Essay --

Negative Effects on Mobile Phones Since the old times, men have always tried to find a way to communicate with people. Ever since the invention of telephone by the infamous Alexander Graham Bell, communication technology has been evolving and progressing quickly. Nowadays, people separated hundreds miles away don’t have to wait for their letters for weeks or even months to be able to communicate. The development of mobile phone has made it easier for mankind – it allows people to communicate with each other fast and easily. In this globally developing era, it is not uncommon to see someone having one type of mobile phone on his/her hand, and another type on the other one. People from all ages and status carry mobile phones every time, everywhere they go. This device certainly help people in communicating with others, but it is less likely that people realize the device they have been using all the time may bring them bad effects – physically and mentally. Talking at phones with our friends sure is fun that often we don’t even realize how much time have passed. We don’t even feel tired from holding our mobile phone in front of our ear. But the longer we hold it like that, the more we are exposed to danger. The radiation emitted from our mobile phone may cause bad effects to us, from the slight ones such as blurry vision, headache, and neck pain, to the severe ones like brain cancer and risk of brain tumor. Long being an object of debate, the statement that mobile phone radiation links us to such extent of dangerous disease was finally announced by the World Health Organization’s International Agency on Research for Cancer (WHO’s IARC) in May 2011. The risk of being suffered from these diseases is even greater for people who take th... ... is said that teenagers prefer text messaging to face-to face conversation.[2] Mobile phone certainly makes us communicate easily, and it is useful in many ways. However, just like every good thing in this world, this sophisticated device also has bad effects. People should start to consider how to use their mobile phone without it becoming a backfire to their life. People can prevent themselves from the radiation exposure by using a hands-free when they are talking and limit their time on phone. That simple thing will lower the risk of getting the danger of the radiation. On the other side, we need to keep up with our actual social life. When we can gather with our friends, use that opportunity to talk to them instead of being busy with the digital text on our phone. The time we spend with our friends is far more precious than texting which we can do just anytime.

Leadership Styles Essay

Nursing Armon Copeland Chamberlain College of Nursing 351: Transitions to Professional Nursing Spring Term 2011 Introduction Leadership in the 21st century has been redefined. As leaders we provide the voucher and guidance to begin the journey, while the managers are the ones who drive the team to the destination. Leadership is something you know when you see it, but is very challenging to describe. Leadership development in the nursing profession is important because it directly impacts the care that is delivered to patients. It is critical that the entire senior leadership have the self-same vision or mental image of what the organization intends to aim for as structure, management and organization in terms of changes for a solid foundation. Leadership Leadership is a blend of personal characteristics, abilities, strategies, and circumstances that enable a leader to influence individuals and organizations to accomplish a goal. Although there is no single formula for becoming a successful leader, some common elements include self- confidence, courage, a clear vision of the goal and how to reach it, the ability to clearly communicate the goal as well as strong personal commitment, and the ability to inspire trust and respect among followers. Leadership differs from management in that leadership is a combination of personal qualities and abilities whereas management is a process. Leaders are more likely to be effective when they use the management process to achieve goals. Managers are more effective when their actions demonstrate leadership qualities; thereby earning the respect and trust of those they manage (Hamilton, 1996). Styles of Leadership Transformational and Transactional leadership styles are two very different methods of leadership in the nursing profession. This paper will compare and contrast these two leadership styles and support that transformational leadership style encourages quality care, job fulfillment and improved patient outcomes. The traditional authoritarian style of leadership the top-down directive approach has largely been replaced with a more democratic and/or participative style, which involves such collaborative behaviors as consulting, discussing, cooperating, or negotiating. No one style is effective for all situations, however, so flexibility is important. For example, an authoritarian approach may be the most effective in dealing with acute situations when decisions must be made and implemented quickly. Rapid technological growth, increased diversity in the workforce, and growing complexity within organizations has led to changes in the way effective leadership is defined. Leadership researchers and theorists define good leadership as â€Å"future-oriented rather than present-oriented and as fostering followers’ commitment and ability to contribute creatively to organizations† (Eagly, 2007). Political scientist James McGregor Burns (1978) described this type of leadership as transformational leadership. Transformational leaders establish themselves as role models by gaining followers’ trust and confidence. They establish the organization’s goals, plan how to achieve the goals, and innovate. As Eagly (2007) explains, â€Å"Transformational leaders mentor and empower their subordinates and encourage them to develop their potential and thus to contribute more effectively to their organization. † Researchers also describe a more conservative type of leadership as transactional leadership, in which leaders establish exchange relationships with their frontline employees. After clarifying objectives and subordinates’ responsibilities, transactional leaders reward those who meet objectives and correct them when they fail to meet objectives. The word politics is a loaded term, heavy with images of shady characters in smoke-filled rooms, wheeling, dealing, and often stealing. But politics is really a neutral term. According to Policy and Politics for Nurses, â€Å"Politics means influencing, specifically, influences the allocation of scarce resources. Politics is a process by which one influences the decisions of others and exerts control over situations and events. It is a means to an end† (Mason et al. , 2002). Becoming influential is something that can be learned, and it has as much to do with attitude as with behavior. Both aspects are necessary (Sullivan, 2004). Becoming influential includes such skills as understanding power and how to use it, communicating effectively, understanding the political process, and dealing with difficult people and situations. Conclusion â€Å"Work hard, play by the rules, be nice, be polite, hold yourself accountable and you will get ahead. Our mothers were right, up to a point. Taking that advice, you do get ahead and your hard work is rewarded until you hit the glass ceiling. Or, as one physician called it, the â€Å"gauze ceiling. † Being the best at what you do is not enough to break through the gauze ceiling into positions of leadership. It’s not enough to have clinical skills; you need political skills as well. Leaders make a difference in their world by influencing others to support the leader’s vision or cause. To make a difference, you need political skills. Everything is political in the work environment, professional organization, community, and government. References Hamilton PM. (1996). Realities of Contemporary Nursing, 2nd ed. Menlo Park, CA: Addison-Wesley. Eagley AH. (2007). Female leadership advantage and disadvantage: Resolving the contradictions. Psychology of Women Quarterly 31:1–12. Mason DJ, Leavitt JK, Chaffee MW. (2002). Policy and Politics in Nursing and Healthcare, 4th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier. Sullivan EJ. (2004). Becoming Influential: A Guide for Nurses. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

How Does Technology Influence Our Daily Lives Essay

The tÐ µrm „ technologyâ€Å" has been defined by the ancient Greeks as a collective term of human achievements, inventions, creations, knÐ ¾wledge and expertise. Without a doubt, technology dramatically affects our lives in virtually each and every aspect and area. One of the greatest and most heated contemporary debates has been: „Does technology influence our lives in a positive or negative way?â€Å" In my opinion, technology by itself has neither positive nor negative consequences. The only defining factor is how people use technology. Nevertheless, I would rather support the idea that technological inventions serve predominantly good purposes. It is really hard to point out the areas where technological achievements have been the most spectacular. Therefore, the present work will focus on three sectors: nuclear technology, internet and medical applications. Since nuclear power’s earliest discovery as a theoretical principle, and later as practical applica tions, methods, equipment and devices, this exceptional breakthrough has played a great role in our lives. The only large-scale and applicable alternative to fossil fuels for generating electricity is the nuclear power. Despite their numerous flaws, NPPs ( Nuclear Power Plants) are so widespread around the world, that without them huge regions in the globe would be left in darkness and silence. Scientists have put enormous efforts into modernizing and mastering not only the principle of nuclear fusion and fision, but also into the whole equipment and machinery behind. Such problems as nuclear waste disposals, contamination, natural disasters, etc. do not deter people from relying on this reasonably-priced energy source. Moreover, an easily accessible and moderately-priced energy source is of great significance for vast, overpopulated but poor world regions, as it contributes to developing these areas to achieve higher living standards. Even though there are many issues with nuclear power production and waste management, I believe it will remain a desirable source of energy in the future because of its reach and application.I believe that the developments and discoveries in medical sciences, appointed to saving human lives, improvement of quality of life and expansion of the ifespan, are the greatest and most noble achievemen The discovery of X-ray methods gave doctors the opportunity to look inside the human body and know exactly where surgery is needed or see the broken bones. Furthermore, another crucial breakthrough is lazer technology which made bloodless operations possible and dramatically shorten ed the recovery period of patients. The MRI , ultrasound and computer tomography all provide a unique chance to observe and analyze pathogenic tissues, cells, tumors, the fetus growth, and make extremely complex heart and brain surgeries more accessible. The outstanding combination of medical and engineering research gave the world unbelievable access to sub-cell processes, the discovery of the human genome and DNA structure. This has widely opened the doors for fundamental genetic research, powerful pharmaceutical development and generally, the expansion of life expectancy of humans. Here it is a point to mention one extraordinary latest discovery in medicine- nanotechnology, and one special application- Quantum Dots. Combined with the knowledge about the human genome, this high-tech method gives a reliable tool for fighting different types of cancer. First ly, QDs can spot and trace very small tumor formations, even separate tumor cells by marking them in different light from the spectrum. Later, all the tumor cells and tissues emitting fluorescence are traced and consequently, being destroyed with the help of similar dots. Such QDs are charged with miniature laser source inside, encapsulated safely and put into the blood stream. When detecting the tumor cell or tissue, a laser impulse is emitted, and within the tumor cell it is transfered into heat which destroys the tumor without harming the healthy cells.( Wood, 2004). Another fascinating application of nanotechnology is the so called polymeric micelles, which can help the efficient delivery of drugs directly into cells and tissues. These compounds have much greater tissue penetrating power, more controlled drug release and are less harmful. This recent discovery gave doctors a great hope to make fine cure on cell and tissue levels and make treatments much more effective and less i nvasive. Computer invention and development, combined with one of the greatest achievements in the modern technological world – the Internet, have really changed the nature of contemporary communication and ways of doing business.(Passion Computing, 2012) The discovery of computer principles and construction is also connected to the name of a scientist with Bulgarian roots – John Atanassov, who is considered a person with great contribution to this breakthrough. Computer technology gave people the opportunity to make mathematical calculations with immence speed and accuracy never seen before. The following developments such as the ability to solve complex technical, technological and scientific problems; visualizingprocesses and trends in business; transmitting and transfering information to each and in any point of the world, – changed completely the way of thinking and working in our globalised world. The first one is undoubtedly education. This area has benefitted greatly from modern high-tech inventions.First of all,students have the option to search quickly and easily information on the Internet about their academic studies, written assignments and courseworks, numerous projects and multimedia presentations. The variety of options in visualization and graphical applications expanded the usage of visual aids and the ability to interprete, discuss and predict different trends in the processes under study and research. Another great advantage is given to education by the chance to share, exchange and communicate new ideas, discoveries and suggestions with professors and colleagues. (Lewis H. 2009) This way, it became possible to make panel discussions, conference talks, even to take exams and tests during distant learning courses.These developments augmented immensely the boundaries of education and provided opportunities for lifelong learning and continuous training and qualification for professionals of all walks of l ife. The access to virtual libraries, databases of knowledge, archives and other sources of stored information made it possible to attend a university or course in a really distant location, and get your diploma without even being physically at the educational institution. Another area with great benefits from Internet technology is business and banking. The nature and content of modern business deals changed dramatically due to modern methods.(Passion Computing, 2012).Nowadays, making a complex deal and trade, even an export of goods, is possible without moving away from the office. All the necessary documents, contracts, invoices, specifications and licences can be transfered over the Internet, all the changes can be negotiated the same way within a couple of days. Moreover, the shipment documentation can also be transfered online and even opening of the Letter of Credit, money transfer and other payments can be done online by a service bank. What is more, huge projects with many drawings, schemes, charts and graphs can be exchanged over the net, and even great architecture projects can be made by international teams based in several countries.The world of money is also of great use from the Internet. Huge funds may be transfered from one bank to another with just one click of the button. This development saves efforts, time and makes the modern business payments easier than ever before. All these deals are accompanied by the problems with data security, illegal access to database, fraud problems and abuse oj personal data, but the work and efforts never stop to resolve these issues. Last but not least, we have to mention the sphere of manufacturing and production. Internet and computerised methods of processing metals, plastics, cotton and textile, leather, vegetables and fruit, gave the greatest ever advancement in producing all the necessary goods and services for the life of modern humans. We are now able to create complex telescopes, planes, spaceships and equipment to explore the processes in space and Universe, and maybe to find a new planet for humanity to settle and develop in the future. To put it in a nutshell, advanced technology is an integral part of our modern life and will be even more important in our future.

Autonomous work group an essential ingredient for effective organising? Essay

Following the needs of many businesses to adopt alternative forms of work design this paper tries to explain and make some sense about the effectiveness of autonomous work groups in organising. It will be argue the thesis that such groups have been, are and will be effective in some definite organisational setting. The assumptions underpinning this idea will be explored along the dialectic forming three sections. To understand this concept it seems important introduce notions of individual, group and explain why they are so central from an organisational point of view. Thus, the first part of this paper will present some psychological effects resulting through their interaction of these actors Moreover, being the idea of autonomous work group part of a complex system, it will be restrictive analyse its characteristics without locate it among others concepts produced by sociotechnical researchers. Thus, a broader analysis of sociotechnical system (STS) will be part of the second section. Difference between what STS aimed to achieve, what they really achieved, and/or what they are achieving today is still discussed. This lack of unanimous consensus lets the debate open to several interpretations, and offer the opportunity to explore and address few issues related to the self-managing groups. Hence, the last side of this paper will address a discuss about the role of management, the subordination of human criteria to the dictates of efficiency, the application to both linear and non-linear systems, and a movement toward a self-leading team type. The magnitude of such topic and the number of interesting studies surrounding this area offer to the author a dilemma regarding what should be treated and what should not. Obviously, having this script humanistic approach major evidence is given to people in organisation, and respectively team members, and management. Moreover, analysing the way in which the system adapted itself during the second half of the last century, it will be argued that organisations designed or redesigned in respect of human criteria in certain industries and environments, can reach a competitive advantage respect those that will not do it. In short, STS is an effective tool by which it is possible match both individual and organisational needs. Pursuing the paper this line of argument, issues related to politics, unions, and power, and other effects of identifications, ideology and control are not dealt in this paper neither because not relevant, nor because of secondary importance, rather, due to the limitation of the length. Individuals, Groups and Organisation To some extent groups always existed, even in USA -where in time of cold war ambitions were led to unbridled individualism, organisation used to split task into subtask, assigned it to various subunits, than these subunits divided subtask into sub-subunits and so on. Even if an organisation is formally organised according individual performance, the division of labour break down the organisation into groups. What does group means, and what needs a group fulfil for both organisation and individual? ‘A psychological group is any number of people who interact with one other, are psychologically aware of one other, and perceive themselves as group’ (Schein 1994), and are seen as group by the others from outside (Hackman 1987, in Brown 2003). If in everyday life, groups can be formed through a spontaneous or random meeting -such as four friends meets for chance in library, in organisational setting they have diverse origin. Basically, it is possible recognise two types of groups in organisation, those which are deliberately created by managers in order to fulfil the tasks required from the organisational mission, an those fulfilling psychological needs of individual beyond the minimum ones of doing their jobs; respectively formal and informal groups (Schein 1994). According to its duration the former can be of two types: permanent -such as the group of lecturer or/and professors forming the BOR depth at Lancaster University; or temporary -such as a matrix group of lecturers or/and professors committed in a project for a definite time or mission. Nevertheless, organisation takes an informal structure within which individuals interacting with others generates a group that fulfil their social needs. But contrary to the everyday life the interaction depend on defined physical location, being in fact their activity within the organisation limited by their tasks and mission to perform -such as the possibility to interact with people both meeting and working in the same office, depth, building and so on. Bearing in mind that groups can simultaneously fulfil diverse organisational functions and needs of their members, it useful here to distinguish these kinds of functions in ‘organisational and individual’ (Schein 1994). According to this partition, it is possible group organisational functions as those features coinciding with the mission of the organisation -i.e. working on a complex or interdependent task, generating new ideas or creative solutions, liaison or coordinating functions, facilitate the implementation of complex decision, or be a vehicle of socialisation or training. On the other hand, among needs group members can bring with them and groups can fulfil there are needs such as those of affiliation, sense of identification and maintain self esteem, establish and tests social reality, moreover, it reduce insecurity and anxiety. Appear now clear why groups are so important, from an organisational point of view it speed, facilitate, and improve the task-related functions. On the other hand, spending two third of our life within the workplace, meeting our psychological needs inn a group, and spending two third of our adult life in a work setting of various kinds, groups become a integral part of such work settings (Schein 1994:152). Thus, an enormous potential can be offered mixing up informal and formal functions, to comprehend it means to imagine how they can serve at the same both organisational and individual. Reed supported this thesis stating understand organisations means grasp the diverse political forces acting in it, nevertheless, decisions are not taken during a board of director, rather main actors discuss and reach agreement during a dinner on a golf course (2002). In other words, linking together individual’s needs and organisational functions to fulfil, by means of formal and informal organisation could be achieved, through effectiveness and the right balance with the social needs of employees, an organisational competitive advantage. The Socio Technical System (STS) Understand the dynamic process made up of individual’s needs interacting in organisational setting it is not as easy as at a first sight. After two decades in which the human relation (HR) approach allocate ‘attention to the employees, not work condition per se, that has the dominant impact on productivity (Peters & Waterman, cited in Moldaschl & Weber 1998:350), the sociotechnical group took another direction. Researches, associated with the work done by the Tavistock Institute in London, instead of concentrating on the enterprise as social system -where technology was not considered and workers were treated better whilst their job remained the same (Trist, in Moldaschl & Weber 1998), attempted to overcome both Tayloristic and HR approach of work design. Whereas the HR movement achieved the so-called ‘Hawthorne public relation effect’ -enforcing psychotechnics to deal with employees’ psychological ‘wealth’, STS underlined the importance of a real design of tasks (Emery 1978). The idea of STS implies that any productive organisation or part thereof is a combination of technology and social system in mutual interaction to each other. Each determines each other and the nature of work determines the type of organisation that develops among workers, whilst the sociopsychological characteristics of the worker determine the manner in which a given job will be performed (Schein 1994). This idea led to the development of an open system theory in which organisations imports and converts various things from its environment -such as people, money equipment, raw material, and so on, and exports products, services and waste materials which result from the conversion’s process (Schein 1994). Importing people the organisation have to deal with individual’s needs, values, norms, and expectations, as a consequence, to be effective the organisation have to take in account both the nature of job and those of people. Through the Norwegian â€Å"Industrial Democracy Programmes† sponsored by the government, the employer association, and unions, STS achieved a value-free research far from the political justification for self-governance and from the economic justification of self-regulation (Susman in Moldaschl & Weber 1998:350). It led their researchers to claim a third realization through the so called principle of industrial democracy -whilst for others concentrating their efforts on the micro level of participation, and neglecting representative forms of industrial democracy they realized just direct workplace democracy (Blackler 1982 in Moldaschl & Weber 1998). Another important concept is based on the joint optimisation through which it is possible developing design solutions that consider human criteria and efficiency criteria equally (Brown 2003). Thus, it â€Å"enables a best match in this way†¦such as Emery’s ‘nine-step model’ that aims to reduce â€Å"key variances† in, and between work systems, and to control them by â€Å"self-regulation† of the workers’ (Moldaschl & Weber 1998:360). This self-regulation, interdependence and self-governance, draw attention to decisions that ca be delegated to work groups that, in function of these, are defined as autonomous work group. In some industries has been discovered that higher levels of productivity and quality can be achieved giving clusters of tasks to a work group (Findlay et al, 2000; Barker 1999; Knights and McCabe 2000; Muller 1992; Sewell 1998); such ‘autonomous work groups are then made responsible for producing entire product such a radio, an engine’ (Schein 1994). The idea was to group several workers -organised in multifunctional structure with flexible job rotation, in a spatially and organisationally limited production unit, share a common task that is divided into interdependent sub task, and assume share responsibility over the long term. Among its criteria can be notice boundary maintenance (Moldaschl & Weber 1998:360). What sociotechnology group tried to achieve through the implement of autonomous work group is a way of simultaneously satisfying psychological and task needs (Buchanan 2000:29). In other words, a whole group is provided the opportunity to design and manage a total integrated task, thus permitting workers to fulfil their social and self actualising needs within the context of the work situation’ (Herbst 1962 in Schein 1994:195). Nevertheless being the role of management present to some extents, it is more correct to speak about semi autonomous work groups. Among the variety of semi-autonomous work group, it is useful to adopt the three forms identified by Brown (2003). The composite fully multi skilled -as in the Tavistock Institute Coal Mining studies where miners learnt and performed diverse task; the matrix form -as in Fiorelli’s idea of quality circle where a group of people, having different specialised functions, overlapped competences (1998); and the network where individuals are far but frequently in contact to each other through information technologies such as teleconferencing to exchange knowledge – from which the ongoing ‘knowledge management team’ (Bell, Blackler and Crump in Fulop & Linstead 1999:228). This tri-partition can be associated with changes in the second half of twentieth century in western society where ‘technological and organisational improvement led radical changes in economical sector’ (Ackroyd and Lawernson 1995, Piore & Sabel 1984, Zuboff 1998). Especially during the last three decades of the twenties century, after a climate of tension, a new international distension opened up new opportunities for businesses and ventures, new markets were found available to be explored and offered new competitive advantages to companies, (Hutton 2002). The re-design of the organisational structure bring in fact some effects within the socio-economical system where it is embedded. International markets got crowded; pressure and competition increased forcing companies to redesign their organisation. To face this turbulent environment Trist et al propose: ‘an alternative design based on the redundancies of functions: for individual they create role rather mere jobs; for the organisation they bring into being a variety-increasing system rather than the traditional control by variety reduction†¦(through) continuing development of appropriate new values concerned with improving the quality of working life by keeping the technological determinants of worker behaviour to a minimum in order to satisfy social and psychological needs by the involvement of all. Autonomous working groups, collaboration instead competitions, and reduction of hierarchical emphasis, are some of the requirements for operating effectively in modern turbulence (in Pugh & Hickson 1996:182 -emphasis added) As stated by Trist within this theoretical pattern, autonomous work group is an essential ingredient for the effective organising. Discussion and conclusion The role of management seems to be an essential component to the achievement of the best match within the system for both Blackler and Brown (1978), and Fox (1995), whilst strangely, STS approach does not seems to explicitly address neither the problem of management, nor those of managerial control. Differently, Knights & McCabe (2000) exploring what team working means for employees’ lives within an automobile manufacture company, affirm that employees as well as managers are capable of exercise power interpreting and reinterpreting management strategies. Stressing the accent on autonomy, managerial role need to be redefined to support and favourite tasks of group members. Accordingly, to meet autonomous work group needs a manager should be a good diagnostician, trying to be flexible enough to understand and to vary their own behaviour in relation to the needs of their subordinates (Schein 1994). Nevertheless, it is useful remember that individuals’ needs are not just meet through groups, they have another set of necessity that are fulfilled outside the group, alone, as well as with a friend. What I am addressing here is what Costea and Crump called the standardisation of individual -or better how to make an individual as unique as its mate (2003). In other words to be effective in self managing groups members have to maintain their equilibrium that permits them to keep and evolve its personality: members are not asked to follows rules, rather to make decisions. For this reason Often, the practical one does not confirm what in academic setting appear feasible from a conceptual level. Even for the best social scientist it is quite hard, if not impossible, individuate a priori the huge amount of forces arising from the combination of interests and pressure groups in which his theory will become part. In practical conditions, sociotechnical projects sometimes failed because they subordinate human criteria to the dictates of efficiency or because they become victim of a political conflicts (Blackler, 1982; Kelly, 1978; Sydow, 1985; Pasmore, 1995 in Moldaschl & Weber 1998), making it often impossible to translate joint optimisation of human goals and efficiency into reality. ‘Although mainly consisting of psychologist of work and organisation, the â€Å"classical† Tavistock representatives of the STS approach does not regard its primary goal to be the far reaching consideration of human criteria in the design process of a work system. Rather they st rive for an optimal compromise between technical, economic, and human work design objectives’ (Moldaschl & Weber 1998:362). Changing our analysis from a classical to more contemporaneous perspective, a diverse slant come from the observation that self managing groups are still effective, but they loose their grip on organisation when have to deal with the no-routine office work of management and professional -being these set of practices developed for linear work systems (Fox 1995). Diverse from Pugh and Hickson (1986), Fox notes that not always the use of autonomous work group seems to be appropriate, in fact ‘the creation of recticular organisation (characterised by a fluid distribution of information and authority that changes are required) may be appropriate†¦in some non linear work systems (1995:103). STS’ concepts have contributed to improve design and redesign of many work systems, however most of the successful experiences occurred in well-defined linear systems-characterised by a sequential process of input-output, rather in unclear defined non-linear system -where the absence of the in-out property makes it difficult to separate different conversion flows into well-bounded entities (Pava, 1986). Nevertheless, a major revolution is not required to broaden the applicability of STS principles: Modifying the practices employed in STS design to include non-linear work systems is consistent with the essential precepts of STS design: open system analysis, a best match of social and technical subsystems, redundant functions over redundant parts, systemic interrelationships between design factors, self-design, and critical specification (Pava 211). In this capacity to adapt itself in both changing organisational requirements and environment, I think should be recognised the bigger strength of STS. Becoming this adaptability without distort any principle, the approach seems to be relevant especially nowadays, seeking organisations new means of empowerment to boost the productivity in increasingly turbulent environment. A final consideration is due to the work Manz who argue, the future of self-managing groups seems be oriented to lead workers to lead themselves (1992). During this movement toward a self-leading team type of work design, the latter identify some contingency factors relevant to this transition such as: nature of workers; work context; new manufacturing techniques; environment; and organisational system. However, this model seems more likely applicable in such culture where both high trust to workers and decentralisation of power is given -i.e. UK as opposite to Japan and Germany. In fact, ‘Movement toward self-leading team work likely to require significant involvement of the work force in determining the direction of the organisation as well as carrying out that direction, and the opportunity for the work teams to influence that direction, especially as it relates to their specific work performance’ (Manz 1992). Within this framework, it possible imagine shift from traditional & participative leadership to a self management role of leader, in doing it, the new role will be to lead members’ group to lead themselves (Manz & Sims 1987). Being both the power shifting from managers to team members, and the latter able to distinguish true managerial aptitudes from artificial (Knights & McCabe 2000), a certain amount of resistance from the former could be assumed. It leads to pay attention on the way in which managers implement these set of practices. In conclusion, due to its adaptability to technological innovations, and its flexibility in linear and non linear systems autonomous work group could seems even more actual today than during the second half of the second century. Its democratic principles and the democratic way in which tasks are thought and accomplished, seems to make this system the most appropriate within those political environment in which principles of democracy are used. This thesis seems reinforced from the growth of lean systems and consequently from practices as Just in Time, Business Process Re-engineering, or Total Quality Management in those organisational setting where work design diverse from human centred. On the base of both the literature proposed, and the assumption resting on this paper, an important feature seems emerge. For those organisations pursuing human relations and democratic policies, autonomous work group permits both individual and organisations to pursue their own interests. Not just offering the opportunity to decrease alienation filling their social needs to the former, and to reduce practice such as of absenteeism, sabotage, and achieve that commitment and loyalty, to the latter. Rather it seems the best compromise between capitalism and working class since the first industrial revolution to nowadays. An effective tool capable to improves and re-defines the boundaries of the psychological contract and consecutively boosts productivity and reduces costs. To create effective self-managing groups become central the role of top management in planning and develop a long-term program made of continuous investment in work design research, and in staff and management programs (Pearson 1992). It will allow a deep understanding about the dynamics of members’ needs, a constant design, a re-negation of the task requirements, and to avoid both mismanagement, and the establishment of repetitive alienating tasks. Finally, to figure out this sophisticated topic, a broader research should analyse the interrelation and influences of related issue such as: identifications; role of control; ideology of team, politico-economic and socio-cultural peculiarity of the society; in which the organisation will decide to implement self management group working. Within this system, autonomous work group seems to be not a problem to be solved, rather a solution to deal today with the confluence of tensions resulting from yesterday’s decisions.

Japan Business Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Japan Business - Term Paper Example There were  many  periods in the history of Japan, but the first period was of Prehistoric Period that began around 10,000  BC  and the inhabitants of the Japan lived by hunting, gathering, and fishing. During the post-war period, the economy of the Japan experiences the  boom  and  massive  boom  came by the Korean War. The Japan came as the crucial power in different economic spheres such as, car manufacturing, electronic and steel manufacturing. Business History Society of Japan  was prearranged  in the year 1964 (Karan, 2010). In 1989,  the economy of the Japan marked the most rapid economic growth that spurts the history of Japan as Nikkei 225  reach  to the record high of 39,000, due to the strong Yen and favourable exchange rate in comparison with dollar. Geography Mountain Islands of Japan is in the eastern coast of Asia that served as the protective barrier as mentioned in  history. The Japan has the insular nature along with the  main  terr itory  and cultural homogeneity of individuals. The country has four islands, which are: Kyushu, Honshu, Hokkaido, and Shikoku. Islands in the Japan  stretch  1100  Km  from the major islands. Tokyo is the capital of Japan that covers 13000 square kilometres. Small number of habitant has promoted  terrain. Land is reclaiming through the sea by dikes construction and drainage along with rice paddies, which is the main export of the country to other countries. Rivers in Japan are less than 300  Km, but there rapid  flow  through the mountains gave renewable and  valuable  resources such as, hydroelectric power generation. Coastal shipping around the Inland Sea compensates the lack of  navigable  river. Natural Resources The Japan has fewer natural resources such as, gold, coal, silver, and magnesium; therefore, the Japan depends over the export of its natural resources along with the energy resources and raw materials. As the country has the  large  marit ime area, the Japan is one of the first producers of the fishing products. In Japan, only 15% of the land is suitable for cultivation. Two main crops of Japan are Tea and rice; therefore, the agricultural economy of the country  is subsidized  and protected. Agriculture of the country contributes into the  GDP  and employs up to 5 % of the active population. Industrial sector of the country  is diversified  and covers steel and paper along with the highly technological products such as, biotechnology, nanotechnology, renewable energy, automobile, and robotics. The Japan is the second largest car manufacturer and ships in all over the world. Industrial sector of the country contributes into the 30% of the  GDP. Political/Legal System Political and legal  system  of the Japan presents the  complicated  picture. In one side, The Japan is the democratic  state  having the  strong  legal and civic institutions, and on the other side the country shows the cha racteristics of non-democratic systems. The Japan has the  democracy, the Liberal Democratic Party that runs the country after the World War  II. The Japan is also  bureaucratic; decisions that impact the national  policy  are taken  by the ministries having the  substantial  power  that ties with industrial and business groups. The Japan legal system is different from the Westerners. After 1986 foreign legal

Methodological issues with financial ratios Essay

Methodological issues with financial ratios - Essay Example The paper is an attempt to analyze the accuracy of the statement taking the evidence from the last 10 years from the research work published. Use of Financial Ratios Financial ratios are used by the company stakeholders as they have different kind of interest in the concerned company. The shareholders assess the ratios and take the decision whether the performance of the company would be profitable for them, thereby take the investment decisions. The company management analyzes the flaws of the performance of past years and tries to improve it in the future years using ratio analysis tool. The creditors of the company try to find that the company is creditworthy anymore or not (Moyer, McGuigan and Kretlow, 2008, p.58). By doing the comparable analysis of ratios an investor or a prospective investor take the decision that which firm is better to invest, from where they can get the best return when the company management has the interest that how their company is performing with respec t to the industry standard (Hitchner, 2011, p.103). When doing the ratio analysis for the above mentioned various purposes then the user should make sure that he has considered the various factors which affect the variables of the ratio. ... The two companies may be in same industry, but their size and their focus areas can be different, so it would not provide the accurate result by doing the ratio analysis without taking the factors associated with it (Brigham and Ehrhardt, 2010, p.109). Two companies may not follow the same accounting standards, or a company can change the accounting standards they are following in recent years. The taxation rules of different states or countries are different as well as the political condition also. A multinational company has to face different inflation, different taxation rules throughout the world. So whether doing the trend analysis or cross sectional analysis an analyst should consider these factors. There are also technical factors associated with this issue. The analysts use many statistical tools which take the assumption that the data is normally distributed but in reality it doesn’t happen, and the outcome of the analysis not become fruitful. A research study was per formed by taking the data of 66 listed Malaysian firms and the data was of the period 1980 to 1996. The sample firms were taken from 3 different industries. It is seen by the researchers while doing that research that only current asset percentage was conformed to normal distribution, which supports the fact that all data used in the statistical tool for performing ratio analysis is not normally distributed which is assumed by the analysts generally. For doing the ratio analysis effectively the researcher used three types of transformation techniques namely square, square root and natural log. The square and square root process proved as ineffective as they consider the data as normally distributed, which the natural log process don’t. The researchers

A Modest Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

A Modest Proposal - Essay Example 10), and the remainder may be sold on the market as food for wealthy landlords. He analyzes the disposal of poor children as a â€Å"saleable commodity† (Swift, par. 7), and discusses various ways to convert the flesh of children into delectable dishes. According to Swift, his proposal would ensure a reduction in the Irish Catholic population, serve as a source of income for the poor peasant, boost the economy of the country, lighten the financial burden of the parents, â€Å"bring great custom to taverns† (Swift, par. 25), encourage marriage and the good care of children, and boost the export of flesh. He declares that there is a good market for this ‘commodity’. Swift now lists the measures which would improve the conditions of the Irish peasants: the taxation of absentee landlords, the use of locally manufactured goods, the rejection of imported luxuries, the practice of thrift, the fostering of nationalism, unity and virtue, compassion towards the poor tenants, and â€Å"a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill† (Swift, par. 29) in merchants. He concludes his essay on a cynical note, saying that these measures will not be implemented in Ireland and, therefore, his proposal is the only practical alternative. Swift signs off with the affirmation the he is a totally disinterested participant in this debate, as he has no young children whom he could sell