Organizational Design Behavior Essays

Organizational Design Behavior Essays Organizational Design Behavior Paper Organizational Design Behavior Paper If the organizational structure is meant to reflect its situation, the Limora Hospital and the Community Health Centres (LCHC) structures do not do this. The current structure does not reflect the complexity, dynamics, or the environment. There appears to be little consideration given to parameters of design. Organizational design is used to maneuver a series of criterion that determine the division of labor and coordination. The Limora Hospital and the LCHC have weaknesses in their design concerning the decision making system, the lateral connections between the superstructure, the format of the subunits and the individual job positions. These are integral parts of the structure and seem to be a weakness at both facilities. I would describe the structure of the LCHC as almost non-existent. Although the case study doesnt provide a lot of information about the actual parts of the for Limora Hospital or the LCHC, it does appear to be somewhat better at the Hospital then at the LCHC. As an initial step, it would help to combine some areas of the two facilities and better utilize its technostructure, support staff and operating core. The strategic apex is weak with no consistent, committed leadership or administration. There is confusion about the Bishops power of authority. He appears to have given his power away, yet some employees indicate otherwise. In fact, there doesnt appear to be any real management to apply managerial leadership and direction. This kind of confusion and conflict demoralizes the apex and the middle line entirely. A common vision, mission, and active interest in the future must be demonstrated by the Executives if they are to flow down into the core of the organization. This is lacking and is sorely felt by Dr. Macdonald who cannot pass down anything more than he is capable of, or more, than he is receiving from his superiors. There is a small technostructure in high demand, a large support staff, and an operating core that is clearly not well managed. Most evident is the lack of linkages between management and the operating core. Although not as evident are the weak linkages between the core and the supporting staff. A limited horizontal decentralization might work where the strategic apex shares some power with the technostruture that standardizes everyones work and some of these linkages. A well organized management team and employee links to them are necessary. A strong theoretical point is made in The Classical School of organizational theory by Henry Fayol, a French industrialist. He, and other theorists like Urwick, Gulick, Mooney and Reiley, emphasized the universality of the management function in all kinds of different organizations. Fayols theory worked from the board of directors and chief executives down through the organization. He stressed the importance of planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling the administration of an organization from the top down. The weakness in Limora Hospital and the LCHC can be found in the management of the Apex and he middle line, and the operating core. No serious attention has been given to these areas so they can achieve the leadership and administrative control they need. The parts of the organization do not support the coordinating mechanisms required, and neglect to meet the needs of either facility. They should reflect the configuration for a professional organization that relies on the trained professionals who have a high level of control over their work. It is safe to assume that the Doctors and nurses have all been trained and have standardized their professional skills before working at the either facility. Coordination is achieved by the virtue of doctors and nurses having learned what to expect from one another. So they do have this basic mechanism of coordination. What is lacking, is the necessary organizational glue to hold it together. Perhaps the standardization of norms as another coordinating mechanism. The nurses dont seem to be able to coordinate their activities based on their common goal of caring for the sick and standardizing norms would be helpful. There has been an attempt at coordination by Dr. Macdonald, but the organization has been without strong consistent control for too long. Although there doesnt appear to be a middle line, Dr. Macdonald has been left to promote coordination and proper design on his own. His leadership attempt is valiant but he needs the help of qualified middle line managers. The missing parameters of design are Behaviour formalization, Training, and Unit grouping. Behaviour formalization would provide work processes and job descriptions to reduce confusion about what work people should be doing and how they should be doing it. On the surface, one may question whether a group of professionals need stringent rules and regulations. Although these professionals know the essence of their roles, and have a lot of control over what they do, they lack a framework within which to work and make decisions. Behaviour formalization could outline the framework within which they can take control and, identify the boundary where they need the assistance and cooperation of others. Also very important, is to identify the communication linkages to others inside and outside this framework. This would eliminate much confusion, instill confidence into the operating core, and bring cooperation among managers and workers. It seems to me that when you are dealing with the life, death, and the health of others, the last thing you want is dissension and confusion among those who are caring for you. Aside from the professional skills applied by the doctors and nurses, the simplest procedures in administration of core workers could be a disastrous for the patient. As an example, how is a specific report completed, when is it completed, who are the critical receivers of the report, when must they receive it, and what must be included in it, all involve linkages and cooperation among professionals, staff and management. If these are broken in some way or done incorrectly, outside of the prescribed framework, they can impact a life. Chester Bernards book, The Functions of Executives, from the human relations school of thought, emphasized the need for clarity and cooperation among managers and workers to further the interests of everyone. Bernard said that organizations by their very nature are cooperative systems and cannot survive otherwise. He listed three forces to achieve this cooperation; executive leadership, subordinate acceptance of organizational goals, and the power of informal work groups. Clearly in a hospital there is room for strict rules and processes outlined by the leaders, but because there are also large areas of independent decision making, you must have a cooperation and a balance of both. Training, another parameter of design, can teach the professionals what the standards, processes, and procedures are, and clearly define the level of performance for each. The Limora Hospital must had some training on the hospitals procedures but when the nurses came over to work at the LCHC, they complained that they were not oriented to these properly. Training at LCHC is lacking in this area. The essence of the work done by the professionals is no different in either the Limora Hospital or the LCHC. What is different is the purpose for each facility and the level of output. One is a hospital that cares for the people who are already ill, and the LCHC is a community program that focuses on preventative health to try to keep people from ending up in the hospital. The hospital doctors and nurses would likely be prescriptive in their care for very ill patients over a shorter period. The LCHC would also prescribe but would likely be more descriptive in their care over longer periods of time in the community. Teaching these fundamentally different objectives to everyone, and what work is wrapped around them, would facilitate a clear direction for exactly what the jobs are in each facility. The Scientific Management theory advocates a systematic approach to job design, performance, and training. Not necessarily all of the theory components are applicable the systematic approach to training does apply to a health organization. There is a systematic way of applying medical tests to ensure there are no mistakes. Speed and efficiency are critical. There may be a departure from this theory as it relates to division of work and task specialization, but the scientific selection of training remains useful to our health care situation. Adam Winslow Taylor and Henry Gantt emphasized the need for systematic training of workers. Taylor particularly advocated that the role of management was to know their employees and to train them to do well. If this was done, it would produce maximum efficiency. Finally, both the LCHC and the hospital are dependent on the same resources. They both need analysts such as accounting and personnel, they both use the same nurses and doctors in their operating core, and both need the use of land rovers in their work. Conflicts have surfaced because the organizational structure does not leverage these like needs well. For example: Clear and accurate financial accounting for both areas They both need highly qualified doctors and nurses Their primary and supporting staff need similar training They are dependent on each other but the structure does not promote interdependency They both require processes and procedures to perform their jobs well Unit grouping would be the design parameter most required to help facilitate the mutual needs of each unit. Grouping these under the same supervision would encourage cooperation and help to promote a more efficient and cooperative working environment. Once the needs of each area are clear, you need to establish liaison positions, or roles that can coordinate the work of two units. These liaison positions are missing in the hospital and LCHC structure. Task forces are also missing. Task forces can plan meetings, bring the members of each unit together, and integrate mangers to coordinate what is important to the units. These initiatives would eliminate competition for the best nurses and doctors, and provide a fair an accurate financial accounting for both facilities. It is difficult to tell how much impact the support staff for either the Limora hospital, or the LCHC have on the operating core and the quality of care. Im sure the support staff could also be optimized by unit groupings. Unlike the scientific management theory that did not provide a theory of general organizational design, the classical school of organizational theory did. Henry Fayol, from this theory, suggested that all jobs should be regrouped on some common basis to achieve coordination or unity of direction. Henry Fayol also saw the importance of working from the board of directors down into the organization, different from the scientific management school of thought which worked from the bottom up. Both are useful for our purposes. This regrouping theory and focus on the top levels of the organization are very applicable to the Limora Hospital and the LCHC. There are also some situational factors such as age, size, technical systems, power, and environment that need consideration. Understanding the impact of situational factors can help identify the weaknesses in the structure and how to improve them. For example, the hospital and the LCHC are only 10 years old and there are only 280 beds. This means they are relatively young and small and that their behaviours arent yet formalized. The fact is there is a lack of organizational maturity. As the organization ages and grows in size, the behaviours will become formalized and the more homogeneous. Because the environment in a hospital is complex and decisions cannot be made by one person, one might decentralize the structure and push the decision making down. However, with the problems at the Limora Hospital and the LCHC, it would be wise to centralize some of its structure temporarily. Taking this action in the right areas would eliminate the current hostile environment. As the organization matures, selective vertical and horizontal decentralization can be applied where the power over different decisions is spread over different parts of the organization more readily. Finally we have the operating core, the key part of the organization that is composed of professionals. Although the basic coordinating mechanism of standardization of skills exists, standardization of processes, and outputs are weak. These together with the lack of leadership, have politicized the organization and the people are in conflict. Consequently, the structure of Limora Hospital and LCHC has become a professional bureaucracy, not uncommon in Hospitals. A view of Professionals is that they are attached to the organization, but still have extensive autonomy and freedom. This gives them the best of both worlds. From an organizational perspective, however, this environment is very difficult to control and measure. The hospital and the LCHC need to discover then prescribe, when and how the attachment to the organization is essential, and when autonomy is necessary. As stated earlier, as the organization matures, professionals will perfect their own skills and repeat what works for the overall success of their jobs. For right now, framework and guidance are required. Guidance, communication and leadership would maximize the professionals output, efficiency and morale. Another item that may be an issue for the hospital and the LCHC is professional incompetence in its core operations. Although incompetence is not indicated in the case study, it may be an undiscovered issue because it is difficult to identify it in a professional organization that has lots of autonomy. Hence one measure of control is to ensure you hire competent professionals, and you continue to upgrade and train them. The standardization of skills and norms will help, but does not address incompetence. In summary, the weakness in the organizational structure of the Limora Hospital and the LCHC are challenging, but fixable. It is important to step back and look at what parameters of control or freedom a health care organization requires. It seems a portion of a hospital operations needs a very stringent scientific approach to its organization, yet another portion demands that the professional skilled people to have the authority and power to assert their knowledge independently. Theoretically, I would apply Max Webers Bureaucracy theory as an approach. This structure would ensure that there are clear lines of power, orderly procedures and rules that would remove any randomness and unpredictability from the hospital system. The interactions are based on standards Vs the personal feelings of peers and managers. It would add fairness and equity of evaluation. It is a rational and formal-structural response to organizational problems. The immaturity must be aided by making some structural changes. The superstructure appears to need the least amount of work. There is an existing Apex (which needs some focus), a middle line (which needs to grow), a small technostructure (which should be combined for both facilities to use), and an ill managed operating core. I hesitate to say too much about the support staff. Unfortunately, the case does not provide enough information about this unit for comment.. I must assume there is a support staff functioning at the hospital since they could not possibly continue without the support of a support staff. Most of the organizational changes need to be done in the essential design parameters of the subunits. Standardization of skills has already been achieved and the remaining would include: Behaviour formalization to help standardize work processes and procedures Training to teach the standards and procedures and achieve standardization Unit groupings to group jobs under one supervision for maximum efficiency and cooperation The structural changes will also facilitate more effective communications, enhance the ability of the leaders to lead, and increase intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The complexities of organizational structure and organizational behaviour are huge. Because of these complexities, generally one theory, one behavioural model, or one method of structure does not always meet all the needs of the organization. There is no doubt, however, that guiding principles and basic fundamental models work and would work for Limora Hospital and the LCHC. 2. What are the effects on motivation, leadership and communication because of the weaknesses identified in your answer to Question #1 at the Limora Communication Health Centre? The weakness in the organizational structure at LCHC hampers leadership, communication, and motivation. In reverse, the lack of leadership, communication and motivation have impacted the organizational structure. The definition of each of these explains the importance of their interrelationship to one another. Leadership is based on the ability to influence others to achieve organizational goals. Formal leaders hold a high rank in the hierarchy and informal leaders are recognized for outstanding skills and abilities. Managing is sometimes mistaken for leadership. The difference is that a manager brings order to the employees, and a leader makes useful changes in the organization. Communication is the process of two or more people exchanging information. The sender is the initiator of the message and the receiver is the one that the message is direct to. Effective communication is achieved when the message from the sender is received as it was intended. Motivation can be understood as a force within us that is triggered by various needs. This force then drives us to satisfy an unsatisfied need. There are basically two different categories of motivation. One is intrinsic and the other extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation comes from inside ourselves and extrinsic from outside ourselves. All three of these are lacking at the LCHC. Some of them are highly impacted by the weaknesses in the organizational structure, and some are lacking in the individuals as skills. Motivation, leadership and communication are dependent on one another and cannot function very well in an organization on their own. Leadership generally deals with the complexities of humans and human behaviour. There are many approaches to leadership, each with theories and models. The Traits theories would look at leaders and explore their traits or characteristics. Behavioural leadership theories centre around the behaviours demonstrated by effective leaders. Lastly, the contingency approach puts forward the notion that it depends on both behaviour and traits. Situations can effect what traits and behviours are most useful.. The most suitable leadership approach for the LCHC would be the contingency approach since it offers ways to look at behaviour and traits. It also lends itself to approaches for leading tasks and people. There are task issues and relationship issues at LCHC that need leadership. Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchards situation leadership model offers different behaviours suited to either a task situation or a relationship situation. Some of the leadership weakness at LCHC are: The lines of authority for the division of labor between the apex and the middle line are not clear. This makes leadership difficult. The Bishop is not motivated to take on this leadership, or he does not have the leadership expertise to lead. It is the Bishop that should set forth the proper leadership characteristics, and develop the triggers that will motivate his organization. There seems to be no communication from him about the mission, strategy, or goals of either facility. If this is missing at the top, it cascades down throughout the organization very quickly. It is evident that the professionals in the operating core are confused, and dont have clear goals to follow. These goals would help pull all of them in the same direction. The middle line, where Dr. Macdonald is managing, needs qualified managers. When there are no qualified managers, and management systems are in chaos, leadership is compromised for the strongest of leaders. The above points in the structural weaknesses involve task and volatile relationships issues. The application of the Hersey / Blanchard model of leadership will help both the task and relationship concerns. . Regarding communications, the LCHC does not adequately provide the network for good communications among all its employees. Unit groupings are weak and management does not seem to have a lot of integrity in their communications. Its important to have a place that can determine what communications vehicle should be used to gain the highest impact for any given message. Rich communication demands face to face interaction, next is the telephone, and the poorest is via memo or letter. There are no liaison positions in place at the LCHC. These positions could determine communication vehicles, disseminate information and improve upward, downward and horizontal communications. A very large part of good communications is also about listening and knowing how to communicate. Communication involves giving and receiving feedback. These skills are generally part of a good training program. The LCHC does not have a good training program in place that could help them increase harmony, efficiency and mutual understanding. When good communications are in place, feedback is at an optimum, therefore, managers and employees could actively participate in formal and informal evaluations processes. If the managers and employees are involved in the evaluation process, they are most apt to be fair and equitable in their assessment of each other. The employees at LCHC are not motivated. The lack of motivation is a direct result of the lack of leadership and effective communications. It can also be linked to the organization of the subunits. Grouping different jobs under common supervision can pull them together to achieve similar goals thus triggering motivation.. Employees also need, and are more likely driven by intrinsic motivators. These can come from reaching personal career goals, making enough money to buy a new house, or simply feeling good when a patient gets well as a direct result of their care. Putting a Human Resources management in place could provide rewards programs in the form of money, recognition, and promotion. These are all triggers for employees to set themselves goals to reach these rewards. Lockes goal setting theory says setting clear, challenging, realistic and acceptable goals raises performance. Goals invoke motivations since our thoughts and actions are directed by our goals. It is much easier for the LCHC employees to set their personal work related goals if they have been given short term departmental goals or milestones and long term organizational goals. Each department would work in a cooperative setting to reach these goals. When employees dont see or feel a sense of purpose, there is often conflict, competition, and behaviour is based on the fear of not knowing where they are headed. Consequently, this leads to low morale and demotivated employees. The LCHC should consistently communicate the rewards and results of effort and hard work. This will encourage employees to expect a reward for their work. Vrooms expectancy theory supports this idea. He says that if you put effort in, you will get a positive outcome. Individuals will look at a given situation in this way. increased effort will lead to good performance, good performance will lead to certain outcomes, and then are the outcomes worthwhile. If they are, the effort will be put forth. In summary, leadership, communication, and motivation are a must for an organizations success. If the structure is aligned to support all three, there is increased productivity, high level of efficiency and high morale among the employees.

Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo

Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo The Battle of Puebla was fought May 5, 1862 and occurred during the French intervention in Mexico. Landing a small army in Mexico in early 1862 under the pretense of forcing the repayment of Mexican debts, France soon moved to conquer the country. As the United States was occupied with its own Civil War and could not intervene, the government of Napoleon III saw an opportunity to install a friendly regime while gaining access to Mexicos natural resources. Advancing from Veracruz, French forces drove inland before engaging the Mexicans outside of Puebla. Though outnumbered and outclassed, the Mexicans successfully repulsed the French assaults on the city and forced them to retreat. Despite the fact that French forces succeeded in taking control of the country a year later, the date of the victory at Puebla inspired the holiday that has evolved into Cinco de Mayo. Background In the summer of 1861, President Benito Jurez announced that Mexico would suspend repayment of loans to Britain, France, and Spain for two years as he worked to stabilize his nations finances. These loans had primarily been taken to finance operations during the Mexican-American War and the Reform War. Unwilling to accept this suspension, the three European nations concluded the Convention of London in late 1861 and formed an alliance to deal with the Mexicans. In December 1861, British, French, and Spanish fleets arrived off Mexico. While a blatant violation of the U.S. Monroe Doctrine, the United States was powerless to intervene as it was embroiled in its own Civil War. On December 17, Spanish forces captured the fortress of San Juan de Ulà ºa and the city of Veracruz. The following month, 6,000 Spanish, 3,000 French, and 700 British soldiers came ashore. French Intentions On February 19, 1862, Mexican Foreign Minister Manuel Doblado met with British and Spanish representatives near La Soledad. Here the two European nations agreed not to advance further while debt negotiations were in progress. As talks progressed, the French captured the port of Campeche on February 27. A few days later, on March 5, a a French army under the command of Major General Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Comte de Lorencez was landed and began operations. As it quickly became evident that French intentions extended far beyond debt repayment, both Britain and Spain elected to depart Mexico, leaving their former ally to proceed on its own. With the United States unable to intervene, French Emperor Napoleon III sought to topple Jurezs government, install a favorable regime, and gain unfettered access to Mexicos resources. Concentrating his army, Lorencez moved forward with an attempt to conquer Mexico. Lorencez Advances Pressing inland to avoid the diseases of the coast, Lorencez occupied Orizaba which prevented the Mexicans from taking possession of key mountain passes near the port of Veracruz. Falling back, the General Ignacio Zaragozas Army of the East took up positions near Acultzingo Pass. On April 28, his men were defeated by Lorencez during a large skirmish and he retreated toward Puebla. On the road to Mexico City, Jurez had ordered fortifications constructed around the city in anticipation of a French offensive. Reporting his victory at Acultzingo, Lorencez stated, We are so superior to the Mexicans in organization, race...and refinement of manners, that I am pleased to announce to His Imperial Majesty, Napoleon III, that from this moment on, as the leader of my 6,000 brave soldiers, I can consider myself the owner of Mexico. Battle of Puebla Conflict: French Intervention in Mexico (1861-1867)Dates: May 5, 1862Armies Commanders:MexicansGeneral Ignacio Zaragozaapprox. 4,500 menFrenchMajor General Charles de Lorencez6,040 menCasualties:Mexico: 87 killed, 131 wounded, 12 missingFrance: 172 killed, 304 wounded, 35 captured Major General Charles de Lorencez. Public Domain The Armies Meet Pushing on, Lorencez, whose troops were among the best in the world, believed he could easily dislodge Zaragoza from the town. This was reinforced by intelligence suggesting that the population was pro-French and would aid in expelling Zaragozas men. Reaching Puebla late on May 3, Zaragoza set his men to improving the citys defenses before placing his forces in an entrenched line between two hills. This line was anchored by two hilltop forts, Loreto and Guadalupe. Arriving on May 5, Lorencez decided, against the advice of his subordinates, to storm the Mexican lines. Opening fire with his artillery, he ordered the first attack forward. The French Beaten Meeting heavy fire from Zaragozas lines and the two forts, this attack was beaten back. Somewhat surprised, Lorencez drew upon his reserves for a second attack and ordered a diversionary strike towards the east side of the city. Supported by artillery fire, the second assault advanced further than the first but was still defeated. One French soldier managed to plant the Tricolor on the wall of Fort Guadalupe but was immediately killed. The diversionary attack fared better and was only repulsed after brutal hand-to-hand fighting. Attack of the Mexican cavarly at the Battle of Puebla, May 5, 1862. Public Domain Having expended the ammunition for his artillery, Lorencez ordered an unsupported third attempt on the heights. Surging forward, the French closed to the Mexican lines but were unable to breakthrough. As they fell back down the hills, Zaragoza ordered his cavalry to attack on both flanks. These strikes were supported by infantry moving into flanking positions. Stunned, Lorencez and his men fell back and assumed a defensive position to await the anticipated Mexican attack. Around 3:00 PM it began to rain and the Mexican attack never materialized. Defeated, Lorencez retreated back to Orizaba. Aftermath A stunning victory for the Mexicans, against one of the best armies in the world, the Battle of Puebla cost Zaragoza 83 killed, 131 wounded, and 12 missing. For Lorencez, the failed assaults cost 462 dead, over 300 wounded, and 8 captured. Reporting his victory to Jurez , the 33-year old Zaragoza stated, The national arms have been covered with glory.† In France, the defeat was seen as a blown to the nations prestige and more troops were immediately sent to Mexico. Reinforced, the French were able to conquer most of the country and install Maximilian of Habsburg as emperor. Despite their eventual defeat, the Mexican victory at Puebla inspired a national day of celebration best known as Cinco de Mayo. In 1867, after French troops left the country, the Mexicans were able to defeat the forces of Emperor Maximilian and fully restore power to the Jurez administration.

Assignment (Economics) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

(Economics) - Assignment Example As the equilibrium price is higher with a monopoly, consumer surplus will be lower than it would be under competition. If the NPS values consumers more than firms, the monopoly outcome may not be desirable. With only one firm, there may be efficiency gains. For example, it may be that the firm needs to employ fewer employees to service all of the visitors to Yosemite relative to the combined number of employees given competition in the market. Hence average total costs may be lower with only one firm. It is therefore possible that the firm posts lower prices and sells more units yielding a surplus to society. 4. Monopolistic competition has some of the same characteristics as monopoly and some of the same characteristics as perfect competition (hence the name "monopolistic competition"). List a few of these similarities. Perfect Competition: Economic profits tend to be eliminated in the long run, the relatively free entry of new firms, the long‑run price and output behavior, zero long-run economic profits, and have many buyers and sellers. The entry and exit of firms in monopolistic competitive firms will eventually cause each firms economic profits to fall to zero. Hence, eventually, each firm earns normal profits, i.e. profit = 0. When some firms earn positive economic profits at one time, new firms will end up entering the market and the increased competition will reduce all firms economic profits to zero. 7. Complete this statement by filling in the blanks with the words "increase" or "decrease": The entry of an additional firm in a mon. comp. market decrease the profit per unit of output because entry increase the price and increase the average cost of production. 8. Consider the Utica Slappers, a hockey team that plays in an arena with 8,000 seats. The only cost associated with staging a hockey game is a fixed cost of $6,000: The team incurs this cost regardless of how many people attend a game. The demand curve for hockey tickets has a slope of

Final letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Final letter - Essay Example Apart from this , I am more alert when you ae explaining complex terms regarding the particular subject. When I look at the quality of the lecture, it can be said that it is average as the instructor is not well versed with teaching skills.. The instructor lacks the quality of empathy, where in they bond with the students and understand their strength and weaknesses. My instructor is not able to communicate from the stand point of my level. However , the quality of compassion to students is visible in the instructor. Also the instructor is intelligent and explains subject deeply and vividly for us to understand. The instructor is also having a positive mental attitude which is very important for an instructor. The instructor is always keeping a smile on the face which is really appreciative and approachable. Regarding the quality of lecture notes, it could be said that it is perfectly alright As lecture notes are supplementary working guide, they showcases order and perfection in language and subject importance . It is always noticed by me that , the lecture notes are arranged in a clean way and the print is bright enough for students to comprehend easily. The lecture note provided by the instructor is a new dimension of looking at the subject and helps me in understanding certain concepts more deeply. The lecture notes are consistently provided by the teacher which enables me to update my information on a flawless manner. The notes always have information which is exactly needed. However at times, I find that the information provided is too much for a student to contemplate. The teaching quality of the instructor and lecture notes are the main issue in teaching but apart from this, the feedback also plays an important role in class. It is mandatory for all the instructors to analyze and assess the education quality offered by them to the students. A feedback is taken by my instructor once in a month and

Gender Socialization Essay Example for Free

Gender Socialization Essay The term, gender, refers to the socially learned expectations and behaviors associated with being male or female. Gender affects socialization in many ways, and begins primarily at birth. Gender affects how parents treat their children, how the work field treats males and females, and how each gender chooses friends. The gender of a child is extremely important to the parent. The gender will guide the parent on how to raise and treat the child. Parents are more likely to be more stern and rough with a baby boy rather than a baby girl. Parents of a girl are likely to be more gentle, soft, and patient with the new baby. This gender socialization example is due to our masculine and feminine culture. The most important and obvious gender socialization example is in the work field. Gender greatly affects the socialization process between males and females. Males are considered to be strong and powerful, while females are thought to be weak and secondary. From the beginning of time, men were to work hard and provide for the family, while females were to take care of the home and children. Today, men are still more likely to be powerful leaders, CEO’s, etc†¦ however; many women are top executives and are very capable of being so. Finally, gender affects the way people choose friends and social activities. Men are more likely to choose other men as friends, and same with women. Humans enjoy spending time with people that are similar to themselves. Men will also engage in masculine activities such as hunting, fishing, and running, while women engage in feminine activities such as shopping, tanning, and reading. Gender subconsciously helps make our daily decisions. I’ve never thought about gender being such an important aspect in our daily lives. Gender affects socialization in so many different ways; parents raising their children, the work environment, and choosing friends. Gender socialization is extremely important in today’s society.

Pulse :: Movies Entertainment Media Essays

Pulse Pulse is superficially many movies. It is a 2001 vehicle for director Kiyoshi Kurosawa to gain international reputation. It is a teen horror movie. It is a ghost story. How one reads this movie determines, to a large extent, what one sees in it. And while this means we cannot hope to discover one already present Truth waiting for us in the ebbs and flows image and sound that comprise the film, we can still interpret film and give contesting interpretations over the facts and implications of every frame and every sweeping plot summary. To offer one such plot synopsis now, the movie is â€Å"basically† about two separate groups of young Japanese men and women coming into contact, through information technology and forbidden rooms, with ghosts whose mysterious effects remove the population of the planet and drive the only survivors the film shows onto a ship headed to Latin America. One group, of whom only one survives, works in a greenhouse and happens upon the ghosts thr ough a computer wizard friend, who immediately kills himself. The other pair are at the University and come upon ghosts both through computer-illiterate Kawashima and through a graduate student who makes a â€Å"miniature model of our world†. I will consider Noà «l Carroll’s cognitive psychological model of horror film, and then Steven Shaviro’s theory of The Cinematic Body, offering, between the two, a path of interpretation of the film in details and broader theme. First I will try to imagine Pulse within the model of cognitive psychology suggested by Noà «l Carroll. The movie, as horror film, is a narrative of curiosity. This can take place in a scientific model of observation, hypothesis formation, testing the hypothesis, and confrontation. However, it could potentially take place in any particular expression of curiosity (e.g. surrealist, playful, theological or paranoiac), in any (sub/counter)culture, indeed multiple curiosities should be possible all at once. This explains Pulse a bit like the graduate student: the (scary) problem is mysterious, so we (audience/some narrative force) can and will investigate in order to deal with â€Å"the problem†, and satisfy our desire to know. The theory addresses itself to watchers of horror films, but depends on the unfolding of a narrative of discovery. At other levels than the sweeping plot of the entire film, the theory offers more insights.

Assess the usefulness of functionalist theories in understanding religion today Essay

Functionalists have put forward their perspective on religion and how it benefits both society and the individual starting with how religion brings people together harmoniously, creating social cohesion and a sense of belonging as people believe in the same thing and all abide by the same rules. Religion creates and maintains a value consensus whilst giving society social order. By conforming to religious beliefs this allows us to gain morals and therefore Functionalists see religion as a positive aspect to society. Durkheim defines religion as â€Å"a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things†. He says all societies divide the world into the sacred and the profane. Sacred are things set apart and forbidden, inspiring feelings of awe, fear and wonder. Profane are ordinary things that have no significance. His view on sacred symbols represents society’s collective consciousness which is the shared norms, values beliefs and knowledge that make social life possible; without such consciousness it would crumble. Participating in shared rituals binds individuals together reminding them that they are a part of a community. Religion defines values as sacred giving the people great power compared to non-believers. Through collective worship society understands the moral bonds that unite them. Durkheim argues that religion functions to reinforce the collective unity or social solidarity of a group. The individual sees religion performing a significant function allowing them to feel a part of society and strengthens us to face life’s trials and motivates us to overcome obstacles that would otherwise overpower us. Durkheim used the religion of Aborigines to develop his argument. He calls their religion ‘totemism’, as each clan of aborigines had a sacred symbol called a totem which was a symbol of their gods and of their society which reinforces their sense of belonging. Therefore, he argues the people are really worshipping society. Like Durkheim Malinowski sees religion as reinforcing social norms and promoting social solidarity. In his view it serves psychological functions for individuals helping them cope with emotional stress that would undermine social solidarity. He argues that death is the main reason for religious beliefs and identifies two types of situations: where the outcome is important but uncontrollable and thus uncertain and at times of life crises events such as birth, death etc. religion helps to minimise disruption. Bellah said civil religions integrates society in ways that individual can’t as it’s able to unite a nation. For example in USA American civil religion involves loyalty to the nation state and belief in God. It is expressed in many ways such as the national anthem and allegiance to the flag. Parsons says that religion helps people to deal with things that are unforeseen and have outcomes that cannot be changed. There are essential functions of religion in society it creates and legitimates society’s values. It achieves this by sacralising core values such as individualism, meritocracy and self-discipline which promotes value consensus. Religion also provides a primary source of meaning answering ultimate questions about life which helps people to adjust to adverse events and maintain stability. However, Durkheim’s analysis has been criticised as he only looked at small pre-industrial societies so his views do not apply to complex modern societies. Also he fails to account for the development of new religions some of which reject the norms and values current at the time, for example the Amish. His analysis was based on flawed evidence as he misunderstood both Totemism and the behaviour of the Aborigines. As a result of Durkheim’s research it could be argued that the Functionalist views of religion are not useful. This is because there may be cultural differences which prevent him from understanding the behaviours displayed in non-western society. Therefore it could lead to results that may be misrepresentative of all viewpoints on religion. His data may not be applicable to today’s society because of the diverse nature of different cultures. Some critics may argue that the Functionalist perspective is outdated and therefore not representative of modern society. They suggest that society needs religion to function and keep social order thus without it society would break down. Although secularisation of religion appears to be occurring society is still functioning. It could also be argued that religion can create conflict and division amongst society, for example there have been several world conflicts due to religious beliefs which highlights that religion does not create social solidarity as the functionalists suggest. Marxists however criticise the functionalist view as they argue religion is a unifying source that strengthens the value consensus and is a feature of all society. They see religion as a feature only of class-divided society. In such a society, there is always the potential for class conflict, and Marx predicted that the working class would ultimately become conscious of their exploitation and unite to overthrow capitalism. This would then mean society being classless in which there would no longer be exploitation, and Marxists see religion as a feature only of a class-divided society. As such, there will be no need for religion in classless society and it will eventually disappear entirely. In the Marxist view, religion operates as an ideological weapon. Religion misleads the poor into believing that their suffering is virtuous and that they will be favoured in the afterlife. Such ideas therefore create a false consciousness. Marx however ignored the positive functions of religion such as psychological adjustment to misfortune. Neo-Marxists see certain forms of religion as assisting not hindering the development of class consciousness.

Lady Gaga – Role Model

All across the world, girls attending middle school should be permitted to dress like Lady Gaga because she is a role model for both boys and girls alike. For instance, her bold sense of fashion and confidence is a true inspiration to all. Prior to her debut, she had proudly deemed herself a â€Å"freak† in school, for she dressed and acted differently than the norm. Beneath her catchy songs and eccentric music videos, Gaga emphasizes the importance of originality. Amidst an environment where girls try to imitate others in order to become â€Å"popular† and forgo personal creativity, Gaga reminds people not to be afraid to think outside the box and express their ideas freely. However, although some may believe that Lady Gaga is not a suitable role model for growing girls because of her ill-suited fashion and songs, they are incorrect because her lyrics spotlight important messages. To illustrate, in Lady Gaga's â€Å"Born This Way†, she sings, â€Å"I must be myself, respect my youth†¦. I'm beautiful in my way. Throughout the song, the lyrics clearly remind the listener to embrace oneself and fearlessly confront others. Through her songs and style, Lady Gaga emphasizes individuality and originality to others, and urges others to let go of oneself once in a while, as one only lives a life to create momentous experiences. Around the globe, middle school girls should be allowed to dress like Lady Gaga because she is an exemplary leader of pop music who influences girls and boys around the world with her matchless audacity and undaunted willingness to express herself.

Art and the Colors of Life essays

Art and the Colors of Life essays Upon visiting the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, I saw many different varieties of artwork. One such painting that caught my eye was Femme au Chapeau (Woman with the Hat), painted by Henri Matisse (1869-1954). The image was made in 1905 and originated from France. The oil painting on canvas measures 31 Â ¾ x 23 Â ½ inches. The Femme au Chapeau was one of the first of its kind. As a new 20th century emerged, so did a new style of artistry to depict the beauties of the era. The functional purpose of the painting is basically that of a portrait. In this case, the woman in the painting is actually Matisses wife, Amlie. Most portraits stand alone and are created to preserve the beauty and perhaps characteristics of an individual. This particular painting was first exhibited at the 1905 Salon dAutomne in Paris, according to the information provided next to the painting, and was later purchased by the Stein family, who were close friends with Matisse. I personally believe Matisses intention for his artwork was to show it off to the world. It would be a waste to keep it locked up in a house. Most portraits of the era were smooth and consisted of realistic ideals. Femme au Chapeau exposes a new type of portrait for everyone to see. As for the texture of the painting, the surface looks rough. Because Matisse used oil paint, one can see some thickness of the paint that was not smoothed out. Also, the oil produces a shine and enhances the vibrancy of the bright colors. The looseness and quickness of Matisses brushstrokes are very visible and sketchy. This gives off a lively feeling and almost brings the painting to life. In some ways, it almost looks as if each brushstroke was intentionally planted in its position. For example, the deep strokes placed on the fan that the woman is holding gives off a beautiful detail within itself. The new use of quick brushstrokes was also new to this era and ...

Why Do NaNoWriMo

Why Do NaNoWriMo For half a million writers worldwide the month of November is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). As a  NaNoWriMo  mentor and writer its the highlight of my writing year. Have you considered it? The NaNoWriMo challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days began in 1999. Its a non-profit effort run mostly for Elephants">Water for Elephants. The regions are supported Is there a prize? No. NaNoWrio isnt a writing competition, its a creative challenge. Its benefits include discounts on writing tools, bragging rights, improved writing resume, increased creativity, finding a local writing community, and most importantly, a first draft of your book. Does it have to be in November? November doesnt suit everybody. You could try  Camp NaNo. It runs in April and July and is a smaller event with more flexible targets. I used it to start a short fiction collection. Others complete a novel, edit a book, or write a script – your choice. Is there a cost? No, it runs on writer donations. Is it possible? Yes, but must commit to it. Statistically 17 percent  of writers finish NaNoWriMo but weve pushed that to 40 percent in my region thanks to advance preparation. Telling your friends and family gives you cheerleaders. Planning your plot and  characters and doing some research helps you face the blank page. Scheduling two hours for writing daily will keep you on track. Freezing dinners and turning off the TV will create writing time. When struggling to meet my word count I hand the WiFi router to my husband. Will it get me published? No, but its a start. My small region now has several published writers who still participate in NaNo annually. One poet self-published her collection and runs the poetry performances in the regional arts festival. A romance novelist has her first childrens book out. A zombie-thriller writer is a national novel contest finalist. What you do with your book after NaNoWriMo is up to you, but meeting other writers is inspirational. Why bother? I get asked this often and I have many answers. Writing a book in November gives me work to edit and submit for the rest of the year. Writing daily (as Hope recommends) gives  me a more professional approach to my work. NaNoWriMo encourages  me to try new genres and restored the fun in my writing. I meet other writers and built a year-round network. NaNoWriMo provides plenty of support apart from your local mentor. Theres a blog and published authors interact and inspire via  #NaNoCoach. The discounts on writing tools are hand,  and I enjoy my winners certificates and web-badges. Exclusive pep talks from bestsellers like  Neil Gaiman,  Diana Gabaldon, and  John Green  are fantastic. First-timers worry about the deadline but shouldnt. Even if you dont reach 50,000 words you will definitely write more than normally that you would otherwise in November. If you prefer to write plays, poetry or short fiction, join us anyhow. You get a cool title – NaNoRebel. If you write, youre welcome. This November consider becoming participant 500,001. NaNoWriMo Resources  ·      Ã‚  Ã‚  nanowrimo.org  ·         http://ywp.nanowrimo.org  Ã‚   Young Writers Programme (age 17 and under)  ·         http://campnanowrimo.org/about   Camp NaNo  ·         http://nanowrimo.org/pep-talks   Exclusive Pep Talks archive  ·         http://blog.nanowrimo.org/ Blog free cover contest  ·         http://nanowrimo.org/sponsor-offers   Offers for winners and participants

Theory And Political Ideology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theory And Political Ideology - Assignment Example Theory, therefore, is our attempt to put order into our world. We try to analyze the myriad of things and events and organize them into different boxes called theories. But then again, we may have cleaned up the mess but we end up with a maze of piles of boxes. Despite proper labeling, it still is difficult to find what you need without first going through all of them. So, we organized them further into different categories which we also apply to other aspects of our lives. These are now what we wall ideologies. Ideology is not a study of ideas like biology is the study of life. Rather, ideology refers to the body of ideas itself. We may not be consciously aware of it but even the most politically neutral person is guided by a specific political ideology, in this case, that of political neutrality. This political neutrality could be based on the theory that it is much safer to not take sides at all. In other words, our ideologies are composed of and the result of the different theori es that we believe in. Our theories on politics, conspiracy or otherwise, determine the ideology that we adhere to. To possess an ideology is one thing but to pro-actively promote this ideology unto others earns the proponent the name Ideologue. These are the type of people do not just believe that their ideology is better than the others; they believe that it is the only true and good one. They are like zealous religious preachers who believe that theirs is the only true path to righteousness and the rest who do not go with them will perish.

See below Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

See below - Term Paper Example On the third part of the paper, the impact of the great power and the attitude of the corporation were also discussed. The documentary entitled â€Å"The Garden† was used in this discussion. It displayed the attitude shown by the corporation. And the last part is the conclusion which is the idea and the opinion of the writer were written. On January 1, 2002, an article was published by The Washington Post written by Michael Grunwald which was entitled â€Å"Monsanto Hid Decades of Pollution: PCB’s Drenched Ala. Town, But No One Was Ever Told.† This article is regarding the contamination of a nearby creek from an area of wet lands where the Monsanto Factory hid PCB toxins. It was said on the article that some scientists tested the said creek from toxicity by releasing fish and in three and a half minutes, most of the fish died. A lawsuit had been filed against the corporation but on January 5th the corporation issued a clarification regarding the article stating that the Monsanto Corporation had no involvement in the ongoing lawsuit concerning PCB pollution which was made by the old Monsanto Corporation in Anniston Alabama Solutia Incorporated. The corporation said that the Monsanto Corporation’s chemical operation had been spun off in the year 1997 into a Solutia Incorporated which is responsible for the issue and which is the defendant of the lawsuit. The above example is just one of the happenings that showed the power and attitude of the Monsanto Corporation. The growing power, attitude and global control of Monsanto Corporation lead to the violation of the essence of â€Å"dirt,† leading to the farmers to become slaves and the risk of human and animal’s health. Monsanto Corporation was founded in the year 1901 at St. Louis Missouri. John F. Queeny, an Irish immigrant and a 42-year-old who is a purchaser of a Drug Company of the Meyer brothers, started this kind of