Organizational Effectievness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Organizational Effectievness - Essay Example Rational, open and natural systems approaches are among the strategies that can be adopted to accomplish organizational goals. This paper presents a critique as to why most managers find rational approaches to organizations and organising appealing. It highlights with examples how taking an open or a natural systems approach benefits managers. Rational Approaches The rational system perspective views organizations as mechanisms intended to accomplish particular goals. The approaches provide a means to the goals but not a basis for development of goals. In other words, rational approaches facilitate the achievement of organizational goals regardless of whether they are smart or not (Marnet 2007). According to Gans (1996), rationality requires specific goals that are formalized to enhance their accomplishment. This is necessitated by the fact that rational approaches involve various segments that contribute to the attainment of organizational goals. Goal specificity is usually appealin g to managers since it allows them to make appropriate choices regarding the available alternatives without ambiguity. It allows the prioritization and assignment of various functions and resources in the organization (Das 2003). The organizational structure also highly depends on specificity of goals. Generally, specific goals guide decision making as to what particular tasks need to be performed, the nature of human resources to be engaged as well as how funds are to be distributed among the team players within the organization (Tolbert & Richard 2008). The significance of goal specificity can be illustrated through the functioning of military organizations. Although people might argue regarding the role of the military, there is a specific goal of enhancing defence in a particular jurisdiction. People are assigned particular. The decision making process is clearly defined and therefore there can be no confusion in accomplishing the organizational goals. Rationality applies regard less of whether the goals of the military organization are indecorous or not (Gans 1996). Rational approaches allow formalization of the organizational structure which in turn promotes ownership of the goals among members. Formalization enhances standardization of behaviours among members thereby maintaining predictability of outcomes of various actions (Provan & Milward 1995). Generally, formalization guides actions of various people involved in the accomplishment of goals. It also allows the presence of a smooth transition in a situation whereby replacement of an employee is needed. The incoming employee is selected on the basis of skills as stated in the formal structure (Handel 2002). Taylor’s model of scientific management is among the rational approaches that managers have found useful in accomplishing organizational goals. It involves assessing tasks in the workplace and ensuring that the processes involved produce maximum output with minimal inputs in terms of labour and materials (Christian 2003). All processes are experimented and proved to serve the desired purpose before putting them in practice. Scientific management helps to eliminate procedures that lead to time wasting and inefficiency. At a glance, managers are in a position to tell what activity every person in the organization is involved in. Workers do not have to wait for instructions to perform tasks. Rather, they have a scheme that they follow on daily basis (Tolbert & Richard 2008). Scientific management ensures that workplace rules govern the behaviour of individuals making management functions easy to undertake. Workers are selected scientifically through assessment of their

Understanding domestic violence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Understanding domestic violence - Research Paper Example Thus, understanding domestic violence within the larger context of socio-psychological issues and social determinants of violent behavior becomes hugely critical. It is especially pertinent within spousal relationships. Social determinants and women who are less educated and financially dependent on their male partner or husband are more vulnerable to domestic violence. Social determinants of aggressive behavior, resulting in violence have emerged as serious issues as they adversely impact the welfare of family and society. Violent behavior is not normal and needs to be rationalized against the context and situations so that it can be addressed adequately. The structural determinants of changing social structure are main proponents of violence within society as they have created huge socio-economic and class disparity (Gilligan). Indeed, changing dynamics of society have brought forth plethora of social issues and problems like rising unemployment, lack of access to housing and medical facilities due to lack of financial resources etc. The poverty therefore, constitutes significantly to the increasing incident of domestic violence, reflecting the frustrations and inability of individuals to cope with their lives’ situations. Violence against women occurs in most society but the decline in domestic violence could be contributed to the increased wages of women and their rising social status that gives them more choices to make decisions (Aizer). She emphasizes that violence against women is more common in families and relationship where women lack financial independence. Pease and Rees (39) claim that refugee women and immigrant population face higher domestic abuse due to traditional masculine identity across races, settlement challenges and fear of reporting. Refugee families undergo language barrier and feel isolated with few opportunities of gainful employment that considerably compounds their insecurities and frustrations resulting in domestic

Locus of Control Essay Example for Free

Locus of Control Essay After completing and evaluating my responses to the Locus of Control Assessment, my result was that I have an internal locus of control. An internal locus of control is when a person believes that they are generally in control of the events that affect their life. In my opinion, the assessment is right, I believe I control most of the events that happen in my life. Now, on the other end an external locus of control is when a person believes that they generally do not have control of the events that affect their life (Myers, 2012, p. 1). The two reliable sources I found that provided information on Locus of Control were www. ncrel. org and www. psych. uncc. edu. After conducting some research I have determined that there are positive and negative outcomes for both internal and external locus of control. The important thing is to keep a balance between them. Some positive internal locus of control situations are when you study hard and get an A in your test or when you enter a contest and win. In these situations you controlled the event in your life. The negative aspect of an internal locus of control is that in some cases you can’t control the events that affect your life. For example being diagnosed with colon cancer or having surgery to remove your intestine. In these situations are person with an internal locus of control may feel hopeless and blame them selves for not preventing it. When it comes to an external locus of control the positive aspect of it is that when situations arise that person will most likely attribute it to something else. For example, they would say it was luck if they won the lottery or the teacher was in a good mood if they got a C in their math class. In negative cases they will blame others for the outcome because they believe they don’t have any control over the events that happened in their life. An example would be if they don’t do their homework because their mom forgot to buy paper or if they have an accident and rear end the person in front of them and blame the other driver for stopping abruptly. In my opinion, it is better to have an internal locus of control. The reason why I believe this is because in most cases we have control over certain events that happen in our life. Having an external locus of control would give the person no sense of responsibility for their actions since they feel they do not have control over it. A person with an internal locus of control is more responsible, successful, easily motivated and always looking for improvement within them. A person with an external locus of control is less responsible, blames everyone else for their failures, is less motivated and success is something they feel will happen if others achieve it for them. Depending on the situation or the life event these two have to be balanced. If you’re a person with an internal locus of control like me and we experience a situation that is out of our hands we have to accept that and understand that not everything in life can be controlled. Some things are going to happen no matter what we do. In cases like this is when it’s good to have an external locus of control because for some people not being in control all the time and experiencing a situation that is out of their hands can be damaging for their self-esteem. When an event arises we should be able to logically look at the situation and analyze if there was anything we could have done different to solve the problem or avoided it and evaluate the decisions we made that concluded with the end result. Once you analyze the situation you can determine if changing the steps you took would have changed the end result. If it wouldn’t have changed the out come then it was out of your hands and you should see it as an external locus instead of an internal locus.

Ray Carvers collection Where Im Calling From :: Ray Carver Essays

Ray Carver's collection "Where I'm Calling From" After reading more than a dozen of Ray Carver’s short stories from his collection Where I'm Calling From, I have to ask the question, "Where was Carver calling from?" On the surface, his stories seem very simple. They are about people with average jobs such as hotel managers, waitresses, salesmen, and secretaries, who live unsophisticated, mediocre lives. Below the surface, however, there is always more to be discovered if the reader is willing to put forth a little bit of effort. Carver obviously put a lot of thought into his stories. The least that we, as readers, can do is scratch the surface a little, or better yet, dig deep into his words to see what he is really trying to say to us. This is a task that is easier said than done. One story that does not seem quite as difficult as some others to interpret is "They’re Not Your Husband." Carver actually tells us quite a bit about Earl and Doreen if, once again, we are willing to look for the hidden clues. Earl is a salesman who is currently unemployed. He is looking for work, and he does find a sales job, but not a paying one. When he overhears two of his wife’s customers commenting on her "fat ass" (Magee), and saying, "Some jokers like their quim fat" (Carver 45), Earl realizes who his next sales pitch will be aimed at. Not wanting to be considered a joker, he decides to "sell" Doreen on the idea of losing weight (Magee). Using his sales tactics, Earl cautiously presents his "product" to Doreen. At first she is surprised because he has never brought up her weight before, but Earl is able to convince her that she should go on a diet without upsetting her. "‘All right,’ she said. I’ll try. For a few days I’ll give it a try. You’ve convinced me"’ (Carver 47). After hearing this, Earl replies, "I’m a closer" (Carver 47). Earl feels that he has successfully closed the deal but if we keep digging, we see something more. John Magee, in his article on "They’re Not Your Husband" for The Explicator, says, "Drop the c from 'closer’and 'loser’ emerges, which is what Earl is" (2). Earl is a loser because he thinks that the way his wife looks says something about him. He hopes that if he can successfully help Doreen begin to look better, he may start to feel better about himself.

Week 7 Homework Quiz

Business Valuations – Homework ES 1. (TCO G) A valuation professional who holds a CVA has the credentials of a: (Points : 2) Continuous valuation analyst. Cost valuation of assets. x Certified valuation analyst. None of the above is correct 2. (TCO G) If a shareholder in a closely held business sells his or her stock, the valuation professional typically would: (Points : 2) Increase the value somewhat to get the minority owner out of the business. Do a standard professional valuation in which the minority interest issue is ignored. Discount the value somewhat to reflect the diminished value of being a minority interest holder. Always use a historical cost basis analysis to take conservatism into account. None of the above is correct. 3. (TCO G) The most commonly accepted methods of business valuation use some form of: (Points : 2) Balance sheet analysis.Historical cost basis. Book value method. x Income statement approach. 4. (TCO G) The conclusions presented in FASB No. 157 s upport which FASB Conceptual Framework? (Points : 2) FASB Conceptual Framework No. 2 FASB Conceptual Framework No. 6 FASB Conceptual Framework No. x All of the above None of the above 5. (TCO G) The major business valuation organization that has developed rigorous business valuation standards is: (Points : 2) The National Association of Business Valuation Analysts (NACVA) The American Society of Appraisers (ASA) The Institute of Business Appraisers, Inc. (IBA) x All of the above None of the above 6. (TCO G) In a typical business valuation report, one exhibit that is seldom used is: (Points : 2) Limiting conditions. Definitions of valuation terms. Ratio analysis of the company. Common size balance sheets of the company. None of the above. 7. (TCO G) â€Å"Equitable distribution† in divorce cases is driven by: (Points : 2) The Uniform Commercial Code nationally. x Individual state laws. Supreme Court rulings. Professional standards. None of the above. 8. (TCO G) A â€Å"minori ty interest† in a business: (Points : 2) Technically is less than a 50-percent ownership in the business Might be worth less than a pro-rata share of the business value May have limited influence in the operations of the business x All of the above None of the above 9. (TCO G) IRS Rev. Rul. 59-60: (Points : 2)Deals with the valuation of closely held businesses Provides a list of eight factors that should be considered in valuing a closely held business Is particularly useful for valuing closely held businesses in estate and gift tax situations x All of the above None of the above 10. (TCO G) Preparing common-sized financial statements and performing ratio analyses of financial statements are examples of: (Points : 2) â€Å"Customizing† financial statements. â€Å"Downsizing† financial statements. x â€Å"Spreading† financial statements. â€Å"Simplifying† financial statements. None of the above.

Top German Mistakes Made by Beginners

Unfortunately, there are much more than ten mistakes you can make in German. However, we want to concentrate on the top ten kinds of mistakes that beginning students of German are likely to make. But before we get to that, think about this: How is learning a second language different from learning a first? There are many differences, but the most significant difference is that with a first language there is no interference from another language. An infant learning to speak for the first time is a blank slate—without any preconceived notions of how a language is supposed to work. That is definitely not the case for anyone who decides to learn a second language. An English  speaker who is learning German must guard against the influence of English. The first thing any language student has to accept is that there is no right or wrong way to construct a language. English is what it is; German is what it is. Arguing about a languages grammar or vocabulary is like arguing about the weather: you cant change it. If the gender of Haus is neuter (das), you cant arbitrarily change it to der.  If you do, then you risk being misunderstood. The reason languages have a particular grammar is to avoid breakdowns in communication. Mistakes Are Unavoidable Even if you understand the concept of first-language interference, does that mean youll never make a mistake in German? Of course not. And that leads us to a big mistake that many students make: Being afraid to make a mistake. Speaking and writing German is a challenge for any student of the language. But the fear of making a mistake can keep you from making progress. Students who dont worry so much about embarrassing themselves end up using the language more and making quicker progress. 1. Thinking in English Its only natural that youll think in English when you begin to learn another language. But the number one mistake made by beginners is thinking too literally and translating word-for-word. As you progress you need to start to think German more and more. Even beginners can learn to think in German phrases at an early stage. If you keep using English as a crutch, always translating from  English to German, youre doing something wrong. You dont really know German until you start to hear it in your head. German doesnt always put things together like English.   2. Getting Genders Mixed Up While languages such as French, Italian, or Spanish are content to have just two genders for nouns, German has three! Since every noun in German is either  der, die,  or  das,  you need to learn each noun with its gender. Using the wrong gender not only makes you sound stupid, it also can cause changes in meaning. It can be aggravating that any six-year-old in Germany can rattle off the gender of any common noun, but thats the way it is.   3. Case Confusion If you dont understand what the nominative case is in English, or what a direct or indirect object is, then youre going to have problems with case in German. Case is usually indicated in German by inflection: putting different endings on articles and adjectives. When  der  changes to  den  or  dem, it does so for a reason. That reason is the same one that makes the pronoun he change to him in English (or  er  to  ihn  in German). Not using the correct case is very likely to confuse people a lot! 4. Word Order   German word order (or syntax) is more flexible than English syntax and relies more on case endings for clarity. In German, the subject may not always come first in a sentence. In subordinate (dependent) clauses, the conjugated verb may be at the end of the clause. 5. Calling Someone Sie Instead of du Almost every language in the world—besides English—has at least two kinds of you: one for formal use, the other for familiar use. English once had this distinction (thou and thee are related to German du), but for some reason, it now uses only one form of you for all situations. This means that English-speakers often have problems learning to use  Sie  (formal) and  du/ihr  (familiar). The problem extends to verb conjugation and command forms, which are also different in  Sie  and  du  situations. 6. Getting Prepositions Wrong One of the easiest ways to spot a non-native speaker of any language is the misuse of prepositions. German and English often use different prepositions for similar idioms or expressions: wait for/warten auf, be interested in/sich interessieren fà ¼r, and so on. In English, you take medicine for something, in German  gegen  (against) something. German also has two-way prepositions  that can take two different cases (accusative or dative), depending on the situation. 7. Using Umlauts German Umlauts (Umlaute  in German) can lead to problems for beginners. Words can change their meaning based on whether they have an umlaut or not. For example,  zahlen  means to pay but  zà ¤hlen  means to count.  Bruder  is one brother, but  Brà ¼der  means brothers - more than one. Pay attention to words that may have potential problems. Since only a, o, and u can have an umlaut, those are the vowels to be aware of. 8. Punctuation and Contractions German punctuation and the use of the apostrophe is often different than in English. Possessives in German usually do not use an apostrophe. German uses contractions in many common expressions, some of which use an apostrophe (Wie gehts?) and some of which do not (zum Rathaus). Related to the prepositional hazards mentioned above are German prepositional contractions. Contractions such as  am,  ans,  ins, or  im  can be possible pitfalls. 9. Those Pesky Capitalization Rules German is the only modern language that requires the capitalization of all nouns, but there are other potential problems. For one thing, adjectives of nationality are not capitalized in German as they are in English. Partly due to  German spelling reform, even Germans can have problems with spelling hazards like  am besten  or  auf Deutsch. You can find the rules and a lot of hints for German spelling in our capitalization lesson and try our spelling quiz. 10. Using the Helping Verbs Haben and Sein In English, the present perfect is always formed with the helping verb have. German verbs in the conversational past (present/past perfect) can use either  haben  (have) or  sein  (be) with the past participle. Since those verbs using to be are less frequent, you need to learn which ones use  sein  or in which situations a verb may use  haben  or  sein  in the present or past perfect tense.

Essay on Renaisssance versus Baroque Periods - 967 Words

The baroque and renaissance periods are two different periods. The renaissance period rolled into the baroque era. There were changes made over the years from the baroque to the renaissance period. Differences in style accumulated along with views of art and music. Baroque era covers the period between 1600 and 1750 beginning with Monte Verdi (birth of opera) and ended with deaths of Bach and Handel. The term baroque music is borrowed from the art history. It follows the Renaissance era (1400-1600). It was initially considered to be a corrupt way of Renaissance by conservatives. The dominant trends in Baroque music correspond to those in Baroque art and literature. Some features of Baroque art included a sense of movement, energy, and†¦show more content†¦Instruments such as the harpsichord, the spinet, and the lute became more than just accompaniment for singers; they became a way of expressing emotions. A modern listener can almost picture what the Renaissance composer or musician was feeling when he or she was writing a piece of music. The music of the Elizabethan era had a large influence on the advancement of all music. Humanism was the basic concept of the Italian Renaissance. It is the term used to define that philosophical move ment in Italy at the end of the 14th century and during the 15th and 16th centuries which asserted the right of the individual to the use of his own reason and belief, and stressed the importance and potential of man as an individual. [3] This concept can be identified with a belief in the power of learning and science to produce the complete man. This was the way of their world and the basis of their modern civilization. Modern Humanism originated in the Renaissance when scholars, writers, poets, artists, philosophers and scientists sought regeneration in the free intellectual spirit of Classical times. [4] Art during the Renaissance period stylized religious themes. Artist during the renaissance period had his or her own way of painting. They did not practice the system of geometric perspective, but nonetheless created a convincing appearance of reality. Painting and sculpture were no longer