Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet

Who am I? I am the youngest in a family of 7, as the youngest I have discovered that where my siblings fail, I am expected to succeed. For example, none of my siblings finished high school and made a lot of themselves, so they are hoping that I finish this course and do well, in a way that makes up for my other siblings failures. I have moved back and forth between WA and the NT for my whole life, I moved back to Darwin about a year ago as I found myself not getting anything from Perth. Since my move here I have settled into a productive lifestyle with my fiance and I am motivated to do well in this course and have the freedom to choose any career I want if I do well. I have had a various amount of previous educational experiences through high school, TAFE and other independent courses. After I quit half way through year 11, I enrolled in an Engineering course in TAFE in hopes of getting some valuable experience to enter a drafting career. Unfortunately I didn’t have any support so I got bored of it and I didn’t understand it very well so I didn’t complete the course. After I did that, I was doing some work, but I really felt like learning instead of working, so I attempted to learn the material from the TAFE course at home on my own, but I really need someone to explain to me how to understand all the facts, so i didn’t get very far. Since I met my partner, he encouraged me to partake in a course that will allow me to do a uni degree, so here I am, doing this TEP course. I have confidence that I will succeed in this course because I have more support this time and I am eager to prove my family wrong and do something amazing with my life. I feel most confident about the computing and the language and learning aspects of this course, as I have a very high interest in both of these areas. I have a passion for writing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it in year 11 when we were getting into the more formal styles of essay writing. I also have a very high interest in computing, I find learning new things about the software and hardware exciting and I hope this interest helps me in gaining passable marks. I definitely want to improve my essay writing, as I have only had year 11 experience in essay writing, I look forward to learning more defined writing techniques. I also would like to improve on my interpersonal skills as I am a very shy and anxious person when it comes to interacting with people I am not familiar with. This has caused me grief in the past because I have developed a very high fear of speaking in public and as I want to be an early childhood teacher in the future, this is an quality I’d like to improve upon to be successful. My goals for the future are constantly changing, but right now my main goal is to complete this course with high distinction so I can go on and start a university degree in teaching. My other goal linked to this one is to become more confident in my speech as well as in my work.

World Resources – scarcity and conflict

In the 1960s, one photograph changed the way world leaders, scientists and the general population thought about the management of the world's resources. People became concerned about the world's resources running out. This photograph was our Earth. When world leaders saw this photograph taken from space, the world looked for the first time the world looked small and finite, this is because there is so many people on this planet and there needs to be consideration on what resources we use, and how much we use of them. The term ‘spaceship earth' is applied here to describe how people felt about the Earth's resources†¦they were limited just as a spaceship has limited reserves of air, water and food. Before world leaders were in illusion thinking that the world's resources were in abundance. Some resources are non renewable meaning that after they run out there is no way of replacing them, and they only reform after millions of years these resources are called fossil fuels. There are three types of fossil fuels (crude oil, coal and natural gas). These resources are the resources the world should be concerned about and therefore use it sparingly. However the fossil fuels although the most important are not the only non renewable resources, others include food and forests. There are other resources called renewable energy sources which are starting to be developed such as biomass and wind power which takes the earth's natural processes such as wind and through certain mechanisms covert it into energy which can be used for electricity. So in answer to the question, the fossil fuels are the most important world resources, however there are other non renewable world resources that have to be carefully used otherwise certain things couldn't happen, for example imagine what the world would be like without out any wood. When the first maps of the world were created, many parts of the world were not discovered and therefore because society in that day and age believed in sea creatures and mermaids and other such things, everyone thought two things, firstly that at the end of the world was limitless and secondly that at the end of the worlds there were sea monsters. The first maps of the world were flat. Naturally many incorrect assumptions had been made, the world was not limitless and of course no sea monsters. However as countries began to be discovered the world seemed to become limitless and powerful. People began to have a care free attitude about the resources because they thought they would never run out. Things started to go downhill when it was discovered that the world was actually round, people started to believe that the world was not limitless, however they still remained in the delusion that the world's resources were not going to run out any time soon and then therefore continued with their care free attitude. It was not until the 1960's that people began to get worried about the world's resources and decide to do something not to waste electricity (which in theory is the product of fossil fuels). This diagram shows how many people began to care about the world. Background There are two main official views in regard to the world's resources running out. These are optimists and pessimists: Optimists View Optimists believe that the world's resources are eventually going to run out, but we can delay that happening, and our future is not doomed. Because the is such talk and media coverage of the world's resources running out optimists hope that people will alter their lifestyle and take certain measures to delay the world's resources running out such as turning their computers off at night. Optimists also believe because of advanced technology and science, we can discover more and more alternative fuels, optimists believe that people would use alternative energy sources as it is cheap and therefore more economical. In the future optimists believe that there should be a more equal distribution of the world's resources. Famous optimists include E.Boserup and J.Simon. Pessimists View These people believe that the world's resources have a finite limit and could eventually run out or be damaged beyond repair. In 1970, 10 countries, known as the Club of Rome, met in order to discuss resource management. Their report, entitled ‘The Limits to Growth', made predictions about a world where continued industrial and population growth would consume both resources and food supplies. This Club believed that population increase are the reason why world resources are running out because there is more demand for it; they put forward the idea of preventive checks. An example of one of their ideas is the one child policy; they wanted to make the one child and international policy. Famous pessimists include P.Ehrlich. Factors that are causing the World's Resources to Decrease There are a few main factors that are causing the world's resources to decrease. Population Because there is such a growth of population, people are needing more and more energy in their house. This is best displayed in a case study: In the year 2000 Family A (comprising of a husband and wife) used 20,000kg of energy per year. In 2002 they had their first child. Before Family A didn't watch that much T.V., however now because their child needs entertainment, the T.V. is turned on for the whole day even if the child is not watching. So in 2003 their yearly consumption increased to 25,000kg. Now think of this on an international scale and everyday the population is using up more and more world resources. Optimists say that creating new alternative energy sources rather than using the fossil fuels up, is the way forward. Pessimists say that the way forward is to enforce an international one child policy, to over populated areas to balance the population out to one of an optimum population. However I agree with the pessimists but I don't think there should be an international one child policy, but as a whole unit we need to find a method to achieve optimum population and taking into consideration a specific area's carrying capacity and therefore move into the direction of sustainable development. Economic Threats Because of the current economic downturn people are turning to cheaper ways to provide heat, water and electricity to their houses they are put off by the idea of alternative energy sources such as solar panels because they can't afford it Case Study-Diamonds (Sierra Leone) In this day and age diamonds are such a controversial issue, as most people in the West think diamonds are nice stones that are on their rings, however twenty years ago 40% of all diamonds were somehow in the process of buying/selling at least one illegal transaction was carried out, now due to the Kimberly agreement and other factors including media this figure has decreased to 25%. Diamonds are a world resource that is limited as they will eventually run out. Sierra Leone is a country located in the north west of Africa. Sierra Leone is one of the largest diamond producer in the world this is because of it's geographical location, it's relief and finally because it has so many mines. This is still unfortunately has not lead to the economic development of the country, because rebel troops take over the mines and take all profits. Sometimes diamonds are fought over; these diamonds are known as conflict/blood diamonds. Sierra Leone's Conflict Diamonds In 1991, Sierra Leone a rebel force known as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) launched assaults against the government. A military government was set up, yet this did not deter the RUF attacks. From the beginning, the RUF became allies with Liberia. Their goal was officially to combat crime and corruption but it soon became clear that their main aim was to take control of the diamond mines. The RUF would take prisoners and enslave them to work in the diamond mines. The work conditions were horrible and they were punished for the slightest things. Anyone opposed to the RUF's methods and practices would be brutally punished. All this was unknown to – or perhaps ignored by – the outside world for many years. UN studies estimate that about $125 million worth of rough diamonds were bought by the diamond industry in Europe alone! The equivalent of this money is tens of thousands of people killed and even more hurt. It was only in 1999 that the UN deployed a mission to Sie rra Leone to deal with the problem of Sierra Leone Conflcit Diamonds. Since then, sanctions have been put in place so as to curb such illegal activities. The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme requires a paper trail that certifies the origin of rough diamonds. This aims to cut off the flow of diamonds from countries like Sierra Leone. The question that remains to be answered today is whether the paper trail that accompanies each diamond shipment is for real. Certificates can be forged. Rough diamonds can be smuggled into a â€Å"clean† country. After that, there would be no way of knowing where the gems came from. There is always a willing market somewhere in another country. Traders and buyers don't always ask questions. They are just happy to buy and line their pockets. In an area inflicted with suffering and poverty, there is always an official who would be willing to accept bribes. All it takes is one person to overlook a shipment of blood diamonds. For all we know, there might still be a steady flow of rough conflict diamonds coming from the mines of Sierra Leone today. We do not know any of these facts and figures exactly as the Government is reluctant to let media or aid into the country. In 2000 the BBC published a moving article and photo about diamonds in Sierra Leone. Effects of the BBC Article and Photo The BBC article had a resounding effect on the rest f the world not only did people become more interested in where their diamonds came from, but starting to buy ethical diamonds. Also Kanye West (singer) released a controversial song about diamonds in Sierra Leone which caused more and more people to take an interest of the origins of the diamonds. Also Kanye West refused to wear any type of ‘bling' which influenced many children. Artificial/Man made Diamonds ‘Science have finally found a way to make diamonds-Bad News for Sierra Leone' this was a news headline a few years ago form the BBC. Everyone knew the time would come when science would be able to find a way to make diamonds. There is a plus side and down side for this, firstly the up side. If more people buy synthetic diamonds because they are cheaper, then more people would stop buying diamonds that have been sold but rebel forces. However on the down side the economy of Sierra Leone is plummeting to all time low because more and more people are buying synthetic diamonds because of the recession. The Kimberly Process The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (Kimberley Process) is an international governmental certification scheme that was set up to prevent the trade in diamonds that fund conflict. Launched in January 2003, the scheme requires governments to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from blood diamonds. Case Study-Water (Across the Globe) Water is a world resource as we rely on it thoroughly and if we didn't have the sad reality is we would die. Water is not at the moment is shortage, but the way consumption is going in the West in the next one hundred years it could well become shortage. We have a good supply of water in the West, however in LEDCs, water is quite hard to lay hands on. Water is one of the prime essentials for life as we know it. The plain fact is – no water, no life! This becomes all the more worrying when we realise that the worlds supply of drinkable water will soon diminish quite rapidly. In fact a recent report commissioned by the United Nations has emphasised that by the year 2025 at least 66% of the worlds population will be without an adequate water supply. Incalculable damage. As a disaster in the making water shortage ranks in the top category. Without water we are finished, and it is thus imperative that we protect the mechanism through which we derive our supply of this life giving fluid. Unfortunately the exact opposite is the case. We are doing incalculable damage to the planets capacity to generate water and this will have far ranging consequences for the not too distant future. Bleak future The United Nations has warned that burning of fossil fuels is the prime cause of water shortage. While there may be other reasons such as increased solar activity it is clear that this is a situation over which we can exert a great deal of control. If not then the future will be very bleak indeed! Already the warning signs are there. Droughts The last year has seen devastating heatwaves in many parts of the world including the USA where the state of Texas experienced its worst drought on record. Elsewhere in the United States forest fires raged out of control, while other regions of the globe experienced drought conditions that were even more severe. Parts of Iran, Afgahnistan, China and other neighbouring countries experienced their worst droughts on record. These conditions also extended throughout many parts of Africa and it is clear that if circumstances remain unchanged we are facing a disaster of epic proportions. Moreover it will be one for which there is no easy answer. Dangers. The spectre of a world water shortage evokes a truly frightening scenario. In fact the United Nations warns that disputes over water will become the prime source of conflict in the not too distant future. Where these shortages become ever more acute it could forseeably lead to the brink of nuclear conflict. On a lesser scale water, and the price of it, will acquire an importance somewhat like the current value placed on oil. The difference of course is that while oil is not vital for life, water most certainly is! Power shift. It seems clear then that in future years countries rich in water will enjoy an importance that perhaps they do not have today. In these circumstances power shifts are inevitable, and this will undoubtedly create its own strife and tension. Nightmare situation. In the long term the implications do not look encouraging. It is a two edged sword. First the shortage of water, and then the increased stresses this will impose upon an already stressed world of politics. It means that answers need to be found immediately. Answers that will both improve the damage to the environment, and also find new sources of water for future consumption. If not, and the problem is left unresolved there will eventually come the day when we shall find ourselves with a nightmare situation for which there will be no obvious answer. Conclusion Overall I feel that we should be optimistic about the resource management in the future however we should guard about being complacent and consequently wasteful. Science is developing quickly and in the future there will be a system of some sort to enable better management of the resources. However again this doesn't mean we can be wasteful, also we have to make sure that we use certain resources more conservatively to ensure future generations live happily. On the other hand however if we implant many more alternative energy resources (i.e. wind power instead of coal) then future generations will use them as the norm, rather than the present day generation who have to deal with this cross over stage that we are undergoing now-the Government encouraging other sources of energy, however when we look at these the prices are sky high. To ensure that we manage resources so that it is more sustainable, I propose certain plans: 1) Increase price of electricity and gas, decrease price of alternative energy sources (for example solar panels). This would hopefully on the economic side of things encourage people to use alternative fuel. 2) Carry out a major distribution project of the world resources, ensuring each country has roughly the same amount. 3) Set up a kind of police to make sure diamonds are not being sold or mined illegally, through slavery or through violence. This will ensure the decrease the amount of conflict or blood diamonds. Finally, I have outlined five strategies for using more sustainability in my daily life: 1) Have a shower, rather than a bath. This will decrease the amount of water I use, reduce the water bills and make it more efficient cleaning process. 2) When shopping with my parents, I should encourage them to look at the label and check where the product comes from, and therefore try to get the product, which has the least food miles. 3) Encourage my parents to buy energy saving bulbs, which last longer, and are more sustainable. 4) When going out turn off my computer rather than leaving it on standby. 5) When making a cup of tea, don't fill the kettle right to the top, as that wastes, water and energy.

An Analysis of Leadership Models

An Analysis of Leadership Models Each theory provides a model for effectively steering an organization. Three contemporary theories are widely applied in organizations today; Transactional Leadership, Charismatic leadership and finally transformational leadership. Each of these theories has its strong points weaknesses and challenges in real world application. These are not by any means the only theory – there are many others applied in other leadership situations. A lot of management research has gone into finding the perfect leadership solution. In this paper, we will review three leadership theories, their pros and cons and discuss examples of each theory. Page 1 Transactional Leadership Transactional Leadership model Leadership style plays a crucial role in the development of an organization. It is a leadership style that is often used by many companies assumes that people are motivated strictly by reward and punishment. This style generally does not appeal to the values, morals, or other intrinsic characteristics of most people. The transactional leader is highly focused on task, provides very clear direction, and oversees productivity in detail. When a subordinate fails, the next step is a penalty or punishment. The introduction of the task versus people orientation and the idea of leadership styles are widely accepted today. The model does have a downside, however: It does not consider other potential factors that may influence outcomes and therefore affect leadership effectiveness. While a two-dimensional task-versus-people perspective might be a helpful way to talk about leader behaviors, it by no means tells the whole story about leadership. Research continues to this day on these important questions, and this has led to additional new theories of leadership (Yukl, Gary A. Yukl). Assumptions ? ? ? ? ? Style The transactional leader works through creating clear structures whereby it is clear what is required of their subordinates, and the rewards that they get for following orders. Punishments are not always mentioned, but they are also well-understood and formal systems of discipline are usually in place. Transactional leadership believes that punishment and reward motivate people People are motivated by reward and punishment. Social systems work best with a clear chain of command. When people have agreed to do a job, a part of the deal is that they cede all authority to their manager. The prime purpose of a subordinate is to do what their manager tells them to do. Page 2 The early stage of Transactional Leadership is in negotiating the contract whereby the subordinate is given a salary and other benefits, and the company (and by implication the subordinate’s manager) gets authority over the subordinate. The „transaction’ is the money or any other award that the company pays to its subordinates for their compliance and effort (Kurnik, 2012). When the Transactional Leader allocates work to a subordinate, they are considered to be fully responsible for it, whether or not they have the resources or capability to carry it out. When things go wrong, then the subordinate is considered to be personally at fault, and is punished for their failure (just as they are rewarded for succeeding). The transactional leader often uses management by exception, working on the principle that if something is operating to defined (and hence expected) performance then it does not need attention. Exceptions to expectation require praise and reward for exceeding expectation, whilst some kind of corrective action is applied for performance below expectation. Transactional leadership has more of a „telling style’. Transactional leadership is based on the fact that reward or punishment is dependent on the performance. Even though researchers have highlighted its limitations, transactional leadership is still prevalent in real workplace and more companies are adopting transactional leadership to increase the performance of its employees. This approach is. Whereas Transformational Leadership has more of a ‘selling’ style, Transactional Leadership, once the contract is in place, takes a ‘telling’ style. Advantages of Transactional leadership This method works in most of the cases, where it’s applied, provided the employees are motivated by rewards. It is a proven compliance strategy, which works best if the top most leader in the hierarchy is capable of making most of the important decisions and is a strong personality. Page 3 Disadvantages of Transactional leadership A powerful and assertive leader will find the transactional model conducive to his way of running things. However, though he will create great followers, he will stunt their growth as leaders. When people get used to doing just what they are told and only as much they are told, they stop thinking ‘out of the box’. Original thinking is not really promoted in this system, because of which, an obedient workforce will be created with a lack of imagination. New leaders will be tough to find from the lower strata of power hierarchy. This leadership model will create a stressful work environment. Productivity will be maintained but innovations and breakthroughs will be tough to find. Examples of Transactional leadership In practice, there is sufficient truth in Behaviorism to sustain Transactional approaches. This is reinforced by the supply-and-demand situation of much employment, coupled with the effects of deeper needs, as in Maslow’s Hierarchy. When the demand for a skill outstrips the supply, then Transactional Leadership often is insufficient, and other approaches are more effective. The main limitation of this leadership is that it assumes that people are largely motivated by simple rewards. Under transactional leadership, employees can’t do much to improve job satisfaction. Transaction leadership has been ineffective in providing skilled employees to their organization. This style of leadership is least interested in changing the work environment. Experts do not recommend this approach. Transactional leadership focuses more on management of punishments and rewards (Kurnik, 2012). Page 4 Charismatic Leadership The sociologist Max Weber defined charismatic authority in 1947 as â€Å"resting on devotion to the exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person, and of the normative patterns or order revealed or ordained by him. † Charismatic authority is one of three forms of authority laid out in Weber’s tripartite classification of authority, the other two being traditional authority and rational-legal authority. The concept has acquired wide usage among sociologists. Weber in his writings about charismatic authority, Weber applies the term charisma to â€Å"a certain quality of an individual personality, by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities. These are not accessible to the ordinary person, but are regarded as of divine origin or as exemplary, and on the basis of them the individual concerned is treated as a leader1 Charismatic authority is as said to be power legitimized on the basis of a leader’s exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment, which inspire loyalty and obedience from followers. ] As such, it rests almost entirely on the leader; the absence of that leader for any reason can lead to the authority’s power dissolving. However, due to its individual nature and lack of formal organization, charismatic authority depends much more strongly on the pe rceived legitimacy of the authority than Weber? s other forms of authority. Charismatic leaders can lead organizations into new areas, inspire followers, and sometimes obtain extraordinary performance and results from an organization. Conger Kanungo (1998) articulates the five characteristics of charismatic leaders. ? ? Vision and articulation; Sensitivity to the environment; 1 Weber, Maximillan. Theory of Social and Economic Organization. Chapter: â€Å"The Nature of Charismatic Authority and its Routinization† translated by A. R. Anderson and Talcott Parsons, 1947. Originally published in 1922 in German under the title Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft chapter III,  § 10 2 Kendall, Diana, Jane Lothian Murray, and Rick Linden. Sociology in our time (2nd ed. ), 2000. Scarborough, On: Nelson, 438-439. Page 5 ? ? ? Sensitivity to member needs; Personal risk taking; Performing unconventional behaviour. Advantages of charismatic leaders 1) They can sense the gap between what an organization is giving to its followers and what its followers require from the organization. Therefore they are able to create a vision that is in line with these requirements. ) Since members of the organization feel that they re part of this vision they are part of this vision, they support the goals of the organization (employee loyalty) Disadvantages of charismatic leaders 1). Followers may find this transformation uncomfortable and disrupti ve to the workplace or to them personally. Others may have difficulty relating to the leader’s vision of the future. Charismatic leaders also rely heavily on their personal charm, and perceptions, which could be significantly influenced by rumors or â€Å"negative press. † 2) They cause more harm than good. eg Adolf Hitler. 3) They lack of Successors and Visionaries. A charismatic leader often retains the majority of the control in the office because he believes in himself so much. He may have difficulty turning over control to others because he enjoys having the control or doesn’t feel anyone else is able to handle the duties like he can. This type of situation potentially leaves the company without any knowledgeable successors should the charismatic leader leave the company. Without giving others the authority and freedom to take some of the control, the company’s vision for the future is limited to the ideas of the leader. This type of environment may also squash some of the creative problem solving from other employees in the company, particularly if any ideas presented are pushed aside by the leader. 4) A charismatic leader sometimes gets so caught up in his control that he is unable to clearly see potential dangers with the company. The confidence he has in his abilities makes him feel that the company’s success will continue indefinitely. If he doesn’t have any other management Page 6 personnel on the same level with the same information, he may potentially miss a threat to the company’s financial welfare. 5) Overreliance on the leader. The charismatic leader wins over the employees of the company with his motivational leadership style. While employees may find inspiration in this type of leadership, they may also rely too heavily on the person in charge. The employees begin associating the success of the company solely with the leader. They may fail to see that all employees are a valuable part of making the company a success. This saddles the leader with a huge responsibility for both keeping the company running and motivating the staff. Examples of Charismatic Leadership Bill Clinton He was considered one of the most charismatic leaders of our times. Clinton connected and inspired. He had an ability to make his audience feel as though as individuals they were each the most important person in the room. His use of eye contact, infectious smile and self-awareness ensured that he made a powerful impact on those he met. No wander he was the president with the highest opinion poll ratings at the time of leaving the presidency, even though his tenure had been marred by the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Obama is a charismatic leader, during his inauguration as the 44th president U. S. A; over 2 million people were present. He accomplished fetes such as managing to raise funds in an unprecedented fashion, that is, small sums of money from numerous persons . He has been applauded as an outstanding orator, captive speaker and brilliant man. He inspires his followers, moves them to tears and gives the hope. He feverishly wooed the citizens to vote for him. Adolf Hitler Hitler gained this ‘charismatic status’ partially because of his political skill and magnetism. He had experienced considerable success in cutting the unemployment figures and this was essential. However, it was somewhat overshadowed by his unshakeable conviction in his own Page 7 historical role. Hitler often spoke of a ‘mission’ and claimed ‘I go with the certainty of a sleepwalker along the path laid out for me by Providence’. It was this ‘mission’ achievable only for Hitler, which allowed him to transcend bureaucratic processes and become ‘charismatic’. 3 3 Noakes, Jeremy and Pridham, Geoffrey (ed. ) Nazism 1919-1945 Volume II: State, Economy and Society 1933-1939 (Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2000) Page 8 Transformational Leadership Transformational leadership occurs when a leader takes a visionary position and inspires people to follow. James MacGregor Burns (1978) 1 first introduced the concept of transforming leadership in his descriptive research on political leaders. According to MacGregor, transforming leadership is a process in which â€Å"leaders and followers help each other to advance to a higher level of morale and motivation†. MacGregor differentiated between leadership and management, and related them to characteristics and behaviors. According to MacGregor, the transforming approach creates significant change in people and organizations by changing the employee expectations and aspirations. This is because it redesigns the perceptions and values. Unlike in transactional approach, it is not based on a â€Å"give and take† relationship but on the leader? s personality and abilities, articulation of an energizing vision and challenging goals. He theorized that transforming and transactional leaders were mutually exclusive styles. Bernard M. Bass (1985), expanded upon MacGregor? s work (1985) by explaining the psychological mechanisms that underlie transforming and transactional leadership. Bass used â€Å"transformational† instead of â€Å"transforming† original ideas to develop what is today referred to as Bass? Transformational Leadership Theory. 2 According to Bass, transformational leadership can be defined based on the impact that it has on followers. According to Bass, transformational leaders earn trust, respect and admiration from their followers. Transformational leadership can be found at all leadership levels in an organization. These leaders are seen to have a charismatic appeal in that they are visionary, enthusiastic, passionate, daring, inspiring, energetic, risk takers and thoughtful thinkers. However, charisma alone may not be sufficient to transform an organization. To gear changes, the leaders must exhibit the factors of transformational leadership. The four different components of transformational leadership as suggested by Bernard M. Bass: ? Intellectual Stimulation – Transformational leaders not only challenge the status quo; they also encourage creativity among followers. The leader encourages followers to explore new ways of doing things and new opportunities to learn. Page 9 ? Individualized Consideration – Transformational leadership also involves offering support and encouragement to individual followers. In order to foster supportive relationships, transformational leaders keep lines of communication open so that followers feel free to share ideas and so that leaders can offer direct recognition of each follower? s unique contributions. ? Inspirational Motivation – Transformational leaders have a clear vision that they are able to articulate to followers. These leaders are also able to help followers experience the same passion and motivation to fulfill these goals. ? Idealized Influence – The transformational leaders serves as a role model for followers. Because followers trust and respect the leader, they emulate the leader and internalize his Assumptions People follow a person who inspires them A person with vision and passion can achieve great things Enthusiasm and energy get things done. Leadership style The leadership style adopted is â€Å"selling type†. This involves: Developing the vision – transformational leadership beginnings with development of a vision. This may be done by senior managers, the leader or the team. The leaders then buy and sink into the vision. Selling the vision – the leader then constantly sells the vision to the followers. The leaders seek adoption of the vision through creating trust and any means available to convince the followers. Seeking the way forward – this goes along with the selling activity. Some leaders know the way and simply want others to follow, while others happily lead the exploration of possible routes since they do not have a ready strategy. With a clear vision, though the direction may not be very clear, it is always known. Since this is an ongoing process, a transformational leader will accept the failures and content with whatever progress that is made. Page 10 Leading the charge – the final stage and most critical is that the leader takes the lead and remains central during the action. This is where the leader is a role model –setting the examples by not idling behind their troops. Their unrelenting commitment keeps the team focused. These leaders are people oriented and thus strike a balance between the task and the followers. Transformational leadership borrows a lot from relationship theories also known as transformational theories. Emphasis is laid more on the link formed between the leaders and the followers. The leader inspires and motivates the group to see the importance and significance of the task, but also wants each individual to fulfill their potential. Advantages of Transformational leadership ? This kind of leadership style often brings out high ethical and moral standards. Since the team is all geared towards achieving the organizational task as well as their individual goals. ? Produces a highly energized work force, which is essential to achieve organizational goals. It enables maximization of synergy in the team. Disadvantages of Transformational leadership ? Since the style emphasizes on impression management, it leads to a moral self glorification/ promotion by the leaders. ? Due to the influence emphasis, the followers may be manipulated by the leaders to lose more than they actually gain. ? ? The energy applied by leaders can wear out the followers making them give up. The passion and confidence can easily be mistaken as reality. This may lead to mistakes with consequences being adopted. Though transformational leaders are charismatic, they are not like pure charismatic leaders who succeed through their individualism since they believe in others. Page 11 The leadership style is almost impossible to teach or train since it? s a combination of leadership theories and personal attributes Examples of Transformational Leaders Nelson Mandela South Africa was a racially polarized country for many decades. Nelson Mandela was able to humanize the apartheid leading to the emergence of a nation now recognized globally. His was able to use his charisma to synchronize the haves and have-nots towards a common cause – transforming the nation from the polarity caused by the racial and wealth factors. Mahtama Gandhi Prior to the British occupation, India was amongst the leading goods exporting nation. The British rule was highly mechanized with modern industrial power; they successfully eliminated the local Indian artisans? infrastructure turning India into a big importer and consumer nation. Different leaders were contemplating different ways to drive British in India; he sought to understand the reason for colonialism. According to Mahatma, the way to resist the British was through non violent ways to become self reliant and stop consuming English products. He therefore opted for persistent mass movements that would eventually prove expensive to the British Rule. Gandhi inspires various leaders including South African Nelson Mandela and various movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Sam Walton Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, often visited Wal-Mart stores across the country to meet with associates to show his appreciation for what they did for the company. Sam Walton gave â€Å"rules for success† in his autobiography, one of which was to appreciate associates with praise (Walton, 1996). Page 12 Jack Welch He was Chairman and CEO of General Electric between 1981 and 2001. During his tenure at GE, the company’s value rose 4,000% and was the most valuable company in the world for a while. Having taken GE with a market capitalization of about $12 billion, Jack Welch turned it into one of the largest and most admired companies in the world, with a market value of about $500 billion, when he stepped down as its CEO 20 years later, in 2000. Although Jack Welch was a celebrated leader of a global manufacturer often noted for its technological prowess, he utilized a very human process to drive change through GE’s vast organization. Having respect for the individual as a pivotal force in organizational change, Welch created a model of exceptional performance every corporate leader can learn from. Page 13 References Lussier/Achua 3rd edition. Effective Leadership. Course text Kurnik, E. (2012). Transactional Leadership. Retrieved March 3, 2012, from HubPages Inc: http://edikurnik. hubpages. com/hub/Transactional-Leadership Yukl, G. A. (Gary A. Yukl). Leadership in Organizations (6th Edition). New Jersy: Prentice Hall. Burns, J. M. (1978) Leadership. New York. Harper Row Bass, B. M. (1998). Transformational leadership: Industrial, military and educational impact. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum Page 14

Swot Analysis of Elderly Phones Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Swot Analysis of Elderly Phones - Coursework Example The company will also have a wider market to sell these phones. Many companies in the modern world are keen in making products that satisfy the demand of the young generation. The company specializing with the manufacture of phones for elderly people will thus enjoy a large untapped market (Hm 2009, p.156). Though the company will have all the above mentioned competitive advantages, it will also face an enormous barrier in its attempt to advertise it new product. Most companies now days are using social media to advertise their product. It will be an ineffective channel to be used by a company dealing with products demanded by customers of +55 years and above. This is because the majority of curly users are youths (Lesley & Wing 2003, p. 189). It only a small proportion of the old generation that uses curly. In case the companies unknowingly select prices viewed as unfavorable by the customers, then their products will almost lose all its customers. Old people are price sensitive. In case they feel that the price set for a commodity is high, they will shift to other cheaper commodities (Lesley & Wing, 2003, p. 225).Elderly people are also too rigid. In case the company happens to make a mistake in its process of Being the first company to identify such a unique market gap, it will create a large market share. This is due to the fact that the company will gain customers trust before other companies’ entry. The trust created will give the company a cutting edge in the market (Lesley & Wing 2003, p. 421). This may scare away other companies willing to enter the market thus giving the initial company room to be the sole supplier of the brand to the market. The company also has a chance to expand its product to other technology. After capturing it initial target market, the company has a chance to develop other product line to serve

Ethics and Governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics and Governance - Essay Example Rather, the people who control nations today are the big businesses or organisations that have a say over vast economies or industries around the world. If these industries and economies over all the world do not have a single bit of concern for our environment, or that which we call corporate social responsibility, what will happen to our beloved earth which we live in There is already a threat of global warming. Massive hunger due to poverty is all over the third world and many areas of the developed countries. Then there are businesses which do not have concern for mother earth and leave behind CO2 emissions for the rest of the populations of the world to inhale. The workplace, the employees, even the managers and small entrepreneurs need to be looked at by these businesses. Corporate Social Responsibility goes beyond concerns for profit. CSR is looking after the welfare of people inside the business or organisation and all of its stakeholders. Corporate Social Responsibility is not charity. It is a responsibility of one that has taken advantage of nature and the natural resources around us. It is taking care of Mother Earth because she has given us enough - more than enough - for our business to prosper, for our lives to be lived to the fullest. The negative contentions of the presenters are selfish... It is taking care of Mother Earth because she has given us enough - more than enough - for our business to prosper, for our lives to be lived to the fullest. The negative contentions of the presenters are selfish and unfounded. They are allegations of people who are not well versed or experienced in business, because experienced and successful business people know that being too concerned with profits will never do any good to business. One of the most successful, if not the most successful, businessmen in the world is billionaire Bill Gates, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Microsoft. This man spends millions of dollars for his company's corporate social responsibility. Why Simply because he knows he has to give back what he has taken. And he spends those millions of dollars not for profit but out of conscience. Bill Gates is not only one of those businessmen with conscience. Maybe we remember the Tylenol poisoning where some people in the suburbs of the USA died by taking Tylenol. The company J&J, out of corporate of social responsibility, took pains and spent millions of dollars by withdrawing Tylenol from pharmacies and stores and replacing them with new capsules of different packs or forms which were more secured and free of further imitations. J&J was commended and praised by the public for instituting such reforms. But the company did it out of their responsibility to the public. If they did not do it, or just cared for profits, more lives could have been lost. Is there theft in giving to charity That's a lot of baloney. There is no theft in having those businesses give to charity. First, many businesses evolved out of exploiting the resources of Mother Earth. The people who work for them should be given

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security - Essay Example Since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid, the Obama care represents one of the most important regulatory overhauls of the U.S. healthcare system. The significant role of the PPACA was felt in healthcare system due to its incorporation with Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act amendments in the United States. The ACA was enacted in order to increase the affordability and quality of health insurance. Through this health care act, there was a provision of lowering the uninsured rates through the expansion of public and private insurance coverage. This bill, additionally, reduced the cost of healthcare for both the individual patients and the government. Lastly, the â€Å"Obama care† introduced mechanisms like subsidies, mandates and insurance exchanges. This act established a universally single-payer health care system in the United States. It was roughly an equivalent of Canada’s Medicare. Under a single care insurance model, all the medical care were supposed to be catered for by the government of the United States. The major aim of National Health Care Pact was to end the need for private health insurance and premiums. This entirely probably was aimed at recasting the privately owned health care insurance company and boosting the affordability and efficiency of the United States health care system (Mathews, 2014). The external factors that led to the implementation of the Patient Protect and Affordable Care Act and the United States National Health Care Act was to have an efficient and affordable healthcare system to the public. Health care, as a national government policy, is a very crucial docket especially when it comes to the expenses communally incurred to cater for these expenses. The implementation of â€Å"Obama Care† considerably considered the accessibility of health services to the public, which is the basic entity of both the federal and national governments (Institute of medicine, 2005).

Alice in Wonderland - Costume Requirements Research Paper

Alice in Wonderland - Costume Requirements - Research Paper Example The vitality of costumes roots from the fact that they have the effect of reflecting the character’s personality in the play. Additionally, costumes can be of various colors, texture and shapes. Depending on the route that the costume designer takes in terms of color, shape and texture, the audience can get a powerful statement of vision. Therefore, costume designers should join forces with the directors, the lighting designers and the entire set to ensure the integration of the costumes into the production with minimal setbacks. Once there is proper collaboration, the stage costumes can now be used to inform the audience about the social status, age, individualism or occupation of the character (Poddubiuk). In this context, Alice, White Rabbit and Mum, who also doubles up as the Queen of hearts, are considered. One of the main themes used by Laura Wade in setting up the play is trying to relate the play to the modern world, or instance, the use of mobile phones. In a similar reasoning, the costumes of the characters have to be contemporary in order to achieve the intended objective. Since the play starts with a grieving moment whereby a traffic accident has taken away the life of Alice’s brother, it is required that she wears black attire so as to show the bereavement. By so doing, she will be joining the other characters that have come to console their family in expressing the grief. To induce the decency of the contemporary world, the attire needs to fit her well. Alternatively, a petticoat can be worn underneath a black dress in order to make her stand out in a nice manner. Black ballerina shoes with a black ribbon across the top should be used. Alice should also carry a flamingo plush since she was invited to play croquet with the Queen of cards together with her subjects. The flamingo plush should be pink in color to cater for the feminine attribute of Alice. In case the character lack the

Mannings Arm Wrestling With My Father and Vowells Shooting Dad Essay

Mannings Arm Wrestling With My Father and Vowells Shooting Dad - Essay Example His father was into guns while Vowell was into music and art. Both Vowell and Manning had expressed distance and separation from their father which is characteristic of a generation gap. The son and the daughter however begun to understand their fathers when they matured. In Manning’s case, the son understood why the father was so critical of his performance, it was because he is pushing him to be the best he can be. In Vowell’s case, the daughter understood how alike she is to her father that â€Å"We’re both smart-alecky loners with goofy projects and weird equipment.† Differences in opinion, taste and preference are natual between a parent and a child. They may be genetically almost similar but they are still different person. They grew up in different generation and being such, their perspectives in life general can be different. These differences however does not have to escalate to a level of conflict whereby the child will feel distant and alienated to the father. This typically happens when the father over-impose himself and when there are unhealed grudges in the child. I have personally seen how unhealed grudges can ruin a father-child relationship in some of my friends. I am just lucky because my father is very supportive, understanding and loving that even if we have differences as a result of our generation gap, they were trivial and we even kid ourselves about it. My father condescends my type of music as loud while I tease him back that his type of music as old and dragging. He may be sarcastic at times when he reminds me of my priorities but I understand it to be his way of getting in to me so I will not get wayward with my life. I know he loves me because I felt it and he does not hesitate to show it to me. I also have a profound respect for my father for the kind of man he is. I am appreciative because I know hat some of my friends are not that lucky with their parents. I have this close friend who has an abusive fat her. His father does not reprimand him out of the intention of correcting his ways or make him better but just to rebuke him and make him feel bad. I know because I witnessed it when I visited him in their house. I do not know why and the only logical thing I can think about why does it is because of his alcohol and drug problem. As a result, my friend answers back to his father in a disrespectful manner and the exchange of words between are not pretty and unfit to be written in this paper. Suffice to say that they were harsh and some were even obscene. This explains why my friend rarely stays in their house and is always hanging out with his friends and angry with the world. My friend also gets in trouble frequently perhaps due to the pent up anger he has with his father. I am well aware that children should be respectful of their father. But fathers should also strive to become respectable and really be a father to their children. They should mend their ways so that they will have the moral ascendancy to advise their children to be live upright. In the case of my friend’s father, the father cannot do anything when my friend answers back to his father that before advising him to fix his life, to fix his life first. That is pretty harsh but it is quite true. Also, when giving reprimands, fathers should be kind when they admonish their child so that it will not create distance and generation gap. This usually happens

Why do countries trade with each other when they both produce similar Essay

Why do countries trade with each other when they both produce similar goods - Essay Example For example, Africa is rich in diamonds, and Bangladesh produces jute in abundance. While it incurs Bangladesh very little cost to grow jute, it may cause the USA far too much to produce jute. The different climatic conditions play a decisive role in the kind of crops a country can grow. In addition to that, trade between countries is also very essential for the promotion of international relations. Countries that conduct trade with one another maintain good terms with one another so that they may facilitate trading and strengthen their respective economies. Trade between countries also has a lot of political significance. As two trading countries foster good relations, they become a united force against a third country that has bad terms with both. â€Å"Powerful nations throughout history have used economic sanctions--essentially blocking and prohibiting trade--with other nations in order to punish or force political or behavioral change† (Chase). Trade is very essential for economical strength. Dubai became one of the fastest developing cities in the world in a course of few decades because of