Thursday, December 26, 2019
Government Policies on Hiv/Aids, Prevention and Control
C.A.T 1. Using relevant examples, discuss the government policies on HIV/AIDS, prevention and control (20mks) Definition of terms Government policies- These are the course of actions or inactions taken by the state with regard to a particular issue. HIV- This is the virus that destroys the human immune system leaving the body defenseless hence vulnerable to other infections. AIDS- The disease presents itself as a collection of signs and symptoms resulting from lowered immunity mostly due to HIV hence referred to as a syndrome. Prevention- It refers to avoiding or staying away from risky things. Control- To reduce or prevent the spread of something. POLICIES The 1st step was the government approval of session paper No.4 onâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Forging of safer sexual behaviors through communications strategies on the general population using numerous channels, eg) Counseling, books and media. Use of condoms to encourage practice of safer sex. This is taught in schools, seminars for the youth, churches etc. Abstinence and discouragement of premarital sex especially for the unmarried also prevents the spread of HIV/AIDS. Both married and unmarried couples should abstain from having multiple sexual partners to reduce the risk of contracting the HIV infection. Prevention of HIV infected blood can be greatly be reduced by screening all blood supplies for the virus and by heat-treating blood products where possible. If you are a health worker, always wear protective gloves in situations that involve exposure to blood or other body fluids. Drug users should be provided with a good supply of new or sterilised needles and syringes thro ugh needle and syringe exchange programmes. It is one of the main methods grouped under the term ââ¬Ë harm reductionââ¬â¢ used to prevent HIV infection from injecting drug use. Methadone maintainance and other drug treatment programmes are also effective ways to eliminate the risk of HIV infection as the need to inject drugs altogether. CONCLUSION HIV/AIDS is a world pandemic. Although we are making new advances in combating this virus, there are many new infections every year. The best way to keep yourself safe is to stay informed.Show MoreRelatedPublic Health Authorities Need to Conduct Public Health Surveillance1590 Words à |à 6 PagesModule 1 Assignment Please answer below two questions, using an essay format. Question 1 - Using HIV/AIDS as an example to discuss why public health authorities need to conduct public health surveillance and to describe how surveillance system is managed in Australia (9 marks) (Up to 800 words) Public health surveillance is defined as the ongoing systematic collection, collation, analysis and interpretation of outcome-specific data for public health purposes, closely integrated with the timelyRead MoreIncreasing Number Of Infections Among Women1728 Words à |à 7 Pagesinfections among women, very young children make up an increasingly large proportion of new infections. The issue of HIV and AIDS should be seen in the larger context of promoting the welfare of children. Rather than just developing HIV and AIDS specific strategies, the different governments, development agencies and civil society must collaborate to develop and implement HIV and AIDS sensitive strategies that will make a difference globally. WHO currently assists Indonesia and the rest of the globalRead MoreHiv And The Hiv Epidemic1129 Words à |à 5 PagesThe AIDS epidemic, from its beginning, has elicited a variety of responses from individuals and governments alike. Because the disease was originally shrouded in such mystery, many did not know how to react, which fostered a default fear of the unknown response. This attitude lead to many governments adopting a denialist policy, countless individuals living and eventually dying alone due to an unwillingness to report their illness for fear of consequence or prejudice, and this allowed the HIV virusRead MoreA Public Health Successe s From Any Country983 Words à |à 4 Pages50 years. Answer: Topic 1: Control of Tuberculosis in India. Tuberculosis is one of the most fasted growing diseases in India. India has number of cases of tuberculosis around 2.2 million. It is projected that approximately 40% of Indian population is become a victim of tuberculosis. However, India has taken many positive steps to control tuberculosis since 20 years and it was succeed. Indian government has started one program, which was Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) in 1993. TheyRead MoreThe Effects Of Hiv And Aids On South Africa1279 Words à |à 6 Pageshistory in how HIV and AIDS in South Africa occurred is one of the most controversial of any country. There have been many instances where the disease has spread rapidly across the country due to lack of action and harmful interference, conflict between politicians, HIV and AIDS organisations and scientists. The consequences of a slow and interrupted response are still being felt to this very day. Although some groups of society are more at risk then others, South Africa HI V and AIDS epidemic affectsRead MoreHiv Research Paper808 Words à |à 4 PagesWhich Populations in the United States Today, are at the Highest-Risk of HIV Infection? In the United States (US) there are currently 1.2 million people infected/living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The HIV epidemic in the US is concentrated in the following at risk populations and geographic area: (1) Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with other men of all races/ethnicities (high burden of HIV among Black gay and bisexual men), (2) Black women and men, (3) Latinos/LatinasRead MoreThe Health Of The Modern Health Care968 Words à |à 4 Pages(Knickman Kovner, 2015). Determinant factors are fundamental to the prevention of disease, illness, and injury because it illustrates health dispositions on why some individual or population are in better health than another counterpart. HIV/AID is the population health issue I selected. About 1.2 million of people in the United States are living with HIV infection, and approximately 1 in 8 (12.8%) are unaware of their infection. HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities, many ofRead MoreHiv Aids And Hiv And Aids1246 Words à |à 5 Pages HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus (Avert). It is virus that attacks the immune system, our bodyââ¬â¢s defense against disease (Avert). Individuals who become infected with HIV will find it harder to fight infections (Avert). HIV is located in semen, blood, vaginal and anal fluids, and breast milk (HIV and Aids). The most common method to become infected is through anal or vaginal sex without a condom (HIV and Aids). Other forms of contraction include using infected needles/ syringes, fromRead MoreThe Health Of The Population Health937 Words à |à 4 Pages(Knickman Kovner, 2015). Determinant factors are fundamental to the prevention of disease, illness, and injury because it illustrates health dispositions on why some individual or population are in better health than another counterpart. HIV/AID is the population health issue I selected. About 1.2 million of people in the United States are living with HIV infection, and approximately 1 in 8 (12.8%) are unaware of their infection. HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities, many ofRead MoreHiv Prevention Among The Usa1285 Words à |à 6 PagesHIV Prevention amongst Minorities in the USA PROBLEM Human immunodeficiency virus better known as HIV, is a virus that attacks the bodyââ¬â¢s immune system. The virus specifically attacks the CD4 cells (T cells), which helps the immune system fight off infections. Overtime, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that body canââ¬â¢t fight off infections and diseases. HIV cannot be cured but it can be controlled with proper treatment and medical care (ââ¬Å"What is HIV/AIDS?â⬠). According to the Center for Disease
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Why Homelessness Is The Condition - 3166 Words
Homelessness is the condition which is a social category of people who are without a regular house because they are struggling and cannot afford or are unable to maintain regular, adequate and safe housing. (Homelessnessact.org.uk, 2015) This term and category of people may also include those who night time residence is in a homeless shelter. Or for sofa surfing, and living on the streets, which is a private or public place which is not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. Or staying at an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalised, such as bb s, hostels, nightstop and temporary accommodation. In this piece of work I, as a housing options officer,â⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Although this act was a good idea, it was a deficient response to homelessness. Reason being the main help by many welfare departments only applied to mothers and children. This meant that families would most likely be split , with temporary accommodation being excluded for homeless fathers, and single homeless people were rarely given any assistance (Robson and Poustie, 1996). After the TV drama Cathy Come Home (1966) was released, pressure mounted for central government intervention on homelessness and this bought along the establishment of Shelter around the same time, which was a campaigning group for the homeless. It was recommended that primary responsibility for the homeless should be transferred from local authority social services to housing departments, by a number of official committees in the late 1960s and early 1970s(Robson and Poustie, 1996). However, single individuals were not yet the focus, where on the other hand most of the priority was on families with dependant children (Watson with Austerberry, 1986). During the 1970 s, the 1977 Housing (Homeless Persons) Act was broad along. The main aims of this were to clear up and strengthen local authority, meaning their duties towards the homeless in terms of housing, and to effectively transfer all these responsibilities from local authority social services to housing departments. Local authorities were now only obliged to give long-term
Monday, December 9, 2019
Developing Strategies in the Food Industry - Free Samples to Students
Question: Discuss about the Developing Strategies in the Food Industry. Answer: Introduction This report is conducted to strategize the marketing plan for the Coles Supermarket. The purpose of this report is to outline the complete marketing strategies that will be required for achieving its marketing objectives. The rise in the retail and food industry in Australia has increased the level of competition, which becomes necessary for the organizations to define a particular marketing strategy. This report is based on the Australian organization, i.e., Coles. Coles is the largest chain of supermarkets in Australia. Coles was founded in the year 2014, where it opened its first store in Melbourne, Australia. Coles is a wholly owned subsidiary organization of Wesfarmers. The Organization belongs to the Retail and consumer services sector of Australia and is considered as the largest Australian supermarket chain. This organization has over 800 stores operating across Australia and has more than 100000 employees working in their stores. The Coles supermarket holds around 45% of the market share of Australia and has revenue of around A$ 38 billion in the year 2016. This organization has recently completed its 100 years of service in the year 2014. Coles supermarket has various rivals, but they still have managed to compete with the competition from the rival firms and is known as the leading supermarket in Australia. Coles has a wide range of products like groceries, liquor and meat and this organization aim at selling its own brands. The Coles has been able to satisfy a large number of customer base with its wide range of products and services (Commonwealth of Australia, 2011). Coles has also opened its online grocery store in order to provide better quality services to its clients. Coles serves around 1.2 billion of customers through its various outlets. Coles has been supported by the industry in which it belongs as this industry has huge growth that has helped Coles in managing and sustaining its brand image and position. The Mission of Coles: To give people of Australia a shop they trust, delivering quality, service and value. The Corporate vision of Coles is to establish itself as a world class brand and also aims at growing a sustainable future of Australia by providing the proper means. The report states complete analysis of the market in order to formulate the best marketing plan for the Coles Supermarket (Coles Supermarkets, 2017). The Coles supermarket has a great influence on the market share of the Australian markets. The company contributes to the growth of the economy. The product line of Coles is daily products, meat, liquor, apparels, bakery products and many more. The company has been following the policy of low price as their marketing strategy for a past few years in order to attract and induce the customers to buy its products and services. Fresh produce is the chief element of the Coles product range. The main competitor of Coles is Woolworths with a 40% market share in the industry. Coles aims at gearing its marketing strategies towards the food, fuel and liquor services (Bloore, 2015). The organization aims at selling the best quality products to its customers through all stores. Coles has appointed talented staff at all its outlets in order to handle the customers and their feedbacks.The Coles supermarkets target the customers of different income groups. In concern to the promotional activities, the Coles makes use of media like radio, TV, newspapers and internet in order to attract the customers. Environmental Analysis This part of the report will help in analyzing the possible external factors in the industry in which Coles operates. Political factors: The political situation of Australia affects the retail industry. The Government regulations against the duopolistic market of Australia affects the other small enterprises. The logistical policies of the government in the retail sector has been faced by Coles. No other such political problems with regard to the produce of Coles has been faced. Economic factors: A considerable decrease in the economic market conditions has caused problems to the Coles supermarket. The reduction in the currency has also decreased the level of spending from the Australian consumers. The bargaining power of the suppliers have been drastically changed in the recent years, which brings problems for the Coles supermarkets. Social factors: The retail industry has been affected adversely from the social aspects of the external environment. The Australian people tend to expect more from the supermarkets. It becomes the duty of the Coles to produce that ordinarily develops the society as a whole. The recent trends in the society states that they expect a societal organization in their country. Thereby, Coles is implying to take societal initiatives in order to attract customers. Technological factors: The technological advancements have caused great impact on the Coles supermarkets. The application of the green refrigerators in the grocery stores in order to protect the fresh produce. The use of the internet by the coles customers and the advancements in the payment facilities affected the Coles markets. Adding the self checkout facilities will also help in speeding up the process of shopping at Coles Supermarkets. Legal factors: The law of carbon tax has been implemented in the retail industry of Australia, which creates an impact on the Supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths. The implementation of the ACCC regulations affects the operations of the Coles supermarkets. Also, the strict rules are applied in the coding system of the supermarkets that adversely affect the Coles (Team, 2012). Environmental factors: The environmental factors of the country create impacts on the retail industry of Australia. Coles is being affected by the environmental issues. The produce of liquor through the Coles have caused an impact on the environment adversely. The supermarkets are forced to use sustainable products. Thereby, the Coles supermarkets use sustainable products and have established eco-friendly supermarkets. Competitors Analysis The grocery produce of the Coles has the most number of competitors in the retail industry of Australia. Every brand aims at positioning their brand on top by promoting and delivering the best services to the customers. The biggest rival to the grocery and fresh produce of the Coles supermarket is the Woolworths and Aldi. The same products are offered at Woolworths and Aldi, the competition is very high based on the timely delivery, price, promotion, added value service and etc. Aldi is the biggest rival as it lower its prices at any point of time in order to capture a huge market share, which creates problems for the Coles supermarket to ascertain a specific price for their grocery products (Woolworths Limited, 2014). The Coles delivers the best fresh fruits and vegetables, thereby, Woolworths has also started to induce the customers by giving the best fresh produce to the Australian customers. The immense level of competition is faced by the Coles in the retail sector as any change in one supermarket adversely affects the strategies of the other supermarkets. The grocery items or the fresh produce of the Coles supermarket is the highest selling product. The customers that have the highest purchase of the fresh produce of the Coles supermarkets is the humans of the middle level income group (Keith, 2012). The target customers of the Coles supermarkets are the median income group of customers in order to provide them with the basic necessities of life. Since, Coles has aimed at growing the future of the Australian people, they produce high amounts of grocery products that are necessary to lead a life. Thereby, the middle level and low level income group of people are targeted. The buying behavior of the customers is changing with the change in the social trends. SWOT Analysis This part of the report considerably aims at defining the core competencies and weakness of the Coles Supermarket pertaining in the retail industry of Australia. Strengths Opportunities Second largest producer in the grocery sector of Australia Trying to sell private label products in order to increase more sales Delivers combinations of products and services, which are different from other supermarkets An opportunity to capture huge market share in the liquor market Consumables sold by Coles are indigenous in nature With the availability of huge customer data, coles have the opportunity to establish insurance policies Provides cost savings goods and services Has the opportunity to scan the market for expansion in sectors of Asia Weakness Threats Problems from the suppliers Regulatory actions of the legal department Attitude problems from the suppliers Actions of ACCC have brought problems in the relationship with the suppliers and Coles Management problems in the supply chain Competition from Woolworths has increased Issues in managing all the outlets at various locations Change in the eating and spending habits of customers Threats from competitors in insurance and liquor sector (Rawal, 2013). Potential target market The Coles group aims at satisfying a large customer base through their wide range of products and services. The Coles has also aimed at targeting a specific market segment in order to increase its sales and customer satisfaction. For an effective marketing plan, it is important for the organization to determine its target audience and their buying behavior based on the various factors. The demographic, geographic, psychographic and behavioral factors of the target market are briefly outlined. Demographic Factors: The Coles supermarkets aims at targeting the customers of on the basis of gender also. The females of age group 18 to 35 are targeted in order to produce and sell the most of the grocery products to them. The males of the age 18 to 25 are targeted and also the young children are targeted in order to sell the various bakery and confectionery items. The customers are targeted and welcomed for all cultures. The middle and low level income group of people are targeted the most. Geographic Factors: The Australian customers are targeted by the Coles group, which live in the cities of Australia. Also, the customers who live in the coastal areas of the Australia are also targeted with their wide range of product line. The outlets have been opened at almost every city of Australia in order to induce the customers from all the areas. Psychographic Factors: The Coles aims at selling the grocery and fresh produce to the targeted customers that are males and females in order to motivate them to eat fresh that will cater to increase their well being. The household sector has been adversely impacted through the policy of producing the fresh fruits and vegetables as this helps the customers from preventing themselves from any health problems. The targeted audiences psychographic needs are also considered (Murray, 2014). Behavioral Factors: The targeted customers have unique behaviors. They tend to buy the products that are high in quality depending on the price of the product. The customers aim at getting timely delivery of the grocery products and due to this, the online store of Coles guarantees quality and timely delivery of the products. The customers also seek convenience and comfort levels to be increased while shopping, thereby, Coles has aimed at providing smooth automate trolleys at the store, which provide comfort to the customers. Positioning of the product The Coles offers the most wanted and necessary product, i.e., the fresh fruits and vegetables in the middle and low level income group of customers in order to increase their standard of living. The main feature of their product is that it is a fresh produce with the help of the Australian farmers. The customers buy this product because it is highly fresh and the Coles maintains low price. The grocery products are also combined with the fresh produce in order to help the customers in saving the cost. The future trend of this product will continue to remain the same as it is highly demanded product and the customers are attracted in large volume due to its price, taste, quality and delivery (Goyder, 2007). The fresh produce of Coles has positioned itself at a very high level apart from its competitors by describing its attributes to the customers and the use through the advertisements. The Coles has managed to position itself due to the quality of products and services offered by them . Product: The core product in the Coles supermarket is the Fresh produce i.e., fruits and vegetables, the grocery items that have considerably increased the sales. The product is highly fresh and contains all the necessary vitamins that are necessary for the intake of the customers. The product is grown in an indigeneous manner by the Australian farmers. The product has attained high levels of sales at all the outlet of the Coles supermarket. Price: The Coles supermarket sells their product at a lower price in order to attract the middle and lower level income group. The company has adopted the down down strategy in order to compete with the prices of the competitors product. The product lies in the reasonable amount, therefore, it attracts mostly the household sector of the Australian people (Singh, 2012). Place: The Coles supermarkets are located at the places where there is high traffic. The outlets are situated near the residential areas in order to attract the large customer base. The outlets are located at the reach of every customer. The distribution and supply of the products and services is very good and smooth. Promotion: Coles supermarket aims at promoting their products through various means of media. Radio is the most important means as Australian customers make use of radio in their day-to-day life. The use of TV is very high among the household sector and youngsters, thereby, the products should be promoted through advertisements on the TV. Also, due to the increase in the use of social media, the Coles can aim at promoting their products and services on Facebook, Twitter and by also, established their own website (CIM, 2009). The aim of the budget is to spend amount at the necessary activities in order to achieve its goals. The market plan is devised to ensure that every activity has sufficient amount to perform its function. If the budget for promotion for Coles supermarket is $250000, then following will be the budget. Production Media Total Radio Radio advertisements 50000 50000 Events 25000 25000 50000 Point of Sale Incentives 10000 10000 Samples 10000 15000 25000 Display 10000 20000 30000 Social media Social media sites 50000 50000 Google 20000 20000 Others 10000 10000 TOTAL 250000 Conclusion The report has highlighted the major situational and SWOT analysis in order to plan the market strategy. It has been found that the Coles targeted audience is its household sector and middle level income group. The Coles main product is the Fresh produce, which is highly fresh and best in quality and by implementing lower prices and various promotional techniques, the sales will increase. The various customer factors and external environmental factors have also been discussed in order to formulate better marketing strategies. References Bloore, R., 2015. Case study Coles Supermarkets, Available at: https://www.brassrazoo.com.au/casestudy/Brass_Razoo_Fujitsu_Case_Study_Coles.pdf CIM, 2009. Marketing and the 7P's: A brief summary of marketing and how it works, Available at: https://www.thensmc.com/sites/default/files/CIM%207Ps%20Resource.PDF Coles Supermarkets, 2017. About Coles: official website. [Online] Available at: https://www.coles.com.au/about-coles. Commonwealth of Australia, 2011. Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry, Available at: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/retail-industry/report/retail-industry.pdf Goyder, R., 2007. Recommended Offer for Coles, Available at: https://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/14/144042/pres2007/7_2.pdf Keith, S., 2012. Coles, Woolworths and the local. Locale: The Australasian-Pacific Journal of Regional Food Studies, 2, pp.47-64. Murray, D., 2014. Response to Financial System Inquiry (Interim Report) - Coles, Available at: https://fsi.gov.au/files/2014/09/Coles.pdf Rawal, D., 2013. Company Spotlight: Coles Group - SWOT analysis, Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/350942971/SWOT-analysis-pdf Singh, M., 2012. Marketing Mix of 4PS for Competitive Advantage. IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSRJBM), 3(6), pp.40-45. Team, F., 2012. Developing Strategies in the Food Industry: Challenges and Opportunities, Available at: https://www.fishfiles.com.au/knowing/Documents/Module_2-Developing_Strategies_in_the_Food_Industry.pdf Woolworths Limited, 2014. Response to Competition Review IssuesPaper, Available at: https://competitionpolicyreview.gov.au/files/2014/06/Woolworths.pdf
Monday, December 2, 2019
Tattooing And Piercing Essays - Fashion, Body Modification, Tattoo
Tattooing And Piercing There are various aspects through which people, especially youth, identify themselves. People are always sending some sort of communication out at all times, whether it is subconscious or not. Images and styles are adopted which communicate meanings about the individual to his/her peers and to society. Styles of dress, language, music, and dance are some of the ways that portray one's own unique symbols, values, and meanings. One other such signifier of identity is through body modification, particularly tattooing and body piercing. In today's society people have adopted the new style or trend of body modification. There are many reasons in which people obtain piercings and tattoos. Those who modify, manipulate and mutilate their bodies do so for many reasons. Some say it's simply exciting and pleasurable, or part of the latest fad. Others place it in the context of art, ritual or self-expression-they say it's an act with cultural and social significance. In contrast, many people can 't understand why someone would choose to put so many holes in their body or cut their skin. They see body modification as self-destructive, much like anorexia or bulimia. Below I will talk about why, what, where, and how people modify their body and how people look upon them. Youth and adolescence is one of, if not the most, significant and influential moments in one's life, when youth are seeking their identity of who they are. Tattooing and piercing are one of the many ways through which youth may express their identity, for they are symbolic representations of how the self is conceived or understood. People may also want themselves to be portrayed as someone who they are not. For example, someone gets a tattoo or earrings just to look tough or cool. Getting a piercing or tattoo symbolises a certain change in ones life. These changes, no matter how minuscule they may seem, have a huge impact on a person's identity. Usually when a youth gets a tattoo or earring, they are symbolisi ng their maturity by finally being able to make a decision on their own and taking matters into their own hands. Body modification is clearly a means by which youth seek to displace authority and etiquette. Most youth don't think about the lasting affect it has on there later life when they begin to modify their body. Yes, piercings you can take out but tattoos will always be there, especially in the business world, tattoos are nothing to be desired and that you could possibly risk a job because of it. Body piercing is believed to be a self-imposed rite of passage. By this I mean that people, in general, feel an instinctive drive to undergo some sort of a rite of passage. If society denies them this, they may create one for themselves in order to feel as though they have a place in society. Almost everyone has been tempted to get a tattoo or piercing, but did you ever ask your self why you wanted one? This theory tries to explain that it is natural and instinctive and possibly even necessary in order to find your place in society. Along with this idea, there is a concept that deals with the issue of pain. Sociology Essays
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Analysis of various forms of Anarchism
Analysis of various forms of Anarchism Free Online Research Papers Anarchism. Itââ¬â¢s a subject of intense interest, especially among people of more liberal standpoints. There are those of the persuasion that says that human beings can exist without some appearance of a central governing body. This ideology says that human beings can police themselves and are fully capable of living without prejudice towards any other living being. The anarchist belief in a cooperative society is a wonderful theory, putting much faith in human character. Unfortunately, with the current state of human reaction, I would have to strongly disagree with this confidence. First and foremost, it should be stated that anarchism is a very commonly used misnomer, generally attributed to someone who uses chaotic, and often times, destructive means to rebel against a chosen political standpoint, generally one which said person feels undoubtedly has been corrupted. They (that is to say, the anarchist) are often considered non-patriotic, standing against all forms of judiciary structure. Most think of anarchists as wanting nothing more then to cause the break down of human society, leading us to a proverbial ââ¬Å"dark age,â⬠where you have no claim over anything you cannot maintain with force. Still otherââ¬â¢s think of them as rabble rousers, indulging in drugs, sex, alcohol, and a hedonistically unclean lifestyle, with no regard for safety. The truth is much less sinister. The word anarchy is derived from the Greek words ââ¬Å"an,â⬠meaning without, and ââ¬Å"archos,â⬠meaning leader, governance, or ruler ship. In essence, it does mean a break down of human society, but not to a state of absolute depravity, simply to a much more primitive, simplified state. The process of a removal of all governing bodies, either religiously, politically, or economically, is a definite cause of the anarchist movement, while the maintaining of ones self image is also an important aspect of many of the various types of anarchist progression. Anarchism, and what it means, is a highly debated topic, especially among the different architectures of anarchism. These organizations are all different and in each group there are many different views on what the true meaning is. Some of the more prominent of these configurations of thought include, but are not limited to; Anarcho-Collectivism, Anarcho-Communism, Anarcho-Syndicalism, and Individualist Anarchism. Anarcho-Collectivism, an early 19th century anarchist doctrine, supports the abolishment of the state and private ownership of the means of mass production, instead wishing to give ownership to the producers (those who actually create the product). Workerââ¬â¢s would be compensated on the basis of how much labor they put into the mass production of the product. The creation of this movement is most commonly affixed to Mikhail Bukanin, the First Internationals, and the early Spanish anarchist movement. The name we now use, collectivism, was first coined to separate the collectivist anarchists form the state officials who were associated with Karl Marx. A problem that should be noted with this particular branch of anarchism is the fact that who dictates the amount of compensation per labor hours? Also on that point, who dictates what kind of labor is worth exactly how much compensation? If you have a council gather and speak of the value of wages and labor, then you default as a republic, and you automatically fail at the abolishment of state. The same can be said for if you choose to have all individuals vote on the amount of wages and compensation of labor, except you are a democracy instead of a republic. On the later, you have someone making the decisions for you, completely over riding the concept of lack of governing body. On the other hand, if you have all members vote, then who shall make sure the vote was honest and fair? If you choose people to watch the ballots, then you are in the same quandary as you where in the beginning, and you have made no progress. Volunteers would work, but then who would watch their actions, to make sure they werenââ¬â¢t tipping the proverbial scale? Anarcho-Communism is similar in several ways to the fore mentioned Collectivism approach, adding the abolition of capitalism. It does so by using a network of voluntary associations to allow everyone free to satisfy their own needs. It stresses egalitarianism (equality in all things, from wages to economic position), believing that every human being is equal, no matter race, age, or gender. This belief includes that all people who do the same career should be paid the same wage. It also believes in the distribution of wealth based on personal need. Anarchist Communists are commonly called libertarian communists. This is due to the two groups very similar beliefs. However it is good to note that while all anarchist communists are libertarians, not all libertarian communists are anarchists. What distinguishes the two groups is that anarchist communism has an opposition to all forms of political hierarchy. Any form of communism is flawed in one fact: It leaves no reason for improvement. If you knew you could get the same wage for repairing automobiles as a man with twenty years experience, a certification in the field, and a college education, then most human beings would rather not bother with the post high school training, if high school was even a requirement. Its also flawed in the fact that it gives no reason to excel. If mediocrity is awarded the same as excellence, then why be excellent? Personal satisfaction only goes so far with most people. The distribution of wealth based on personal need is conceptually sound, but ultimately flawed as well. Who would dictate need? As above, any group of people chosen to make decisions is a governing body and who can tell if the volunteers who watched the ballots arenââ¬â¢t crooked? Anarcho-Syndicalism is a branch of anarchism focusing on the labor movement, which supports the creation of unions and uses the labor unions as a replacement for capitalism and state. After usurping these forms of economic and political oppression, they wish to replace them with democratically controlled unions with the hopes of putting power back into the workers. They seek to abolish the wage system and in the process hope to remove division of social classes. Oddly enough, Anarcho-syndicalism is viewed as a anachronism (something that doesnââ¬â¢t belong in the time it is presented). However, the belief remains a popular and active school, and has many supporters. They also have many currently active groups. Many anarchists argue that this belief is more of an anarchist social structure then an economic system.. The problem with this is the use of the unions. In electing officials to represent you in the union, you have created a governing body, and a potentially one dangerous at that. They have the power to dictate wages, benefits, and hours. They could easily abuse their powers and blackmail, or bribe, people. If they did abuse their powers, the general populous would of course strike, but history has shown that there are people willing to take advantage of the situation, known as ââ¬Å"scabsâ⬠(non-union workers) The tradition known as Individualist Anarchism is known for its emphasis on individual sovereignty (the belief that only you have control over you) and non-aggression principle (the belief that to initiate violence is wrong). It is also against all forms of capitalism and emphasizes ones self over the group. This last part makes it in conflict with socialist anarchism, which believes in the betterment of all (rather then the self). There is also a belief that you have the right to be petitioned to buy from multiple vendors of an item you are interested in. Individualist anarchism is the form of anarchism most prevalent in the United States. This is one of two branches of anarchism considered to be the main one, with the other being collectivist. This particular class of anarchism is sometimes seen as an evolution of classic liberalism, and is often called ââ¬Å"liberal anarchism.â⬠Many anarchists who follow this particular train of thought follow the ââ¬Å"law of equal liberty,ââ¬Å" a belief that whatever makes man happy is good, and whatever makes man sad is bad, and the pursuit of that is a human right. It is also said in this doctrine that if you interfere with anotherââ¬â¢s pursuit of said happiness, you have overstepped and abused that right. There are several offshoots of individualist anarchism, the most common of which would be anarcho-capitalism. This is the form of anarchism that most people find most easy to follow, but most fail to see the inherent problems in their chosen belief. In accentuating the self over others, you are in essence placing yourself above all others, something that anarchists generally frown upon. The belief that you are better then someone else just because you are you is an assault to the beliefs of most anarchists, who (usually) believe that everyone should have a fair chance at life. It should be noted that a constant problem when using the classifications listed above, and the many others attributed to anarchist beliefs, is the complete lack of uniform opinion on what the true beliefs are. If you fill a room with two thousand anarchists you will have two thousand very different opinions. This is a cause of endless frustration to scholars, causing much debate on the topic. Fundamentally, there is a flaw in all types of anarchism. If you have a lack of authority, then are there no laws? If there are no laws, then you merely have survival of the fittest. People are tempted by what others have and this causes them to lash out with greed. People also have a tendency to fear what the do not, or refuse to, understand and that which they cannot control. This causes mass hysteria, making people react in ways that they would normally abhor, (i.e, Salem witch burnings and the Catholic Inquisition). The way people react means there would need to be someone who could keep the perpetrator from hurting anyone and anyone from hurting the perpetrator. In so doing you would have to establish a law system. This system of legislation would need marshals to enforce the laws. From there you would need taxes to pay for the training of these wardens. After that you would have to set up someone to keep track of the taxes, and the road would continue on. It would eventually lead to the creation of a governing body. The real problem arises when you consider the social impactions of an ungoverned land. People generally act in a way that benefits them, with mild to no concern of those around them. This action leads people to react in a way sometimes referred to as ââ¬Å"dog-eat-dog,â⬠especially in situations where they view a possible gain or have no reason to be courteous. If someone came to your house with the intent of robbing it, how would you react? Most would defend themselves, but if they were over powered, the attacker would take anything and everything they wanted, and you could do nothing. Eventually this would lead to much vigilantism, which would in turn lead to people killing others, sometimes without proof of any misdeed. From there it would grow, until a form of control was brought to them, ending the warranted and unwarranted killings. In the end, anarchism would revert to some other form of governance. It might be a republic, if there is a need for representatives to be the eyes and ears of the people. It might be a dictatorship, as the strong and persuasive take power over the docile. It might be a democracy, in which every person gets a say and has their voice heard. Ultimately, however, an anarchist world, country, or even village, would not last. The volatile nature of human beings, coupled with there want for bigger and better possessions, has made it so we are eternally going to have the proverbial ââ¬Å"Big Brother.â⬠What we need to consider as a species is quite simple. Why canââ¬â¢t people come together in harmonized unity, without the need for some overpower? Why are we unable to govern ourselves? And, most importantly, why canââ¬â¢t there be a need for peace, instead of a need to be better then all those around us? Research Papers on Analysis of various forms of AnarchismAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andBringing Democracy to AfricaGenetic EngineeringTwilight of the UAWEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThree Concepts of PsychodynamicThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug Use
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Phrasal Verbs With Look for English Learners
Phrasal Verbs With Look for English Learners There are a number of phrasal verbs and phrasal verb expressions with the verb look.Ã If you are unfamiliar with phrasal verbs, this guide to what are phrasal verbs explains everything. Teachers can use this introducing phrasal verbs lesson plan to help students become more familiar with phrasal verbs and start building phrasal verb vocabulary. Finally, there are a wide variety of phrasal verb resources on the site to help you learn new phrasal verbs. Learning Phrasal Verbs with Look Read this story about a man who looked up his friend Peter. You will notice that the story is full of phrasal verbs and expressions with look. Try to read the story a few times to understand how the various phrasal verbs with look are used. Following the story, you will also find all the phrasal verbs with look put into categories with definitions and example sentences taken from the story. Looking Up Peter in Seattle Last week I was in Seattle and I remembered that my friend Peter had recently moved there. I looked up his name in the telephone book, called, but got the answering machine. Luckily, I finally found him at work. He was looking at a picture on his desk, and I swear he looked like the famous actor Harrison Ford! I know Peter looked up to Harrison Ford, but I was a little surprised to see that he had become a look-alike! I said Look lively! and he raised his eyes and looked me up and down. Hello! if it isnt my old friend Ken!, Peter said. With that, he got up, looked me up and down and shook my hand. I must admit, Peter didnt look his age in the slightest. In fact, he looked as if he was ten years older! I looked him straight in the eye and said, Well, I was in town and thought Id look in on you to see how youre doing in Seattle. How have you been? Peter responded that he was fine, but that he was also on the look out for a new cat. Looking over at the picture, I noticed that it was of a cat. Yes, he sighed, I didnt really look after my first cat very well. It ran away. Im sorry to hear that, I said. We talked for a while and decided to go out for a coffee. We were at a Starbucks when a beautiful woman walked into the Cafe. Peter quickly looked the other way. Whos she?, I asked. Nobody, just someone who looks down their nose at me. Just then somebody shouted Look out! Peter jumped up and pushed the woman hard. At first, she looked daggers at him. Then, realizing what had happened, she noticed that because Peter had been looking lively, she hadnt slipped on a ice coffee drink that was all over the floor. Im glad I looked Peter up, it certainly was an interesting day... Phrasal Verbs with Look Finding Someone or Something Look up: look for information in a reference bookI looked up his name in the telephone book, called, but got the answering machine.to find someoneIm glad I looked Peter up, it certainly was an interesting day. Look in on someone: visit someone at their home or place of work, check up on someoneI was in town and thought Id look in on you to see how youre doing in Seattle. Be on the look out for: Trying to find something or someone, interested in purchasing something Look up to someone: respect or admire someoneI know Peter looked up to Harrison Ford. Look someone up and down: Examine someone carefully, look at someone very carefully, often with disdainWith that, he got up, looked me up and down and shook my hand. Look someone straight in the eye Look at someone with seriousnessI looked him straight in the eye... Expressions of Looking at People or Things Look over at: To look in the direction of somethingLooking over at the picture, I noticed that it was of a cat. Look the other way: Look away from something that you see, not notice something on purposePeter quickly looked the other way. Look down your nose on/at someone: Feel superior to someone...someone who looks down their nose at me. Look daggers at someone: Look with hatred or intense dislike at someoneAt first, she looked daggers at him. Look after: Take care of something or someoneI didnt really look after my first cat very well. It ran away. Appearances Look like: Be similar in physical appearance... he looked like the famous actor Harrison Ford! Look your age: Appear to be your actual age (someone can look older, or younger than their age)I must admit, Peter didnt look his age in the slightest. Warnings Look out!: Be carefulLook out! Look lively!: Pay attention...she noticed that because Peter had been looking lively, she hadnt slipped on a ice coffee drink...
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Adaptation of Hills Like White Elephant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Adaptation of Hills Like White Elephant - Essay Example Women and men; seduction stories bring to the screen three stories each of which is focused on a man and a woman. Ernest Hemingway perfectly describes the setting of the story it a description of the view of River Ebro and white hills from a point at the train station in Spain. The girl likens the mountains to elephants which the American had never seen. These hills across the valley of Ebrol are described to be long and white with no shade or trees on the inside unlike the setting in the movie which shows the American and the girl seated with drinks on the table as they continue with their journey. The settings in the novel as well as in the movie do not show any variation as they are similarly outlined. The American and the girl are the main characters of the story. However, the American does not reveal his name; neither does the girl address him by his name. The Americanââ¬â¢s convincing nature is clearly shown as he tries to convince the girl undergo an operation without carin g about the girl. The girl is the female protagonist in the story. The American addresses her as jig although her real name is not revealed in the story. The girl being less sure of what she wants tempts the American to convince her to have an abortion. The girl seems not to care or worry about her self-worth as she is ready to undergo abortion (operation) as long as the American loves her. She is not straight forward about what she actually wants. ââ¬Å"Hills Like White Elephantsâ⬠consists of the dialogue between the American man and the girl with only few narrated segments in the story as opposed to the lengthy stage direction and frequency of occurrence in the women and men; seduction stories movie. This keeps the reader in the dark about the previous actions of the character and their motives. The aspect of flash is well captured in the women and men; seduction stories movie which helps the viewer to keep pace with previous actions, characterââ¬â¢s actions and intentio ns or motives. This helps to set the mood and also establishes the landscape in understanding the conflict of the characters. The inability of the girl to speak Spanish with the bar attendant is an illustration of how dialogue is emphasized and her independence on the American and also shows the difficulties she had in expressing herself to other people. The American and the girl as well as the underlying conflict are characterized by the content and the manner of conversation which demonstrates radical compression and a higher degree of suggestiveness and implication. This is demonstrated during the first interaction between the American and the girl regarding the choice of a drink in which the girl asks the American. This conversation outlines the lack of the girlââ¬â¢s free will to ask for a drink while showing the manipulating character of the man. Conversation is also evident when the girl begs the man to stop talking after she realized that their conversation were futile. T he girl begs him ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦.please, please, please, pleaseâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬â¢ Language and communication between the American and the girl become intense and more focused as the couplesââ¬â¢ relationship is in a crisis due to the girlââ¬â¢s pregnancy. The couple seems to struggle in their conversation on the course they relationship will take especially when in public. To make matters worse, the readers are left not knowing whether the couple was able to find a common ground as the story ends
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
In times of crisis, such as the one currently experienced in Europe, Assignment
In times of crisis, such as the one currently experienced in Europe, new ideas of how to manage and organise are required for - Assignment Example In this situation, it becomes important to create new organizations and create new jobs in order to sustain. The report will discuss about the global economic crisis and its impact on the national economies of the nations. In this context it will specifically highlight the Euro crisis and its impact on the affected countries. It will also emphasize the importance of new company establishments and job creation in a country. The report will also shed light on how individuals influence the management practices of an organization. Finally the report will conclude stating the extent to which an individual impacts in company establishment and management practices. Introduction During the last 15 years, countries around the world have been able to make impressive advancement and historical transformations in their economical policies. With rapid globalization and based on the institutional establishments nations have been successful in building up effervescent private sector. It has also le d the countries to participate in international trade (Rutkowski and Scarpetta, 2005, p.xiii). The economic growth has in turn helped the nations to reduce the level of poverty as well as brought higher incomes. However the global economic downturn has disrupted the growth process and clearly indicated that no economic policy is stable enough to face economic crisis. Many scholars thus highlighted that it is important for the nations to focus on reforming the financials of a country. In this context a number of scholars have highlighted that financials of a country can be best reformed by creating new business ventures and thereby creating new jobs. According to Global Entrepreneur Monitor (GEM) around the world there are 200 million who are engaged in the creation of new jobs. There are another 200 million people who are the managers or owners of newly established firms. The study was carried out in 75 countries of the world and which covered nearly 80% of the total population of t he world (Reynolds and Curtin, 2010, p.1). The focus of the project will be therefore based upon the issue of how creation of new business and jobs will aid a nation to embrace economic growth. The intentions of the projects will be also to uncover how new business and jobs will be created and sustained during the crisis periods. The next half of the project will discuss all the relevant theories as well as the earlier literatures from the same field of study. Discussion In the recent past one of the major economic crisis occurred in Europe, which is also known as the Euro Crisis. It is an ongoing financial emergency that has caused difficulties for a number of countries in Europe to refinance the debt of their Government. This economic catastrophe has impacted the Euro economy to a large extant. Countries such as Greece, Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Spain or collectively known as GIIPS were the major sufferers. It has actually destroyed the economies of European Union. A number of reasons have been highlighted regarding the cause of this economical turbulence. The Euro Crisis In Europe there
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Wegmans Essay Example for Free
Wegmans Essay Core competencies are the things that give a company one or more competitive advantages, in creating and delivering value to its customers in its chosen field. Also called core capabilities or distinctive competencies. It can be composed of different elements such as superior quality, customer services, innovation, team building, flexibility and responsiveness, etc. Firstly, Wegmans has a better customer service. Wegmans focus on customer service, their goal is to build an emotional connection with their customer. Wegmans give a college scholarship for both its full and part-time employees to locations around the world to learn about or to locate new and unique sources of foods. Wegmans employees have a rich knowledge can give a better support for their customer. Secondly, Wegmans has a good team building. Wegmans instituted a host of employees-friendly benefits such as profit-sharing and full medical coverage. Also, Wegmansââ¬â¢ annual salaries for full-time workers and hourly wages for part-time workers are among the highest in the industry. The result is Wegmans generous pay scale and its consistent listing as one of the 100 best companies to work for also attracts quality workers. Those strategies can build a sense of belonging of the employees. Thirdly, Wegmans has an innovation idea. For example, Wegmans built a 300-seat cafà © in their first store in Rochester, New York, a concept that was unheard of in 1930. Fourthly, Wegmans can provide a high quality product to customer. Because of Wegman employees have a rich knowledge of the food, they can locate a high quality supplier to Wegmans and provide some better product to customer. Finally, Wegmans has a good flexibility and responsiveness. For example, Wegmans employees can explain 500 varieties of cheese to customer, which types of crackers to serve them on, and which wines go best with them. Wegmans employees can give different suggestion to customer depend on what the customers needs.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Preserve The Forests :: essays research papers
Preserve the Forests à à à à à In agreement with Kim Stafford, who opposes the clear-cutting of old growth forests, I feel that it is necessary to preserve the profitable lumber in its natural state for future generations. Currently, the tons of lumber produced from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States are taken for granted, and most people do not realize that the forests will be destroyed within ten years at this rate of exploiting our natural resources. We must make loggers a profession of the past and divert those current ones into another sector in our society. The spotted owl is more than a *Darwinistic* survival of the fittest issue; it represents the direction of our only planet. à à à à à In order to preserve the beauty of this planet, we must cease the clear- cutting of forests. All old growth forests have been around for multiple centuries and are cut down daily in a matter of hours in order to produce more buildings and houses in this already over-crowded world. If the rate at which we cut down trees is continued without any regulation, the forests will all be gone in ten years, so we should do mankind a favor and try to preserve what is left. If the old growth forests are gone, then they can never return because it takes over five generations to produce one and at the rate that the human population is increasing, there is not enough land to have a secure place for a new forest. à à à à à If we realize that it is best for the human race to stop destroying the natural resources, then we must destroy, too, the existence of loggers all together. To do so, there must not be any new loggers, so all training potential loggers must be stopped. The current loggers must be diverted to another occupation. Perhaps if the public supported the notion of stopping clear-cutting, the government would be able to provide services to educate the loggers in a different field. Also, with public support, many companies will probably offer several programs for former loggers. No matter what we choose today, the loggers have seen their last Haley*s comet; they will all be gone with forests in ten years. à à à à à When we stop the development and decrease the number of loggers, we will help save the spotted owl, a species that has greater importance than a mere animal towards the our species. It is a symbol of the general health of Mother Earth, a figure without which no living object can survive. If the cutting of
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
To what extent was the Crimean War (1853 â⬠1856) ââ¬Ëdisastrously planned and poorly executedââ¬â¢ (Economist 2014)
Introduction This essay examines the claim that the Crimean War (1853-1856) was ââ¬Ëdisastrously planned and poorly executedââ¬â¢ (Economist 2014). The first section looks at the circumstances out of which the war arose, providing some background to the conflict while suggesting that from its inception the war was characterised by errors in judgment and miscommunication. The next section proceeds to discuss the many naval blunders that took place during the war, looking both at the Crimea as well as the less commonly discussed Far East. This is followed by a consideration of the land operations of the conflict, paying particular attention to actions of the British. The analysis then turns to the provisioning of the Allied and Russian forces, as well as the quality of services such as medical care. Finally, the last section briefly considers the consequences of the war for the parties involved. It is concluded that the Crimean War was characterised by an unusually large number of errors in t erms of planning and execution. Poor planning and organisation can arguably be seen from the outbreak of war. The desire to access the Mediterranean had been a long-standing ambition of Russiaââ¬â¢s by the mid-19th century (Economist 2014; Lambert 2011). Thus the weakness of the Ottoman Empire in the period was seized upon, partially concealed, of course, by excuses about the persecution of Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire. The backdrop to this was a broader dispute about who should rule the Holy Land: Orthodox Russia or Catholic France (Clough 1964). The Turkish-Russian dispute included several lacklustre, abortive attempts at peaceful resolution through diplomacy, after which the Russian Army invaded Moldavia and Wallachia (parts of modern-day Moldova and Romania) on 2 July 1853, sinking the Turkish fleet at Sinope in 1853. This was followed by a Turkish declaration of war on 5 October of the same year (Economist 2014). However, the actions of Russia were to an extent the result of a miscalculation. In spite of a caustic public reaction in Britain and France, the Allied response to the invasion was a cautious one to begin with, characterised by dithering, uncertain diplomacy (Economist 2014). This ââ¬Ëmisled Russia into believing that it could continue its aggression against the Ottomans without consequencesââ¬â¢, and Britain and France unexpectedly declared war in March 1854 (Economist 2014). The conflict then escalated when the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont joined the war against Russia the following year. A degree of poor coordination and misunderstanding can therefore be seen from the outset. For Britain and France, this took the form of confused, uncertain policy; for Russia, it was a misinterpretation of the likelihood that other parties would join the war (Lambert 2011). Clough (1964: 917) makes this point succinctly, arguing that war arose from ââ¬ËNapoleonââ¬â¢s search for presti ge; Nicholasââ¬â¢s quest for control over the Straits; his naive miscalculation of the probable reaction of the European powers; the failure of those powers to make their position and the pressure of public opinion in Britain and Constantinople at crucial momentsââ¬â¢. For Clough (1964), therefore, the war was a disorganised, poorly planned shambles from the very beginning. It was the product not only of confusion but also of the hubris and inflated ambitions of the leaders of Europe at the time. It seems probable that the war arose out of somewhat chaotic circumstances and was therefore tainted from the start, but the question of whether this pattern continued remains. The actual combat side of the war appears to have been shambolic in many cases. This is suggested by the first events of the war. Despite being unyielding in the face of Russian aggression, it seems that Turkey was not prepared for the eventuality of conflict (Economist 2014; Bloy 2002a). When the Russian fleet arrived off Sinope on the southern coast of the Black Sea, the Turkish Admiral was unprepared for battle. His squadron was relatively weak, consisting of only 6 frigates, 3 corvettes, and two small paddle steamers. Additionally, his largest guns were only 24-pounders, and his troops were poorly trained and unready for war. By comparison, the Russian fleet under Admiral Nakhimov was ââ¬Ëvastly superior in numbers, size and gunpowerââ¬â¢ (Brown 1989). The full extent of the imbalance is revealed by the fact that with the exception of one ship the entire Turkish fleet, including 3000 sailors, was destroyed, with the Russians suffering negligible losses. The Turks were not prepared to defend their territories, and probably did not have the ability to do so in any case (Brown 1989). The dramatic outcome of this conflict was a great shock. Few in the navy or elsewhere had anticipated the devastating effect of shells on wooden ships, and as Brown (1989) notes, ââ¬ËNaval and public opinion showed surprise, shock and horror at the casualtiesââ¬â¢. Therefore, even at this early there is evidence of poor preparation and a lack of understanding of how the war would be conducted on the part of the Turks if not the Russians. The same cannot quite be said of the British and French. While many critics expressed shock at the event of Sinope, preparations had been made. The British had tested shells against the Prince George and the French had done likewise at Garve. Moreover, in response to the success of the Russian navy the French began the construction of heavily fortified armament batteries for coastal attack. That this was prior to the declaration of war suggests a degree of naval preparation on the part of the Allies (Lambert 2011). Nevertheless, there were serious shortcomings with the British fleet in particular that suggest both poor execution and planning. In the first place, it was wrongly believed that the Russian Baltic fleet might invade the United Kingdom, which turned out to be unjustified and stalled operations for over a year (Brown 1989). This was a strategic error and what it suggests about execution and planning can be debated. Additionally, when the British fleet went into the conflict it had problems with manpower. For example, admirals were promoted by seniority, which meant they tended to be older than was desirable. More importantly, many vessels were undermanned due to the poor pay and conditions on ships. When Britain declared war these problems had yet to be resolved, which indicates a distinct lack of preparedness (Brown 1989). In recent decades it has been argued by historians that Britain was guilty of extremely poor naval strategy, which would amount to a poor execution of the war on their part. Lambert (1990, cited in Fuller 2014) is among the most famous to put forward this thesis. He argued that ââ¬Ëthe real war could have been decidedâ⬠¦in the Baltic, and won by the full might of a modern maritime power against a continental oneââ¬â¢ (Fuller 2014: 2). When the strength of the British navy at this time, in terms of size and technology, is considered, this argument seems like a strong one. The British navy was notably ahead of its counterparts insofar as it included large numbers mortar vessels and ironclad batteries. Lambert believed that Cronstadt would definitely have fallen to the heavily armed British flotilla, and that the Russian realisation of this fact what forced peace in the end (Fuller 2014). Perhaps, then, the failure of the British to fully utilise its navyââ¬â¢s potential in the Baltic amounts to a strategic blunder. It is doubtful, however, that this part of the war was as poorly executed as Lambert argued. As Fuller (2014) notes, unilateral action (the so-called ââ¬ËGreat Armamentââ¬â¢) against Cronstadt might have alienated the French, who were on poor terms with the British. It might also have driven up the cost of the war to unsustainable levels, stretching the economy to breaking point. This much is suggested by a review in 1856 of the ââ¬ËGreat Armamentââ¬â¢, which noted that Britain could not provide any ââ¬Ëproof of unabated strength and unexhausted resourcesââ¬â¢ (Fuller 2014: 38). This warning was echoed by Sir George Cornewall Lewis, Chancellor of the Exchequer in Palmerstonââ¬â¢s ministry, who expressed concern that ââ¬Ëour financial prospect is very bad, a declining revenue, rising prices, a large loan wanted which will be got on bad terms, and more money lent to Sardinia and Turkeyââ¬â¢ (Fuller 2014: 38). The so-called missed opportunities in the Baltic, therefore, do not suggest poor planning and execution. Nevertheless, one might make the case that the poor financial prospect of Britain by the end of the war suggests a lack of preparation. Another line of argument, directed once again at the British, focuses on naval operations in the Pacific. Stephan (1969: 257), for example, describes the ââ¬Ëtragi-comic nature of tactical operations in the Far Eastââ¬â¢. He notes that despite the overwhelming superiority of the Allied naval forces in around China and the Pacific, almost no headway was made in that sphere. Indeed, the Allies had twenty five ships of war, including six steamers, while the Russians could muster only six which were later reduced to four (Stephan 1969). Poor execution and planning in this case manifested in two ways. In the first place, there was little coordination between the China and Pacific squadrons and the British and French fleets in the area. As Stephan (1969: 258) notes, ââ¬Ëat the outbreak of warâ⬠¦the British Commander-in-Chief of the China Squadron, Rear Admiral Sir James Stirling, was sailing from Singapore to Hong Kong. The rest of the squadron lay scattered among the Chinese treaty ports such as Shanghai, Amoy, and Canton.ââ¬â¢ This arose from the folly of dividing command of the fleet, as well as a lack of information about the location of both friend and foe. Indeed, Stephan (1969) suggests that Stirling (who rather tellingly was only appointed Commander-in-Chief on 4 March), probably did not even know the location of Russian warships. There is relatively clear evidence that naval operations were fairly shambolic on the part of both the British and the French. The same is true of events on land. The Battle of the River Alma on 20 Sept 1984, for example, saw the British forces charge headlong against a fortified Russian position, the result of a ââ¬Ëlack of information and lack of reconnoitreââ¬â¢ which meant that a number of easier routes went undiscovered. The British forces only triumphed because such an imprudent move was considered too unlikely to prepare against. The aftermath, moreover, saw poor execution insofar as the cavalry did not pursue the routing Russians, allowing them instead to fortify Sevastopol and thus draw out the war. This was further compounded when disagreements between the French and British commanders delayed the march to Sevastopol by several weeks, after which the city was heavily defended. The most famous of the blunders was, of course, the Charge of Light Brigade during the Battl e of Balaclava on 25 Oct 1854, in which a brigade of 670 cavalry under Lord Cardigan attacked an extremely heavily fortified Russian redoubt. The now famous calamity during which much of the Light Brigade was destroyed was the product of a simple miscommunication but reflects deeper issues with the British forces related to internal divisions, inexperience, and the unwillingness to question absurd orders. All of this translates to poor execution in warfare. In examining the conduct and organisation of the war more generally it is obvious that there was little sophisticated coordination or planning (Sweetman 2001). At every level of the Allied war effort this was true. Within the British army, for example, the artillery and engineers were commanded by the Master-General of Ordinance while the infantry and cavalry were commanded by the Commander-in-Chief at the Horse Guards, Lord Raglan, which made coordinated planning difficult (Sweetman 2001). Then, of course, the Royal Navy was a separate branch of the military, answerable only to the Lords of the Admiralty. This chaotic set-up hindered the Allied offensive at Sevastopol, as Raglan could not coordinate the British forces on land and sea without undertaking time-consuming and inefficient communications (Sweetman 2001). This is not to mention the fact that there was no overall commander with the authority to coordinate the various national armies of each Allied nation, as had been the ca se during the Peninsula War with the Duke of Wellington. Thus, ââ¬Ëthe entire ramshackle structure palpably lacked coordinationââ¬â¢, and it is important to appreciate ââ¬Ëthe constraints that this put on drawing up strategic plans or executing tactical operationsââ¬â¢ (Sweetman 2001: 16). The Russians were less culpable in these terms, although there were many shortcomings in their preparations. Urry (1989) has noted how the Russian land forces suffered severely from poor provisioning, something which became particularly damaging in the summer of 1854. By September, there were 50, 000 Russian troops in the Crimean Peninsula, but the Provisionsââ¬â¢ Commission was comparatively small and badly managed. Place this in the geographical context and it appears even more serious. Most of the Crimea was barren and sparsely populated, which meant that the troops and animals in the region were more reliant on their supply chain than usual (Urry 1989). The infrastructure necessary to support the Russian war effort was also inadequate in many cases. Roads were of poor quality and transport networks were badly run and unreliable, which contributed to the problem of supplying the troops. Even those supplies that did arrive had often spoiled because of the excessive time it took to transport goods. This situation was improved somewhat when the new Russian Commander, General Prince M. D. Gorchakov, saw the reorganisation of the supply system, but much of the damage was already done (Urry 1989; Curtiss 1979). This is a clear example of poor preparation on the part of the Russians. Poor planning in terms of supplies was also a major problem for the Allies. The most striking example of this occurred on 14 November 1854 when a ââ¬ËGreat Stormââ¬â¢ sunk 30 ships in Balaclava harbour and destroyed ?3 million worth of supplies, coinciding with the onset of the harsh winter. The Allies, however, had only prepared for a summer campaign, and the results were catastrophic. As Bloy (2002a) put it: ââ¬ËThe Alliesâ⬠¦had to make do with summer equipment: tents, light clothes and so on. It took months to re-supply them. Men died of exposure, disease, starvation.ââ¬â¢ The situation was compounded by poor organisation and management in the aftermath, as well as the natural barriers of substandard roads and communication networks (Bloy 2002a). As poor as the organisational side of the war was for all sides, the Russian war effort was comparatively impressive. This conclusion is supported by the fact that the Russian were operating under very difficult conditions. Firstly, the defence of Sevastopol was an inherently problematic affair. The size of Russia required a wide distribution of troops, especially in the Baltic to prevent the Allies landing there (Urry 1989). Then there was uncertainty regarding the neutrality of Prussia, and especially Austria, which meant that troops had to be stationed along Russiaââ¬â¢s lengthy western border. The barren nature of much of the Russian territory, moreover, especially in the south, was an unfortunate barrier that hampered supply, communication, and the movement of troops (Urry 1989). As Urry (1989) argues, these factors contributed to difficulties experienced by the Russians, and in many cases even good preparation and execution would have made it difficult to overcome such facto rs. On the other, one might argue that the decision to start a war in the face of so many natural barriers should be regarded as a major strategic failure (Jones 2013; Bloy 2002a). One area in which all parties lacked planning was medical provision. The low quality of care afforded to wounded soldiers in British hospitals has become notorious primarily because of Florence Nightingaleââ¬â¢s work as Scutari. The quality of French medical care was supposedly slightly better, as is attested by William Howard Russell: ââ¬ËHere the French are greatly our superiors. Their medical arrangements are extremely goodâ⬠¦ and they have the help of the Sisters of Charityâ⬠¦. These devoted women are excellent nurses.ââ¬â¢ Nevertheless, even this relied on volunteers (Curtiss 1966: 98). The Russians likewise had to rely on volunteers, who operated under the aegis of the Exaltation of the Cross (Curtiss 1966). Testimony from the brace medical volunteers in the Russians forces reveals the shoddy set-up in place, especially with regard to the convoy system designed to transport wounded soldiers. This was supposedly poorly supplied with blankets, had few good driver s, and little in the way of food and water (Curtiss 1979; Curtiss 1966). The Crimean War was concluded peacefully at the Treaty of Paris on 30 March 1856 after the fall of Sevastopol, probably to the advantage of all parties. The conflict itself was of little obvious benefit to any nation, with the possible exception of Turkey, which had captured possessions restored to it by Russia (Bloy 2002a; Seton-Watson 1988). In turn, regions captured by the Allies, such as Sevastopol and Balaclava, were restored. Territories were thus redistributed to the participants in much the same way as before the war had begun. One of the most important effects of war was that it prohibited both Turkey and Russia from establishing a naval or military arsenal on the Black Sea, which weakened the Russian position. However, this turned out to be unenforceable and a few decades later Russia had violated the agreement (Gorizontov 2012; Seton-Watson 1988). The conflict did have important long-term implication insofar as it permanently weakened the position of Tsarist Russia, and sa w the ascendency of the France as the preeminent power in Europe. It therefore saw the end of the Concert of Europe, the balance of power that had existed since the Congress of Vienna in 1815 (Bloy 2002a, 2002b). In conclusion, the Crimean War was both poorly planned and poorly executed. This essay has outlined the numerous strategic, tactical, and logistical failures perpetrated by all sides, but especially by the Allies and Britain in particular. However, as important as these moments were in defining the nature of the conflict and solidifying its reputation, it was problematic from the outset. As Clough (1964: 917) puts it: ââ¬Ëit was not the result of a calculated plan, nor even of hasty last-minute decisions made under stress. It was the consequence of more than two years of fatal blundering in slow-motion by inept statesmen who had months to reflect upon the actions they took.ââ¬â¢ Ultimately, while there are many mitigating factors, moments of triumph, and cases of heroism and coordination ââ¬â especially in the medical sphere ââ¬â this is a reputation well-deserved. References Bloy, M. (2002a) The Crimean War: ââ¬ËBritain in Blunderlandââ¬â¢, The Victorian Web http://www.victorianweb.org/history/crimea/blunder2.html [Retrieved 10/06/2014] Bloy, M. (2002b) The Crimean War: comment on attitudes in Britain, The Victorian Web http://www.victorianweb.org/history/crimea/attitude.html [Retrieved 10/06/2014] Brown, D. K. (1989) The Royal Navy in the Crimean War: Technological Advances http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14517 [Retrieved 04/06/2014] Clough, S. B., ed. (1964) A History of the Western World. Boston, Heath: University of Michigan Press Curtiss, J. S. (1979) Russiaââ¬â¢s Crimean War, Durham, N.C: Duke University Press Curtiss, J. S. (1966) Russian Sisters of Mercy in the Crimea, 1854-1855, Slavic Review, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 84-100 Fuller, H. J. (2014) Could Have, Would Have, Should HaveEnglandââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËGreat Armamentââ¬â¢ during the Crimean War, the proposed naval assault upon Cronstadtââ¬â¢s defences and the Peace of 1856: Re-examining the evidence, University of Wolverhampton Gorizontov, L. E. (2012) ââ¬ËThe Crimean War as a Test of Russiaââ¬â¢s Imperial Durabilityââ¬â¢, Russian Studies in History 51 (1), pp. 65ââ¬â94 Jones, H. P. (2012) Southern Military Interests in the Crimean War, Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 25, pp. 35ââ¬â52 Lambert, A. (2011) The Crimean War: British Grand Strategy against Russia, 1853ââ¬â56, Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Seton-Watson, H. (1988) The Russian Empire 1801ââ¬â1917. Oxford: Clarendon Press Stephan, J. J. (1969) The Crimean War in the Far East, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 257-277 Sweetman, J. (2001) The Crimean War: 1854-1856, Oxford: Osprey Publishing The Economist (May 2014) What the original Crimean war was all about, Economist http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/03/economist-explains-5 [Retrieved 11/06/2014] Urry, J. (1989) Mennonites and the Crimean War, 1854 ââ¬â 1856, Journal of Mennonite Studies, Vol. 7, pp.10-32
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Gender and Leadership: Literature Review
Gender and Leadership Literature Review 1. Introduction Leadership theories and literature describe what leaders should do and on the other hand literature also exists on what leaders actually do, the former are prescriptive and the latter are descriptive (Bratton et al; 2005). Leadership style is a relatively consistent set of behaviours that characterise a leader (DuBrin; 1995). The main leadership theories encompass the trait, behaviour, contingency, power influence, and gender influence and exchange leadership perspectives. This paper focuses on transformational leadership and thus will detail the theory underpinning transformational leadership vis a vis gender differences in leadership. A brief discussion on Leadership effectiveness as it relates to gender and Leadership styles will also be shown. In a study of gender and leadership styles it is important to highlight the deeper foundations that have a bearing on why men and women may lead differently. One of those causes has been found to be culture; a brief review of this construct and itsââ¬â¢ bearing on gender has also been outlined in this section. . 2Gender and Leadership Swanepoel et al (2003) define gender as a ââ¬Å"demographic factor that may influence Human Resources Management in organisations and which can lead to similar problems of discrimination in the workplaceâ⬠. DuBrin (1995) state that the terms sex and gender arouse controversy both scientifically and politically. He further states that the term gender refers to perception s about the differences among males and females whilst sex differences refer to actual tangible differences such as the fact that the mean height of men is greater than that of women. The terms gender and sex are, however, often used interchangeably. Task and interpersonal styles in leadership research are obviously relevant to gender because of the stereotypes people have about sex differences in these aspects of behaviour (Ashmore, Del Boca, & Wohlers, 1986; Eagly & Steffen, 1984). Men are believed to be more self-assertive and motivated to control their environment (e. g. , more aggressive, independent, self-sufficient, forceful, and dominant). In contrast, women are believed to be more selfless and concerned with others (e. . , more kind, helpful, understanding, warm, sympathetic, and aware of others' feelings). Although democratic versus autocratic style is a different (and narrower) aspect of leader behaviour than task-oriented and interpersonally oriented styles (see Bass, 1981), the democratic- autocratic dimension also relates to gender stereotypes, because one component of these stereotypes is that men are relatively dominant and controlling (i. e. , mor e autocratic and directive than women. Bratton et al (2005) highlight a study conducted by Schein (1975) who extended the gender issue in Leadership further with the results confirming that to both the male and female managers who participated in the study; being a successful manager meant being masculine in terms of stereotypical behaviours (Bratton et al, 2005). Wajcman in Bratton, Grint and Nelson stated, ââ¬Å"Some leadership behaviours are interpreted differently depending on the gender of the leader. For example, a particular action seen as ââ¬Å"firmâ⬠when displayed by a man (e. , banging the table top with the hand) might be termed ââ¬Å"hystericalâ⬠when displayed by a woman. â⬠(Bratton et al; 189). Women are said to find participative management more natural than men because they feel more comfortable interacting with people and that their natural sensitivity encourages group members to participate in decision- making (Dubrin; 1995). Yet as women move up the corporate ladder, their identifica tion with the male model of corporate success becomes important and may even reject the few feminine traits that they may earlier have endorsed. Bass (1998) in his review of studies other than his own concludes that there is no consistent pattern of male-female differences in leadership styles. Modern theory proposes that women lead differently than men (Bratton et al; 2005). This theory tends to promote the idea that women have the characteristics and skill that are necessary for effective leadership and that these skills and characteristics include a more interactional leadership style, the ability to build consensus, a tendency to empower others, and a greater ability to nurture others (Bratton et al; 2005). Robbins (date) in Swanepoel et al (2003) points out that the similarities between women and men tend to outweigh the differences, and that these differences suggest that men are comfortable with a directive style while female managers prefer a democratic style (Swanepoel et al; 2003). The gender perspective argues that women leaders have an interactive, people centered, participative management style. Women leaders are associated with consensus building and power sharing. Views in favour of the gender perspective advocate for equal opportunities at the work place; full utilization of women to utilize available human resources; acknowledgement of the ââ¬Å"special contributionâ⬠women can make the work place due to their leadership style and alternate approaches to situations (Bratton, et al; 2005). Swanepoel et al (2003) state that in general women follow a transformational leadership style, which emphasises followers, consensus, and the use of charisma, personal reference and personal contact to enhance interpersonal relations and to influence followers. Men, however prefer a more direct style where job performance is seen as transactional and they also tend to use formal position, power and authority to control people. To tackle the question of whether men and women have different leadership styles, Eagly and Johnson conducted a 1990 review of leadership studies. Notably, although lab studies viewed women as both interpersonally oriented and democratic and men to be both task-oriented and autocratic, field studies indicated a difference on only one of those dimensions: The omen were found to be more democratic, encouraging participation, and the men were more autocratic, directing performance. http: www. psychologymatters. org/womanboss A 2003 meta-analysis extended those results and indicated that women were slightly more likely than men to have the transformational leadership style. Women also appeared to reward good performance more than men, a very positive part of transactional leadership. Men were more likely to criticize subo rdinates and be less hands-on, styles found to be ineffective. http: www. psychologymatters. rg/womanboss. However, psychologists caution against concluding that women or men have some sort of natural or inherent leadership style. There is a possibility that women, knowing how negatively people respond to ââ¬Å"bossyâ⬠women, soften their approach. Additionally, the research shows only averages, or tendencies, for each sex. Some men will have more ââ¬Å"feminineâ⬠management styles; some women will have more ââ¬Å"masculineâ⬠management styles. (http: www. psychologymatters. org/womanboss) Eagly's advice is to be careful about the power of perception. She says that even though the research found some differences in leadership style, ââ¬Å"the sex differences are small because the leader role itself carries a lot of weight in determining people's behaviour. â⬠She concludes that women are in some senses better leaders than men but suffer the disadvantage of leadership roles having a masculine image, especially in some settings and at higher levels. Stripping organizational leadership of its masculine aura would allow psychologists to get a clearer picture of any true differences between men and women. http: www. psychologymatters. org/womanboss) Eagly and Johnson highlighted the following summaries from their review;â⬠The preponderance of available evidence is that no consistently clear pattern of differences can be discerned in the supervisory style of female as compared to male leadersâ⬠(Bass, 198 l, p. 499);â⬠There is as yet no research evidence that makes a case for sex differences in either leadership aptitude or styleâ⬠(Kanter, 1977a, p. 199); ââ¬Å"In general, comparative research indicates that there are few differences in the leadership styles of female and male designated leadersâ⬠(Bartol & Martin, 1986, 19. 278). However Quantitative reviews of this research have established the presence rather than the absence of overall sex differences (Eagly, 1987; Eagly & Wood, in press; Hall, 1984). These differences, although typically not large, tend to be comparable in magnitude to most other findings reported in social psychological research. (http: www. psychologymatters. org/womanboss) 3. 3 Cultural Dimension ââ¬â the link to gender Several theories have been put forward to account for gender differences including biological differences, differences in early childhood and the fulfilment of culturally prescribed gender role expectations. Thomas and Bendixen (2000) refer to Thomas and Ely (1996) who capture the essence of cultural issues in organisations when they state that employees make choices at work based on their cultural background (Thomas and Bendixen; 2000). It is thus important for organisations to understand these values that employees bring into the workplace (Thomas and Bendixen; 2000). Thomas and Bendexin (2000) also lean on Trompenaars (1993) who identified different levels of culture, noting that national culture is at the highest level whilst organisational culture is at the next level down in the hierarchy of culture. Gender related differences in leadership styles may have a foundation in culture. Schein (1990) defines organisational culture as ââ¬Å"a pattern of basic assumptions, invented, discovered, or developed by a given group as it learns to cope with its problems of external adaptation and internal integration, that has worked well enough to be considered valid and, therefore is to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems. â⬠(Schein, 1990; 111). He further identifies three levels at which culture manifests itself as observable artefacts, values, and basic underlying assumptions (Schein, 1990). Observable artefacts are things that one sees or feels upon entering an organisation. This includes the dress code, the physical layout, the smell and feel of the place to the more tangible things such as the annual reports and company records (Schein, 1990). ââ¬Å"Through interviews, questionnaires, or survey instruments one can study a cultureââ¬â¢s espoused and documented values, norms, ideologies, charters, and philosophies. (Schein, 1990; 112). More direct questioning can reveal the more the underlying assumptions, which ââ¬Å"determine perceptions, thought processes, feelings and behaviourâ⬠(Schein, 1990; 112) For Edgar Schein (1985) the transformation that matters is a change in the corporate culture. What do leaders pay attention to, measure, and control sends symbolic signals to the rest of the corporate culture. Ho fstede is a central figure in the development of literature on the cultural construct in leadership (Dickson, Hartog & Mitchelson; 2003). He advances the idea that cultural differences are initially encountered as differences in shared values with values being defined as tendencies to prefer certain states of affairs over others (Dickson et al; 2003). Hofstede (1980,2001) described initially four culture dimensions; individualism-collectivism; masculinity-femininity; uncertainty avoidance; and power distance and a fifth dimension, future orientation was added in later work (Dickson et al; 2003). Power distance is ââ¬Å"the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequallyâ⬠. Hofstede (in Dickson, Harthog & Mitchelson, 2003, pg 737). Uncertainty avoidance is defined as the extent to which the members of a society feel threatened by uncertain or unknown situations (Dickson et al p. 740). Individualism versus collectivism ranges from societies in which the ties between individuals are ââ¬Å"looseâ⬠and people are expected to take care of themselves and close family only to societies that are ââ¬Å"tightâ⬠where people expect their ââ¬Å"in-group to look after them and they do so in return (Dickson, et al. 2003). Masculinity versus femininity ranges from societies in which social gender roles are clearly distinct to societies in which social gender roles overlap (Dickson, et al. ; 2003). This dimension has a direct bearing on gender issues in that societal roles determine gender roles and these ultimately have a bearing on the leadership style that one practices, In her exploration of African management van der Colff (2003) uses the African tree concept advanced by Mbigi (1996). According to this concept the main stem underpinning all the most important values of African History can be traced through ubuntu, which is the key to all African values and involves collectivism (van der Colff; 2003). ââ¬Å"Traditionally African leadership is built on participation, responsibility and spiritual authorityâ⬠. (van der Colff; 2003,258). Nussbaum (1996) in van der Colff (2003) is quoted as saying that African leadership requires transparency, accountability and legitimacy. The only way they can be legitimate is to be trustworthy themselves before they can expect trust from employees (van der Colff; 2003). Bass (1997) has argued that transformational leadership is universally applicable. He proposed, that regardless of culture, transformational leaders inspire followers to transcend their own self-interests for the good of the group or organization, followers become motivated to expend greater effort than would would usually be expected. While acknowledging the universality of transformational leadership, Bass recognized that cultural differences will contribute to differences at the individual level of measurement. He stated ââ¬Å"Variation occurs because the same concepts may contain specific thought processes, beliefs, implicit understandings, or behaviors in one culture not anotherâ⬠(p. 132). This raises the question of the universality of gender differences in transformational leadership. Although there have been several studies on gender differences in America, unknown is the extent that these findings are replicated in other cultures. This study will show some findings of transformational leadership with a Zimbabwean sample. 3. 4. Transformational Leadership theory From a broad perspective, leadership styles can be transformational and transactional; a transformational leadership style is one that seeks to influence behaviour through inspirational and motivational means. Transactional leadership styles use contingency factors such as rewards and punishment to influence and affect behaviour (Densten, Gray & Sarros, 2002). The transactional leadership theories emphasise transactions between leaders and their followers. Transactional leaders get things done by giving contingent rewards such as recognition and pay increases. These leaders usually manage by exception to monitor performance and take corrective action to remedy poor performance. They motivate followers by clarifying role and task requirements (Swanepoel; 2003). Transformational leadership was first coined by Burns (1978) and further developed by Bass (1985, 1998) and Yammarino & Bass, (1990) with research accumulating in the area over the past fourteen years. Transformational leadership is defined in terms of four inter-related factors: idealised influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration. Taken together, these sub-types are believed to represent the most effective attitudes and behaviours a leader can have. (Panopoulos; 1998). The transformational characteristic of idealised influence is based on earlier conceptualisations of charisma (e. g. House, 1977). The charismatic leader is able to inspire respect and higher order motivation in followers. The leader is able to communicate a sense of power and confidence in higher values and beliefs. The charismatic leader possesses a clear set of idealised qualities with which followers might wish to be associated (Panapoulos; 1998). The leader who provides inspirational motivation to followers is likely to speak optimistically about the future, articulating a compelling vision of what must be achieved. He motivates followers by his/her own enthusiasm. The leader is therefore not merely a distant charismatic source of referent power but is also able to directly and effectively translate his/her own enthusiasm to followers (Panapoulos; 1998). The leader must also provide intellectual stimulation to followers. In providing intellectual stimulation, the leader is said to orient ollowers to awareness of problems, to their own thoughts and imagination, and to the recognition of their beliefs and values (Yammarino & Bass, 1990 in Panapoulos; 1998). Furthermore, by providing an intellectually stimulating environment, transformational leaders are able to foster the development of creative solutions to problems, which stand in the way of organisational goal attainment. Panapoulos (1998) states that from a humanistic persp ective, the most outstanding component of transformational leadership is the leaderââ¬â¢s individualised consideration of his/her followers. According to Bass and his colleagues (Yammarino, Spangler & Bass, 1993 in Panapoulos; 1998), a leaderââ¬â¢s use of individual consideration is a crucial element in followersââ¬â¢ achievement of their full potential through a close consideration of their developmental needs. In providing individual consideration, the leader is not only aware of and sensitive to the current needs of followers, but is also aiming to elevate those needs to a higher level (in combination with the use of the other factors of transformational leadership). This can be done by coaching and mentoring, as well as by setting examples and tasks, which are developmentally consistent with the needs of each individual (Panapoulos; 1998). Gender differences in transformational leadership ââ¬â A review of past research A number of authors have speculated on possible gender differences in the use of transformational leadership (e. g. , Avolio & Bass, 1988; Bycio, Hackett, & Allen, 1995), however, there has been a notable lack of evidence (Bass & Avolio, 1994). Bass contends there are none. Yet, other studies show that women develop a ââ¬Å"feminine style of leadership,â⬠which is characterized by caring and nurturance, and men adopt a ââ¬Å"masculine style of leadershipâ⬠, which is dominating and task- oriented (Eagly, Makhijani, & Klonsky, 1992). In a study of 345 metropolitan branch managers Carless (1998) found that: Female managers are more likely than male managers to report that they take an interest in the personal needs of their staff, encourage self-development, use participative decision-making, give feedback and publicly recognize team achievements. In summary, female managers report they use more interpersonal-oriented leadership behaviors compared to male managers (Carless, 1998). The review by Eagly and Johnson was the first systematic and comprehensive analysis of gender differences in leadership. Earlier reviews (e. g. , Bartol & Martin, 1986; Dobbins & Platz, 1986) were based on limited samples and were criticized because they failed to specify the selection criteria for inclusion in the review. Eagly and Johnson's (1990) meta-analysis of gender differences in leadership revealed mixed findings. An analysis of task-oriented style and interpersonal oriented style showed that women and men did not differ on these dimensions in organizational studies. Differences were noted for studies in which the sample did not formally hold a leadership position (experimental and assessment studies). On the other hand, significant gender differences were reported in the use of democratic leadership in organizational, experimental and assessment studies. Women used a more participative and inclusive style of leadership and men were more likely to use a directive, controlling style. Carless, 1998). Studies which have used the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ; Bass, 1985b; Avolio, et al. , 1995) to examine gender differences in leadership style have reported conflicting findings. Bass, Avolio and Atwater (1996) examined gender differences in leader behaviour with three samples. Sample I consisted of 79 female and 150 male upper-level leaders who worked for American hi-tec, Fortune 50 f irms. Subordinate ratings of leadership (N = 877) indicated that female leaders were rated higher on all transformational leader behaviors compared to male leaders. These findings are consistent with an earlier study of leaders in the Roman Catholic church (Druskat, 1994). Sample 2, consisted of first-level supervisors employed by a number of organizations, 38 of the leaders were female and 58 were male. Subordinates (N = 271) observed no gender differences for the subscales of Intellectual Stimulation and Inspirational Motivation, however, females were reported as higher on the subscales of Charisma and Individual Consideration. Sample 2 findings were consistent with an earlier study reported by Bass and Avolio (1994). Generally, in studies that report significant differences between females and males the effect sizes are very small and it is therefore argued that there is no practical differences between female and male leaders (Yammarino, Dubinsky, Comer & Jolson, 1997). In the third sample of 154 female leaders and 131 male leaders who worked for nonprofitable organizations (e. g. health care), subordinates (N = 913) reported no differences in the leader behavior of females and male leaders. Similary, Komives (1991) found no difference between female and male manager self-ratings of transformational leadership, with the exception of Intellectual Stimulation; women managers were found to be significantly higher than their male counterparts(Carless,1998). According to the gender-centred perspective, individual attributes vary according to their gender (Betz & Fitzgerald, 1987; Hennig & Jardin, 1977; Loden, 1985). This approach proposes that, women develop a feminine style of leadership, which is characterized by caring and nurturance, and men adopt a masculine style of leadership, which is dominating and taskoriented (Eagly, Makhijani, & Klonsky, 1992). Similarly, the social-role theory (Eagly, 1987) proposes that individuals behave in accordance with societal expectations about their gender role. Through the socialization process, people learn to conform to cultural expectations about their gender role. The feminine model of leadership includes typical transformational leadership behaviors, for example, participatory decision-making, collaboration and quality interpersonal relationships between leader and subordinate (Eagly, Karau, Miner & Johnson, 1994; Helgesen, 1990; Loden, 1985). Hence, it could be expected that females and males may differ in their use of certain transformational leadership behaviors(Carless,1998). The structural perspective suggests that the organizational role the individual occupies is more important then the gender of the individual (Kanter, 1977). Within organizations clear guidelines exist for the expected performance of managers, hence the major issue for managers is meeting the organization's expectations regarding effective management performance, not conforming to culturally defined gender roles. Assuming female and male managers occupy the same role within an organization and have equivalent access to status and power there is no reason to expect gender differences in leadership styles (Eagly, Karau, & Makhijani, 1995). This suggests that when examining gender differences in leadership behavior it is important to compare women and men who occupy the same position in the organization and are at the same level in the organizational hierarchy. (Carless ,1998). Eagly and her colleagues (Eagly & Johnson, 1990; Eagly, et al. , 1995) suggest that gender differences vary according to the extent of gender congeniality. Gender congeniality is described as the ââ¬Å"fit between gender roles and particular leadership rolesâ⬠(Eagley, et al. , 1995, p. 29). It reflects an individual's interest in a specific leadership role and appraisal of their competence to perform that role. In some organizations, such as the military, leadership positions are defined in more masculine terms than feminine. Thus, leadership positions in these organizations would be described as congenial to men. In others, such as education and nursing, leadership is defined in more feminine ways and therefore could be described as conge nial to women(Carless, 1998). 3. 5Effective Leadership Since women began to climb the corporate ladder, authorities have asked if they have what it takes to lead groups and organizations. According to the research, while men and women are equally effective in some settings, more often effectiveness depends on the fit between the setting and management gender. For example, women's typically more mentoring, coaching style is more favorably received in female-dominated professions; men's more typically ââ¬Å"command and controlâ⬠style is well received in male-dominated professions. http: www. sychologymatters. org/womanboss . In essence therefore, all things being equal, men and women are equally effective. But given varied work settings and a workplace whose top managers are still more likely to be male, all things rarely are equal. For example, women are slightly more likely to be ââ¬Å"transformationalâ⬠leaders, serving as role models, helping employees develop their skills, and motivating them to be dedicated and creative. That approach may actually be more effective in today's less hierarchical organizations. But not all workplaces are alike: The participatory style may backfire in traditional male settings such as the military or organized sports. Conversely, the command-and-control style more typical of men may backfire in a social-service agency or retail outlet. (http:www. psychologymatters. org/womanboss) A 1995 review by Alice Eagly, PhD, Steven Karau, PhD and Mona Makhijani, PhD, of more than 80 different studies found that when aggregated over the organizational and laboratory experimental studies in the sample, male and female leaders were equally effective. The leaders or managers assessed in the studies were typically first-level or first-line supervisors, with a strong minority of studies looking at mid-level managers or managers of mixed or unknown levels. The analysis also showed that women were more effective leaders in female-dominated or female-oriented settings, and that men were more effective leaders in male-dominated or male-oriented settings. Thus working in a leadership role congruent with one's gender gives the perception that one is more effective. (http: www. psychologymatters. org/womanboss) Theories of transformational leadership (e. . , Bass, 1985a; Conger & Kanungo, 1988; Kouzes & Posner, 1987; Sashkin & Burke; 1990; Trice & Beyer, 1986) have focused on identifying a range of leadership behaviors which contribute to effective performance. Although these theories differ in the leadership behaviors they distinguish, there exists a number of common themes. Transformational leaders articulate a vision, use lateral or non traditional thinking, encourage individual development, give regular feedback, use participative decision-making, and promote a cooperative and trusting work environment. http: www. psychologymatters. org/womanboss) Densten, et al. ; (2002) emphasise that successful leaders are able to build a strong corporate culture, are truth-tellers, can see the invisible, that is, spot potential winners or identify trends before their rivals or customers, are fast learners and good communicators. Leaders are expected to anticipate future events before they occur and have a vision to overcome uncertainties. Managers on the other hand are expected to run current operations effectively and efficiently (Bratton, et al. ; 2005). Darling in Swanepoel, Erasmus et al argues ââ¬Å"a real test of successful leadership in management lies in giving, to the greatest extent possible, opportunities to others within the situational context of the firm. One does not have to be brilliant to be a good leader, but you have to understand people- how they feel, what makes them tick, and the most effective ways to influence them. â⬠(Swanepoel, Erasmus, Van Wyk, Schenk; 359) DuBrin (1995) state that in order to be a leader one has to make a difference and to facilitate positive changes. They further state that the common characteristic of effective leaders is their ability to inspire and stimulate others to achieve worthwhile goals (Dubrin; 1995). Drucker (2004) outlines eight practices followed by effective executives. He says that they ask, ââ¬Å"What needs to be done? â⬠and ââ¬Å"What is right for the enterpriseâ⬠. Effective executives also develop action plans, they take responsibility for decisions and communicating, focus on opportunities rather than problems, run productive meetings and focus on ââ¬Å"weâ⬠rather than ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠(Drucker; 2004). Drucker (2004) further explains that the first two practices gives them the knowledge they need, the next four help to convert this knowledge to effective action and the last two ensure that the whole organization feels responsible and accountable. Researchers are especially interested in the question of whether a management style more associated with women ââ¬â a less authoritarian, more nurturing approach ââ¬â will ââ¬Å"clickâ⬠as the workplace generally shifts to more team-oriented structures that thrive under a less directive approach. 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Rousseau DM, Tijoriwala AS. 998: Assessing psychological contracts: issues, alternatives and measures, organisational culture, Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 19:679-695 Schein E. 1990: ââ¬Å"Organisational Cultureâ⬠American Psychologist , 45: 109-119 Swanepoel B, Erasmus B, Van Wyk M & Schenk H. 2003: South African Human Resource Management: Theory & Practice. 3rd Edition. Cape Town: Juta & Company Unknown. No date: When the boss is a woman, Men and women are equally effective in settings that match gender roles:http:www. psychologymatters. org/womanboss. Accessed on 2006/08/25
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