Check (we will provide the location to complete) Windows based Computer with XP Service Pack 3 or Windows 7 High-Speed Internet service Dedicated Phone Line Approved headset http://www. Licentiousness's. Com/3201/index. HTML Transom – Home Agent Option From their website: Transom is a global employer in an industry that depends upon strong, resourceful, talented people.In return for commitment, hard work and talent we offer competitive salaries and benefits, high quality training and opportunities to forge a career in a p rogressive, client focused business. Http://careers. Transom. Com/ To go Job Search, Go to Location & select Home Agent Canada to apply 3 Contract World From their website: The World Of Work-At-Home Jobs Begins Here Contractor. Jobs is the website at the center of the expanding world of contract work for home-based customer service agents. There's nothing quite like it.The site was first launched 5 years ago in Canada and now has over 50,000 members from all across thriving new I-J based agent community at Contractor. Co. UK. Home-based agents are finding helipad, interesting work from the growing list of call enters who recruit on-line at Contractor. Jobs. Depending on who you decide to contract with you will need to invest anywhere from $30 to $300 to be trained. If you pass the training you are guaranteed work. Anne-Marie Some of North America's largest companies are recruiting right now and there's certainly a lot more companies and contracts to come. Http://'. NM. N. Ml. Contra dictoriness/work_at_home_]bobs_Canada/01 _home/ work_at_home_]bobs_ho me. HTML Alpine Access Canada We understand that Alpine Access pays From their website: When hired by Alpine you for the time you spend in training. Access, you are an employee – not an independent contractor. We are committed to you and believe that an employer-employee relationship creates the best experience for you and our clients. We've found that when our employees feel valued and excited about work, they provide great service to customers. HTTPS://]bobs. Alpenstock. Mom/work-home/employee-benefits/Canada The following are links that we found and more research is needed to see if the opportunities exist. NCO Virtual – http://www. Inconvertible. Com/index. HTML Divans – http://field. Divans. Ca/en/ Marketing – http://www. Racketing. Com/careers. HTML Converged – wry. Converges. Com/careers 4 Medical, legal and insurance transcription services from home Way With Words From th eir website: TRANSCRIPTION: APPLY TO WORK FOR US Our application process is simple yet challenging. Only between 2% – 5% of our applicants pass our assessments as we take the applicants' English-language skills very seriously.To apply to work for us as a transcriber please click here. PROOFREADING: APPLY TO WORK FOR US To apply to work with us as a proofreader, please submit your C.v. proofreader(at)weatherproofing. Com. Should you like to apply to work for us as a transcription proofreader (audio transcript proffer) please download the following sound file and request the test transcript. Instructions will be emailed to you. CAPTIONING: REGISTER WITH US To be considered for our register of capacitors in future, please submit your C.V. to captioning(at)weatherproofing. Com.Note: Only experienced individuals with own computer, internet access and appropriate captioning software need apply. Http:// www. Watchwords. Info/ Obstetrician From their website: Obstetrician Job Applica tion please complete all parts of this application, including the requested transcription sample. Thank you. Interesting to note that the head office is located in Cape Town, South Africa – they contract with Canadians regularly. Key facts about being a transcription with Obstetrician: 1. We pay $0. 50 per audio minute 2. We pay weekly via Papal for work completed the prior week 3.Work your own hours 4. Join a fun growing team! Http://www. Obstetrician. Com/ 5 Accent's From their website: Medical Transcription – Accent's Inc. , a leading provider of independent physicians across Canada, has ongoing requirements for experienced Canadian medical transcriptions/editors to work as independent contractors from home. Http://www. Accent's. Ca/careers/Canadian. PH Terra Nova From their Website: Terra Nova prides itself on hiring talented employees who support its mission of delivering high quality results and best-in-class service to each customer.

Organizational Change Tragedy Or Transformation

Engaging Employees in the Change Process Cornelius Cash Grand Canyon University LDR825-Organizational Change: Tragedy or Transformation July 27, 2016 Introduction Leading change management requires establishing a theoretical foundation that supports change initiatives. This document will research the theoretical elements of change and change management models. Addressed will be the following: factors that contributed to the organic evolution of change, methodologies used in formulating strategic development approaches, commensurate leadership and management skills used to sustain growth during change management and data retrieval and analysis. As businesses continue to change and evolve the need for flexibility within†¦show more content†¦Technology Technology innovations and breakthroughs have forced businesses to adapt or risk losing customers to the more agile and flexible competitors. According to Dulipovici Vieru (2015) new technologies are moving businesses into the virtual realm. Customers are able to use a smartphone to make a purchase with a credit card and have it shipped to a location anywhere in the world. Technology has allowed hotels and airlines to install do-it-yourself kiosks to expedite reservations. This has helped these two critical service industries to streamline operations while improving service to consumers. Formulating Strategic Development Approaches When discussing adapting to change management the organization must consider implementation of core competencies that are new and innovative. These challenges faced by the organizations require agility and a shift in strategic congruence that strengthens market adaptation. As business strategies transition, capabilities within functional departments must evolve as operational strategies are implemented. The concept of adaptation suggests organizations develop new core capabilities. The organization must choose the strategic development approach that is compatible with existing competencies. During an organizational modernization effort, a number of variables exist simultaneously that affect the acceptance of change within an