Blog

John Mason Profile

By ACS Bookshop UK on August 18, 2014 in Careers and Jobs & General | comments
John Mason started his career in horticulture in 1969, with a diploma at Burnley (Melb); followed by a varied 10 years  (nurseryman, landscaper, parks director, writer, teacher, consultant, etc). In 1979 he wrote a correspondence course in horticulture; advertised, and in the first month enrolled 37 students.
He wrote his first newspaper column in 1973, his first book in 1978 and published his first book in 1984.
 

Making Compost

By ACS Bookshop UK on August 14, 2014 in Environment & Horticulture / Gardening | comments

Compost is indeed the powerhouse in any growing system, but is particularly valuable in organic growing where chemical fertilisers are not used. Its benefits cannot be underestimated: 

  • It improves soil structure in all types of soil. 
  • It provides slow release nutrients for plants to use when required.
  • It increases the level of soil micro-organisms exponentially.
  • Composted soils produce plants more resistant to pest and disease attack
  • Compost making is an environmentally sustainable method of recycling ‘waste’ material. 
  • Home-made compost is effectively cost-free.
 
 
Some industries come and go; while other industries just change!
Cigarette production and bison hunting might not be the big employers that they once were; but farming is one industry we cannot do without. Man will always need food, clothing and fuel; and agriculture is the way we get those things. 
This doesn't mean that farming is not changing though: it is!
Farms once employed large numbers of unskilled; relatively uneducated people, producing less per acre; and in a less sophisticated way.
Developments in science and technology have been changing how farming happens though. Today's industry is more sophisticated, mechanised and through application of modern technologies; the modern farm can produce a lot more per acre, with a lot less people working on the farm.

What does this mean?
  • Farming is an industry that isn't going away -it can employ you for your entire life
  • Farms increasingly need managers and technicians, rather than unskilled labourers
  • Ongoing changes (technological and structural) are creating new opportunities constantly
  • Farming suits anyone with a sharp mind, a technological bent and a personality that relishes change and challenge.

 

Marketing psychology is all about understanding the thoughts and resulting behaviour; of people who buy things. 

The decision to buy goods or services, may be understood as a combination of an individual's personality interacting with characteristics of a product; in a particular situation.

To understand marketing psychology; you need to study

  • the characteristics of potential buyers,
  • the characteristics of alternative products or services; and
  • the different situations where the potential buyers may come together with the possible products.

Knowing the customer is the starting point for success in sales.

 
What is a Typical Recruitment Process?

It is paramount to attract the right employees for any business or organisation. If an unsuitable person is hired then this can hinder the organisation in many ways.  From a financial perspective there is the cost of advertising and hiring as well as ongoing salary or contract payments. The organisation may also face a lawsuit if an advertised job role does not match the role offered or if a probationary period is poorly managed. It can also have a detrimental effect on co-workers who may be held back whilst a new recruit is brought up to task. This in turn can impact on stress levels and employee wellbeing, and ultimately on productivity. As such, the recruitment process needs plenty of consideration.   

The recruitment process can be broken down into separate phases: job analysis, sourcing, screening and selection, and lateral hiring.

An extract from the September2014 ebook  "Occupational Psychology", by staff of ACS Distance Education.