Developing Teamwork Productivity in Diverse Workforce Essay

Developing Teamwork Productivity in Diverse Workforce - Essay Example In a team, the unique skills can be combined in effective ways. However, it is not as simple as creating a team and waiting for results. For a team to be effective, attention must be paid to several other areas. This will now be discussed by describing some of the important considerations necessary to creating effective teams. The first major benefit of teamwork is that it allows organizations to make use of the skills and abilities of all its employees. Another benefit of teamwork is that an organization requires that individuals work together. Even if teams are not present, all of the individuals within an organization are working together to achieve some overall goal. This makes it logical to suggest that an organization will function better if all the employees are able to work well together. In a diverse workforce, this can be a problem because individual differences are often a source of conflict. In response, many employees will avoid working with people they consider as different. When this occurs, the differences become greater rather than lesser. The importance of teamwork in a diverse workforce is that it forces individuals to come together and work together. In doing so, they gain a greater understanding of each other and differences are bridged. Even if the team does not continue to operate, the workplace overall has been improved by the process. This is an important benefit to a diverse organization. Of course, teams have disadvantages as well as advantages. One of the cons is that they may not be as efficient as having individuals working independently. Team members may be spending time trying to function as part of the team, where this time could be being spent completing work tasks. This con recognizes that it takes time and effort to manage and run a team. Another con is that it can be more difficult to manage and control a team. In a workplace without teams, tasks could be assigned and employees managed by their supervisor. This is a reasonably simple approach that makes it easy to control processes. If a task is not being completed effectively, the organization only needs to look at who is responsible for a certain task. This is more complicated if a team is present because it means that the task is owned by many It may not be a simple process of identifying and solving the problem. Another con is that teams often create conflict in the workplace. In diverse teams, conflic t can be greater because individual differences make it difficult for people to communicate and understand each other. In some cases, individuals may consider themselves as different to everyone else, reject their role in the team, and isolate themselves from others. In other cases, diverse individuals that share common traits may group together. This can create division in a team accompanied by struggles over power. These are all reasons that a team created to produce positive results can actually have a negative impact on the organization. There are also complicating factors related to motivating people in teams. A major part of motivation is providing positive rewards for desired behavior. If individuals are working independently, it is generally easy to identify desired behavior and provide rewards to encourage it. In a team, it is more complicated. Firstly, individuals are best motivated when the rewards

Positive psychology Essay Example for Free

Positive psychology Essay As a child we are told the future is our oasis But is this really the truth when we look at the basics? When I was young and asked what I wanted to be I of course replied â€Å"just like daddy† Now I wasn’t referring to his business success I was only concerned about the love he expressed So when we are told that the future couldn’t be brighter Why do people only think about becoming an astronaut or fire fighter? What is often forgotten is the truth of the matter There is much more to life, this is just a part of the batter Making the cake is a process that is extensive. What we need to remember is that it doesn’t need to be expensive Why does one’s life have to be determined by their occupation? It has become a norm in society, almost a fixation In order to be happy one has to have a high paying job and big house Luxuries extend as a far as a Maserati or a cottage with a boathouse With this in mind, young students face great pressure and tension School has become an entity beyond comprehension It was in my understanding that we come here to learn But when I look around all I see is heads turned. Heads turned from the reality of the true meaning of life Kids only concerned with grades as if they are being forced with a knife This figurative dagger comes in the hands of universities What happened to opening the door for a girl or showing a little common courtesy? People approach university with a new hopeful attitude We can now receive self fulfillment and gratitude The reality of the situation is long, grueling hours spent with your head buried in a book No one reflects on themselves or even lifts their head to take a look. Many pass these four years with not an aspiration in mind Not even looking ahead, continuing to remain blind Then university is over, time for life to begin With endless possibility, one cannot help but grin Then it hits you, like a strike across the face Money is happiness therefore you join the rat race What is interesting about this race is that there is no winner The winner is still a rat; the only objective is to provide a better dinner What has been lost in the mix is the wisdom and prudence Any successful man would point out that our actions are rather foolish And by successful I am not referring to economic victory I am referring to the people who have shaped our history Not the Donald Trumps, Mark Zuckerberg’s or Warren Buffets These are simply the people enslaved as economic puppets I am referring to the Gandhi’s, Malcolm X’s and Martin Luther King’s The people who created change, the liberation they were able to bring I believe that with great people comes great change. This change is not as simple as a stock trade, it is long range Not only is it eternally priceless but it has a rippling effect One great person affects all around them, sometimes unknowingly or indirect When I think of inspiration I think of the president of Uruguay The poorest president in the world challenged what society sees as the way Donating 90% of his salary leaving just $1250 dollars per year to his name It makes one question why we only seek to make large sums of money or achieve great fame Don’t mistake my message for an attempt to say that we are all greedy I simply want you to be aware that life isn’t all that easy Money can solve your surface problems but this solution is temporary. Reflect on your goals and ambitions before you end up in a cemetery I feel that change is possible regardless of your situation It does not depend on your gender, race, religion or sexual orientation Change isn’t easy but we are all more than capable When life pushes you to the curb, you are hurt but unbreakable In a world that seams hopeless it is important to remember life goes on Make sure to look up, stay positive and never get withdrawn. We are all brothers and sisters part of something that is greater Be fearless and hopeful and live up to your nature We are often referred to as the careless generation who lack a work ethic But I would argue that statement is unjustified and rather pathetic We have the means to create change and it is already happening People like the Keilburger’s come across as rather baffling But when looked at in perspective they are simply two people with a dream A dream that arises a common theme. This theme is that we must love and be aware We must create a life for all that is just and fair In saying all this I am not trying to discourage I hope all your child hood dreams come to the surface There’s a world full of hope, possibility and prosperity And my wish to all is a fulfilling life of mental clarity Ultimately what it comes down to is the way we are taught as youth There is nothing more powerful then the honest truth When asked what we would like to be in our future Happiness should come to mind, the only acceptable answer.

Analysis of Debating Democracys The Media: Vast Wasteland or New Frontier? :: Democracy Debates Media Essays

Analysis of Debating Democracy's "The Media: Vast Wasteland or New Frontier?"   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Debating Democracy's "The Media: Vast Wasteland or New Frontier?" Jarol Manheim and Douglas Rushkoff present opposing views of the media. Both authors raise the questions of what the media represents and what messages the media tries to send to the public. Is the media's coverage of events just for entertainment value or do the reports have political content and value? Are the viewers capable of distinguishing between the media's glitz and the real facts? Do different sources of the media system actually portray different views and stories? A key question is how typical objective reporting is. If the knowledge can easily be obtained elsewhere, it is possible to conclude with pluralists that citizens have the tools to govern themselves more or less democratically. If, on the other hand, there are serious shortcomings, one might agree with the power elite camp that the people, because they have insufficient meaningful information, wield less power than they could and should.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Manheim claims that the media is not as diverse as it claims to be. He states, Though for competitive purposes they might have us believe otherwise, most American news organizations have a great deal in common with one another . . . they define news itself in essentially the same terms. (Manheim, 1991) He argues that the media entertains the viewers rather than giving them information that is relevant and socially important. Manheim's view about what the mass media system actually does to the news is similar to what W. Lance Bennett lists as the four main media biases: fragmentation, normalization, personalization and dramatization (Bennett, 1996). These biases are described by Manheim as the media system "[rendering] the content of the news less burdensome by packaging it more attractively" (Manheim, 1991).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Contrary to Manheim's views, Rushkoff looks at how the viewers are able to use and understand the media's messages. Rather than viewing the media as a mass system composed of the elite who view the public as a commodity, Rushkoff believes that the people strive to shape and understand the world through the messages the media portrays. Furthermore, he claims that the media is merely a reflection of the society that the viewers themselves have created. The viewers have the ability to choose which medium of media they will use (Internet, network, newspaper, etc.). Rushkoff says that the news has now become "interactive" and the people (particularly those under forty) have come to understand the media's symbols better (Rushkoff, 1994).

Analysis of Paragraph on Page 271-272 of Porter’s Pale Horse, Pale Rider :: Porter’s Pale Horse Pale Rider

Analysis of Paragraph on Page 271-272 of Porter’s Pale Horse, Pale Rider In the opening sentence of this paragraph, two workers at the newspaper office are described. They are not, however, described as people though, they are instead said to be solely â€Å"two pairs of legs† (Porter 271). By describing solely this part of the people, Porter is drawing attention to a part of the body seemingly unrelated to newspaper writing. This gives the reader the impression that these two writers are either unskilled in the area or writing, or unimportant to the speaker. Interestingly, the legs are also described as, â€Å"dangling,† which paints the picture of a lifeless body. This could be perhaps indicating that these people are dead to her; both unimportant and unwanted. Porter then goes on to describe the legs as being â€Å"stuffed thickly into funnels of dark expensive-looking material.† The way in which this is described seems to imply that the fabric itself is strangling these legs that have now become representative of the speakerâ€⠄¢s time at the newspaper. By describing the material as â€Å"dark† and â€Å"expensive looking,† Porter makes the writers at the newspaper appear to be both evil and fake. As Porter continues her description of the two writers, she notes how one of then was â€Å"oldish† and the other â€Å"youngish.† The vagueness in this description goes along with the feeling of universality in the writers that Porter has achieved by having them represented by a mere body part. Also, by having one writer be old, and the other young, the writers are closer to representing every man. As Porter describes the writers as having a â€Å"stale air of borrowed importance which apparently they had got from the same source† she is indicating that the newspaper itself, and thus the media is the source that writers in this wartime community derive their unreal importance. Porter makes the speaker seem almost intimidated by the writers as she euphemistically refers to them as being â€Å"well nourished† rather than fat. This is again referenced when Porter states that Miranda â€Å"pulled out her chair without removing her cap or gloves (†¦) as if she had not a moment to spare.† Miranda’s resentment of the newspaper community is embodied in these two people.

Is The Secret Sharer an appropriate title for this short story? Essay

1. Is The Secret Sharer an appropriate title for this short story? Support your ideas with detail from the text. In The Secret Sharer, a captain escapes his ship where he was held captive after murdering a member of the crew. He swims to another ship and admits the whole truth to the captain. Both captains have bad relationships with their crew and they empathise with each other. Legatt, who came from the other ship, is to be kept secret from the crew as his life depends on it. They have to keep quiet and whisper. An intense relationship is built up between the two of them. The captain always refers to Legatt as my â€Å"other self†, â€Å"my double† or â€Å"my second self†. This indicates that they belong together such as lovers. It implies that they are one person and are bound together. Legatt tells the captain immediately that he just killed a man and the captain just accepts it without question. He understands why he did it. They trust each other totally. Between them they know everything about each other, they knew each other before their eyes met. For Legatt to expose himself to a complete stranger there would have to be a bond. It is a twisted love at first sight. Another aspect of the title’s secretively is brotherhood. The two captains conspire together like brothers. â€Å"Whispering side by side, with our dark heads together and our backs to the door, anybody bold enough to open it stealthily would have been treated to the uncanny sight of a double captain busy talking in whispers with his other self.† They both look alike and are conversing in whispers. They are even sitting the same way. Like two little twin brothers making up some plan, which will guarantee that they get into trouble. This comes before sharing a secret; this is the creation of a secret, which will only be between those two, so effectively they are sharing the secret. Legatts existence is so secret that the captain starts to doubt he even exists. He is so secret that he cannot exist. â€Å"An irresistible doubt of his existence flickered through my mind. Can it be, I asked myself, that he is not visible to other eyes than mine?† He begins to think that Legatt is so secret, that he is imagining him. This shows us that the relationship is so secret and fantastic, that he cannot believe it. Legatt is barely described; we know only that he has dark hair, is pale and resembles the captain. In the beginning he was glowing phosphorescently, which reminds us of ghost. So he is almost spirit like. This reflects the title in that the secrectness of his existence cannot be shared. The captain describes Legatt to be like himself, he is a mirror. The captain can understand Legatt instantly as if he were in his shoes. He shares his very soul with Legatt, which is so unreal he can’t believe it. It’s double secret, materialistically he cannot tell the crew and has to hide him, and spiritually because he has shared his heart with Legatt. In conclusion, â€Å"The Secret Sharer† is an appropriate title for this account. The title can be interpreted into different meanings all of which can be associated directly to the story. The title focuses wholly on the relationship between the captain and Legatt.

How does social pressures affect the family Essay Example

How does social pressures affect the family Essay Example How does social pressures affect the family Paper How does social pressures affect the family Paper There are many social pressures that affect todays family, not only in the Bahamas, but also all over the world. Some of these pressures are: unemployment, lack of finance, and alcoholism just to name a few. Social pressures such as domestic violence and substance abuse have resulted in an increased crime rate in the Bahamas. According to my research, money has been a primary source of survival for the family for a very long time. It is a fact that while there are some families that rake in a large amount of income there are those that have very little money. The most efficient way to obtain money is to get a job. However there are some people who want to work but cant find a job, thus resulting in the problem of unemployment. As you can imagine life is very difficult for the unemployed, especially if they have a family to take care of. Being an unemployed parent is even more difficult than being an unemployed person without a family. The parent is faced with the task of feeding, clothing, and sheltering his/her family. This can only be achieved by having money. They receive bills that they know they cant pay so they just let them pile up all the time promising to pay them. Finally it becomes so bad that the bank seizes everything that wasnt paid for out of pocket. That includes the house, furniture and car or cars. Thus the family is now on the streets with no means of transportation or income. In the case where both parents are working and one loses their job the working spouse is left with the responsibility of taking care of the family. What used to be handled by both finance wise is now only handled by one. Here again we see the problem of paying the bills. Believe it or not unemployment may also be a cause of divorce. Heres an example of how this can happen. The working spouse may come home after a long, hard day of work and meet the house filthy because the unemployed spouse did not care to clean or even straighten it up a little. After working so hard meeting the house in this state may easily anger the working spouse. Words exchanged between both spouses concerning this matter may lead to a fierce argument. Arguments like these can then force either spouse to file for a divorce. A social pressure can also take the form of Domestic Violence also known as spousal abuse. This is simply emotionally or physically harmful acts between people in an intimate relationship. Abuse between intimate partners can be physical, psychological, sexual and economical. Spousal abuse affects every member of the family. If the spouse that is being abused is abused physically they may obtain injuries so bad that it becomes virtually impossible to work without protesting in pain. Spousal abuse also affects the family financially seeing that more money would have to be used on medical bills than usual. The victim of spousal abuse may fall into a deep state of depression. So deep that all he/she can think about is death and committing suicide to escape the pain. They may become drug and alcohol dependant and thus slowly but surely waste away, not caring about anything . Not their appearance, attitude, children, nutritious needs or anything else. With their parent being in such a state the children may take advantage of it and do things they would not have normally done if their parent wasnt in that state. Another social pressure that affects the family greatly and is very common is alcoholism. Often the cause of alcohol abuse is stress. This stress could be brought on by overworking with little pay or abusive spouses. The actions of a person under the influence of alcohol can be terrifying and even fatal, if not to others, to himself. If the alcohol dependant person is the one handling all the financial papers in the house, the family would eventually find themselves in a state of debt, if another person doesnt take over that job, due to the alcoholic forgetting to pay the bills. An alcohol influenced person may become angry and violent towards his spouse and children for no apparent reason. Thus the children are afraid to even come home or speak to that parent. Eventually after the children are abused so many times they may feel a need to put some alcohol in their system to deal with the situation and here we see a pattern begin to form. An alcoholic child is just as bad as an alcoholic adult maybe even worse. Being so young they may have more unbelievable ideas then the adult. They may come up with things to do which they think is fun but in truth can prove to be fatal. The parent of this alcoholic has to deal with the shame and violent acts that are committed by the child. He/she will want to spend as much time helping the child as possible. This could cause the other siblings to feel neglected and unloved and they too can fall into a great depression. Every family member is faced with a social pressure at one point in time, but it is up to them as an individual to decide whether they would let the pressure affect them positively or negatively. If the family goes through the phase and comes out unharmed they will most likely become a stronger family.

The Realism Theory in Relationships of State and Non

The Realism Theory in Relationships of State and Non The three main theories used in international political economy are constructivism, realism and idealism or liberalism. Scholars commonly use the theories to explain economical events in the international political economy. Liberalists are concerned about private enterprise while constructivists are much concerned about wealth, political and material interactions of actors in the system.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Realism Theory in Relationships of State and Non-state Actors specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper uses realism theory to explain relationships among state and non-state actors in the international system. Realism is based on the idea that the international system exists according to the Hobbestian state of nature, which is anarchic and brutal. There is no centralized authority in the system. The influential states have powers that they use to subjugate the poor and powerless in the system. The paper evaluates three supranational regimes in order to understand the theory in detail. States agree to form governments that control internal affairs. It is not surprising that any sovereign state has the power to enforce and prescribe laws. These powers are limited in the international system because there is no Leviathan that controls the activities of all members. The first argument is that the US and other major powers use supranational organizations to further their interests ((Wolf 87). WTO is a world body that is charged with the responsibility of overseeing how countries conduct trade globally. Liberalists argue that the body is beneficial to all states that subscribe to it because they benefit from free markets and business opportunities. In the liberalists’ view, the world organization in charge of trade is supposed to arbitrate on conflicts emerging from trade and commerce. Nearly all states in Africa, Europe, South and North America are members. Member state s are required to follow the laid down rules and regulations if they are to benefit from the organization. In this regard, the organization ensures that the interests of all states are catered for. Managers are answerable to states whereby they are called to explain inconsistencies during hard economic times. In the realists’ perspective, the organization is the property of the rich nations, which is used to enforce compliance. The headquarters of the organization is in the United States meaning that everything is operated from there. States are usually forced to come into terms with unfavorable policies in order to be members. The Chinese case would serve as an example. China was requested to adopt some policies that would favor the West in order to be incorporated in the system.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Less developed countries do not actually b enefit from the organization. The organization allows US manufacturers to exploit markets in the third world but not vice versa. The third world is incorporated in the system as underdogs meaning that they assist the rich nations in producing goods. This is why the gap between the rich and the poor is widening day after another. The organization ensures that the poor states do not pursue interests that seem to contradict with those of the US. The organization is quick to slap economic sanctions to states that do not conform to the set rules. In the late 1980s to early 1990s, Libya was barred from exporting fuel to Europe, US and other friendly countries (Wolf 90). Oil trade nearly collapsed in Libya, which had caused sufferings due to lack of basic needs. This proves that states are usually in pursuit of their selfish interests not universal ideas. The US could have allowed Libya to sell its fuel to other states because citizens were suffering. This was never an issue to the US and WTO because Libya was non-compliant. Economic sanctions have been slapped to nations not because of misconduct but because of going against the wishes of the US and other major world powers. The second argument is that the US uses donor agencies to enforce compliance. IMF is a world organization that was established after the Second World War mainly to reconstruct Europe. This was an attempt to restructure European financial system after it was worst hit by the war. The organization offered assistance to European states that cooperated. After completion of its mission, the organization was turned into political tool that would subjugate and dominate developing countries. The US used the organization to restructure institutions of developing countries for its own interests (Milner 845). The organization forced many developing countries to restructure their governments in order to qualify for loans and other monetary assistances. For instance, the organization was effectively utilized in Kenya to boost American investment. The government, under Daniel Moi as president, was urged to privatize key national industries such as Kenya Airways, Rift Valley Railways and Kenya Ports Authority. Furthermore, the state was not supposed to interfere with the market meaning that prices of commodities could be determined by market logics (Milner 851). The Kenyan government suffered a lot because it had to retrench some of its employees in order to qualify for the IMF loan. The IMF program introduced in many countries was referred to as structural adjustment program (SAP). Liberalization of the economy benefited the US and other developed nations because they exploited the poor with cheap goods.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Realism Theory in Relationships of State and Non-state Actors specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Finished goods were imported from developed countries while raw materials were exported to the US and other developed nations. This was seen as unbalanced trade because Kenyan citizens could not afford processed goods, which were originally Kenyan. To ensure political compliance, the US used IMF to request third world leaders to accept multiparty politics (Stone 346). Accountability was demanded from leaders before they could qualify for monetary assistance. This ensured that US joint ventures were managed well. The US entered into contracts with governments of the third in order to construct expensive projects such as Geo-thermal power plants and ports. Such projects could not yield needed profits without proper management. This is why accountability became a pre-requisite of assistance. The organization was effectively used to further the interests of Americans because US firms took over major investments in Kenya and the whole of East African region after the introduction of SAPs (Stone 349). The third argument claims that developed nations relate with developing co untries in terms of natural resources. It is true that the US and other major powers in the international system are led by their selfish interests not world ideas. The US and other powers have been reluctant to intervene in Somalia militarily because national interests would not be achieved. Somalia does not have oil and gas that may attract foreign powers. This can be compared to the Middle East where each world power is camping there mainly because of oil and gas (Gholz and Daryl 465). The US has been planning to sell military radar to Saudi Arabia mainly to strengthen diplomatic ties. The US would reap maximally from the deal meaning that national interests drive a country to participate in world affairs actively. The US could not intervene militarily in El Salvador to save the lives of many people who were undergoing brutal treatment from an autocratic regime because national interests would not be achieved. The European gas crisis also proves that a state cannot participate in world politics without an interest. In Europe, there are two competing pipelines that is, Nabbuco and Nord. Nabbuco is owned by the Russian government and has a backing of the EU. Britain and the US have been supporting the construction of Nord pipeline because it would benefit them in future.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nabbuco cannot be wrestled from Russia because it is also a major power (Rosato 54). The British government and the US have justified the erection of Nord conduit claiming that Nabbuco cannot effectively supply gas to Europe. Such arguments are based on the Turkish gas conflict where Russia delayed supply because of diplomatic reasons. Critics of realism theory argue that states offer assistance to the needy out of goodwill. This could be witnessed in times of catastrophes where countries in conflicts help each other (Rosato 53). For instance, the US offers humanitarian assistance to some Middle East and Asian states during earthquakes but gets nothing in return. This could be witnessed during the Japanese nuclear accident. The US was in frontline offering technical assistance to Japan. This argument could be valid but the reality is that the US intervenes to further its interests. In the Japanese case, the US intervened to gain political mileage in the world political arena. Hegemo nic powers are strengthened by participating in important events. It can be concluded that national interests drive a state to act in the international system. Constructivists and idealists are misplaced by believing that states act to restore order and justice in trouble regions. Somalia case would act as an example, where major powers are silent because they would not get anything by intervening. Kenya has been forced to intervene militarily because its national security is in danger. Tourists have been abducted more than once, which has greatly affected the tourism industry. It should not be forgotten that Kenya generates more than 20% of the total revenue from tourism. Al shabaab militiamen are therefore a threat to Kenyan interests. Gholz, Eugene and Daryl, Press. Protecting the Prize: Oil and the U.S. National Interest†. Security Studies, 19.3, 2010, 453-485. Milner, Helen. â€Å"Globalization, development, and international institutions: Normative and Positive Perspec tives†. Review Essay, 3.4, 2005, 833-854. Rosato, Sebastian. Europes Troubles: Power Politics and the State of the European Project.† International Security, 35.4, 2011, 45-86. Stone, Randall. How to Reform the IMF†. Current History, 109.730, 2010, 342-348. Wolf, Martin. Why Globalization Works. 1st ed. Sydney: Yale University Press, 2004.