The Art And Result Of Communication Essay Example For Students

The Art And Result Of Communication Essay Communication is a two-way process or dialogue that involves the sender relaying a message, through a communication medium or channel, to the receiver of the message. Two parties are attempting to share meanings and relate to them in the same manner; in this way communication will be successful. The end result of communication is that it must bring out a response and change behavior. The most important factor is for the sender to communicate his/her ideas clearly and for the receiver to listen with understanding. We communicate every day with almost everyone around us. Messages can be sent to others by two ways of communicating, verbally and non verbally. Most of the verbal communication is from one individual to another. This is true in a family, social, or a work setting. One-on-one verbal communication affords the greatest opportunity for precise communication, because immediate feedback from the receiver can tell whether the message has been understood accurately. However, communicating effectively involves more than just accuracy. The purpose of most communication is to influence the attitudes and behaviors of those whom we address. We will write a custom essay on The Art And Result Of Communication specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Since the human race is composed of billions of individuals, each with a different way of responding, no one approach is universally effective. It is therefore important to learn to express ones self accurately and in a way that will accomplish the purpose toward the individual being addressed. (Lewis Slade 2000) The importance of non verbal communication is obvious in the fact that it is used in the majority of human communication. The fact that non verbal communication is more important than any other form of communication is due to the emotional information it conveys, which is otherwise usually controlled or concealed. Thus, human beings base their feelings and emotional responses not so much on what another person says, but upon what another person does. In fact, it is estimated that the impact of non verbal communication on a messages meaning can be as high as 93%. Both types of communication are important when a group is working together. There are three things needed to make a group: a common goal, at least three people, and influences by and influence to others. When we all work together in order to achieve a desirable goal, we exhibit interdependence. The goal is unattainable without the cooperation of group members, so we depend on each other for success. Success is not defined individually but in terms of the group. Cooperative goals can be reinforced by an interdependent division of labor and resources within a group. Groups will probably outperform individuals when certain conditions exist (Forsyth, 1990; Pavitt Curtis, 1994). When the task requires a wide range and variety of information and skills, groups tend to be superior to any individual. One group study found that the group scored significantly higher than its highest scoring member (Stasson Bradshaw, 1995). This was achieved by pooling knowledge; when the highest-scoring member didnt know the answer to a question, another member typically knew the answer to that specific question. Thus, the group benefitted because members had overlapping knowledge. Besides pooling knowledge, another reason groups outperform individuals when the task is comprehensive is the group remembering phenomenon or collective recall of information. Also, groups outperform individuals when both the group and any individual compared are without expertise on the task. None of us are as smart as all of us (Johnson Johnson, 1987). This is when synergy is used. Synergy happens when the joint action of the group members produces performance that exceeds the expectations based on perceived abilities of skills of individual members. There can also be a negative synergy; which happens when the joint action of group members produces a worse result than expected based on perceived individuals abilities of skills of members. .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 , .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 .postImageUrl , .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 , .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496:hover , .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496:visited , .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496:active { border:0!important; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496:active , .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496 .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uec7642d5e573ce7a3710883a63e30496:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Swimming History EssayGroup size has a very large effect on the results a group produces. When the group size is increased: complexity, factionalism, information distortion, quality decision making, difficulties achieving a consensus are all increased. When group size is decreased the following increase: participation in group discussions, pressure to conform, member satisfaction, access to information, the flow of negative information to the top, and speed of decision making. All decision making groups have both a task dimension and a social dimension. The task dimension is the work performed by the group. The social dimension is the relationships that form between members in the group and their impact on the whole. In a corporation, if the boss is only concerned with the task dimension and ignores the social dimension of his workers it creates a problem. Too much attention to productivity can diminish cohesiveness by producing stress and conflict. Productivity is the result of the efficient and effective accomplishment of a group task. Cohesiveness is the degree to which members feel a part of the group and are committed to each other. A group will establish rules or standards called norms. Norms define appropriate behavior in specified situations. They stipulate what a person must do (obligation), ought to do (preference), or must not do (prohibition) in order to achieve certain goals. (Smith, 1982) There are two types of norms, explicit and implicit. Explicit norms are rules that are written down. They are clearly understood by each member of the group. Implicit norms are implied rules. They are rules we already know without having to talk about them or explain them. The main purpose of norms is to achieve group goals. The norming process takes place almost immediately after groups are formed. Members cast out trying to determine what behavior will be acceptable and what will be unacceptable. There are three principle sources of norms in small groups: some norms are from systems outside the small group, the influence of a single member, and the group itself. Each group member has a different role. A group role is the pattern of behavior expected of a group member. There are two types of roles, formal and informal. A formal role is a position assigned by an organization or is specially designated by the group leader. An informal role emerges from the groups transactions and it emphasizes functions not positions. A group members role is usually decided when the group is initially formed. What may have began as a casual or unnoticed pattern my quickly develop into an expectation. Norms and roles from the basic structure of a group. The relative importance, prestige, or power held by a particular role is its role status. Structure is the systematic interrelation of all parts of the whole. Structure provides form and shape for a group. Norms designate appropriate behavior for all group members while roles stipulate how particular group members should behave. A norm for a group might be that every member works hard on all tasks. Roles, however, specify different task behaviors for a manager and a worker (Johns Sline, 2005). The effects of roles on perceptions can be seen in a dramatic way by doing a role reversal, which is stepping into a role distinctly different from or opposite of a role we usually play. The effects of roles can be seen in another way. When we find ourselves playing roles in different groups that contradict each other, we experience role conflict. Some group members take the role of being a social loafer. Social loafing can suck the energy from a group. Social loafing is the tendency of individual group members to reduce their work effort as groups increase in size. Social loafing has been observed in groups working on a variety of tasks, among both males and females, people of all ages, and in many different cultures (Forsyth, 1999). Social loafing is more common in an individualist culture such as the United States than it is in collectivists cultures such as Taiwan, Singapore, China, and other Asian countries. Several steps can be taken to address the problem of social loafing. .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece , .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece .postImageUrl , .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece , .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece:hover , .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece:visited , .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece:active { border:0!important; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece:active , .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4f6cb8870a93bf6926407e779ae56ece:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Ray Bradburys Outlook Of The F EssayEstablish a group responsibility norm; emphasize individual responsibility. Note the critical importance of each members effort; tell all members that their individual effort is special. Hold members accountable; provide each member with a specific task. Talk to the individual privately; the first three steps attempt to prevent loafing. This step calls for a leader to approach the loafer. Confront the loafer as a group. Consult a higher power; consult a supervisor, teacher, or someone with greater authority than the group members. Boot out the loafers; this is the last resort. While working in groups we form relationships. The dictionary defines relationship as the mode in which two or more things stand to one another. This may be true but physical and economical relationships doesnt tell us much that is useful about interpersonal communication. Interpersonal relationships involve the way people deal with one another socially. Why do we form relationships? Sometimes we establish personal relationships because we find others attractive in one way or another. Some reasons why we are attracted to others are: appearance (appearance is especially important in the early stages of a relationship), similarity and complementarity (we like people who are similar to us), reciprocal attraction (we like people who like us), competence (we like to be around talented people), disclosure (we develop relationships by revealing important information about ourselves) and proximity (we are likely to develop relationships with people we interact with frequently). Emotion plays a large part in the way we communicate and what we communicate about. When a person has strong emotions, many bodily changes occur. For example, the physical components of fear include an increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, an increase in adrenalin secretions, an elevated blood sugar level, a slowing of digestion, and a dilation of pupils. Emotions are like colors: some are simple, whereas others are blends. Robert Plutchiks emotion wheel illustrates the difference. For example, jealousy can be viewed as a combination of several different emotions: distress, anger, disgust, contempt, fear, and even shame. Likewise, loneliness can include feelings of anger toward self and others, estrangement, and depression. Plutchik has identified eight primary emotions, which are listed inside the wheel. He suggests that these primary emotions can combine to form mixed emotions, some of which are listed outside the wheel ( Johns Sline, 2005). For communication to have meaning it must have a life. It must transcend you and me and become us. . . . In a small way we then grow out of our old selves and become something new. -Hugh Prather.

Familial Reconfiguration Essays

Familial Reconfiguration Essays Familial Reconfiguration Essay Familial Reconfiguration Essay The traditional family structure most common during the mid-twentieth century underwent a relatively marked change as the end of the century approached.   By the time the 1900s drew to a close, â€Å"fewer households [were] composed of families, and of family households, an increasing proportion [were] not composed of two parents living with their children.   It [was] no longer the case that a child [. . . could] expect to live his or her childhood with both biological parents† (Teachman, J. D., Tedrow, L. M., Crowder, K. D., 2000, p. 1243).   These were just some of the conclusions drawn by Teachman, et al. in their 2000 study the results of which can be read in â€Å"The Changing Demography of America’s Family.† Teachman, et al, set out to â€Å"describe recent dramatic changes in the composition, economic stability, and diversity of American families† (p. 1234).   Their methodology was to use existing data while reevaluating this data in terms of relevant changes to the trends based specifically on race, gender, and socio-economic situation. The researchers found several areas of weakness in the exiting data, including an unavailability of facts outside the accepted definitions of â€Å"family† and â€Å"marriage.†Ã‚   While admitting to their disappointment in having to ignore this relevant data, the researcher’s â€Å"need for comparable, high-quality data [required them] to make use of official statistics that all assume a legal definition of family and marriage† (Teachman, et al.   2000, p. 1234).   Outside the parameters set by the Census Bureau’s legal definitions of family and marriage, the lack of available and reliable facts regarding certain ethnic subgroups (i.e. Native Americans and Asian Americans) was also an area of potential weakness that was recognized by Teachman, et al. : Having established the limitations of their research, what the study did reveal was that the rate of first-time marriage had seen â€Å"a reasonably consistent decline [. . .] since the end of World War II† while â€Å"the rate of divorce [had] evidenced a slow, but steady increase over the period covered† (Teachman, et al.   2000, p. 1235).   The researchers then set out to break these facts down by race (i.e. White, African-American, and Hispanic), and found that fewer women were getting married in the latter portion of the twentieth century than was the case prior to 1975, regardless of race (p. 1236).   The research did show that the decline was not equal among the races and that for African-American and Hispanic women, the decline had been more marked than for White women (p. 1236). Teachman, et al, (2000) pointed out that while some researchers attribute this to the increasing rate of non-white women who are on welfare, that the â€Å"rates of marriage [had] continued to decline at the same time the value of Aid to Families with Dependent Children [had] fallen dramatically†; therefore, the correlation between money and marriage does not fit this scenario (p. 1237).   The more likely rationale pointed to by Teachman, et al. is that â€Å"marriage depends not only on one’s personal characteristics but also on the availability of suitable spouses and on the characteristics of others competing for those potential spouses† (p. 1237).   Since World War II, there has been a tremendous influx of women who have entered the workforce, and the increase was especially prevalent during the latter years of the twentieth century.   Women have enjoyed an increased in job opportunities and income while men have been plagued by fewer opportunities and less radical instances of pay increases. Speaking generally, when compared to the new opportunities for women in the work force, the job market can be described as particularly bleak for African-American males, somewhat bleak for Hispanic males, and generally bleak for White males.   Taking into account that the â€Å"increasing value placed on individualism by Americans has decreased the perceived value of marriage,† it is easy to understand why fewer and fewer women are marrying early or marrying at all (Teachman, 2000, p.1237). The role of education and employment was also reviewed by the researchers, and their  findings concluded that White women who are either/or unemployed/undereducated are far more likely to marry if the man with whom they are partnered is employed and educated, but when the situation is reversed and the woman controls both the income and the education, the likelihood of her marrying decreases (Teachman, et al, 2000, p. 1237). These issues were found to be less significant in African-American and Hispanic unions; in both of these groups, availability of potential mates within the general living area was a far greater factor.   It is presumed that part of the difference had to do with the relative higher numbers of non-Whites living in inner-cities where the competition for potential mates was far greater than would be the case in outlining areas.   Income was not moot in this area, but the financial attractiveness of a potential mate could not be assessed if the potential mate simply could not be secured (Teachman, et al, 2000, p. 1238). Given the higher numbers of those choosing not to marry coupled with the increased rate of divorce among those who do, the researchers noted that â€Å"the portion of children living with a single parent at any given time has increased markedly† (Teachman, et al, 2000, p. 1239). Having undertaken the task of reevaluating the available data regarding the composition of families, Teachman, et al. certainly shed additional light on an oft-studied subject.   Their study shows clearly that there has been a dramatic change in family make-up over the last one-half century, and they also reveal the need for new research into the non-traditional â€Å"family† structure and non-â€Å"marriage† commitments that have become more prevalent in recent history. Reference Teachman, J. D., Tedrow, L. M., Crowder, K. D.   (2000).   The changing demography of America’s family.   Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62(4).   Retrieved October 18, 2006, from JSTOR database.

How can colleges increase their minority students population Essay

How can colleges increase their minority students population - Essay Example Colleges such as University of Southern California, University of San Francisco and even Stanford University have gained many benefits from having a diverse population both in terms of students and faculty. However, it must be noted that, obtaining a high level of diversity is not an easy objective and a lot has to be done by many colleges before they can claim to have diversity as an advantage that the offer to their students. Diversity can be clearly understood as a competitive advantage since it allows students to experience the world as it would be in their real life work environment. As per the suggestions given by Sherman (1996), the experience of diversity can help in breaking any stereotypes that a person may have and this would help in improving not only the overall outlook of the student but also improve their chances of having better future encounters with individuals coming from diverse backgrounds. There are several strategies that can be recommended to colleges for increasing their level of diversity. The most practical advice in this case is given by Dr. Campbell (2006) who works with the NAMCE (National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering). She suggests that colleges should try and reach out to diverse populations rather than sit back and hope that diverse populations will seek them out. She also applauds the GE Foundation that funded the Math Excellence program which helped colleges get more diverse engineering students through financial education support and by creating connections between colleges and students. As suggested by Trumble and Overstreet (2006), such connections work in the corporate world quite affectively when it comes to retention and recruitment and there is no reason why they can not work in the education sector. These connections were formed when colleges brought students from a diverse background to the campus in order to help them understand why

IMPORTANCE AND INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND Research Paper

IMPORTANCE AND INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS - Research Paper Example This will also involve a discussion on the major challenges facing disaster management and how the social media can be used to defray these challenges. The paper will concentrate on information sharing, disaster preparation and decision-making as well as information collection. These four social media functions will then be mapped on to three crisis management phases of awareness, reaction, and recovery to outline how a variety of social media tools may be utilized to improve crisis communications. The paper will also share several cases of global organizations and governments that use social media for crisis management. The research paper proposes a model to improve government utilization of social media for crisis management that includes the necessity for a mandate, distinct guidelines and several key capabilities that need to be developed. The proposed tools will help governments and organizations in emergency management and disaster preparedness. According to Sturges (2004) crisis management is an important organizational function that deals with planning and dynamic occurrence reaction to situations as they take place, usually in unpredictable ways. The flowing effects of a happening crisis can thrash a country’s or an organization’s capability to function effectively and may bring about serious harm to its citizens, institutions, assets, and repute. The emergence of an array of social media tools has transformed the landscape of crisis management significantly over the last few years with promises for social action now becoming certainties. With the availability of various software tools such as online discussion forums and news aggregators, organizations are now able to distribute, attain, and scrutinize information in a more efficient manner and expansively. While social media has the capability to bar a crisis from getting out of control,

D6 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

D6 - Assignment Example People from Mid West and South West entered California in search of food, shelter, and work. But soon they became a burden on the state economy and in the cities like Oklahoma, San Francisco, etc. crowded refugee colonies could now be discerned. The Depression had worldwide presence and effects, but it hit California very severely due to its suddenness. â€Å"The ‘20s had been an optimistic time. The population had boomed. The Bay Area had grown and prospered, and the population of Southern California had tripled. California was the future. Suddenly, almost overnight, the mood darkened. Businesses that had been expanding suddenly cut back. People were laid off, couldn’t pay their bills, couldn’t find a new job. In those days, there was no such thing as unemployment insurance. No welfare, no social security, nothing.† (Nolte, Paragraphs 3-4) In his writings, Starr has depicted the situation as very pathetic indeed. There was a dramatic drop in the wages of the agricultural workers just in 4 years during the beginning of the 1930s. By 1934, the number of workers had become almost one and a half times the number of available jobs. The dream of economic boom had been turned into a nightmare. (Starr, 235-251) In the United States, there were two major political parties during the beginning of the 20th century. The Democratic Party had a center-left political position, while the Republican Party emerged had emerged as a right wing establishment. This situation continues even today. However, during the Great Depression, tensions increased considerably. There was the emergence of â€Å"red scare† (Nolte, Paragraphs 1) and public had become antagonized toward the capitalist order of American democracy. In such a crisis situation, the Democrats moved ahead with a sort of reform agenda and assured the people of a better future and a more responsible scheme of governance. This social democratic approach became the political

Project Management in Construction

Project Management in Construction Definition: â€Å"Project management is the art of directing and coordinating human and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time, quality and participation satisfaction.† Definition according to Project Management Institute Objectives of Project Management: For construction project management the objectives depend a lot on resource constraints and the target should be accomplished with these in view. A main component of the whole process would be to investigate for better alternatives or making tradeoffs to reduce the conflicts between stated objectives and resource constraints. Especially with manual resources originating from so many cultural backgrounds, the probability of conflict is far higher. In general the objectives of project management in construction can be stated as: Stating of objectives and plans: this should include the various factors like Budgeting, Scheduling, targets and participants. Maximization of Efficiency: This should be accomplished by proper utilization of various resources, labor, material and equipment. The ultimate goal is to meet the objectives within prescribed schedules mentioned in (1). Coordination: A proper communication and coordination has to be maintained between various phases like planning, design, estimating and constructing. Conflicts and differences should be properly evaluated and resolved thus leading towards a common goal and objective Modern Management: Development in various tools and technologies along with detailed research into existing project management principles and trends lead into a new phase of management called Modern Management. Research and study into modern management processes reflected the following additional components: Management process approach: To study the management functions in detail. Management science and decision support approach: Assists managers in taking complex decisions by approaching a given problem in mathematical and scientific manner. Example: Operations Research Behavioral science approach: Involved more in interacting with people Sustainable competitive advantage: Is an indication of a proper management strategy. Modern management can be considered to be a combination of all the ingredients mentioned before, that is General Management, Project management, Special knowledge domains and supporting disciplines. The application of Modern management into construction has proven to be quite effective and efficient. Project Risk: Risk is an important factor of any project. Taking risk by a participant of a project shows his willingness to compete but has the down side of putting the whole project at stake. There are also potential chances of conflicts being arisen between participants due to this factor. There are usually many risks involved in a construction project, a brief list of which can be stated as follows: Social Problems: This includes factors like Environmental protection, public safety rules. Economic problems: Stock fluctuation, fluctuations in exchange rates. Relationships: This is one of the most common and most important factors. These risks develop due to the instability in relations between contracting agencies, participants of project, etc. Technological: Though a key factor in a project life cycle, technology can become a risky factor sometimes. It is up to the project owner and upper level managements to resolve the conflicts created by risk and to give the Go/NO-GO order to the team. Once the decision is made to take the risk, the project management and participants should strive to make the project a success. Organization: The other important factor in project management in general and construction project management in specific is the organizational structure of the company. There are various factor involved in designing and configuring the project that depend on the organizational flow. Some of the factors are Method of decomposition of project (Sequential Vs Parallel Vs Staggered decomposition, which depends on the organization needs and availabilities). Number of organizations involved in the project and the phases they are involved in. (Ex: The owner organization which is involved in the whole life cycle can call some contracting organization for their specific needs). Organizational structure which decides the number of projects being taken up at a given instance of time. (Ex: Matrix organization structure involves same teams for various projects, where as Project oriented organizational structure involves various teams for various projects). Professional Construction Management: A professional construction management normally refers to a team that specializes various phases of construction activities like Planning, Design and construction. They have the responsibility to coordinate with contracting organizations to resolve conflicts and make the project a success. A professional construction manager is a firm specialized in the practice of professional construction management whose responsibilities includes: Working with the owner and the Architectural/ Engineering teams to decide on strategies and make decisions. Consider various resources and constraints and develop alternatives if needed. Process the progress of the project making sure that the owner is well informed of the situation. Material and supply chain management. Provide other services and subcontracts. Professional construction management is involved normally for massive projects like Alaska Pipeline Project. 10 rules for Managing projects that win: Rule1: Clarify the project goal: the most important part of the project is Goal. An effective project manager always emphasizes on goal and rephrases it again and again to the team members. This will clear the vision of people (team members and end users) regarding what they have to achieve thus compelling them to strive for it. Rule2: Use objectives to define responsibilities: the objectives defined to reach the goal should be used in recognizing and allocating responsibilities. An effective team manager will recognize individual talents of team members and assign responsibilities accordingly. Rule3: Establish Checkpoints, Activities, relationships and time estimates: Team members work the best when they know what to do and have a specific target set in front of them. Creating Timelines, checkpoints and activities help the team members concentrate their energies in the proper direction. Rule4: Supercharge the plan with a picture: Try to make the project progress as clear as possible to your team members and upper management. Use Gant and Pert charts to show the progress visually which will aid them to understand the process much better than verbal explanation or presentations. Rule 5: Develop an empowered project team: Understand the elements of human behavior and recognize the differences in team members. Note that each person’s skill can be used in a unique fashion to contribute to the project. Try to find the motivating factor for team members, each person can be motivated by something different. Rule6: Reinforce People’s motivation and energy: This can be accomplished by bringing in a sense of ownership into team member’s mind. Trying to align people’s thoughts with one another and with project goal will help a lot too. By brining in this common thinking and sense of challenge, team members will be cheered and motivated at all stages of project life cycle. Rule7: Communication: Communication between team members and team management is one of the most important factors for project success. Make sure all the aspects of project including progress, successes, failures, etc, are all well informed to the team members. Another part of communication is to listen sincerely and regularly to the opinion of team members, some times listening is more important than talking. Rule8: Vitalize people with energy from conflicts: Try to use the energy generated with various conflicts in the project life cycle to encourage people. This will help them to focus and resolve issues cooperatively. Rule9: The Power of being a project manager has to be used in brining the commitment from team members. This will help them in using their individual powers to make the project a success. Rule10: Try to be creative. Case Study: Alaska Pipeline Project: Alaska Pipeline project was considered to be the most expensive private project in 1970s. With over 10billion dollars of budget and 800 miles of pipeline, this project required top notch project managements abilities to be completed and perfected. I choose this project as an example because of two reasons: (i) The Vast ness of the project and (ii) The involvement of Professional project management organization. During the planning phase, the owner assigned the whole project to a Construction Management company (contracting, called CMC) while retaining the centralized decision making ability. Initially the hierarchy from top to bottom consisted of 9 layers which created many risks and conflicts between various subcontractors and other participants of the project. There were also delays made in decision making process because of various construction sites and count of subcontractors. To eliminate this, the owner then created a Professional Project Management firm by combining a portion of Owner and CMC. The primary goal of this team was to control all the subcontractors. This change reduced the number of layers of hierarchy from 9 to about 5, in turn closing the gap between management and workforce. This also boosted the performance of decision making process as the communication and collaboration process was greatly improved. . One of the primary decisions of this team was to decentralize th e construction of 5 segments of the pipeline as a different project thus giving the organization a goal oriented look. With the introduction of this new firm, all the major rules of project management were covered and the project was successfully completed within given budget and time. References: Burke, Rory â€Å"Project Management-Planning Control†, 4th Ed, John Wiley Son 2002 Lock D, â€Å"Project Management†,   8th Ed Gower 2004 W.Alan Randolph, Barry Z.Posner, â€Å"Checkered Flag Projects†, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall. Project management in construction Project management in construction Brief 199803 The role of the Project Manager amongst other things may be that of the partnering facilitator as identified in various literatures and by authors such as, but not limited to Latham and Egan etc. Highlight a theoretical but practical role for the project manager as a partnering facilitator.     Outlined below is a discussion and an examination of the notion that the role of the Project Manager amongst other things may be that of the partnering facilitator which enables projects to be carried out efficiently. The notion that the Project Manager amongst other things could fulfil the role of the partnering facilitator has been identified as well as being developed further in the literature of Latham and also Egan, besides others. Authors such as Latham and Egan regarded that the fulfilling of the part of being a partnering facilitator as one of the main functions of any successful Project Manager, but of course not the only one. As part of the evaluation of the role played by Project Managers, the potential role of being a partnering facilitator will highlight a theoretical but practical role for any Project Manager to carry out whilst acting as a partnering facilitator. Project Managers have played and still continue to play important parts within the public and private s ectors of the British economy. However, for the purpose of this evaluation the theoretical, yet practical role that would allow any Project Manager to act as a partnering facilitator are considered within the confines of the construction industry in the United Kingdom. It should also be remembered that the ideas relating to the concepts were actually originally developed by engineers in the United States before being widely adapted by businesses and academics alike (Deeprose, 2001 p. 3). The construction industry within the United Kingdom would upon both a theoretical as well as a practical basis provide plenty of scope for a Project Manager to fulfil or serve the role of a partnering facilitator during the course of carrying out their job. The reasons for the construction industry offering opportunities for Project Managers to be able to act out a role of being a partnering facilitator are strongly related to the nature of that industry within Britain itself. Construction firms exist to develop, plan, deliver, and finally complete building projects, Project Managers are also trained to think and function in a similar way (Deeprose, 2001 p. 18). The Project Manager thus arguably has a vital linking and organising function or purpose contained within the core responsibilities of their job, which in itself is pivotal for the efficient running of the construction industry in Britain. Any or every construction project needs to be managed effectively, and well organised i n order for it to be completed on time and within budget, a requirement that the use of a Project Manager is intended to fulfil. Even if only one company was formally engaged in completing a construction project a high degree co-ordination and organisation would still be required to make sure the efficiency of the organisation remains consistently high as well as being successful. A single company will have various stakeholders with different concepts of what needs to be done to successful complete. The more companies which are involved in a proposed project means a higher number of stakeholders need to enter working partnerships (Briner, Hastings, Geddes, 1996 pp. 10-12). In reality, construction projects normally have several contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers involved in the whole process, which further increases the need for co-ordination and sound organisation. The Project Manager is therefore ideally placed to carry out the necessary co-ordination and organisation to achieve the full completion of the project (Deeprose, 2001 p. 3). Latham and Egan, amongst others, have contended that the level of co-ordination and organisation that Project Manager have to use to get their jobs done with the British construction industry could justify the tag of partnering facilitator. Deeprose has argued that the operating methods of Project Managers and companies are very similar, which helps to explain why Project Managers are very useful in running construction programmes (Deeprose, 2001 p. 18). In theoretical and practical terms, the Project Manager needs to work in partnerships whilst facilitating the means to ensure that all are programmes are carried out. One way of exploring whether the Project Manager could theoretically and practically act as a partnering facilitator would be to look into how a project to build a housing development could actually be managed. To be able to complete a housing construction programme theoretically and indeed practically involves a great deal of partnership to move from initial planning a nd designing, through to finding contractors or suppliers, gaining planning permission, then finally construction. Even after construction has been finished partnerships could still be needed to make sure that the required standards are met, and to achieve the highest quality houses. Young argues that the key to the successful completion of any construction project is for it to be well designed with all the people that need to make the decisions having access to all relevant information (Young, 1996 p. 21). The Project Manager needs to form a partnership with the architects that design the building that make up the housing construction programme, and both need to discuss the exact specifications and materials required to make the project achievable (Young, 1996 p. 45). These architects could either work for the same company as the Project Manager or be employed by a different company if not a specialised architectural consultancy. Having a sound partnership with the architect would allow the Project Manager to examine whether the designs for the proposed housing programme are practical, are what the stakeholders actually requested, and also if they meet health and safety standards (Maylor, 1996 p. 47). Close consultation between the Project Manager and the architects will facilitate discussion with regard to the quality, as well as the practical feasibility of the housing being designed. Together the Project Manager in conjunction with the architects will draw up plans as to what will b e needed in the houses to ensure that all features and facilities are installed as planned, and altered if needs be (Young, 1996 p.45). Theoretically and practically for the successful finishing of a house building project the Project Manager needs to form a relationship with the Local Planning Authority to ensure that planning could be granted to allow building work to begin. Without planning permission the proposed housing construction will not be carried out (Deeprose, 2001 p. 18). A good relationship with the Local Planning Authority responsible for granting or not granting planning permission could be useful if the Project Manager needs to arrange for water, gas and electricity supplies have to be extended to the new houses after those have been finished (Young, 1996, p. 45). The Project Manager might even have to liase with the Local Planning Authority to arrange new roads or an extension of existing roads to the new houses. The Project Manger as the main facilitator between the company or the consortium they work for and the Local Planning Authority would have the task of sorting out any differences between th e tow to make sure that planning permission is granted as quickly as possible. Partnership between the Project Manager and the Local Planning Authority should help to facilitate the successful completion of the proposed building of new houses (Maylor, 1996 p. 6). Theoretically as well as practically the Project Manager would therefore need to facilitate a partnership between all the constructors, and sub-contractors, which are, actually needed to design, build and complete the new houses (Maylor, 1996 p. 47). New houses are completed through the combined efforts of contractors and sub-contractors, which have special skills and functions (Briner, Hastings, Geddes, 1996 pp. 10-12). For instance, new houses will need electricians, gas fitters, plumbers, as well as plasterers to complete the infrastructure of every house being built. The Project Manager will be responsible for hiring all the contractors and sub-contractors, as well as any general labourers needed to finish the new houses (Deeprose, 2001 p. 3). The Project Manager would have to make sure that everybody or firm hired to complete the construction is capable of doing their jobs to satisfactory standards or have work done again by alternative contractors (Briner, Hastings, Geddes, 1 996 pp. 10-12). Not only will the Project Manager ensure that the contracted work is done effectively, they will have to action any complaints, needs or problems that the contractors, sub-contractors, and workers have with completing the new houses (Young, 1996 p 47). Health and safety is also an issue that the Project Manager has to consider. The Project Manager has a responsibility to make sure that everybody is safe upon the construction site. Hand in hand with making sure that workers are safe, the Project Manager would also have to ensure that all the work carried out on the new houses complies with all health and safety regulations (Briner, Hastings, Geddes, 1996 pp. 10-12). Facilitating with all contractors, sub-contractors and workers not only maintain the partnership between them all, it also allows the new houses to be safe without anybody being hurt during their construction. For the Project Manager complying with health and safety standards will mean that the building p rocess runs smoothly and reduces the risk of legal action being taken against the building consortium (Deeprose, 2001 p. 18). Therefore, one way in which the function of any Project Manager as a partnering facilitator could be theoretically and practically demonstrated through the co-ordination and organisation needed to build new houses. The Project Manager could and indeed should play a pivotal role in partnering or linking all the elements needed to complete a new housing programme. The Project Manager has an essential part to play in ensuring that the parties involved in the construction of the new houses would work closely together to make sure that the building is completed successfully and to time. Without the Project Manager acting as a partnering facilitator it would arguably be more difficult to design, construct, and fully complete the new house building programme. The Project Manager co-ordinates and liases with the architects over the design as well as the features of the new houses before the plans are finalised and then submitted for planning permission. Then the Project Manager would thus us ually have to approach the appropriate Local Planning Authority to gain planning permission and then amend the building proposals if that is required. Probably the most important partnering facilitating performed by the Project Manager would be co-ordinating, as well as organising all the contractors, sub-contractors and all workers needed to build and finish the new houses once planning permission has been granted. A good working partnership actively facilitated by the Project Manager should mean that the new houses are built up to a high standard as quickly, yet effectively as possible. The Project Manager will achieve the function of partnering facilitator most effectively by involving all the relevant stakeholders that are part of the construction project. Briner W, Hastings C, Geddes M, (1996) Project Leadership – 2nd edition, Gower, Aldershot Deeprose D, (2001) Smart things to know about Managing Projects, Capstone Publishing Limited, Oxford Maylor, 1996 Young T, (1996) The Handbook of Project Management, Kogan Page, London

Cyber-terrorism Essay -- cyber attacks, 2015

"It is now clear that cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation," President Obama has said in one of his addresses to the nation. He would go on the say that "We know that cyber intruders have probed our electrical grid, and that in other countries cyber attacks have plunged entire cities into darkness." (Net Security.org, 2009) When the president of the United States puts this much emphasis into a subject it shows how important it is and how big of an impact it could have on the nation. The United States is very dependent on digital networks due to the fact that almost everything is controlled by computers. Terrorist organizations and hostile countries are aware of this and an attack on our networks could be crippling to our economy. It would bring the most powerful and influential nation to a standstill. This is why president Obama has expressed the need for increased security measures because a cyber war is a reality tha t could happen soon that we must be prepared for. When a person thinks of the different types of warfare they would probably think of the more common types seen in the past wars like guerilla warfare, chemical warfare, and biological warfare. But in the present day and age a new warfare has emerged. It is the cyber warfare. This type of warfare is when an outside power may chose to attack the network or power grid with means of harmful intent. An example of this can be seen when hackers released a series of cyber attacks on Brazil’s power grid and left cities and parts of the country powerless for up to a few days. In result to this, Brazil lost millions upon millions of dollars and its economy was at a standstill. An incident that happened to the United States that helped make the security of networks front and center was in 2007 when the theft of terabytes of information was taken from the Department of Defense, The Department of State, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Energy and Nasa because of a breach in by a foreign power. This followed by another intrusion of the CENTCOM network which is used by the Department of Defense to relay information for actions in the wars America is currently in. This attack was believed to be a backdoor attack through corrupted memory sticks and thumbnail drives. Foreign powers that staged this attack were able to see and in... ...f the Center for Strategic and International Studies summed up the United States and its stance on cyber wars as this: "We have, at best, a few years to get our defenses in order, to build robustness and resiliency into networks and critical infrastructure, and to modernize our laws to allow for adequate security. Our current defenses are inadequate to repel the attacks of a sophisticated opponent. The United States is far more dependent on digital networks than its opponents and this asymmetric vulnerability means that the United States would come out worse in any cyber exchange." (Net Security.org, 2009) Works Cited cbsnews.com. (2009, November 8). Cyber War: Sabotaging the System. Retrieved February 11, 2010, from 60 Minutes: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/06/60minutes/main5555565.shtml Net Security.org. (2009, November 09). Cyber war is coming, the impact could be huge. Retrieved February 11, 2010, from Help Net Security: http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=8484 Net Security.org. (2009, October 27). Serious cyber attacks on the horizon. Retrieved February 11, 2010, from Help Net Security: http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=8439

‘Satyam †the Enron of India’

INTRODUCTION The case study ‘Satyam – the Enron of India’ looks at Satyam Computer Services Limited and its involvement in corporate fraud leading to one of India’s largest white-collar crimes. The Satyam scandal marks as one of India’s biggest corporate scandals where its stakeholders were continually fed misleading financial information from its late chairman Ramalinga Raju. This once promising, global IT company provided its services for some of the largest companies in Australia and the United States, such as Telstra, Suncorp and Qantas, to mention a few.The following case study analysis looks at the failure of Satyam Computer Services Limited due to fierce competition and the need to impress stakeholders, along with inaccurate, misleading accounting statements, unethical behaviour and poor leadership. PART 1: Management issues in the Satyam case study From reviewing the case, the management issues in the case study are unethical behaviour and po or leadership. As there was no approval needed form shareholders it gave Raju and his brother the ability to make all managerial decisions.The lack of leadership and abuse of power let independent directors and audit committee feel intimidated enough to trust in the managerial decisions without question. The need for power and money led to negligence of fiduciary duties and inaccurate deceptive accounting on Raju’s behalf. Raju’s total disregard for managerial ethics just to make short term figures to impress Satyam’s stakeholders resulted in a complete lack of corporate social responsibility.Raju’s greed led to the manipulation of financial records to show increased earnings, payment of salaries to ‘ghost staff’, diversion of funds to purchase property in family member names and fabricated profits ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬. It is believed PricewaterhouseCooper failed to perform its role correctly and therefore this failure to follow fiduciary responsi bilities lead to Raju’s manipulation of the businesses statements and cash flow was go undetected. PART 2: Why the issues are problematic? In the first instance we examine the unethical behaviour and the conflict of interest with family members in high company roles.Since the company was founded and owned by Raju himself, the chairman, and his brother occupying the role of managing director, which gave them and overwhelming majority and a psychological advantage into the decision making of the company. This advantage is how the company books were able to be cooked and inflated profits by selling inflated stakes for went undetected for so long. Without the approval of from the shareholder the directors were able to use company funds to be diverted into family real estate investments.Raju’s expectations for power and ambitious corporate growth also contributed to the fraud. Whist there is no right or wrong way to behave due to Raju’s lack of moral leadership Satya m’s stakeholders, clients and employees were also greatly affected by the demise. Rationalisation and justification lead to negative emotions which could have caused Raju to act emotionally and unethically without any regard for his stakeholders. The damage to the credibility of the company forced the cancellation of projects which in turn lead to the employee’s loss of wages, jobs and self esteem.The mistrust would have had clients question accountability and would have sought business with Satyums competitors. Shareholders would have lost money in the form of investments. Deceptive reporting practices and complete lack of transparency in the finances damaged the company’s future credibility. As PricewaterhouseCooper failed to detect the discrepancies I believe they also hold some accountability in the downfall of the company. As the falsifying of Satyam’s books would lower its stock values, which inturn would lead lower profits and less investors.Howeve r to leave the auditor out of the equation would be a mistake. As a result of negligence with both PricewaterhouseCooper and Raju, the outsourcing company suffered a massive blow in trust and leave further investment in the company questionable. However whilst the scandal put pressure on the Indian government and other Indian outsourcing, this type of scandal wouldn’t be limited to just India as a culture, as It comes down having a good global manager that exercises good ethical behaviour.As all mangers are human it’s the ability of mangers to be self disciplined and handle pressure to provide total quality management. PART 3: Recommendations. In Satyam’s case the need to merge or sell the company would be the first step to restore some faith in the company. What happened with Satyam served as a reminder that a universal, quality corporate governance mechanism is needed to ensure future companies don’t follow in Raju’s footsteps. Complete transpare ncies in finances would also avoid any temptation for unethical behaviour along with more deterring punishments for frauds of this scale.This would ensure higher loyalty and trust from stakeholders. Henri Fayol’s contribution to management thinking would be a great concept to start with, his five principles; I. Planning – Establishing objectives and goals. Recognising obstacles, these can be internal or external, and how to control them. Forming, implementing and following up of plans. II. Organising – Identification, classification, coordination III. Commanding – The delegation of duties to correct workers, successful leadership. IV.Coordinating – Make decisions and ensure all information is shared and to monitor the works involved. V. Controlling – Monitoring and making sure all things are running according to plan. Employee performance reviews Whilst policing manager personality traits would be a perfect solution the reality of policing t his is near impossible therefore management accountability and responsibility would be a good start. Having a universal Code of Ethical Conduct and setting out universal teachings or courses in global ethics may also provide a solution.By obtaining a better understanding of cultural diversity, understanding the abilities, vales and personality types of different cultures ultimately it is up to the manager to be fully accountable. REFERENCE LIST Schermerhorn, Davidson, Poole, Simon, Woods, Chau, 2011, Management Foundations and Applications http://www. mahindrasatyam. com/investors/documents/Annual-Repor-for-the-year-2011-12. pdf http://www. vrl-financial-news. com/accounting/intl-accounting-bulletin/issues/iab-2009/iab441/satyam-scandal-where-to-from. aspx http://www. telegraph. co. uk/finance/4161198/Satyam-accounting-scandal-could-be-Indias-Enron. html

Adoption of Lean Six Sigma in Lenovos Supply Chain

Adoption of Lean Six Sigma in Lenovos Supply Chain Introduction Lenovo Group Limited is a large Chinese multinational corporation that specialises in computer technology. It manufactures and distributes various electronic products in the global market. According to the study conducted by Zhijun (2013, p. 92), Lenovo was ranked the world’s leading vendor of personal computers in terms of unit sales.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Adoption of Lean Six Sigma in Lenovo’s Supply Chain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company currently has active offices in over 60 countries around the world. Its products circulate in over 160 countries according to the report by the Global Reporting Initiative (2011, p. 88). Currently, the management of this firm has been working on ways of improving its supply chain management strategies. This has been done through the decentralisation of processing plants and management centres from Beijing in China to various locatio ns around the world. The decision to decentralise production plants and management centres was influenced by the desire to shorten the distance between the manufacturing plants and the market. The management of this firm realized the need to end-to-end supply chain visibility as a way of improving efficiency in its product delivery method. Lean Six Sigma may be very useful to this firm in its efforts to achieve this sustainability. Not only will this tool help the firm improve the quality of its products, but also help in reducing the cost of production (Kamauff 2010, p. 56). In this study, the researcher will focus on determining how Lenovo can use Lean Six Sigma to achieve sustainability in its supply chain management. The first part of this report will be the introduction; the second part will be the analysis, while the last section will be a conclusion of the findings of the study. In this study, Lean Six Sigma refers to a quality management tool that seeks to streamline the pro cesses in order to achieve near perfect products (Brockett Rezaee 2012, p. 77). The study will determine how adoption of this tool will help enhance sustainability of Lenovo’s supply chain. Analysis Lenovos Supply Chain The management of Lenovo has been keen on streamlining its supply chain to not only eliminate costs but also improve the quality of the products they deliver to their customers. The firm has employed a number of strategies in its supply chain.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, in this study, the focus will be on End-To-End Supply Chain Visibility Strategy that was employed in 2013 using E2open software to enable the management to monitor all the activities in its supply chain (Qiao Conyers 2014, p. 59). According to this scholar, Lenovo had previously been using various strategies to manage its supply chain. However, David Gillon, wh o is the current Executive Director of Lenovo’s Global Supply Chain, realized that besides having superior tools and equipments to improve supply chain at this firm, it was necessary to have a new system at the firm that will make it possible for the management to track down all the activities within the supply chain in real time. This was necessary so that the management can detect any problems within the supply chain as soon as they occur. As Lan and Unhelka (2013, p. 74) say, End-To-End Supply Chain Visibility strategy has become popular in the recent past because it gives a firm control over the activities taking place within its supply chain. End-To-End Supply Chain Visibility was meant to support a strategy employed by this firm the previous year that eliminated all the intermediaries when accessing most of the raw materials. The firm developed a new strategy that emphasised on dealing directly with the producers of the raw materials other than brokers. In order to use this strategy, the management of Lenovo had to employ the use of E2open software that not only helped in monitoring the activities within the supply chain, but also integrated the communication system within the firm. This made it possible for all the stakeholders responsible for various activities to know when there is a problem within the supply chain so that they can know the best course of action. For instance, the production manager at Lenovo’s plant in Beijing will know when there is a problem in the supply of a given raw material. With this knowledge coming as soon as this fact becomes a reality, the production manager is able to re-strategize its production activities to avoid serious negative consequences that may arise because of the unavailability of the needed materials. According to the report by Qiao and Conyers (2014, p. 78), the management of Lenovo has been able to reduce losses within its supply chain that is always associated with lack of information and co ordination between various departments because of this new technology-based strategy. According to Qiao and Conyers (2014, p. 81).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Adoption of Lean Six Sigma in Lenovo’s Supply Chain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Lenovo’s top management committed HK$ 6.35 billion to help expand the Beijing’s 200,000-square feet production facility in early 2014 to help sustain its increased production due to improvement of its supply chain. This is a clear indication that this new approach to managing its supply chain has been a success. Need for Sustainability and Factors Involved In Achieving It According to Wisner, Tan and Leong (2011, p. 67), the issue of sustainability has gained relevance as firms struggle to secure their future in the turbulent market. In order to understand steps that have been taken to promote sustainability at Lenovo, it will be necessary to analyze v arious stages of supply chain where sustainability is necessary. Sourcing is one of the most sensitive areas of management in the supply chain. As Shah (2009, p. 23) observes, a firm needs to ensure that there is a reliable source of raw materials to ensure that the production process is not interrupted due to shortage of inputs. According to Aras and Crowther, (2009, p. 280), the management of Lenovo has formed strategic partnerships with its suppliers, especially those who supply sensitive products such as rare earth metals through long-term contracts. These long-term contracts bind these suppliers to this firm and reduce chances that the suppliers can suddenly stop their business transactions with this firm. The management has also been keen on fostering a close relationship with these suppliers. As Taylor (2003, p. 56) observes, in most of the cases they are considered integral part of this firm. These steps were taken to ensure that the suppliers remain loyal to this firm. It r ealised that it needed to do this in order to protect its sources of raw materials. Manufacturing is another sensitive process in the supply chain management. In the current competitive market, it is very critical to have sustainable manufacturing strategies that can help a firm secure its future in the market (Timans et al. 2013, p. 340). The management has embraced technology in its manufacturing processes as one of the main steps towards achieving efficiency in its supply chain. As mentioned above, the firm is putting up a 200,000-square meter production complex in Beijing that has state-of-the-art machines to help in running its production processes. The society has become so sensitive about environmental conservation. If this firm fails to embrace environmental-friendly manufacturing strategies, it may have a bleak future due to the regulations that are expected in the near future. Similarly, the issue about packaging will need to be re-evaluated. Many firms are now considering using bio-degradable materials to package their products in order to protect the environment.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Lenovo will need to take a similar path in order to remain relevant in the market that has become very dynamic. The distribution centre management that has been embraced by Lenovo is in line with the changing environmental factors (Liu 2009, p. 574). Devolving the management and setting up various offices across the global market is needed so that this firm can act locally based on the prevailing market forces in different regions around the world. According to Mahadevan (2009, p. 37), waste management is a factor that firms can no longer ignore, especially at the production plant. Lenovo will need to find proper ways of managing wastes according to the international standards given that it is operating in the global market. This will mean recycling its wastes or finding better waste disposal methods for the products that cannot be recycled. Another sensitive issue is the emissions control. According to Gorman (2011, p. 570), many countries around the world are reducing the limit of emissions of greenhouse gases per given time. With these new developments, Lenovo will need to find a way of reducing its emission rates despite its increasing levels of output in order to remain sustainable. Tools and Techniques Associated With Lean Six Sigma Lean Six Sigma is one of the management tools that many firms are using to improve their operations and enhance sustainability. At this stage, it will be important to critically analyse what can be achieved through Lean Six Sigma and to determine how it applies to Lenovo. According to Tompkins and Harmelink (2004, p. 45), Lean Six Sigma refers to â€Å"A methodology that relies on a collaborative team effort to improve performance by systematically removing waste.† The term lean in production context means maximum elimination of wastes and unnecessary processes. The current environmental forces may require Lenovo to employ lean manufacturing in order to improve quality and eliminate wastes as much as possible. The foll owing are some of the tools and techniques associated with Lean Six Sigma at Lenovo. According to Bolstorff and Rosenbaum (2012, p. 56), when using Lean Six Sigma there are eight kinds of waste that must be eliminated in order to manage the costs of production, and each requires different tools and techniques. The first kind of waste is the problem of defects. The study by Qiao and Conyers (2014, p. 112) reveals that Lenovo has embraced the use of modern technologies as means of reducing defects at its production plants. These defective products always have very little value because they cannot be sold and some cannot be recycled (Sarkar 2005, p. 427). The management of Lenovo emphasises on the zero of Globalisation of Chinese Enterprises, Journal of International Business Studies, vol. 38. no. 4, pp. 573-577. Mahadevan, B 2009, Operations Management: Theory and Practice, licensees of Pearson Education, New Delhi. Panneerselvam, R 2012, Production and Operations Management, Cengage, New York. Qiao, G Conyers, Y 2014, The Lenovo Way: Managing a Diverse Global Company for Optimal Performance: Managing a Diverse Global Company for Optimal Performance, McGraw Hill Professional, New York. Reverte, C 2009, Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Ratings by Spanish Listed Firms, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 88. no. 2, pp. 351-366. Sarkar, D 2005, Lessons in Six Sigma–72 Must-Know Truths for Managers ,Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 40. no. 3, pp. 425-429. Shah, J 2009, Supply chain management: Text and cases, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River. Spulbe, D 2012, Global Competitive Strategy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Taylor, D 2003, Supply chains: A managers guide, Pearson Professional Education, Harlow. Timans, W, Antony, J, Ahaus, K Solingen R 2013, Implementation of Lean Six Sigma in small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in the Netherlands, The Journal of the Operational Research Society, vol. 6 3. no. 3, pp. 339-353. Tompkins, J Harmelink, D 2004, The supply chain handbook, Raleigh Press, New York. Wieriks, R 2013, The landscape of sustainability assurance: Towards further shaping the assurance approach, Erasmus Universiteit, Rotterdam. Wisner, J, Tan, K Leong, G 2011, Principles of supply chain management: A balanced approach, South-Western, Mason. Zhijun, L 2013, The Lenovo Affair: The Growth of Chinas Computer Giant and Its Takeover of IBM-PC, Cengage, New York.

Abortionessay essays

Abortionessay essays Pro-Choice or Pro-Life But oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to desperation which impelled her to the crime [abortion] (Susan B. Anthony, 1869). In the Scott Foresman Advanced Dictionary, Thorndike and Barnhart defined abortion as the removal of a developing embryo or fetus from the uterus to terminate a pregnancy before birth resulting in death of the fetus (3). The abortion issue has become one of the worlds most controversial problems of today. The abortion issue is divided into two sides, pro-life and pro-choice. They focus on different aspects of receiving an abortion. At one end we have the pro-choice advocate-those who focus on womens right. The pro-choice supporters have reason to believe the fetus is only a potential human being. It has no right whatsoever, because the right belongs to the woman carrying the fetus, and it is she who decides on the length of time of the pregnancy. On the other end we have the pro-life -those who oppose abortion and focus on the fetus rights. They believe the fetus is a human being and has just as much legal right as the parents. The Bible states that everybody was created in the image of God. Therefore, taking the life of an innocent child is like killing the image of God. In the Bible, God said that thou shall not murder. Websters Dictionary and Thesaurus have defined murder as the unlawful and intentional killing of a human being (133). Is abortion moral or immoral? According to pro-life supporters, the unborn child is entrusted to the protection and care of the mother carrying it and yet the majority of the time it is the mother herself who makes the choice of whether or not the child should be aborted. The decision to abort the child may have come from problems dealing with the health of the mother or standard or living for the family. However, these excuses never justify the intentional killing of an innocent person. Many people claim that an e...

Technology and a youth community(you chose) Essay

Technology and a youth community(you chose) - Essay Example This essay discusses how youth communities today utilize technology in order to sustain the community and maintain their identity. Special focus is on the UK Youth Climate Coalition. Youth communities make important contribution to development in a society. These mainly are forums or platforms that enable young people in the society to acquire different skills that are vital for effective participation in society. Different youth communities are concerned with different aspects in society. While some youth communities are concerned with climate, others might focus on drugs, education, gender, discrimination, rights and freedoms, politics, youth empowerment, and youth leadership, among others. Overall, youth communities today have a positive impact in society, as well as on the lives of the participating youth. Apart from developing various skills, the participating youth are also exposed to various opportunities, and learn to be responsible team players and leaders. Owing to the benefits of youth communities, it is therefore, important that they are sustained, and their collective identity is maintained. Nonetheless, technology remains a major way that promotes the identity and sustenance of youth communities. The UK Youth Climate Coalition is a UK-based youth organization formed in the year 2008 and comprises youth between the ages of 18 and 29. Run by unpaid volunteers, the UK Youth Climate Coalition focuses on the area of climate change and envisions a world in which the environment is well protected, clean, safe and sustainable for all humanity (UK Youth Climate Coalition Web). In order to realize this vision, the UK Youth Climate Coalition focuses on important areas such as education, energy, jobs and the economy, transport, as well as the international community; as these act as stepping stones to making the organization’s vision become a reality. As a considerably large and popular youth community, the UK Youth Climate Coalition

DWI Plea Bargaining and Recidivism and relevance to deterrence and Thesis

DWI Plea Bargaining and Recidivism and relevance to deterrence and social learning theory - Thesis Example From the research it can be comprehended that social learning theory and general deterrence theories are two theories which may be used to combat the problem of drinking and driving. Social learning is based upon group behavior, and the assumption that groups have the same norms, values and beliefs, which are transmitted through the group. Behavior may also be punished or rewarded within the group, and modeling plays a part, in that individuals look at each others' behavior and imitate this behavior. The group also has definitions, which serve as justifications or excuses for behavior. This is the most important part of social learning theory. General deterrence theory, on the other hand, focuses on reinforcement, as opposed to association. It is solely focused on punishment, and the theory is that if punishment is both severe and certain, it is more likely to deter others from engaging in this particular behavior. This theory has less scientific evidence supporting it, although it c an coincide with social learning theory, in that part of social learning theory concerns vicarious reinforcement, which means that individuals in a group see others in their group be rewarded or punished for behavior, and react accordingly. General deterrence is a part in that, if a member of a group is punished, then this is a model to others to stop the behavior. Social learning theory has been implicated in criminality, in particular with regards to violence. Rosenstock, Stretcher, and Becker (1988) state that social learning theory is based upon expectancies and incentives. The expectancies consist of expectancies regarding environmental clues (how events are connected, and what leads to what); expectancies about the consequences of one's own actions; and expectancies regarding one's own competency to perform the behavior necessary to achieve the desired outcome. The incentives part of this equation consists of value of the particular outcome. Akers, Krohn, Lanza-Kaduce, Radosev ich (1979) conceive of social learning theory as a variance of operant conditioning combined with learning by observing other's behavior. In other words, social learning is dependent upon the factors governing operant conditioning, which is dependent upon rewards to reinforce good behavior and punishment to deter bad behavior. Either deviant or conforming behavior may be reinforced, depending upon the punishment and rewards one gets for one or the other behavior. Observation of others is the other part of this equation, and this is where individuals learn by watching others what kind of behavior is rewarded or punished. Others model for them what behavior is good and what behavior is bad – in particular, people learn from others who have great influence in their lives, like peers, teachers or parents. Akers (2006) states that social learning consists of four variables. The first is differential association. This means that the individual associates with others with behaviors, values and norms which are supportive of the particular act in question. This association may either be with peers, parents or others, and it may also be association with video games, television, on-line groups and the like. A definition refers to rationalizations, justifications and excuse for the behavior. Differential reinforcement refers to the anticipation of rewards or punishment for the behavior. Generally, the more likely the behavior is to be rewarded, the more likely the person will engage in this behavior. Imitation refers