Inland Waterways transport in France Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Inland Waterways transport in France - Essay Example The two most frequently carried commodities are agricultural products (28%), and Building materials (24%). One of the complications of studying European transport systems is the lack of standardization in terminology, or even languages, but there are umbrella organisations, often funded by the European Union who publish overviews in English. The Inland Navigation Europe is just such a body and they provide these illustrations. There are six, or in some countries seven, class categories which apply to the various sections of waterway and the INE, based in Brussels, describes them as follows: Over the centuries a number of different traditions have built up, with a variety of standards and measurements. In order to exploit this network the fleet is therefore correspondingly varied, with different types of vessels designed to operate on the various waterway sections, ranging from the smaller vessels of the canal systems in the north to the very large Rhine push convoys. An overview is provided here: The map shows that there is a concentration of river and canal connections around Paris, and heading out from there to the north and west, where there are internationally connected sea ports. The two great arteries of the Seine and the Rhine provide the backbones of the French system, but there has been extensive work to connect up distant provinces to the capital. France has over 18,000 kilometers of waterways and at the present time over 8,500 kilometers are navigable. In the past the development of the network has been hindered because of the fragmentation of its management into different local and national ownership arrangements. In November 2004 a ways and means contract was signed (running from 2005 to 2008) between the French government and the VNF (Voies Navigables de France – French waterways authority) to enable a more targeted management and development which meets both national and local needs. Part of this

Appraising and Developing Staff Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Appraising and Developing Staff - Essay Example It should be clear to the parties involved in the appraisal process that the outcome of the appraisal process may be positive or negative, but the intention is usually positive for the employees. In essence, performance appraisal is meant to help the employees to evaluate their previous year’s work and also develop strategies for improvement. They are empowered to overcome the challenges faced in the workplace for improved performance. It is important to ensure that anxiety among the employees is controlled by ensuring that the appraisers demonstrate supportive and positive intentions for the employees. This is accomplished through positive criticism. Credibility is also a significant aspect of effective employee appraisal. The technique applied for the appraisal should not be weird (Harris & DeSimone, 1994). It is important to develop performance goals, which are significant in employee motivation. The goal theory of motivation explains the significance of managers who are able to enhance the pursuance of a common purpose. When the employees are aware of the goal that they are intending to achieve, they are motivated to be effective in the accomplishment of tasks. The experienced employees ensure that they maintain good performance and are encouraged to make the right decisions that can facilitate realization of the goal. Appraisers who encourage creativity are able to maintain a competent workforce. Employees derive enthusiasm from coming up with workable ideas that can be attributed to their ability to think critically. Failure to get such a chance to demonstrate inventiveness may cause low spirits in the workplace especially when the employees are used to rely on the leader for decisions (Aguinis, 2009). Managers who promote creativity in the workplace also promote organizational lea rning since workers are able to learn from the diverse inventions. They also learn together with the workers. Clients are usually attracted to the