Coping as a Parent of a Preschooler With Social Anxiety

Coping as a Parent of a Preschooler With Social Anxiety Social Anxiety Disorder Coping Print How to Cope as a Parent of a Preschooler With Social Anxiety Social Anxiety in Preschool Children By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on June 29, 2019 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Preschool children can suffer with social anxiety. Getty / Dorling Kindersley / Ruth Jenkinson Timothy is fearful of strangers and afraid to join other children in play. When his mother drops him off at preschool he wails inconsolably and clings to her leg. When he eventually settles down he spends most of his time watching other children play or interacting with the teacher. He is afraid to join in show and tell and becomes easily upset. Is Timothy experiencing normal childhood fears or does he suffer with social anxiety? If your pre-school aged child displays fearful behaviors in social situations you have probably asked yourself the same question. If anxiety and fear is extreme, it is always best to involve a mental health professional and receive an expert opinion. However, as a parent, there is much you can do to help your anxious or fearful child. First, consider whether the behavior is typical of preschool children or not. What is normal, what is not? It is normal for children to display some anxiety as they grow. This often first shows up as fear of strangers around the age of six months. This fear can develop into separation anxiety between 12 and 18 months; the young child will become upset if separated from a parent at this age. There are also natural differences between children in terms of how open they are to new experiences. Easy children are generally adaptable to new situations and people and tend to remain calm and happy.Slow to warm up children take a little longer to get used to new situations and tend to withdraw at first.Difficult children are easily upset by new people and situations, have strong emotional reactions and poor ability to adapt. Beyond normal childhood fears and natural differences in temperament, some children experience intense and paralyzing fear of new people and places. If your child has severe social anxiety, she will experience distress when in those situations (such as crying, panicking or clinging) and will try to avoid the situations that cause her fear. Some examples of common childhood fears include: meeting strangersjoining in a group of kidsspeaking in front of the classbeing dropped off at preschool Behaviors That May Signal Social Anxiety If you arent sure whether your child suffers with problematic social anxiety, look for the following behaviors:extreme shynesstrouble self-soothinga negative attitude toward preschoolonlooking behavior (watches other children but doesnt join in) Also, pay attention to the stories that your child concocts during imaginative play. Often many of your childs fears will seep into the activities and actions of his imaginary playmates. Why is it a problem? You might think that eventually your child will grow out of her shyness. If it is normal childhood fears that she experiences this could be true. However, in the case of social anxiety, inaction on your part can lead to more problems later on. It is important to consider the impact of allowing fears to grow rather than putting a stop to them early on. Children who are extremely inhibited have been shown to be more at risk for later internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression. You might also see eventual issues coping with the social and academic demands of school. What can be done? There is much that can be done by parents to build confidence in anxious preschoolers. Preparing your child will enable her to better cope with the challenges of life. Below are just a few tips to help you lessen anxiety and better prepare your child for the social demands of her environment. Anxiety can be learned from parents. Model calm and confident behavior whenever possible.Give your child chances to rehearse in advance of new situations. For example, practice show and tell at home before he has to speak in front of the class.Dont be overly sympathetic. Too much sympathy teaches your child that there is something to fear, rather than showing her how to cope.Offer gentle encouragement. Encourage your child to try new things but do not force or coerce.Avoid being overprotective. Dont limit your childs exposure to fearful situations or she will learn to avoid.Do not criticize. Be a stable loving parent that your child can depend on.Watch videos or read books about confident kids. Or, point out other children who are confident and talk about what those children do.Do not give attention to fearful behaviors. Instead, praise attempts at facing difficult new situations.Be open with teachers/caregivers. Talk to those who look after your child about how best to develop socia l confidence. Make sure you are all working toward the same goals. It can be difficult to know how best to help your preschool-aged child who is suffering with social anxiety. Although you might hope that he will naturally grow out of his fears, taking proactive steps to encourage taking chances and reducing avoidance are key to preventing future problems. If your child suffers with extreme anxiety that is interfering with daily life, you may wish to consult a mental health professional for a complete diagnosis and treatment plan.

Case Study Silvio Napoli at Schindler India (a) Essay

1. Did Schindler make the right choice in assigning Silvio as general manager of India? I do not believe Schindler made the right choice in assigning Silvio as the general manager of India. Silvio had little to no real world international experience. Silvio had much success in Sweden but there are several factors that limited his success in India. Silvio had high warrior and low monk attributes. Silvio was a task oriented individual. This management style is not well received in India. The General Manager needed to be a person that can change their behavior when dealing with different cultures. Before making their selection Schindler should have required Silvio to take a Global Mentality Test. This test would have told†¦show more content†¦Silvio spent weeks trying to juggle the relocation of his family and setting up the company infrastructure. As a result of the juggling, neither goal was executed well. Silvio needs to become more accepting of alterations to his business plan. Silvio was determined to follow his business plan even if the market rev ealed better alternatives. A good example of this was the decision to strictly offer a standard product line with no customization. Customers were pretty clear that the standard product line would not be acceptable for the first two orders that Schindler India received. I would advise Silvio to sit down with his management team and reevaluate their business plan. After the re-evaluation Silvio needs to gain the respect of the team. In Sweden Silvio was given respect due to his position. In India Silvio would need to earn the respect of his management team. The warrior management style that Silvio was familiar to did more harm than good at earning their respect. 3. What advice would you give Silvio regarding his decision on the nonstandard glass wall elevator that has been ordered? Even though the company would loose money by accepting this order Silvio should accept it. Unfortunately, you sometimes need to accept loss to gain acceptance in a market that is dominated by a competitor. If Silvio can pull off the installation, demonstrate reliability, and provide superior customer service the company could make large strides inShow MoreRelatedThe Challenges Schindler Faces in India: Case Study2586 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction The Schindler was established in 1874 in Switzerland by Robert Schindler and started to manufacture elevators in 1889. The company employed over thirty eight thousand (38000) people worldwide in ninety seven (97) of its branches, but yet they hadnt had any operations in India, a market Alfred N. Schindler felt had great potential. However, 1925 Schindler installed its first elevator in India, but they didnt have any local presence until 1997-1998 when the India government liberalizedRead MoreNapoli1378 Words   |  6 PagesWas Silvio the right choice to head the India operation? In my opinion, I do not think that was the right choice. Even though India’s growth potential was significant, there are several reasons why I think so. First of all, Exchange rates and unforeseen duties further frustrated market development efforts. When it comes to international business those risks always would be cause of challenge. For example Japanese lumber company in Canada decreased their sales from last year because of change ofRead Moreselling to india Essay2794 Words   |  12 Pagesï » ¿Selling into India: Lessons From Silvio Napoli No amount of process re-definition could have saved Schindler the pains associated with attempting to move into India with a low-cost strategy. Fundamental assumptions about India just wanting low-cost elevators where customization wasnt a requirement took the effort of creating a subsidiary to learn from. For the last four years Ive been teaching an international business course occasionally for a local MBA Program. My students are all workingRead MoreSchindlers Market Expansion Strategy in India: Best Practices in Strategic Marketing Management2217 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Schindlers Market Expansion Strategy in India: Best Practices in Strategic Marketing Management Executive Summary The many challenges that Schindler Group faces in getting their international expansion strategy to succeed are multifaceted in scope and reflect how challenging international marketing can be. Exacerbating their challenges is the need for creating a reliable supply chain throughout India while also relying on their internal suppliers who are the production centers located throughoutRead MoreSilvio Napoli at Schindler India Essay2555 Words   |  11 Pages1 Was Silvio the right choice for general manager of Schindler ¡Ã‚ ¦s India operations? Why/Why not  ¡V give details. This question can be answered by taking following 3 things in consideration. 1.1 Silvio ¡Ã‚ ¦s characteristics This can be better explained by detailing his strengths and weaknesses. 1.1.1 Strengths: As per Luc Bonnard, they trust him 100%, he has courage, he is young and flexible, he is generalist not specialist, and willing to go to India. So here is the list of his strengths with

The Industrial Revolution During The 19th Century

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain, and the working class worked tirelessly to produce products. Textiles were made faster and cheaper, food was more abundant, and the standard of living increased for many people. To industrialize Great Britain, laborers worked in factories and mills under horrible conditions. Despite attempts by Parliament to address problems with the factories’ working conditions through the passage of new legislation, their effort was inadequate and deplorable working conditions remained. Before the 19th century, the cottage industry flourished. All business and manufacturing was carried out in a person’s home, and they had a say in what happened to their product.†¦show more content†¦The growing businesses put the small in-home workers out of work, giving them no choice but to get a job in a factory. The working conditions in factories and mills were much different than the ones in the cottage industry. Instead of working at an individual pace in their home, the workers were suddenly expected to work in onerous conditions. The Factory Act of 1819 was one of the first attempts to control child labor, but the act was not effective. Years later, the Factory Act of 1833 was introduced, and the new law prohibited laborers under age 9 and set the maximum number of hours for children based on age. The Ten Hours act of 1847 limited women and children to 10 hours in the factory. These laws were meant to change society and the working conditions, but the lack of a strong penalty for factory owners gave them no motivation to follow the laws. In some cases, there was little to no legislation on some of the deplorable working conditions, and there was inadequate control over the health of laborers One of the most recognized conditions of the Industrial Revolution is the long hours. In most factories, children from as early as age six to adult women and men were required to work 12 or more hours six days a week. The exhausting work caused the workers to be prone to sickness and to be weaker. In most cases, workers would fall asleep while working, causing them to receive injuries and make mistakes in their work. If caught sleeping while The Industrial Revolution During The 19th Century The industrial revolution began in the 18th and 19th centuries. During this time most people lived on farms or in small rural villages. Prior to the industrial revolution most manufacturing was done in homes using hand tools and simple basic machines. People lived where their daily existences revolved around farming. Life for the average person was difficult, as incomes were meager, and malnourishment and disease were common. People produced the bulk of their own food, clothing, furniture and tools. With the advent of the industrial revolution marked a shift to powered, special-purpose machinery, factories and mass production. The iron and textile industries, along with the development of the steam engine, played central roles in the†¦show more content†¦The major inventions that lead to the industrial revolution in the area of textile industry were: The spinning jenny was invented around 1764, by Englishman James Hargreaves (1722-1778) invented the spinning jenny (â€Å"je nny† was an early abbreviation of the word â€Å"engine†), a machine that enabled an individual to produce multiple spools of threads simultaneously. By the time of Hargreaves’ death, there were over 20,000 spinning jennys in use across Britain. The spinning jenny was improved upon by British inventor Samuel Compton’s (1753-1827) spinning mule, as well as later machines. Another key innovation in textiles, the power loom, which mechanized the process of weaving cloth, was developed in the 1780s by English inventor Edmund Cartwright (1743-1823). Without improvement in the transportation industry the other industrialization would have trouble getting raw materials and shipping out their finished product. Before the advent of the steam engine, raw materials and finished goods were hauled and distributed via horse-drawn wagons, and by boats along canals and rivers. In the early 1800s, American Robert Fulton (1765-1815) built the first commercially successful s teamboat, and by the mid-19th century, steamships were carrying freight across the Atlantic. As steam-powered ships were making their debut, the steam

A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) - 1144 Words

Charles Dickens believed it was up to him to inform the people of Britain of the social problems occurring around Britain. While Dickens was a young man, he suffered from poverty along with his mother and father. His father was imprisoned for dept and Charles wanted to become a social reformer. Dickens used these problems as themes for his book ‘A Christmas Carol. These themes involve poverty, pollution and a changing of ways. Dickens used Scrooge, the main character in the book at first to show how current society was at the time and then at the end, after the visits from the three ghosts, how the society could be. At the start of the book Scrooge is anti-social, greedy and extremely selfish. I believe this is how Britain was at the†¦show more content†¦Dickens used Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish each of these words gives off a negative feeling that really plays on how dreadful what the children represent could be. The children represent the problems with th e society and that by being Ignorant and wanting too much could end up being a major problem. On the other hand, Dickens describes some chestnuts in a shop as great round, pot-bellied baskets of chestnuts, shaped like the waist coats of jolly old gentlemen. I think that Dickens describes them as this to show that Christmas is a happy time where everyone should be happy and a time where nobody should be hungry. Dickens makes the ghost of Christmas past seem peaceful and affectionate by his description. By saying, sparkling eye and its open hand These phrases show the spirit is kind and loving. Another method Dickens uses to get across his point of view is contrast. One of the best times he uses contrast is when scrooge is taken to Fezziwigs ball by the first spirit that visits him. The atmosphere in both the work places is totally different, Fezziwig is merry and wants he employees to have a good time as it is Christmas. He does not mind that he is paying them even though they are having a day off. On the other hand, Scrooge seems annoyed and even a little bit jealous that he has got to pay Bob Cratchit for a day free form work. Scrooge says, youll want all day off tomorrow, I suppose? This shows the difference between the toShow MoreRelatedCharles Dickens and A Christmas Carol1613 Words   |  7 PagesCharles Dickens and A Christmas Carol: Famed British author, Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England. He was the second of eight children, living in a poor neighborhood in London. His parents were John Dickens, a naval clerk, who always lived beyond his means. Married to his mother Elizabeth Dickens, who aspired to be a teacher and a school director. Dickens went to William Giles’ school in Chatham, Kent, for approximately one year before his father’s money habitsRead MoreA Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens1139 Words   |  5 Pages The book I have chosen is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It has been rewrote few times but I wanted to pick the author that started it all. Charles John Huffman Dickens lived from February 7th,1812 – June 9th,1970 making him 58 when he died. He was buried Westminster Abbey. His mother and father were John and Elizabeth Dickens. He had seven siblings four brothers and three sisters. During his life he was married to his wife Catherine Dickens from 1836 to the day he died. Together they hadRead MoreA Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens1160 Words   |  5 PagesCharles Dickens began writing the famous story â€Å"A Christmas Carol† in October 1843 and wrote excitedly during the next six weeks. He completed the narrative at the end of November so that it could be published by the time it was Christmas. It came out on December 17, 1843 and sold out in only three days (Molly Oldfield). The expression â€Å"Bah! Humbug†, a line repeated many times in the story b y its main character, a miserable and bitter fellow by the name of Ebenezer Scrooge, has become a well-knownRead MoreCharles Dickens A Christmas Carol Essay922 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Bah, humbug!† This well-known phrase is popular thanks to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In this literary classic, Dickens tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a â€Å"tight fisted...covetous old sinner† (12). Through a series of hauntings by various Christmas ghosts, Scrooge realizes the error of his ways and changes completely into a warm-hearted, generous man. Scrooge’s tale is a familiar one; countless movies have been filmed, plays have been produced, and references made in other storiesRead MoreCharles Dickens A Christmas Carol1316 Words   |  6 PagesIt can be easily depicted that Christmas is a time of the year to share joyfulness. In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is a character that is effortlessly described as a hardhe aded cold man. It is simple to judge the character of Scrooge in this manner, but it is important to recognize the change in his personality throughout the story. Scrooge’s transformation happens very quickly, but he becomes generous and caring only when he is forced to see himself through a stranger’sRead MoreA Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens1293 Words   |  6 PagesCharles Dickens presents many short stories and novels. He is greatly known for his short fiction and later theater play, â€Å"A Christmas Carol†. In one short story, a reader could describe it as Charles â€Å"other† Christmas story, an elderly narrator reminisce of holiday past. There is a range of appeal in the story itself from comforting memories of loved toys to leaving the reader with an eerie feeling of various childhood haunts. The reader’s analysis of Dickens use of vivid detail together with hisRead MoreA Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens1331 Words   |  6 PagesChr isty Mak 12/21/15 Period three Scrooge Changes In the story, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Scrooge is the main character. In the beginning of the story, he is shown as an old miser counting and gripping his money in the counting house. Later on, Scrooge’s dead business partner, Marley, has visited Scrooge from the grave while being bounded in chains to warn Scrooge to change his ways or suffer the same fate. Soon, three ghosts are sent to visit Scrooge to show him scenes thatRead MoreA Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens914 Words   |  4 PagesFew characters in Christmas literature personify the antithesis of the season like Ebenezer Scrooge. Penned in 1843, Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol has been told and retold. It has become a fixture of the season. So ingrained in our culture, is this story, that everyone knows the name Scrooge and the negative connotation that accompanies it. But what if, instead of just a cranky old miser, Ol Ebenezer Scrooge was more of a rather observant social commenta tor? In order to defendRead MoreThe Life Of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol1062 Words   |  5 Pageslasted from 1832 to 1901 under Queen Victoria’s reign. The culture revealed in this era was a time of rapid change, social inequality, industrialization, supernatural and religious beliefs, and was accurately reflected in the works of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Roles of men and women were strictly defined, as were economic statuses. The hustle and bustle of the streets led to illnesses. Working conditions were destitute and unsanitary. Children often had little to no education, unless veryRead More A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens Essay1877 Words   |  8 PagesA Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens In this essay I intend to write about Ebenezer Scrooge who is the key character of the astonishing novel written by Charles Dickens one of greatest English novelist of he Victorian period. He wrote and published ‘a Christmas carol’ in 1843. Charles Dickens’s also well know stories such as ‘Oliver twist’. Dickens was born on the 2nd February 1812 in London port Hampshire. He moved from his birth place to Chatham where he received little education

Wynn Resort free essay sample

So, Wynn can enter into new market where social norms are positively changing in favor of the company. As few competitors are merging and changing its target market from high-end customers to middle-class gamblers, this could result in additional revenues for Wynn as these high-end customers may switch to Wynn for higher-class amenities. If other countries of the World allow such licenses as allowed by China (Macau), then there would be an enormous growth opportunity for Wynn, as Wynn has giant experience in the business and have strong customer base.If the Chinese government loosens its restrictions on travel and currency movement for Chinese citizens, tourism to Macau will grow, and profit potential for Wynn resorts will increase. Threats Increased global and local competition becomes great concern for Wynn resorts to sustain its high brand image to attract new customers and retain â€Å"whale†, customers. In the resort casino industry, the ability to find land and licenses in legal areas is very difficult because many countries have strict regulations about gaming resorts. We will write a custom essay sample on Wynn Resort or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This can be a barrier to expand their business by entering in new markets.The concession period for Wynn in Macau will expire in June, 2017 at which time Macau government has the right to take over the operation of the company By doing business in Macau, which is an emerging market, there are significant amount of political, economic and social risks for Wynn Macau. In Macau, the company needs to pay tax on gross gaming revenue, not on net income. They have to pay tax for the gross revenue even if the income is not earned, this happens when Wynn fails to collect gaming debts from its customers. Moreover, they have to pay tax even if they incur loss from operation in a given year.United States introduced stricter visa and passport requirement due to possible terrorisms after terrorist attack in September 11, 2001. Therefore, they are losing prospective customers from around the globe. Business Strategy Wynn Resorts’ business level strategy is focused differentiation with an emphasis on customer responsiveness. It caters to high-rollers who are comfortable spending large amounts of money at casinos and want the best. Wynn Resorts has developed services that provide them with the ultimate in personalized attention including complimentary use of luxury cars and lavish suites.Wynn Resorts’ provides the feeling of exclusivity and offering intimacy and privacy to its customers. Wynn Resorts forgoes other customer segments to service only the high-end customers,  focusing on niche marketing strategy. Steve Wynn is personally involved in all aspects of floor operations including the concept of tip-pooling, an incentive system for dealers to become supervisors. His presence on the floor motivates employees to perform at their best, and allows him to model his vision of  customer responsiveness to his employees. His presence keeps employees honest, hard-working, and engenders their trust.Steve Wynn pays close attention to his best and frequent customers, knowing them by name and remembering personal details. He uses his passion to build loyalty from both customers and employees. Wynn Resorts’ incentive system, especially tip-pooling, provides incentives to experienced dealers to become supervisors, and provide the best service to their customers to earn higher compensation. Corporate Strategy Wynn’s mission is: â€Å"A commitment to providing an elegant environment, high quality amenities, a superior level of service and distinctive attractions for our customers. †

Answers to Questions About Commas #4

Answers to Questions About Commas #4 Answers to Questions About Commas #4 Answers to Questions About Commas #4 By Mark Nichol Here are several questions about punctuation from DailyWritingTips.com readers, including two about too, and my responses. 1. I was taught to always put a comma before the word too. I realize this is a technical part of punctuation, but I see several instances where no comma precedes too. Is there an absolute rule for this, or are there times when the comma isn’t necessary? A trend toward open punctuation, a minimalist approach to commas that includes omitting punctuation before too, has prevailed in informal writing for some time. However, I support closed punctuation and advise always retaining the comma to set off too, regardless of the degree of formality of the prose. 2. Should you place a comma before too when it’s at the end of a sentence? â€Å"He decided to go, too,† or â€Å"He decided to go too†? Does it depend on the context of too? Some writing handbooks advise that inserting the comma in such sentences is optional; it’s necessary only to signal emphasis. But in that case, it would be better to state, â€Å"He, too, decided to go.† When too is at the end of the sentence, a comma to signal emphasis might be inserted when the word indicates an additional action or thought, rather than a similar one: â€Å"He watched her jump, and he jumped too,† but â€Å"He decided to hop and skip. He jumped, too.† But these distinctions, I think, are too complicated. My solution is to always insert the comma. 3. In the sentence â€Å"The subdimensions that were measured were accessibility and responsiveness and security,† responsiveness and security go together. How should I punctuate it to give clarity to the reader? Here are several options to clarify the subdimensions; I prefer the third one, which is more direct and concise, is in active voice, and omits intrusive punctuation or numeration: a) â€Å"The subdimensions that were measured were accessibility, and responsiveness and security.† b) â€Å"The subdimensions that were measured were 1) accessibility and 2) responsiveness and security.† c) â€Å"The test measured accessibility, as well as responsiveness and security.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What is the Difference Between "These" and "Those"?How to Play HQ Words: Cheats, Tips and TricksWood vs. Wooden

Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) Practices and the Performance of a Nigerian Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME). The WritePass Journal

Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) Practices and the Performance of a Nigerian Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME). Introduction Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) Practices and the Performance of a Nigerian Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME). IntroductionObjectives of the Study Research QuestionsResearch OutlineLiterature ReviewResearch Methods and DataDataReferencesRelated Introduction The contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the economic growth and development has been enormous. This contribution is significant for both the developed and developing world. Many governments acknowledge the fact that SMEs play a significant role in the growth and development of their economies. Consequently, a number of government investment projects are geared towards fostering the growth and development of local SMEs. The institution of policies geared towards the facilitation and empowerment of SMEs as well as improving the performance of SMEs remains a major objective of many economic policy makers and governments. In addition, international economic and financial bodies such as the IMF, World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the International Financial Corporation (IFC) have invested heavily in making SMEs robust and vibrant in developing countries. Furthermore, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in developing countries such as Nigeria have employed advocacy and capacity-building campaigns to promote the growth of SMEs. Despite the importance accorded to SMEs as well as their contribution to economic growth, Onugu (2005) argues that the performance of SMEs in Nigeria has been below expectations. Unlike SMEs in other countries, the contribution of Nigerian SMEs to economic growth has not been very impressive (Onogu, 2005). Following from its independence, the Federal government of Nigeria has invested significant sums of money to promote entrepreneurial and small business development projects (Mambula, 1997, 2002). However, results from these projects have not been very impressive. In order words, most of these projects have often been unable to yield their expected returns. Despite the country’s endowment with raw materials and other natural resources, there has been little progress towards the development of the manufacturing sector, which could have increased the production of value added products thereby substituting imports, increasing exports and increasing employment (Mambula, 1997, 2002). Business failure often comes as a result of a number of factors. This could be as a result of poor customer service, poor management and poor human resource management. While the poor performance of SMEs in Nigeria can be attributed to a number of factors, human resource management could be a major factor in determining this poor performance. Human resources are a principal source of economic growth. Like other resources, human resources require effective and efficient utilisation so as to ensure maximum contribution is achieved from them. Approximately 50 per cent of people work in small and medium sized enterprises. Despite this high proportion of human resources in SMEs, most studies that study human resource management have focused on large corporations with very limited attention to SMEs. Moreover, most studies on the practices of human resource management have been carried out in the developed world with very limited attention paid to developing countries like Nigeria. This study is one of the few studies that focus on the management of human resources in SMEs in a developing country. The country that has been chosen for the study is Nigeria. The paper examines the factors that affect the practices of human resource management in an SME in Nigeria and how these practices can affect the performance of the SME in particular and its contribution to the overall growth of the economy as a whole. Objectives of the Study The objective of the study is to examine the SHRM practices of an SME in Nigeria. The study will also examine how those practices affect the performance of the SME and provide policy implications of the findings for future strategy development. Research Questions The paper will be providing answers to the following questions: What are the Strategic human resource management practices of the SME? How do these practices affect the performance of the SME? What are the implications for future development of strategic human resource management practices at the SME? Research Outline The paper is going to follow the following areas: Section one will cover the introduction; section 2 will be dealing with the literature review; section 3 will be discussing the methodology and describing the data; section 4 will provide the results and analysis; and section 5 will present conclusions and recommendations. Literature Review Strategic human resource management (SHRM) practices refer to those activities that are specifically developed, executed and implemented on a deliberate alignment to a firm’s strategy (Huselid et al., 1997). The phrase â€Å"strategic human resource management is an indication that people in the firm are regarded as strategic resources (i.e human capital) that must be managed and leveraged when implementing and executing the strategy of the firm. In early years, efforts made to develop a conceptual framework on strategic human resource management were based on the assumption that in order to promote human behaviour that would fulfil the strategic objectives of the firm, the firm had to implement specific human resource management practices (Fisher, 1989; Schuler and Jackson, 1989; Snell, 1992). A strategic approach to human resource management is an approach that links the human resource management policies with the strategic objectives of the firm. There has been significant debate over the term SHRM as has been the case for human resource management (HRM). Many researchers argue that SHRM lacks conceptual clarity (e.g., Bamberger and Meshoulam, 2000). Three competing frameworks on SHRM have emerged: the contingency, universal and configurational perspectives (Miles and Snow, 1984; Schuler and Jackson, 1987; Delery and Doty, 1996; Pfeffer, 1998; Youndt et al., 1996; Boxall and Purcell, 2000, 2008). According to the universal perspective, all HR practices in all firms have a positive impact on firm performance (Delery and Doty, 1996). The configurational perspective suggests that firm performance depends on unique HR practices while the contingency perspective suggests that a firm’s HR practices are a function of its strategy (Miles and Snow, 1984; Schuler and Jackso n, 1987). A number of studies have tested the different frameworks and found contradictory results. For example, Youndt et al. (1996); and Chang and Huang (2005) argue in favour of the contingency perspective while Tackeuchi et al. (2003) favour the configurational perspective. The frameworks suggested above are mostly relevant for large organisations. Little effort has been devoted towards the development of SHRM in SMEs. For example, Saini and Budhwar (2008) in a study of SHRM practices in SMEs in India argue that bounded rationality tends to constrain the willingness to implement innovative HR practices in SMEs in India because most owners of SMEs tend to believe that they are doing their utmost best. Barber et al (1999) observe that HRM practices that work well in large organisations do not work properly in small firms. As a result, Heneman and Tansky (2002) stresses the need to develop different HRM models for SMEs rather than simply extending existing models that are suitable for large organisations to SMEs. The literature on Human resource management in SMEs suggests that a strategic approach to HRM in SMEs is yet to be developed. Conceptual models that relate human resource management practices in SMEs to the strategic capabilities of these organisa tions need to be developed in order to enable SMEs achieve the full benefits of their human resources. As can be observed, most of the studies of HRM practices in SMEs have been limited to SMEs in Western Europe, U.S.A and India with very limited attention given to Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. In the light of the above limitations, this study aims at contributing to the literature by studying the SHRM practices of SMEs in Nigeria. The study does not intend to test any hypothesis. Rather it intends to focus on providing an in-depth analysis and discussion of the HRM practices of a Nigerian SME. Research Methods and Data Research Methods are the approaches taken to achieve the objectives of a research project (Saunders et al., 2009). There are two main approaches to research including the inductive and deductive approaches. The inductive approach is an approach that aims at developing testable hypotheses while the deductive approach focuses on testing existing hypotheses. The inductive approach can use a single case study to multiple case studies while the deductive approach depends on the use of multiple cases. Moreover, the inductive approach can use either qualitative or quantitative methods whereas the deductive approach relies heavily on the use of large data sets and quantitative research methods. The inductive approach is advantageous over the deductive approach in that it does not generalise its results to all cases. It aims at providing an in-depth analysis of a small number of cases. Therefore, it is the approach that will be used in this study. In other to achieve the objective of this study, this paper will use a case study approach. In order to do this, a Nigerian-based SME will be selected. An in-depth analysis of its SHRM practices will be examined and related to its performance. In order to gain detailed understanding of the approaches, the â€Å"Interpretative phenomenological Analysis (IPA) will be used to gain an in-depth analysis of the HRM practices of the SME.   The Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is an experimental qualitative approach to research in psychology and the human, health and social sciences (Smith et al., 2009). The human resource practices that will be investigated include recruitment, selection, training, remuneration, leave of absence, interpersonal communication, sick pay, and promotion. The practices of these variables will be analysed and an evaluation of how they affect the performance of the SME will be conducted. The performance measures that will be used include profitabil ity, liquidity, management efficiency and leverage ratios. The ratios will be analysed in relation to the SHRM practices identified along with the Nigerian economic environment in which the SME is based. Data The research will use both primary and secondary data. Data for the SHRM practices will mainly be primary data. This data will be collected using survey questionnaires issued to the employees of the SME and interviews conducted with key management staff. Performance data will be collected from the financial records of the SME. Data on the performance measures will be gathered from the financial records of the SME. References Boxall, P., Purcell, J. (2000). Strategic human resource management: Where have we come from and where should we be going? International Journal of Management Reviews, 2(2), 183−203. Boxall, P., Purcell, J. (2008). Strategy and Human Resource Management. Hampshire: Palgrave MacMillan. Chang,W. J. A., Huang, T. C. (2005). Relationship between strategic human resource management and firm performance: A contingency perspective. International Journal of Manpower, 26(5), 434−449. Delery, J. E., Doty, D. H. (1996). Modes of theorizing in strategic human resource management: Tests of universalistic, contingency. Academy of Management Journal, 39(4), 802−835. Huselid, M.A., S.E. Jackson, and R.S. Schuler. 1997. â€Å"Technical and Strategic Human Resource Management Effectiveness as Determinants of Firm Performance,† Academy of Management Journal 40(199), 171-188. Miles, R. E., Snow, C. C. (1984). Designing strategic human resources systems. Organizational Dynamics, 13(1), 36−52. Schuler, R.S. and S.A. Jackson. 1989. â€Å"Determinants of Human Resource Management Priorities and Implications for Industrial Relations,† Journal of Management 15(1): 89-99. Snell, S.A. 1992. â€Å"Control Theory in Strategic Human Resource Management: The Mediating Effect of Administrative Information,† Academy of Management, Journal 35(2), 292-327. Schuler, R. S., Jackson, S. E. (1987). Linking competitive strategies with human resource management practices. Academy of Management Executive, 1(3), 207−219. Pfeffer, J. (1998). Seven practices of successful organizations. California Management Review, 40(2), 96−124. Onugu, B. A. N. (2005) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects, St. Clements University Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., Larkin, M. (2009) Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method and Research, Sage Publications. Heneman, R. L., Tansky, J. W. (2002). Human resource management models for entrepreneurial opportunity: Existing knowledge and new directions. In J. Katz, T. M. Welbourne (Eds.), Managing people in entrepreneurial organizations, vol. 5 (pp. 55–82). Amsterdam: JAI Press. Barber, A. E., Wesson, M. J., Roberson, Q. M., Taylor, M. S. (1999). A tale of two job markets: Organizational size and its effects on hiring practices and job search behavior. Personnel Psychology, 52, 841–867. Saunders M, Lewis P and Thornhill A (2009) Research Methods for Business Studies, 5th edition, Prentice Hall FT Harlow Saini, D. S., Budhwar, P. S. (2008) Managing the human resource in Indian SMEs: The role of indigenous realities, Journal of World Business, Volume 43, No. 4, Pages 417-434 Takeuchi, N., Wakabayashi, M., Chen, Z. (2003). The strategic HRM configuration for competitive advantage: Evidence from Japanese firms in China and Taiwan, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 20(4), 447−480.