Situational Leadership

Leadership Styles is a concept that has been widely studied. Various scholars at different times have tried to understand leaders and styles of leadership. The wide attention given to leaders and leadership testify to the importance of leaders in the society. Leaders are found at different areas of the society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Situational Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They give directions to the society on various issues. Leadership is very important in organizations. Leaders within an organization are expected to offer leadership on various issues experienced in an organization. Just like there are many leaders, the styles of leadership also vary. Conventionally, leadership styles are categorized in various groups such as transformational versus translational leadership and authoritative, democratic and free reign style. Although these are the major categories of leadership, styles of leadership are known to vary from one leader to the other (Sharlow 2006, para 2). Leaders can change the way they behave, their personality and leadership style. Situational leadership style, developed by Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey explains the ability of leaders to adapt their leadership style to different situations. Leadership style can be explained as the approach that an individual take in leading others. It involves the ways in which leaders motivate, direct and interact with their followers (Sharlow 2006, para. 3). Leadership has been considered as a major factor in the success of an organization in the recent past. Effective leadership enables an organization to meet its goals and gain competitive advantage (Hughes, Ginnett Curphy 2006, p. 81). Organizations’ environments have changed significantly in the recent past. To be effective, leaders have to be flexible to various leadership situations. They must be able to deal with their subordinates in different way s depending on situations. Effective leadership depicts the manner in which a leader is able to adjust their style of leadership depending on the people being led and the respective missions. Situational leadership proposes four styles that a leader can adopt depending on situation. These include directing, supporting, coaching and delegating (Cooley 2001, para. 3).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Situational leadership is considered to be a function of leader’s personality, group personality and situation. It is represented by the formula: L=f (LP, GP, S) (Cooley 2001, para. 2). This implies that leadership style vary with personality of the leader, personality of subordinate and the situation. Group personality and situations vary frequently. The personality of the group may vary with education, experience and other factors in subordinates. Leadership situations on the other hand vary depending on the missions and other internal and external factors. An effective leader must therefore be able to adjust to these factors by assuming the most appropriate leadership style. Leaders can be able to change their behavior. Using situational leadership style, leaders can be able to adjust their leadership style depending on leadership situations as well as nature of subordinate. The four leadership styles can be appropriate at different situations (Cooley 2001, para. 5). Ability of a leader to choose the most appropriate style for a situation determines leadership success. For instance, when dealing with inexperienced subordinate, a leader can adopt directing leadership style. Through this style, leaders provide direct instructions on what is to be done and follows it up to ensure that the instructions are adhered to. After the subordinates have gained a considerable experience, a leader can use coaching style where lever of follow up is reduced. Depend ing on the confidence of the leader on the subordinate, supporting and delegating styles can be adopted. Currently, the business environment has become very competitive. In order to survive in this environment, it is vital for firm’s management team to consider developing and sustaining their competitive advantage. Leadership is one factors affecting competitive advantage. Organizations with effective leaders are able forge their way in the competitive environment thus becoming successful. Situational leadership style is one of the most effective leadership styles in the changing business environment. By incorporating this style, a leader can be able to apply the most appropriate leadership style depending on situations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Situational Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reference List Cooley, R. 2001. Leadership in an action, not a word. Web. Hughes, R., Ginnett, R. Curphy, G., 2006, Leadership: Enhancing the lessons of experience. (5th Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Sharlow, B. 2006. Situational Leadership. Web. This essay on Situational Leadership was written and submitted by user Cayden Nolan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

High GPA but Low SAT Score What Do You Do

High GPA but Low SAT Score What Do You Do SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips For a lot of smart students, the SAT is a struggle. If you have a high GPA, but a low SAT score, you're not alone! If you feel like you're good in school but not great at test taking, here's our expert guide on how you can boost your chances of getting into a great college. You'll be able to show colleges your true academic potential. The Good News Your high GPA shows that you have been diligent in your schoolwork across all four years of high school. I am classifying a high GPA as 3.5 to 4.0 on a 4.0 scale for reasons outlined in the article linked, though more competitive colleges such as the Ivy League will consider a high GPA to be in the 3.85 to 4.0 range. Stanford says on their admissions website, â€Å"We expect you to challenge yourself throughout high school and to do very well. The most important credential that enables us to evaluate your academic record is the high school transcript.† Your GPA is the most important part of your application, but a school will only consider your high GPA impressive if you took the hardest classes (AP or IB) offered at your school.If you took easy classes and had a high GPA, it does not impress admissions officers. (I'll discuss this more in detail later.) The Bad News Universities care about SAT scores because they see them as an equalizer (for an in-depth explanation of the function of the SAT, check out our other article).Every student in the country received a different high school education. Even students at the same school took different classes or had different teachers. However, every applicant to that university took the SAT or ACT. Every student took the same test (or at least an equivalent one, as the exact test changes from administration to administration). So, unfortunately, a university admissions officer may think that your high school grades were inflated or that you took easy classes at your high school and may think that your low SAT score is a more accurate representation of your college achievement potential. How Low Is Low for an SAT score? Before you worry about how low your SAT score is, consider this:some schools â€Å"superscore† the SAT, meaning they only count your highest section scores across all the dates you took the SAT. If you've taken the test multiple times,your score might be higher than you thought. For example, if you took the test 2 times, and your best Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score was on your 1st test date (710), and your best Math score was on your 2nd test date (680), you can combine those 2 best section scores into a brand new composite score (1390). For a more in-depth explanation and for the schools that superscore the SAT, see our other article: Which Colleges Superscore the SAT? If you still feel like your SAT score is low, consider this: how "low" your SAT score actually is depends on which college you hope to attend.You should Google search for â€Å"[College Name] SAT† to find out the 25th/75th percentile for the school you are interested in. The 25th percentile score means that 25% of the students attending that school have a score at or below that number (this is below average). The 75th percentile means that 75% of students have a score at or below that number. In essence, the 25th/75th percentile covers the middle 50% of all students admitted to the school. If you score at the 75th percentile for any school and have a high GPA, you have a great chance at getting in. If you're at the 25th percentile, you'll need to have a strong application to boost your odds of getting in.For example, NYUhas a 25th/75th of 1255 to 1475, and Harvard has a 25th/75th of 1405 to 1600. You may ask, well, why don’t I have a great shot scoring a 1405 of getting into Harvard when 25% of admits scored below that?In reality, the 25% below are most likely admitted because they are a special applicant such as an athlete (or have a special talent beyond athletics such as being a New York Times published writer/famous actress), legacy, or child of a significant donor. In this article, I'm assuming you're a â€Å"normal applicant†(not an athlete/special talent, legacy, or child of a significant donor). In order for you to have the best shot of getting in, you want to get your SAT score to match your high GPA and get a score that is at or above the 75th percentile for the school you are applying to. What Do Colleges Think of Your High GPA/Low SAT Score? What really matters in all of these questions is how the college admissions office views your application. A high GPA paired with a low SAT score means a few things - most of them bad. One potential impression is that your school inflated your grades or you took easy high school classes, and that your SAT score may be a more accurate reflection of your academic potential than your GPA. In other words, if your academic skill is, in reality, low, you'll get a high GPA at an easier high school but perform poorly when compared to the rest of the nation on the SAT. However, admissions officers will go beyond this initial impression. Most admissions officers know high schools in the US very well. At most universities, each admissions officer is responsible for a specific state or a region. They read all the applications from that area and visit the high schools (if your high school has an admissions officer visit and talk about the university they work at - that person will typically read your application). Since the admissions officers visit these schools and read the applications from students at them, they are very familiar with the academics at these high schools. You want them to be impressed by your GPA and SAT score! They know if your school is historically academically challenging or historically easy and known to inflate grades.So, an admissions officer will know if you chose to take easier classes and avoided the AP or IB classes that your school offered (if your school offers AP or IB) and will most likely then consider your low SAT to be a better representation of your academic potential than your GPA. If you did take a very challenging course load throughout high school (packed AP or IB classes, if available at your school) and you still have a very high GPA, the admissions officer will know and may be willing to look past your SAT score.However, you will have a better chance of being accepted if you can get your SAT score up to match your high GPA. Why Is Your SAT Score Low? Not sure why your SAT score was lower than you expected? In this section, we discuss several common reasons good students often get low SAT scores, and we also explain what you can do to overcome these issues. Issue 1: Did You Study? If you didn't study, that is most likely the reason behind your low SAT score.You need to know the test format cold.Learn how the SAT is scored, how long the SAT is and the SAT structure, andknow the SAT instructions.You need to take several timed practice SATs(I recommend four or more before taking your next test).Check out our other article for Printable SAT Practice Tests PDFs: 8 FREE Official Tests.By taking all of these timed practice tests, you will get very familiar with the test format and comfortable with the timing. However, you should not be taking the tests just to take the tests; you also need to be reviewing your answers. For help reviewing your mistakes, check out our other article: The Best Way to Review Your Mistakes for the SAT/ACT. Issue 2: Did You Study Effectively? If you have practiced a decent amount for the SAT and it didn't result in a high score, then you may need to change how you study. If you studied on your own, what material are you using?You should only be using real SATs.Sincethe SAT is such a unique test, you need to being using the real thing to get the best practice.Check out our other article for Printable SAT Practice Tests PDFs: 8 FREE Official Tests.If you want more practice, check out our other article for advice on the best books to buy for SAT prep. When you study, are you reviewing your incorrect answers?This is the most important step in the learning process: figuring out what you did wrong.Without this step, you will not learn from your mistakes, and you will keep repeating them.For help reviewing your mistakes, check out our other article: The Best Way to Review Your Mistakes for the SAT/ACT. If you're studying with official practice SATs and reviewing your answers and still not seeing improvements in your SAT score, there may be a couple of problems: Problem #1: You have not mastered the strategies of the test.To help fix this problem, you should check out the other free guides offered here at PrepScholar, and you should also be looking at the other free resources available on the web. Problem #2: If you are still struggling after working on the strategies, you may be having an issue with focus while studying.To fix this problem, you may want more personalized preparation and may want to consider hiring a tutor, taking an SAT prep class or attending an SAT prep camp, or using an online resource such as PrepScholar. Issue 3: Is Your Tutor or Prep Program Not Getting You the Results You Want? If you have been studying with a tutor/class/online program and seeing no improvement, there may be a couple of problems: Problem #1: The tutor/class/online program is not personalized. It/he/she is not figuring out what your strengths and weaknesses are and is not focusing on fixing your weaknesses.Try to find a more personalized tutor/class/program.Consider trying our PrepScholar SAT prep program. We do the heavy lifting for you, by splitting up our prep material into specific skills. We'll detect your weaknesses automatically and give you focused lessons and quizzes to improve those skills. Problem #2: The tutor/class/ online program is not pushing you hard enough (i.e. letting you not do practice tests or is not forcing you to complete the test in the allotted time frame).You need a tutor/class/online program that will make sure you are taking accurately timed practice tests, and that will keep you on a study schedule.Consider trying our PrepScholar SAT prep program, whichtracks your hours spent studying each week, times you during all practice tests, and commits you to a study regimen. Problem #3: You may just be suffering from test anxiety.I have seen this in some students. You score very high in your practice, but on the real SAT, you cannot get the same score because you are nervous, or you forget your pacing and end up not finishing in time.There is no easy fix for this problem.Getting comfortable with the test format should help minimize stress, but may not eliminate test anxiety completely.Try to remember that this is just a test and the test will not determine your success in life.Consider trying meditation to calm your mind before the test. If You Don't Have Time to Retake the SAT, What Are Your Options? Your SAT score is only one part of your application, so try to focus on making the rest of your application as strong as possible. You already have a great transcript going for you, so try to make the rest of your application match your high GPA. This includes getting great letters of recommendation, having strong extracurriculars, and knocking your personal statement out of the park. For in-depth advice on how to build the most versatile college application,check out our other article. What’s Next? Retaking the SAT? Check out our ultimate SAT study guide to help you with your prep. Taking the SAT very soon? Check out our guide to cramming for the test. Not sure where you'd like to go to college? We'll help you find the right college for you. Nervous about getting arecommendation letter for your college application? Learn about who you should askto write itand check out ourtemplate for a good letter. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by SAT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES ON MANAGMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES ON MANAGMENT - Essay Example Thus management involves achieving competencies in human resources management, administration, and organizational leadership among others areas (Koontz & Weihrich, 1990). In addition, organizational image and identity refers to that which is most central, distinct and most enduring about an organization. In other words the image and identity refers to â€Å"who we are as an organization† (Whatten & Mackey, 2002). This definition indicates the other organization and ‘we’ are one and the same thing, which cannot be separated by any means. For example, a Human resource manager is involved in recruiting, training, and creating policies to motivate and retain the workforce within an organization. In performing these functions, the HRM performs a political function by creating and allocating people to positions of power within the organization (Devanna et al, 1981), and how payments and rewards are distributed. On the other hand, the manager is functional as they have t o design policies and strategies that have to ensure the recruited employees contribute to development and improvement of the firm. The manager performs a rational activity by having well organized and structured policies that will help in achieving certain ends to the benefit of the company while at the same time rewarding employees for their input. Likewise organization image is a political process as it uses the power of influencing perception. An organization has to improve its image so as to appear more aligned within a certain goal, which influences public’s perception. The strategies and policies put in place to enhance and achieve this image constitute the functional process. Its rationality is in the purpose of achieving an end, which is attracting more customers and investors through improved corporate image, while at the same time gaining the support of employees. However, the current developments in organizational study have resulted into critical theories that fi nd the mainstream management to be poorly structured in effectively addressing all the concerns of stakeholders (Adler, Forbes, Willmott, 2007) This is because; the current management structure gives more advantage to managers; sometimes misuse these positions to benefit the organization at the cost of stakeholders. According to Contu & Willmott (2003) there is unstable institutionalization of power within capitalist type of organizations where profit making is the sole purpose of such organizations. On the other hand, Lukes (2005) explains organizations that have decisions emanating from the decision makers only have one dimensional power prevailing in decision making, instead of having an agenda control type of decision making. As Heydebrand (2007) elaborates, the new organizational critic theories argue that the basic importance of power at the very initial level of management is to prevent grievances and unnecessary conflicts through consent. It seeks to define the social realit y including what people are actually thinking, acting, feeling and shaping the very definition of what is free and unfree, good and evil, or true or false (Heydebrand, 2009, Herbamas, 1990). Thus management conflict is central to important functions in the organizations such as bargaining, mediation in labor laws, other extra legal disputes, and negotiations (Stone, 2001). Largely, these are the major lacking attributed in the mainstream ma

Please help me pick one Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Please help me pick one - Research Paper Example It starts at its peak of $173 on 5th of October 2012 and by 2th of November the following month it’s at its lowest point of about $162.6.After 2nd of November the shares are gaining value to a stunning $166.3 by 6th of the same month. The same decline is shown by the trend line which indicates the average closing stock shares reducing from $172 on 5th October 2012 to about $163.5 on 6th of November. A different trend is exhibited for the United States Oil closing shares. Shares are stable as for 10 days with minimal fluctuations from 8th of October. This is after a rise from decline for previous days(shares are at 33.5 on 5th October).Between 18th and 24th of October, closing shares drop to about 31.7 from 34.1 after which they stabilize again though at about 31.7.Closing stocks hit their lowest value(about 31.3) on 2nd November after which it begins to gain value again. The value of Shares relates directly to value of gold/oil held by the Trust therefore fluctuations in gold/oil price materially affected investment in the Shares. The price of gold/oil fluctuated over these period. These were due to; Global gold/oil supply and demand, Purchases, sales, production and cost levels in key gold/oil-producing countries (i.e. South Africa, the United States and Australia for gold and Saudi Arabia, Iran and Nigeria for Oil),Investors’ anticipations with respect to inflation rate, Currency exchange rates, Rates of Interest, political, economic and financial instability worldwide The value of Shares relates directly to value of gold/oil held by the Trust therefore fluctuations in gold/oil price materially affected investment in the Shares. The price of gold/oil fluctuated over these period. These were due to; Global gold/oil supply and demand, Purchases, sales, production and cost levels in key gold/oil-producing countries (i.e. South Africa, the United States and Australia for gold and Saudi Arabia, Iran and

Ethic Challenges Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethic Challenges - Essay Example The current elderly population is as a result of the boom in births between the year 1946 and 1964. The medical services at that time were excellent and consequently many children born survived. A requirement for more healthcare providers and services emerges for rationing health care services to serve the sick population (Raingruber, 2014). The legislature must embrace rationing soon to ensure maximum utilization of the available resources. Otherwise, the federal government must spend more in employing more providers and procurement of more equipment that may consequently suppress other sectors in the state. The American healthcare services should be available for all its citizens. The American population comprises mostly Judaism and Christians who value life as a precious gift (Kelly, Magill, & Have, 2013). The medical ethics state that the nurses should offer the best healthcare services to the patients in their hour of need (Eileen, 2013). The nurses and the patients who already have insurance covers, however, may get the universal health care slogan challenging since it will compromise on the quality of the services. The increased population that requires medical services will stress on the limited available nurses and medical equipment. However, the government can implement the universal medicare by budgeting more on the equipment and

Transformational And Charismatic Styles Of Leadership

Transformational And Charismatic Styles Of Leadership This paper investigated the qualities of great leaders, and examined specifically the characteristics of transformational and charismatic leaders. The analysis discovered that people of all levels within an organization need to be motivated and a great leader provides that foundation. The study revealed transformational and charismatic leaders have similarities and differences yet both can be exceptionally effective. A discussion on the qualities of great leaders and issues of leadership in general was offered followed by a discourse on transformation and charismatic leadership. An example was offered of a real-world experience of the author to illustrate the leadership styles. Finally, a conclusion was given to highlight and synthesize the main points of the paper. Introduction It is not enough to be a good or even a great manager to be a great leader. A leader must inspire, motivate, and possess key qualities that allow them to rise above the politics of the moment and keep the long-term view for optimal outcomes of their particular venture. The situations of Fortune 500 CEOs, and those of the leader of a local food bank, may vary in terms of financial statements, stock options, dividends, and clientele. However, what does not differ is the spark of a great leader, those particular qualities that make people want to follow and support the vision of the leader. While there are many differing ideas of what constitutes leadership, most would agree that regardless of the various theories, what makes a good leader can mean the success or failure of an organization or venture (DuPrin, 2004). Leadership is often the first line of problem-solving in many situations. Schools, government, even social media all do better depending upon the expertise of the leaders in charge. Most people want to follow, not lead. However, for those Churchills, Pattens and Kennedys that history has given the world, one can sense that without these key leaders and their unique qualities, the world would likely be much different. Common sense dictates that leadership is not only necessary, it is desirable. People want to know that someone competent is in charge. Yet, what defines competence, and how it is achieved and practiced, is a field of much study. While people demand and desire great leaders, they also tend to have reservations at the same time. One can see the deleterious effects of following a leader with the right qualities, but the wrong agenda. For example, Hitler was a leader, who abused his power and harmed millions of people. Extreme religious fanatics, while exhibiting leadership and getting people to follow them, also abused their power, subjecting their followers to atrocities (Charles Manson), and even death (Jim Jones and Jonestown). Luckily, great leaders have additional desirable qualities, that being to foster and nurture the safety and well-being of those they intend to lead. Leadership, therefore, is a relationship, not a thing. It is defined by the willingness of someone deciding to follow another. Indeed, leadership is a concept that happens among people in the leader/follower relationship. Without the consent of the follower to follow, there is nothing to lead. A question, then, is what causes a person to follow another person? The answer is found in part in the qualities that define a great leader, those certain characteristics that make and motivate others to follow them and their agenda. A great leader, in general will possess certain qualities. Key to being successful is the quality of effectiveness. There are eleven noted qualities of what makes an effective manager and four key principles that make an effective leader. The table below summarizes the eleven qualities of an effective manger: Command of Basic Knowledge Professional knowledge Sensitive to events Analytic Social skills and ability Emotional Resilience Proactive Creative Mental Agility Balance Learning Habits and Skills Self Knowledge (Pedler, Burgoyne, Boydell, 1944). While these elements as noted above are quite important for good management, a good manager does not necessarily make a good leader. (DuPrin, 2004) To be an effective leader, key characteristics are required. When asked, what is leadership, people tended to answer in one of the four main categories. Power: the ability to have people follow your agenda. Persuasion: the means to motivate. Vision: a leader provides the vision. Empowerment: a leader enables and empowers others to do their bidding. Generally, the conception is that a leader uses power in a non-coercive manner, to will people to engage in cooperative endeavors, in order to pursue the vision that rises above the self-interest of the follower (Bolman Deal, 1991). While the discussion of basic leadership fundamentals is important, the discussion will now turn to the types of leadership styles, focusing in on what is known as transformation leadership, and charismatic leadership. Transformational Leadership Transformation al leadership is a style where leaders not only widen the interest of their followers; they also tend to elevate those interests. This is accomplished through developing awareness of the vision and mission of the organization, and garnering acceptance of those purposes (DuPrin, 2004). In addition, transformational leaders motivate followers to go beyond their platform of self-interest, instead embracing a new paradigm of concern for the good of others. Transformational leaders employ the tools of vision, courage, motivation, charisma, and concern for the follower. Their vision is broad, their interest are those of the group, their mission is long-term and met through inspiring others to follower (Bass, Atwater, Avolio, 2008). The following diagram illustrates the dynamics and characteristics of a transformation leader: Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe,  John Alban-Metcalfe,  Margaret Bradley,  Jeevi Mariathasan,  Ã‚  Chiara Samele.  (2008). In short, a transformational leader is positive, has the long-term view in mind, and inspires people. Charismatic Leadership A charismatic leadership style differs from a transformational leadership style in one very key way: the charismatic leader uses personal characteristics in addition to general perceived characteristics in order to achieve the vision and mission of the organization. In addition to being masterful communicators, they build trust, and motivate people through channeling their own personal energy, excitement, and confidence onto the people they lead (DuPrin, 2004). They possess all the qualities of a transformation a leader, and can lead and inspire through their own devices of personality and charm. The charismatic leader motivates people to follow their agenda through ongoing personal contact, whether through training sessions, web meetings, motivational retreats, and consistent development of vision and goals that are effectively transmitted to their followers. The following diagram demonstrates the elements of a charismatic leader: (Ulrich, Zenger, Smallwood, 1999) Examples of famous charismatic leaders are Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy, Richard Branson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Mahtama Ghandi, among many others, and not all are positive models. Leadership implies power. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely; such was the sentiment given by Lord Acton in 1883, in a letter he wrote to a friend. The concept was that leadership implies two main things: power, and the responsibility to use that power. Not all great leaders in history have been able to follow that axiom. Charismatic leadership, while an area of scholarly study, is also a real life concept. Once again, it should be noted that leadership is not a thing, not an item, it is a relationship based on an implicit relationship between leader and follower. Charisma, or charm, with its attendant energy, zest, irrepressibility, and constant motion, is an addictive quality to follow in a person, especially a person on charge: a leader. A charismatic leader runs the risk of being narcissistic, exploitative, and basically dangerous (Beyer, 1999). Such is the flavor difference between a transformational leader and a charismatic leader: the ability to get people to do what you want them to do based upon the leaders personal characteristics. Personal Experience: Combining Transformational and Charismatic Leadership Styles I would like to relate the experience of being a Lead Instructor and Technology Team leader. The background for this position stems from an unguided evolution from interested student, to job-seeker, lead instructor, to team leader. Additionally, the experience was not one that I initially sought. I did not want to be a lead instructor, or lead of anything. It just happened. I was in my twenties when I began working in education. My career began as a data control clerk and grew into a teaching position. My work ethic and knowledge spoke for itself and a friendly discourse arose between me and my principle. Eventually, I was offered a position as a Lead Instructor for the computer department which turned into a position as head of the Technology Department. On reflection, I can see that different factors came into play that influenced this course of events. 1) I was a motivated employee; 2) My work was exemplary, 3) I had an intuitive style for dealing with students of varying backgrou nds; 4) Students that I taught were inspired and motivated, and said so; 5) Scheduling and project management came naturally to me; 6) I had a sincere desire to teach, and do it well; 7) I was accessible, flexible, and ambitious. While these factors are not exhaustive, they do point to a leadership style that incorporates elements of transformational leaders and charismatic leaders, which to my great surprise I seem to possess. I motivated my students; they believed in themselves and hence produced good works. The outcome of this evolution has shaped my life forever. Not only did it lead to a lead role in the Technology department, it has prepared me for higher level positions that will be sought in the future after earning a higher degree in education. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to develop leadership skills and intend to search for ways to motivate people, manage projects, and produce good outcomes. Conclusion Leadership is something people need, and even subjectively desire. It connotes an implicit contract between the leader, and the follower. Without the consent of the follower, there is not leader. Qualities that comprise a good leader are those that the person will employ in the leader/follower relationship, such as being knowledgeable, trustworthy, accessible, and confident, among others. Leadership is inherently a concept of relationship, and leadership styles have evolved to attempt to capture that relationship, based on the setting and demands of the particular situation. Leaders are not machines. They are people and people are uniquely different from each other. Leadership is also a field of study, where styles and characteristics are plugged into matrixes, quantified, qualified, and verified. Such is the nature of leadership. Two styles of leadership are transformational and charismatic leadership. One could reasonably argue that charismatic leadership is the flashy cousin of tr ansformational leadership. Both styles incorporate a method of inspiring others, producing trust, sharing a common vision, and creating success for the organization or venture. Dangers linger in any relationship where one party holds power and the other party gives it. Any student of leadership, must recognize that tripwire, and assiduously avoid it through correctly recognizing the dangers that abuse of the power can bring.

Segregation in the College Student Center Essay -- University Student

Segregation in the College Student Center As I walked into the University Student Center after my Issues in Public Policy class one August day, a disturbing sight immediately struck me. For a moment I thought I needed to pinch myself because I felt as though I was having a horrible nightmare. Then, I thought that maybe I needed to check my calendar to make sure that I had not traveled back in time to the sixties when segregation was still an accepted practice in the United States. Much to my dismay, I was not dreaming, and it was still in the year 2000. As I continued to look around at my fellow students, my stomach churned, and it was not because I was hungry. The sight that lay before my eyes was not only very disturbing but also very common at the University. Although the Supreme Court in 1954 in Brown vs. The Topeka Board of Education declared segregation illegal, our student center today probably looks the way diners looked thirty years ago. Blacks are sitting in a secluded section of the Student Center; while whites ar e sitting in their own self-designated section. The segregation between blacks and whites in the Student Center is simply a natural occurrence between the two races. The University does not have guidelines on what section blacks and whites are supposed to sit in; nevertheless, blacks and whites naturally separate because of years of legal segregation. Segregation in our society has become a natural occurrence even though segregation is illegal today. The question that needs to be raised is "Why?" Why is de facto segregation still accepted in the United States? Why is a prominent city like Lexington still facing many of the problems it faced thirty years ago? The answers lie in our culture and our horrif... ...en the noblest of people cannot contain. It is a haunting ghost that no one can see, and it is the devil of our cities that many do not even know exist. Racial profiling, inequality, and segregation will remain in cities as long as our culture allows it. As long as we allow white supremacy and black inferiority to be prevalent in our culture, we are going to continue to have problems in our cities. Works Cited Adams, Jim. "Study: Police Stopped Blacks Twice As Often As Whites." The Courier-Journal 29 Oct. 2000: Al, All. Bell, Derrick. And We Are Not Saved. New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1987. Mills, Charles W. The Racial Contract. London: Corneff University Press, 1997. Ogburn, William "Social Change and Race Rehitions." Race Relations. Eds. Jitsuichi Masuoka and Preston Valiem. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1961. 201.

Arturo Escobar Essay

Lectua â€Å"na ecologia de la diferencia: igualdad y conflicto en un mundo glocalizado† Dia 14 Mes 08 Ano 12 Docente Claudia Patricia Rodriguez CALIFICACION UNA ECOLOGIA DE LA DIFERENCIA: IGUALDAD Y CONFLICTO EN UN MUNDO GLOCALIZADO Arturo Escobar, es un antropologo colombiano, nacido en Manizales, interesado en la ecologia politica, el desarrollo y movimientos sociales en Colombia. Especificamente, Escobar se cuestiono los problemas de hambre y pobreza de grandes sectores de la poblacion colombiana, Pero sus intereses se dirigieron cada vez mas hacia el area de las ciencias sociales y la antropologia del desarrollo, de ahi que viajo a continuar estudios de postgrado en la Cornell University y en la Universidad de California, Berkeley, donde hizo su doctorado en 1987. Entre sus especialidades figuran la ecologia politica y la antropologia del desarrollo, los movimientos sociales y las nuevas tecnologias. (Penuela, M, 2005, http://www. javeriana. edu. co/Facultades/C_Sociales/universitas/62/penuela. pdf) Adicionalmente ha sido profesor de muchas universidades en Colombia y especialmente Estados Unidos. Este autor refleja en una de sus obras y ensayos uno de los mas importantes y cuestionados temas a nivel mundial: la igualdad y conflicto en un mundo glocalizado. Se habla de la diferencia que existe entre los individuos que hoy hacen parte de la globalizacion, esta diferencia es pocas veces dirigida hacia una igualdad para todos, ya que la relacion que existe entre la globalizacion, la cultura de un lugar especifico y el desarrollo benefician mas unos que a otros. He aqui el gran conflicto, es cada vez mas comun ver como la globalizacion, es decir, un mundo global, que busca una homogeneidad se impone. Se da entonces un acceso a excluir a unos y dominar otros, ya que aquellos que dominan son los que tienen el acceso a las oportunidades y los recursos como lo referencia el autor. Se excluye entonces lo local, para pasar a ser lo global lo mas importante y lo que se impone; es el capitalismo, los medios masivos y las mercancias lo que brinda las mejores oportunidades, ya no se habla de biodiversidad sino por el contrario de la biotecnologia que se vuelve un recurso aun mas importante que la propia diversidad ya existente. Aun mas alla de las nuevas tendencias, existe un tema que referencia el autor como uno de los grandes conflictos y es la adaptacion de la diversidad cultural a conductas globales. â€Å"El mundo no es solo global continua siendo local† (Escobar, 2005), es necesario entonces pensar que existen condiciones de pluralismo cultural, diferentes percepciones acerca del mundo en general. Las principales condiciones que niegan la igualdad entre individuos son la parte economica, cultural y ambiental. Los grandes economistas hablan del valor que tienen cada uno de los recursos, los precios y derechos de propiedad son los que valen dentro del sector economico, sin embargo, las comunidades definen las practicas que determinan la valoracion de los recursos especificamente naturales de manera distinta a la valoracion economica; mas que un precio o valor monetario, el entorno natural y sus recursos tienen un valor intrinseco, no se puede calcular este valor ya que cada cultura percibe los recursos naturales de una manera distinta. Por otro lado, la relacion de las personas con el mundo natural, le da al entorno un valor para cada territorio, no todos quieren compartir de igual manera la diversidad natural de un lugar porque las comunidades le estan dando su verdadero significado. Fundamentalmente lo ambiental y cultural se reune de algun modo para diferenciar y darle pluralismo al mundo que hoy se une a la globalizacion, pero se elude aun la sostenibilidad cultural y ambiental. Es en gran medida esta falta de sostenibilidad un conflicto, que se traduce en la distribucion cultural, las diferencias culturales propagan desigualdad ya que algunos imponen la dominacion y se convierten en propietarios de lo que es de una comunidad en su conjunto. Se quiere cada dia, dar paso a la hegemonia entre culturas pero sigue marcando diferencias los comportamientos, sus derechos colectivos y tradiciones. El Estado tambien juega un papel muy importante, este lucha por conservar su practica cultural y defender lo que es de un territorio. En el caso colombiano se da un ejemplo de las culturas negras riberenas en la selva del Pacifico las cuales desde 1990 se unieron para defender un territorio, su biodiversidad y lo que era suyo, se defienden entonces modelos locales que perduran en la cultura colombiana aun y los cuales se mantienen en movimientos sociales. Aun cuando lo global trata de imponerse, la diversidad cultural, la economia y el medio ambiente son niveles diferenciadores para la globalizacion. Finalmente, si es necesaria le equidad de la distribucion economica, estrechar la diferencia de dominacion entre comunidades para permitir el desarrollo e intercambio equitativo. Aun cuando las culturas sean diferentes, se pueden entremezclar para establecer una igualdad. BIBLIOGRAFIA Escobar, A. (2005), â€Å"Una ecologia de la diferencia: igualdad y conflicto en un mundo glocalizado† [Documento digital PDF]. Arturo Escobar, En: WEB, 2005, [en linea] disponible en: http://www. javeriana. edu. co/Facultades/C_Sociales/universitas/62/penuela. pdf. [consulta: agosto 12 de 2012].

Is the Teleological Argument strong Essays

Is the Teleological Argument strong Essays Is the Teleological Argument strong Paper Is the Teleological Argument strong Paper The Teleological Argument is an a posterior inductive argument which was put forward in many forms by ancient philosophers such as Plato and Cicero to the more modern philosophers and theologians such as Aquinas and Paley. It is an argument to prove the existence of God. The name of the argument comes from Greek telos which means purpose or aim. Aquinass argument which was in his Summa may be summed up in this way: 1. All designed things have a designer 2. The Universe is designed 3. Therefore it has a designer, this designer is God This argument, as seen from point one and three, is begging the question (in other words, it is a circular argument). This makes it weak because it has already asserted one of its premises in the conclusion. It as though he is saying that its true because it is true. This isnt sufficient enough for a sound argument. Also, Aquinas doesnt provide any justification for the second point. These points make it look like its a very weak argument. However points can be given for the universe being designed, such as the seasons and death. This point however can be combated by saying that the universe, may indeed, have some features of a design but there are many which show that it doesnt have design, for instance the fact some women have ectopic pregnancies. The fact that it is a inductive argument means that it is not necessarily true, it is contingent (may not be true) and is not as strong as something that is necessarily true. However, deductive arguments never tell us anything new about the world, which unlike inductive arguments which although may not be necessarily true, do tell us something new. However, the question (about the strength of the argument), should not be subject to our preference of knowing more about the world. So, the fact that it is not necessarily true does weaken the argument. The argument is also a posterior, this gives room for Scepticism (which doubts the external world) to weaken the argument. Scepticism says that we can never have knowledge of the external world which means the order or purpose we see in the world can also be doubted. As Descartes put it, the only thing that is infallible was your own mind (this clearly illustrated when he said I think therefore I am). How do we know that order, purpose and beauty in the world isnt the working of an Evil Demon? David Hume, the British Empiricist, raised objections to the teleological argument which was put forward by Paley however his objections can be used against Aquinass argument too. Humes first objection was that we can not assess whether a universe was designed because we have no experience of universe being designed or built. When you stumble upon a house you know whether it is good or not through experience of other houses, you can not say this about the universe because it is unique. Therefore, how can we determine it is a well designed universe? Hume second objection is that is a farce to liken the universe to something mechanic because the universe Hume then goes on to say that When we infer any particular cause from an effect, we must proportion the one to the other, and can never be allowed to ascribe to the cause any qualities, but what are exactly sufficient to produce the effect. This means that just because it may prove a designer, doesnt mean that we can label the designer with such titles such as omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent. The question now is, are Humes objections valid? The first objection is saying that we can not know something if we had not experienced it and it is unique, however, we have not seen the human race being created and it is unique yet we have many anthropologists and more importantly we are actually finding more and more about universe through the studies done by cosmologists. His second objection, which was combated by Swinburne, can not possibly be true because the order the universe has In conclusion, the Teleological Argument is strong because the first two objections that were put forward by Hume have been combated by Swinburne and do not hold up. However, Humes third objection still holds, this makes the argument weaker because it shows that the argument does not fulfil its purpose (to show Gods existence the definition being of a Judeo-Christian God). The objection that it is an inductive, argument does not hold because although it makes it less likely to be true, that does not mean that is not true. Also, the fact that it is a posterior, may mean that scepticism can doubt it but the common sense approach (put forward by Wittgenstein) says that we should not be affected by such things. Wittgenstein says Here is one hand, and here is another and that is proof enough.

QUALITIES OF SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES

QUALITIES OF SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES Communication Good communication is important in any marriage in order for it to succeed. Good communication helps to avoid all forms of disrespect between the parties. Such forms of disrespect have been referred to as disrespectful judgments.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Qualities of successful marriages specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They include ridiculing, sarcasm, making statements in a judgmental way or making false accusations. In other words, proper communication is qualitative (Hampson, Prince, Beavers, 2007). Good communication may also be quantitative in that, having meaningful conversations with your couple several times in a day or week means that the marriage would be more successful than those not having enough dialogue as couples. Good dialogue may also occur as couples engage in other activities. For example, couples may engage in meaningful dialogue while they help each other in doing the hous e chores, while taking a stroll or driving around. I have personally watched how my parents maintain conversations almost everywhere they are. This has improved their relationship and has positively influenced me too. I plan to emulate them and make communication a vital tool in my relationships. Empathy and sensitivity For couples to have successful marriages, they need to be able to identify with the thoughts and feelings or even the attitudes of their partner. This would mean that they would have affective sensitivity towards each other. When one empathizes with the other, one would be able to put him or herself in another’s shoes and subsequently be in a position to willingly respond to the partner’s needs. Sensitivity is also a great virtue in marriage since it helps a person understand the needs of the partner.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More I have learnt a lot about sensitivity and empathy in marriage from the many visits I have made to my aunt and friend’s place. The way the couples understand each other’s issues and help themselves out has made me learn a lot and want to change some of my previous views and perceptions. Spirituality and values Spirituality and values are essential for any marriage if it is to succeed. Marriages built on firm spiritual values grow exponentially and the couples experience lasting happiness. Faith makes great differences in marriage and this is why it is very important to share your individual beliefs and values with the partner prior to marriage in order to understand each other and plan how the two of you will live with them. When partners in marriage have different spiritual values, it is almost certain that at some point in marriage, they will have trouble coping with each other. It is important for couples to share the same faith and have the same values. I recently learnt that a Christian friend of mine married an Indian woman. It has just been a few months now and they are filing for a divorce. This was mainly because of their differences when it came to values and spirituality. This has encouraged me to consider spirituality and values of the other partner before I can decide to settle. Commitment Commitment is usually a high priority in marriages and especially in the Christian society. Many couples have the misconception that marriage vows lead automatically to a happy marriage and a perfect union of intimacy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Qualities of successful marriages specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What they fail to understand is that after marriage, many challenges come and it is not always rosy. This calls for the need for commitment. Violating the marriage vows usually lead to consequences. In most cases, when one partner violates that commitment in marriage, it is co nsidered as unforgivable. This is because vows are involved in marriage as opposed to relationships where such activities that violate commitment may be forgiven. I have always appreciated the amount of commitment shown by my parents and this is evident in their many years of marriage. Therefore, I intend to make commitment a priority in marriage since this is what couples are intended to do after making vows. Companionship Companionship is vital in any marriage that seeks to make it a success. It involves the partners sharing their lives together on a day-to-day basis. Couples need to share their dreams and at the same time walk along each other to realize those dreams. As companions, couples need to work towards common goals. They should therefore share similar interests and in the event that their objectives are achieved, they should share the joy of victory. However, the grief of failure should also be shared and the couples should see themselves through the difficult moments. S ometimes in the life of couples, changes occur and due to unavoidable circumstances, they are forced to engage in different activities that have different timings.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This makes them lose track of each other’s activities and with time, may realize that they have nothing or little in common. The best way to combat this is by maintaining the love relationship on a day-to-day basis. This is possible through the maintenance of communication. If face-to-face communication is difficult to maintain, then making phone calls may do. I have learnt a lot in the way my parents have managed to maintain their love relationship even when they are far from each other and I definitely intend to emulate this. Adaptability and flexibility Adaptability and flexibility is another aspect that is important in marriage. Couples need to think about each other and not only worry about oneself. These qualities enable a partner in the relationship to change some of the activities that one intended to do in order to put the considerations of the other in mind. This would call for the partner to look for alternatives but still focus on achieving the same set goals. I h ave seen my father forgo some of his activities in order to cater for my mother’s needs first then get back to what he was doing. This way, I have learnt that in a relationship, a partner should not consider his own priorities first but also think about those of the other partner. I intend to make important considerations about my partner’s ideas when making decisions in the future. Honesty, trust and fidelity Honesty and fidelity must be observed in relationships in order for the marriage to be successful. When honesty and fidelity is observed, this leads to trust. In marriage, just like in any other relationship, trust is earned (Stinnett, Carter, Montgomery, 1972). Marriage partners should be faithful to each other since they swore to do so. My parents are my role models since they have built their marriage on trust and honesty. It is through trust that they have been able to maintain their love relationship over the years. I intend to maintain fidelity and remain honest to my partner in marriage. Responsibility One big issue in marriage life is the issue of responsibility. This governs the day-to-day life of the couple. Each partner has specific responsibilities to attend to outside the household but those within the household are usually delegated. Sometimes it is done equally but in most occasions, one partner usually takes a greater role. Delegation of responsibilities should be done in a fair manner in order not to overburden one partner. At home, I think my mother does most of the household activities. I understand that my father is usually busy with the office work but I think it would be fair if they shared some of the household responsibilities. I intend to change this in the future by helping out in most of the work in the house. Unselfishness Couples should avoid selfishness in marriage. This calls for each partner to forget self and direct all the life of the couple for the good of the whole family. Selfishness yields to the denia l of the other partner’s rights in the marriage and in most cases leads to unhealthy marriages or even divorce. My parents are good examples of couples who are not selfish. Both my parents usually share a lot and do not do things that favor one partner over the other. I intend to take from them on this issue. Admiration and respect Good marriages are fueled by great chemistry. This calls for mutual admiration and respect. The value that one places on the partner’s special abilities makes the partner feel appreciated and loved. Without this, one would not have confidence upon the opinions they bring forward. When one partner respects the other’s opinion, then communication will be developed (Murstein Beck, 1972). Showing admiration for your spouse is important to boost their self-esteem and make them feel appreciated. I admire my parent’s for the way they show admiration for each other and respect each other. I would like to develop such a relationship in the future. References Hampson, R., Prince, C., Beavers, R. (2007). Marital therapy: Qualities of couples who fare better or worse in treatment. Psychotherapy Counseling, 25(4), 141-190. Murstein, B. Beck, G. (1972). Person perception, marriage adjustment, and social desirability. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 39(3), 396-403. Stinnett, N., Carter, M., Montgomery, J. (1972). Older Persons’ perceptions of their marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family, 34(4), 665-670.

HDI measures the outcomes of the development process. Basic needs and Essay

HDI measures the outcomes of the development process. Basic needs and the Milllenium Development Goals offer strategies by which to achieve such development. Explain and discuss - Essay Example The setting of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) called for a measure to evaluate the progress. There the HDI was developed as an alternative measure of the development recorded from using per capita income as before. Using Human Development Index has been seen as a better way of developing a reliable report especially in the drafting of HDR as in the past development was measured in terms of income only (Jahan, 2001). Per capita income had been seen as a good way of doing such an evaluation as in cases where it is high it shows that the economy is strong and that should also translate to other facets of the same government. However, with the introduction of the Human Development concept in the 1990s, it has been established that there is a need to develop a better means in which the development can be measured. This was followed by the publication of the Human Development Report (Jahan, 2001; United Nations Development Program). Therefore, to realize real development, alternative methods such as the HDI are used to consider issues such as poverty, health and income which are covered in the MDGs. Pribula, P. (2010). Human Development Index: How to Cope with with its Limitations. Web. http://www.globalpolitics.cz/clanky/human-development-index-how-to-cope-with-its-limitations Accessed January 10,

The Impact of Inward Foreign Direct Investment on Host Countries Essay

The Impact of Inward Foreign Direct Investment on Host Countries - Essay Example According to the research findings, Foreign Direct Investment has over the last three decades aroused conflicting responses from the first and third world. In essence, FDI gives the investor the power to operate a company in another country for the long term. Developed host countries are not too welcome to the idea on the premise that they fear foreign firms will end up dominating their local firms. In contrast to this, developing countries are more welcome to the idea on the grounds that FDI will bring additional capital, expertise and new technology into their country. Host countries record FDI flows as liabilities along with similar items in their balance of payments. In host countries like these FDI flows make up a large percentage of the total investment in the economy as compared to more developed countries; the effects of FDI on these countries differ as well, with developing countries showing a steady growth trend as compared to developed countries who showed boom and bust cy cles as a result of engaging in FDI. Growth is normally measured by looking at the trends in per capita GDP growth. Analysts relate FDI to per capita to GDP growth by looking at figures of gross FDI inflows and FDI inflows per capita to see if they have any impact on the economic growth of a country. Research has revealed a positive relationship between FDI levels and growth levels in an economy, in some cases, these results have been insignificant as well but these variables have never shared a negative relationship. The extraneous variable has a magnitude changing effect on this relationship. It has been seen that the more developed a country is, the better and greater positive effect FDI will have on its economic growth. Most studies that have analyzed the impact of FDI on the economic growth of the host country have found the results to be pretty elusive. Most established relationships are based specifically on the host country’s own specific economic characteristics. Thu s it is difficult to generalize these effects and apply them to other countries as the findings of a study. However, the probable effects are not completely elusive, as the endogenous growth theory provides a framework for the positive linkage between growth and FDI inflows.