The role of human resources management in employee motivation The WritePass Journal

The role of human resources management in employee motivation Introduction The role of human resources management in employee motivation IntroductionHow Human Resource Management plays an important rule in employee motivation?Employee motivationLeadership Skills and Leadership BehaviorsEffective Leadership BehaviorsCONCLUSIONThe PurposeThe MethodThe ImplementationThe Considerations – Communication SkillsThe Considerations – Listening SkillsReferencesRelated Introduction Human resource management (HRM) is a strategic and coherent approach for the management of an organizations most precious assets the employees working there who individually and collectively contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the business. The term human resource management and human resources (HR) have strongly replaced the term personnel management as a description of the processes involved in managing people in organization. In very simple words, HRM means employing people and developing their capacities and utilizing and maintaining and compensating their services in tune with the job and organizational needs and requirements. Human resources management includes several processes and stages. Both Together they are supposed to reach the above mentioned targets and goal. These processes can be carried on in an HR department, but some of the tasks and jobs can also be outsourced or performed by line managers or the other departments. When effectively performed they provide significant outstanding economic benefits to the organization. Human resources management presses and stages are: Workforce planning Recruitment (sometimes separated into attraction and selection) Induction, Orientation and Onboarding Skills management Training and development Personnel administration Compensation in wage or salary Time management Travel management (sometimes assigned to accounting rather than HRM) Payroll (sometimes assigned to accounting rather than HRM) Employee benefits administration Personnel cost planning Performance appraisal Labor relations How Human Resource Management plays an important rule in employee motivation? Employee motivation To be able to have a good effective workforce and to encourage and motivate them to give and do their best while at work it requires attention to all of the financial and also psychological and even physiological rewards offered by the organization as a non stop continuous exercise. The Basic financial rewards and conditions of service example working hours per week are determined externally by the national bargaining or government minimum wage legislation departments in many occupations but as much as 50 per cent of the gross pay of the manual workers is often the result of local negotiations and details example which particular hours shall be worked of conditions of service are often more important than the basics. Hence there is scope for financial and other motivations to be used at all levels. As the staffing needs will vary with the productivity of the employees (and the industrial peace achieved) so good personnel policies are desirable. The latter can depend upon other factors (like environment, welfare, workforce benefits and so on but unless the pay rat is accepted as a fair and just there will be no good motivation. Also the technicalities of payment and other systems may be the concern of others; the outcome of them is a subject of a great concern to human resource management. Increasingly the influence of behavioral science discoveries is becoming important not merely because of the widely acknowledged limitations of money as a motivation factor, but because of the changing mix and the nature of tasks example more service and professional jobs and far fewer unskilled and repetitive production jobs. So the situation demands a better educated mobile and multi-skilled workforce is much more likely to be influenced by other things like job satisfaction, involvement, participation and so on. than the economically dependent workforce of the past. Human resource management are suppose to be acting as a source of information about and a source of inspiration for the application of the findings of behavioral science. It may be a matter of paying the attention of the senior managers to what is being achieved elsewhere and the gradual education of middle managers to new points of view on job design, work organization and worker autonomy. Leadership Skills and Leadership Behaviors A good leader must develop their leadership skills and work to demonstrate and improve many positive leadership behaviors and to eliminate all of the negative leadership behaviors. These positive behaviors must be demonstrated at all times in all situations so that it is simply how the good leader works on. Leadership development is a continuous nonstop process of personal development. Effective Leadership Behaviors So many Different leadership studies highlight the importance of effective leadership behaviors, whether they are based on under-graduates or commercial managers at every level in an organization. In short words, there are commonalities that emerge from this research time and again, which characterize positive behaviors and negative behaviors. Whilst there may be significant differences at the detailed level there seems to be a broad consensus of positive leadership behaviors: Effective project planning and management Conducts regular, effective meetings to set objectives, allocate tasks and review performance Identifying the right person for the right role Appropriate delegation of responsibility whilst retaining accountability Consults and includes others in decision-making Shows an interest in others and responding to their needs whether that is for more information, guidance, support, personal development, positive feedback or reward and recognition Takes ownership and shows commitment for solving problems or difficult/sensitive issues Direct, clear, open style of communication Considers impact before action Leads by example, showing a contagious passion and enthusiasm, engaging and motivating other CONCLUSION In conclusion Leadership behavior can help motivate team members of the workforce for the better or worse. Subordinates look to leadership for guidance, support and direction. If leadership’s behavior does not match their words of encouragement, morale and motivation can be lost. Leadership’s behavior is just as important as the words used to inspire subordinates. Motivation is the force behind what drives people to work more efficiently and go the extra mile. The Purpose The purpose and the reason of motivation are to inspire the workforce to take positive actions. What a leader does can motivate the workforce to respond with a desire to work harder and more efficiently. For example, if the leader is appreciative and demonstrates it with the use of words, gifts and rewards, her followers will be more motivated to remain dedicated to their work on her behalf. Leadership behavior that wins the trust from followers promotes a positive corporate culture and spurs people toward being motivated. The Method In order To be able to motivate employees the leadership behavior must expose a need in the followers and a proper solution for that need. For example if the leaders recognized that his or her followers are using outdated equipments that’s frustrating to work with and replace it the followers will feel more respected and more taken care of. In turn, this makes the loyalty and dedications to the leader. The leaders who use his behavior to respond to his followers needs will result in motivated followers. The Implementation Any kind of a leader needs to perform some actions and personal behavior to inspire his workforce to motivation. This can be done by participating in a democratic leadership style where followers are included in decision making processes by encouraging comments, asking the employees some questions and taking the their suggestions and ideas with seriously and consideration. Rewarding subordinates is another behavior that leaders use to produce motivated employees. The Considerations – Communication Skills The way a leader communicates has the ability to empower or discourage the workforce. Communication is the process of using spoken words (verbal) and nonverbal messages such as body language, facial expressions and tone of the voice to receive and send messages so The more effective a leader’s communications are, the more his workforce are provided direction, purposes and satisfaction. The Considerations – Listening Skills The leader who demonstrates an effective listening skill is able to send a strong message that he or she cares and is leading with the best interest of the team in mind. Listening skills include making mental actions, asking questions, recall the information back to the sender and responding the message. Effective listening also are able use nonverbal cues, such as body language and nodding the head, to let the other person know she is listening. References Armstrong, Michael (2006). A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice (10th ed.). London: Kogan Page. ISBN  0-7494-4631-5. OCLC  62282248. personnel management. The Columbia Encyclopedia (Sixth Edition Ed.). Columbia University Press. 2005. bartleby.com/65/x-/X-personne.html. Retrieved 2007-10-17. personnel management see industrial management. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica (kl ed.). Personnel administration is also frequently called personnel management, industrial relations, employee relations. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Towers, David. Human Resource Management essays. towers.fr/essays/hrm.html. Retrieved 2007-10-17. Golding, N. (2010) Strategic Human Resource Management in Beardwell, J. and Claydon, T. (2010) Human Resource Management A Contemporary Approach, FT Prentice Hall Storey, J. (2007) What is strategic HRM? in Storey, J. (2007) Human Resource Management: A Critical Text, Thompson Paauwe, J. (2009) HRM and Performance: Achievement, Methodological Issues and Prospects Journal of Management Studies, 46 (1) Pfeffer, J. (1994) Competitive advantage through people, Harvard Business School Press Becker, B. and Gerhart, B. (1996) The impact of human resource management on organizational performance Academy of Management Journal 39 (4) 779-801   Kochan, T. and Barocci, T. (1985) Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, Little Brown

Carl Gauss Essays - Differential Geometers, Number Theorists

Carl Gauss Carl Gauss was a man who is known for making a great deal breakthroughs in the wide variety of his work in both mathematics and physics. He is responsible for immeasurable contributions to the fields of number theory, analysis, differential geometry, geodesy, magnetism, astronomy, and optics, as well as many more. The concepts that he himself created have had an immense influence in many areas of the mathematic and scientific world. Carl Gauss was born Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss, on the thirtieth of April, 1777, in Brunswick, Duchy of Brunswick (now Germany). Gauss was born into an impoverished family, raised as the only son of a bricklayer. Despite the hard living conditions, Gauss's brilliance shone through at a young age. At the age of only two years, the young Carl gradually learned from his parents how to pronounce the letters of the alphabet. Carl then set to teaching himself how to read by sounding out the combinations of the letters. Around the time that Carl was teaching himself to read aloud, he also taught himself the meanings of number symbols and learned to do arithmetical calculations. When Carl Gauss reached the age of seven, he began elementary school. His potential for brilliance was recognized immediately. Gauss's teacher Herr Buttner, had assigned the class a difficult problem of addition in which the students were to find the sum of the integers from one to one hundred. While his classmates toiled over the addition, Carl sat and pondered the question. He invented the shortcut formula on the spot, and wrote down the correct answer. Carl came to the conclusion that the sum of the integers was 50 pairs of numbers each pair summing to one hundred and one, thus simple multiplication followed and the answer could be found. This act of sheer genius was so astounding to Herr Buttner that the teacher took the young Gauss under his wing and taught him fervently on the subject of arithmetic. He paid for the best textbooks obtainable out of his own pocket and presented them to Gauss, who reportedly flashed through them. In 1788 Gauss began his education at the Gymnasium, with the assistance of his past teacher Buttner, where he learned High German and Latin. After receiving a scholarship from the Duke of Brunswick, Gauss entered Brunswick Collegium Carolinum in 1792. During his time spent at the academy Gauss independently discovered Bode's law, the binomial theorem, and the arithmetic-geometric mean, as well as the law of quadratic reciprocity and the prime number theorem. In 1795, an ambitious Gauss left Brunswick to study at Gottingen University. His teacher there was Kaestner, whom Gauss was known to often ridicule. During his entire time spent at Gottingen Gauss was known to acquire only one friend among his peers, Farkas Bolyai, whom he met in 1799 and stayed in touch with for many years. In 1798 Gauss left Gottingen without a diploma. This did not mean that his efforts spent in the university were wasted. By this time he had made on of his most important discoveries, this was the construction of a regular seventeen-gon by ruler and compasses. This was the most important advancement in this field since the time of Greek mathematics. In the summer of 1801 Gauss published his first book, Disquisitiones Arithmeticae, under a gratuity from the Duke of Brunswick. The book had seven sections, each of these sections but the last, which documented his construction of the 17-gon, were devoted to number theory. In June of 1801, Zach an astronomer whom Gauss had come to know two or three years before, published the orbital positions of, Ceres, a new "small planet", otherwise know as an asteroid. Part of Zach's publication included Gauss's prediction for the orbit of this celestial body, which greatly differed from those predictions made by others. When Ceres was rediscovered it was almost exactly where Gauss had predicted it to be. Although Gauss did not disclose his methods at the time, it was found that he had used his least squares approximation method. This successful prediction started off Gauss's long involvement with the field of astronomy.On October ninth, 1805 Gauss was married to Johana Ostoff. Although Gauss lived a happy personal life for the first

Strategic Analysis on Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Analysis on Industry - Essay Example The report concludes with key drivers for change and success in the selected industry. The UK Hotels and Motels Industry comprises of establishments that are providing short-term lodging including hotels, motor hotels, resort hotels, and motels. In addition to the lodging services they also offer services, such as food and beverage services, recreational services, conference rooms and convention services, laundry services, parking, and other services1. The UK hotels and motels industry could be segregated into different groups according to the type of customers they serve including domestic consumers, domestic business and international business & consumers. Evaluation of the UK hotels and motels industry suggest that the main revenue drivers other than providing accommodation are from services such as casinos, conferences, matrimonial gatherings, social functions, shops and telecommunication services. A recent survey carried out by Data Monitor, a research company, highlighted that the total revenues of the UK Hotels and Motels Industry were $35 billion in 2008 that implies a CAGR of 5.6% over the period 2004-2008. However, the same report expects that the industry will slow down because of the poor economic conditions currently prevailing in the global market and lower spending on travel and tourism. The industry is expected to grow at a lower CAGR of 3% till 2013 to reach a level of $40.1 billion2. The international political scenario is negating the growth prospects of the hotels and motels industry. The political risks have direct correlation with the investment decisions of international hotel companies in developing countries. Political instability in a country creates social unrest that could affect the flow of travellers to that country that may in return affect the sales of hotels and motels. These political risks could also be viewed as

Business environment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Business environment - Assignment Example The purpose of these different types of organizations are: Non-profit Organization: Such organization operate to provide services to the community without working on making any profits. Their aim is to improve the community. Such organizations includes universities and charitable organizations. Governmental Organization: These organizations are owned by the government to provide benefit to the citizens in the country. Another purpose is to utilize the resources in the country for the benefit of the community. IKEA is a for-profit organization just like Tesco. IKEAs vision is to create a better everyday life for many people (IKEA, 2014). They do this by introducing a wide product range which includes all kinds of home and even office products at low affordable prices. The vision of Tesco is ‘to be the most highly valued business by: the customers we serve, the communities in which we operate, our loyal and committed colleagues and of course, our shareholders.’ (McKeown, n.d). Tesco does not specifically deal in one kind of product. Rather Tesco is more of a retail store. IKEA deals with one niche of the retail sector which is home furniture, appliances and accessories. Tesco aims to provide maximum value to its stakeholders which include customers, employees and stakeholders. This vision clearly shows Tesco as a for-profit organization. Even IKEA is a for-profit organization but it has cleverly worded its vision statement to show respect to its customer. This also shows that IKEA is highly customer centric. Organizations today have also begun to include their corporate social responsibility in their vision and mission statement. While the vision statement of IKEA is too broad, Tesco has accepted its corporate social responsibility by including the community in its vision statement. For the customers, IKEA has the objective of increasing their customer base and retaining its

Sears New Release :: essays research papers

Sears Updates Segment Reporting; Adopts New Accounting Standard Resulting In One-Time Non-Cash Charge Of $520 Million In Second Quarter HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) announced total domestic store revenues for the five weeks ending April 7, 2001 were $2.56 billion. Comparable domestic store revenues decreased 5.3 percent. Total domestic store revenues decreased 5.1 percent compared with $2.7 billion for the five weeks ending April 8, 2000. "March retail sales fell below expectations, with the slowing economy and colder than anticipated weather having an impact on both our hardlines and softlines businesses," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alan J. Lacy. "Weather-related seasonal apparel and lawn and garden merchandise accounted for over one-third of the comparable store sales decline. Among the better performing businesses was Home Appliances, which continues to gain market share. The Great Indoors format and sporting goods businesses also performed well." Sears, Roebuck and Co. 5 Weeks 9 Weeks 2001 Domestic Store Revenues $2,563,400,000 4,530,800,000 2000 Domestic Store Revenues 2,701,000,000 4,697,600,000 Percent Change (5.1)% (3.6)% Comparable Domestic Stores Percent Change (5.3)% (3.9)% Preliminary Earnings Announcement The company anticipates that earnings per share for the first fiscal quarter of 2001, ended March 31, will be approximately $0.53, versus $0.65 in the first quarter of last year. In the first quarter, the credit business performed in line with expectations, reflecting continued strong portfolio quality. However, operating income from the credit business for the first quarter will be slightly below last year, mainly due to lower revenues. The domestic retail business did not meet the company's expectations in the first quarter due to sales and margin shortfalls resulting from the slowing economy and cooler than expected spring weather in much of the country. Sears Revises Segment Reporting FASB Statement No. 131 prescribes accounting guidance for segment reporting and requires that a company's externally reported segments be consistent with its internal management structure. Consequently, effective for the first quarter of 2001, Sears is modifying its externally reported segments to reflect the company's integrated retail and related services strategy and to align externally reported business segments with changes that have occurred in the company's internal structure over the past several months. The company's four new segments are as follows: - Retail and Related Services -- This segment consists of merchandise sales and related services, including service contracts, delivery and product installation and repair services. It covers all Sears selling channels, including specialty and full-line stores as well as direct-to- customer operations which includes online, catalogs and clubs and services. - Credit and Financial Products -- This segment includes Sears domestic credit business and the company's related financial product offerings. - Sears Canada -- Formerly named the International segment, this segment

Critical Analysis: Martial Stability and Premarital Cohabitation Essay

The union of marriage has held a specific ideal in the minds of people since it was first instituted hundreds of years ago. However, over the decades, new ideas about the union have become changed, and the cohabitation of two people has become almost acceptable in the walk toward marital bliss. Most Western countries do not have issues with people living together as a couple without being married, and this has led to the concept becoming main stream for future generations (Budinski & Trovato, 2005). However, there is a dark side to co-habitation. Ronald Budinski and Frank Trovato conducted a study in 2005 on the assumption that premarital cohabitation would more likely end up in the dissolution of the marriage than those who did not cohabitate prior to marriage. They published their findings in the article, â€Å"The Effects of Premarital Cohabitation on Marital Stability over the Duration of Marriage. † It can be found in the 32nd volume, issue 1 of the Canadian Studies in Population journal. The results and findings create a new way of considering the stability of marriage in relation to cohabitation and non-cohabitation. The legitimization of cohabitation and the redefining of the term to be a â€Å"substitute for marriage† (Budinski & Trovato, 2005, pg 70) is seen in many Western countries and is the basis for a new brand of research into this new type of union on the fundamental union of marriage. The purpose of the study conducted by Budinski and Trovato (2005) was to find out if the â€Å"marital duration-dependent† existed in relation to cohabitation (pg 70). Their focus was on two main factors: the explanations for any fluctuation of the duration-dependent affect, and to find other factors that would influence the duration-dependency between those who cohabitate and those who do not cohabitate (Budinski & Trovato, 2005). The two researchers decided on two questions they needed to answer that took the main factors into consideration. The first part of the hypothesis is the belief that premarital cohabitation is more likely produce the dissolution of the marital union. The second phase of the hypothesis tests the theory that the risk of marital dissolution is reduced between the two groups the longer the couple is married. They noted five separate outcomes that could occur in regard to the stability of the marriage and cohabitation, but their real focus was on the event and causes of marital dissolution (Budinski & Trovato, 2005). Many believe that cohabitation is a short-term commitment. Researchers have created two theories in which to explain the phenomena of cohabitation. The first is the â€Å"selective thesis† (Budinski & Trovato, 2005, pg 72) which defines those people who prefer cohabitation as individuals that have a problem with staying or dealing with a stable relationship. The second theory is the â€Å"experience theory† (Budinski & Trovato, 2005, pg 72) that cohabitation can create negative views of marriage and positive views of divorce. Most of the previous research conducted supported one or both of these theories. However, in more recent studies, the convergence of equality in marital dissolution seems to be more of the norm than in previous years. This area is still quite new and still being scrutinized by researchers unable to acknowledge without proof that cohabitation is not a major factor in marital dissolution (Budinski & Trovato, 2005). Budinski& Trovato (2005) used a previously compile source of data in the 1995 Canadian General Social Survey: Cycle 10: The Family (GSS-95). The sample included all people ages fifteen and up in 10 Canadian provinces, excluding the Yukon and Northwestern territories. The response rate was 81% or 10,749 individuals. Once those respondents that did not have the necessary data were removed the total number of subjects included in the study numbered 7, 187 individuals that had the required data to conduct the study on premarital cohabitation and marital dissolution (Budinski & Trovato, 2005, pg 75). The study used a multivariate model analysis founded on the Proportional Hazards (PH) Model (Budinski & Trovato, 2005, pg 75). The first aspect of this model was the hazard function that valued the probability of the dissolution of the marital union in relation to time and other controlled variables. They used this function as the baseline to estimate the durations of time prior to marital dissolution. In essence, the dependent variable was the length of time a couple stayed married prior to separation or divorce, with covariates including age, religiousness, education, contraceptive use, region, as well as several other variables. It was assumed that each working in the equation to correlate with cohabitation and marital dissolution since each of the covariates had been previously associated with instability in the marriage union (Budinski & Trovato, 2005). The overall result of this study by Budinski & Trovato (2005) was the fact that there was not a significant difference in the dissolution of the marital union in relation to those how did not cohabitate and those who cohabitated prior to marriage. Because of this result, they focused on the covariates to see which created a significant relation between dissolution of marriage and cohabitation. The covariant of age has a definite relation to cohabitation and the dissolution of the marital union. In fact, women who were 5 years or older than their spouse were more likely to have a marriage end in divorce. This correlation tended to be 4 and ? times greater a risk than couples who were the same age. Education or lack of education was a predictor of dissolution as well. Eighty percent of men that had only a small amount of post-secondary education were likely to have a marriage end in divorce whether they cohabitated or not. Religion also proved to be a factor with 83-100% of those individuals that did not attend religious services on a weekly basis were likely to have a marriage end. The only time that cohabitation proved to correlate to the dissolution of a marriage was when the age and contraceptive use were excluded from the analysis. Only then was there a small but relatively significant relation (Budinski & Trovato, 2005). This study showed that there were only basic correlations between the concept of cohabitation and the dissolution of marriage. The fact that to gain any significant relevance requires the exclusion of two main covariates says much about how cohabitation and divorce or separation related to one another. There were five covariates that did show some relation. These include one or both of the individuals having experienced parental marital dissolution, living within certain territories, religion, spouse being in a cohabitational relationship prior to current relationship, and the use of contraceptive. However, cohabitation alone did not significantly influence the divorce and separation rates in Canada’s 10 territories that were part of this study (Budinski & Trovato, 2005). One factor that was discovered and not added to this or any study was the concept of â€Å"serial cohabitation† (Budinski & Trovato, 2005, pg 87) which is when an individual has more than one cohabitating relationship during adult life. This is a relatively new type of relationship and future studies will have to take this type of cohabitating relationship into account when looking at the union of marriage in relation to cohabitation and non-cohabitation (Budinski & Trovato, 2005). As the world changes and the societal values change, the old institutions of marriage and family will change as well. Life and society are not static, but they are predictable in some fashion. The emergence of cohabitation as a viable step in marriage started in force in the 1970’s. Today this concept is accepted and acknowledged as a legitimate union even prior to marriage. Not all cohabitational relationships will end in marriage, but many will and the chances of their remaining married in relation to those individuals who did not cohabitate is changing as well. The fact is that marriage and cohabitation are not really separate or relational. There are other factors that are more influential on the dissolution of the marriage and it are these variables that need to be considered in closer examination to have a better understanding of the factors of cohabitation, marriage, and the dissolution of a relationship. Bibliography Budinski, R. A. , & Trovato, F. (2005). The effects of premarital cohabitation on marital stability of the duration of marriage. [Electronic version]. Canadian Studies in Population , 32, 69-95.

The Definition of a Solid in Chemistry and Science

A  solid is a  state of matter characterized by particles arranged such that their shape and volume are relatively stable. The constituents of a solid tend to be packed together much closer than the particles in a gas or liquid. The reason a solid has a rigid shape is that the atoms or molecules are tightly connected via chemical bonds. The bonding may produce either a regular lattice (as seen in ice, metals, and crystals) or an amorphous shape (as seen in glass or amorphous carbon).  A solid is one of the four fundamental states of matter, along with liquids, gases, and plasma. Solid state physics and solid state chemistry are two branches of science dedicated to studying the properties and synthesis of solids. Examples of Solids The matter with a defined shape and volume is solid. There are many examples: A brickA pennyA piece of woodA chunk of aluminum metal (or any metal at room temperature except mercury)Diamond (and most other crystals) Examples of things that are not solids include liquid water, air, liquid crystals, hydrogen gas, and smoke. Classes of Solids The different types of chemical bonds that join the particles in solids exert characteristic forces that can be used to classify solids. Ionic bonds (e.g. in table salt or NaCl) are strong bonds that often result in crystalline structures that may dissociate to form ions in water. Covalent bonds (e.g., in sugar or sucrose) involve the sharing of valence electrons. Electrons in metals seem to flow because of metallic bonding. Organic compounds often contain covalent bonds and interactions between separate portions of the molecule due to van der Waals forces. Major classes of solids include: Minerals:  Minerals are natural solids formed by geological processes. A mineral has a uniform structure. Examples include diamond, salts, and mica.Metals:  Solid metals include elements (e.g., silver) and alloys (e.g., steel). Metals are typically hard, ductile, malleable, and excellent conductors of heat and electricity.Ceramics:  Ceramics are solids consisting of inorganic compounds, usually oxides. Ceramics tend to be hard, brittle, and corrosion-resistant.Organic Solids:  Organic solids include polymers, wax, plastics, and wood. Most of these solids are thermal and electrical insulators. They typically have lower melting and boiling points than metals or ceramics.Composite Materials:  Composite materials are those which contain two or more phases. An example would be a plastic containing carbon fibers. These materials yield properties not seen in the source components.Semiconductors:  Semiconducting solids have electrical properties intermediate between those of cond uctors and insulators. The solids may be either pure elements, compounds, or doped materials. Examples include silicon and gallium arsenide.Nanomaterials:  Nanomaterials are tiny solid particles at the nanometer size. These solids may display very different physical and chemical properties from large-scale versions of the same materials. or example, gold nanoparticles are red and melt at a lower temperature than gold metal.Biomaterials:  These are natural materials, such as collagen and bone, that are often capable of self-assembly.