Understanding the Nature of Groups and Teams Essay

Understanding the Nature of Groups and Teams - Essay Example In most cases, individuals form groups, which later become a team. According to psychoanalytical object-relations theory (Sher, 2004), individuals, groups, and teams are not independent entities but rather are constructs that bond organizational expectations to human feelings and beliefs. Groups and teams rely on a matrix style of management (Gilley & Kerno Jr., 2010), are influenced by the existing organizational authority, and participants show commitment because of the expectations demanded by their organizations. The distinction between groups and teams is that while groups demand a lot of control, planning, and direction in its leadership, are guided by a series of well established goals and objectives, reward members depending on performance (Seat & Sundstrom, 2004), and used when executing specific functional tasks in an organization, teams demand collaborative relationships among members, are guided by a mission in fulfilling their mandate (Offermann, 2006), and can exist in or outside an organization. Therefore, teams are groups with a higher purpose in achieving goals because of creativity, mutual sharing of benefits, attributes, small member size mostly between 5-12 people, and a shared purpose. A group or team is always formed in handling different problems in an organization. Therefore, the management must be keen when determining which one to use for effective task execution and complimentary results. It is best to use groups in instances where tasks are easy, especially when results are expected within a specific timeframe in order to measure the expertise of each member on service delivery, and only if there is a well defined a guiding purpose. However, whenever the management deems there is complexity in task execution, which demands collaborative interactions, availability of enough and reliable resources, teams are given a priority (Gilley & Kerno Jr., 2010). In most occasions, organizations rely on teams

Marketing Communication Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing Communication Assignment - Essay Example Suddenly, the window falls right on his head and he discovers that the cable holding the window up had been cut. The wife and husband meet up in the hallway, trading fake pleasantries and smiles. The morning continues with more craziness as the couple continues to do harm to each other whilst completing their morning chores before heading off to work. The wife gets hit on the head with a strategically placed bowling ball. The husband sets fire to his hair and then takes a bad tumble down the stairs. Eventually, the husband ends up driving away leaving the wife in the house just as a large explosion is caused by the well placed metallic pan in the microwave in tandem with the open gas from the stoves. Pepsi's "Pepsi Grip" commercial begins with a horizon shot of a busy metropolitan city on a hot day, then focuses on a high-rise construction worker taking a sip out of a Pepsi bottle. A whistle from another worker gets the bottle passed along by drops, swings, throws and tosses in a daring way. Suddenly, someone misses a catch, and the Pepsi begins its freefall. A few stories below, a capable worker puts himself on the line by jumping off the scaffolding, hanging by his hands and caught the Pepsi with his feet. The ad ends with "New Pepsi Grip. Easy To Hold." Dial's "Happy Dog" ad starts off with a face shot of a

Assessment of Military Influence in the Middle East

Assessment of Military Influence in the Middle East Q5. What best explains the diminished role of the military in the dispensation of power across the Middle East? Jibin Mathew George The military has been fundamental to the existence and sustenance of the modern Middle East since its inception as a largely colonial police force in the early 20th century. And it is the relative omnipresence and longevity of the military in the Middle East that has gradually evolved it to be seen as a symbol of stability in a troubled region. The question put forth however begets the question of the range of power and influence the military enjoyed in the past few decades. It is therefore necessary to assess the military influence in the Middle East, declining or otherwise through the lens of existing literature that seeks to explain civil-military relations. Consider Samuel Huntingtons hypothesis in The Soldier and the State; Here, Huntington argues that a measure of objective control within the state, one where the military structure recognizes the political and foreign paramountcy of the civilian government and where the civilian government recognizes the militarys professional competence and autonomy is one which is more likely to have a subservient military to a dominant civilian state, and is therefore the most effective measure against the prevalence of coups. On the other hand, Janowitz in his book The Professional Soldier argues that separation of powers as Huntington proposes would instead invite coups, and is better prepared against coups by a constant, mutual interaction between the military and civilian government, facilitating the civilian oversight of the States military arm. Both Huntingtons and Janowitzs arguments for civilian control over the military are essentially arguments for what some scholars say was coup-proofing against anarchy and errant branches of the military. Here, coup-proofing suggested steps such as tokens of special loyalties, compartmentalization, rotation and the institution of the commissar system and a dedicated internal intelligence service to keep a check on the militarys political power and influence within the state. However, it has also been argued that coup-proofing has inadvertently led to the ascendance of domestic state with a highly politicized, and yet very ineffectual military capability. In other words, the dissociation of trust between the civilian structure and the military by way of coup-proofing has evolved the military into one devoid of military capability. Such evidence was evident as far back as the onset of the 1st Gulf War when highly modernized Arab forces were beaten on the field by the well-organized Iraqi Army. It must be noted however that Huntingtons and Janowitzs case for explaining civil-military relations was largely borne out of western construct and experience and were largely myopic, with respect to the fact that they incorrectly viewed a coup as the sole and final exercise of military power. Huntington and Janowitz did not calculate and hypothesize that officers in barracks may be as influential and powerful as officers in the government, that officers may rather be kingmakers than kings. It is in light of such coup-less exercision of power by the military that the question of its declining influence in the Middle East be addressed, especially considering that military coups have often been considered to be a measure of military influence in a state. Therefore, considering the fact that the number of coups have steadily fallen in the Middle East since the 1970s (With countries like Syria having a turbulent and frequent history of coups not having had one since 1970), it is understandable to conclude that the militarys influence in steadily waning. However, that may not be a perfect assumption. Here, it is important to consider the case of three Middle Eastern States; Turkey, Israel and Egypt. Israel for one, may be argued is a warfare state, a nation-state born out of conflict, with a society where the preparation of conflict permeates all levels of economy, society and culture. And it is this very nature of society that has contributed to the relative permanence of the military in Israeli politics. Israel is a true democracy but, it is one where the significance of the military has allowed it significant precedence in Israeli society. The military is largely overseen by the civilian structure but, their relationship is one of co-dependence and partnership rather than one of paramountcy as Huntington argued. This relationship is owing to a lot of factors not limited to the openness of entry from the military to the political field (Moshe Dayan, Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon), the very active lobby of ex-military officers within the business and industrial rank and the relative autonomy the IDF enjoys in terms of recruitment, education, training and technological procurement. A lso, the existing civilian-military structure in Israel is a perfect illustration of Janowitzs civilianized military in action, albeit one where the military still enjoys immense influence, that may go as far as political autonomy (In the occupied areas of West Bank and Gaza) as well as a lack of fear from long-term repercussions (Kahan Commission report). On the other hand, the evidence in Turkey is of a military which has been increasingly confident of its duty to preserve the Kemalist Turkish state. It has been a powerful and cohesive institution that has often absorbed tutelary powers by way of coups in 1960, 1971, 1980 and 1977 against democratically elected governments which it didnt believe was preserving the Turkish state. And contrary to popular convention, the army in Turkey preferred to remain kingmakers rather than kings, which is why coups were usually followed by exit guarantees for military officers and a larger role for the military in Turkish domestic and foreign politics (National Security Council after the 1961 constitution following the 60 coup). Presently however, under the more assertive Erdogan, relations have been strained and the military, especially since the 2016 coup attempt has been increasingly devoid of any significant power and influence. It is that rare state in the Middle East where a democratically el ected leader is leading the State away from a partial democracy to a more authoritarian regime. Egypt on the other hand, is a case of a Praetorian state where the lines of distinction are often blurred. It is a state where the military not only did and still does wield a lot of influence and power, but is in charge of a military industrial complex that permeates the all socio-economic levels of the society.   In Egypt, the pattern of increasing arms production and procurement by the military and the expansion of military enterprises into the civilian economy, so much so that 40% of the production capacity is owned by the military, is reflective of the significance of the military in Egypt. Much is the same in Jordan, where its armed forces have entered into joint venture partnerships with 26 foreign defense contractors. However, the cases of Israel, Egypt and Turkey are anomalies in the larger Middle East. In nation-states like Saudi Arabia, power remains solely with the dynastical-clerical network while the military constituted by foreign-trained, apolitical officers and the division of labor allows no real power to the military. Iran remains a theocracy, where power remains removed far from the military, an incidence ensured by the Commissar system which ensures fidelity of the armed forces to the Republic by the Revolutionary Guard. In countries such as Iraq and Yemen, the regular armed forces are splintered into rival factions on primordial and tribal lines. In Syria, similar to Egypt, the institutionalization of the militarys economic interests within the State has ensured the survivability of the regime. There is no single factor responsible for the diminishing role of the military across the Middle East. In fact, it can be argued that the military remains a powerful force in countries such as Egypt and Israel, arguably the most powerful states in the region. However, any power or influence it may have is no longer exercised as it once used to be. Coups have a been a thing of the past for the last few years (Yemen and Egypt being rare exceptions), largely because coups have been increasingly realized to not be the only way to exercise military influence. The same can also be attributed to the fact that regimes such as Syria have grown to perfect ways to coup-proof their regimes by way of not only military division of labor and compartmentalization, but by the utilization of a well-oiled intelligences services like the Mukhabarat, making it even more difficult for civilian regimes to be disposed of. There are other factors to consider as well, such as the fact that coup-proofing measu res have diluted military cohesion, an incidence which makes it almost impossible for a small, disillusioned detachment of the military to wage a coup without the support of the rest of the larger diversified, and highly specialized military such as the Air Forces. To conclude yes, it can be argued that when compared to recent history, the military is enjoying a rather diminished role in Middle East politics. However, this is owing to a multitude of factors, with no single factor solely responsible for the same. That said, the cases of Israel and Egypt do signify that the military does have a significant role to play, if not directly, but by way of a broader, more pervasive degree of influence that has permeated certain Middle Eastern societies.

Huckleberry finn Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is a major argument among literary critics whether the adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, is or is not a racist novel. The question focus on the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and the way he is treat by Huck and other characters. The use of the word â€Å"nigger† is also a point raised by some critic, who feel that Twain uses the word too often and too loosely. Mark Twain never presents Jim in a negative light. He does not show Jim as a drunkard, as a mean person or as a cheat. This is in contrast to the way Huck’s father is depicted, who Twain describes using all of the above characterizations and more. The reader views Jim as a good friend a man devoted to his family and loyal to his companions. Jim is however very naà ¯ve and superstitious. Some critics say that Twain is implying that all blacks have these qualities. When Jim turns to his magic hairball for answers about the future, we see that he does believed. This type of naà ¯ve was abundant at the time and found among all races the result of a lack of proper education. So the depiction of Jim is not negative in the sense that Jim is stupid and this aspect of the story is clearly not meant as a racial slight. Next it is necessary to analyze the way in which white characters treat Jim throughout the book. Note that what the author felt is not the way most characters act around Jim and his feelings are probably only conveyed through Huck. In the South during that period, bla...

Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle

Many people do not think about the long-term health implications of their lifestyle choices. Most of us seem to think â€Å"it won’t happen to me† when it comes to chronic diseases. Since we all know that we can safely eat a candy or even as many as thousands of candies or lay on the couch watching television day after day without seeing any immediate harmful effects, it can be difficult to imagine that we are slowly developing chronic diseases over time. This concept of developing diseases over time from the specific lifestyle choices that each of us makes, is known as chronic diseases of lifestyle (CDL). It is unfortunate that these chronic diseases of lifestyle are becoming the norm in Canada. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, â€Å"the four leading causes of preventable deaths and disabilities in Canada are cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease†. 1 Other preventable diseases associated with the typical Canadian lifestyle include obesity, gallstones, osteoporosis, and gastrointestinal conditions such as constipation, diverticular disease, and hemorrhoids. This risk of developing the aforementioned diseases can be greatly reduced simply by making changes to our diets, refraining from using cigarettes and other substances, and adding exercise as part of our daily routines. Overweight and obesity are on the rise in Canada. This is likely not shocking news to most Canadians as it has been continually climbing for decades now. According to Statistics Canada, â€Å"nearly one in four of all Canadian adults are obese†. 2 Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat. In quantifiable terms, a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or over is considered obese. Some of the factors leading to Canada’s rising obesity rates include our reliance on labour-saving devices, inactive lifestyles, huge portion sizes, and increased consumption of processed and refined foods. Obesity carries with it many long-term health risks such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, as well as some types of cancer. Making dietary changes, increasing physical activity, and losing weight can have a significant impact on reducing the risk of becoming obese and on developing a related disease. Increasing intake of dietary fibre, decreasing intake of fats and sugars, controlling calories, and exercising are all excellent ways of positively influencing the risk of obesity. Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. â€Å"Nearly 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are also obese†. 4 The increased dietary intake of most obese people contributes to the high blood glucose levels characteristic of diabetes. Over time, the high blood glucose levels associated with diabetes can lead to other serious health problems. An important factor in the development of type 2 diabetes is rapid digestion and absorption of sugar and starch which causes blood glucose levels to rise. Lack of dietary fibre allows for rapid digestion and absorption of starch since fibre usually slows down the digestion and absorption of glucose. So in short, the three key factors that affect the risk of type 2 diabetes are overweight or obesity, exercise and intake of fibre. Coronary heart disease and hypertension make up the cardiovascular diseases which are the leading cause of death among Canadians. The main risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) is high blood cholesterol. Other risk factors include diabetes, overweight/ obesity, high blood pressure, smoking, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, and stress. It appears that there is a pattern developing of the lifestyle choices and related chronic diseases of lifestyle. So what is CHD? CHD is a disease caused by the build-up of plaque in the arteries. This build-up of plaque, which is known as atherosclerosis, blocks the flow of blood to the heart muscle which can result in a heart attack. In order to reduce the risk of CHD, it is important to lower LDL cholesterol. This can be done by lowering intake of fat, especially saturated and trans fat. It is also helpful to increase intake of viscous or soluble fibre since it binds cholesterol with bile juices and slows cholesterol production through bacterial fermentation. Certain nutrients, phytochemicals, and antioxidants slow the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, thus slowing the growth of artery clogging plaque. The dominant risk factor for strokes is hypertension or high blood pressure. Other risk factors include atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity. As we already know, all of these risk factors can be prevented and the biggest weapon for prevention is diet. The best prevention technique is to lower intake of sodium. Other techniques to prevent hypertension are weight management, adequate potassium intake, decreased alcohol and caffeine consumption, and exercise. â€Å"Cancer can be attributed to as many of 30% of all deaths of Canadian adults making it the second leading cause of deaths among Canadians. 1 The many different types of cancer are often influenced by our lifestyle choices. The causes of cancer are plentiful but the leading three causes are tobacco use, overweight/ obesity (diet), and physical inactivity. Increased intake of fruits and vegetables and of course not smoking are helpful in preventing lung cancer. Fibre is linked to a decreased risk of colon cancer. Obesity is the dominant risk factor for breast cancer. Cancer prevention is aided by a di et consistently high in intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and their phytochemicals. There is clearly a common theme in the prevention of chronic diseases of lifestyle: Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, practice weight management, exercise daily, and don’t smoke! It is also clear that all of the chronic diseases of lifestyle are related to one another so if you develop one of them, you are at an increased risk for developing the others. Making just small changes to your lifestyle can have a significant impact on your risk of developing a CDL. It is obvious that increasing fibre intake is very beneficial in the prevention of certain diseases, as well as limiting fat, sodium, and sugar intake. It’s amazing that these simple changes can prevent the development of many of the diseases that Canadians suffer and die from everyday. All of the chronic diseases of lifestyle are related to each other and therefore, all are preventable. Since these diseases can often develop over a period of many years without any symptoms, we can slowly be slowly developing deadly diseases without even knowing it. That is why it is important to take preventative action now.

Color Marking Assignment

Motherhood: Ma, since Steinbeck first described her is a goddess woman in the book. In this chapter, the motherhood is displayed by Ma. As she has to say good bye to Tom, the child for whom she has shown the most affection, she is sorrowful. â€Å"I wanna touch ya again, Tom. †¦ I wanna remember, even if it’s on’y my fingers that remember. You got to go away, Tom. † And she also gave him 7 dollars. 7 dollars, at that time in such a terrible environment, 7 dollars is huge number, she gave to Tom, because she‘s worry about him. You take the money†¦You got no right to cause me pain†. John Steinbeck is using this motherhood to praise the great love mother has been giving to their children. Even in the worst condition, even in the bad situation, they still willing to love their children and love them more than love anyone else. Tom’s thinking: Maybe reader has sensed the change in Tom’s character. His soul and spirit is growing sinc e the capture of Casy. Here, Steinbeck writes out the thought of Tom during that period to inform reader what Tom is thinking is all about Casy. He is thinking about all what Casy said. â€Å"But now I been thinkin’ what he said, an’ I can remember –all of it. † He also realize what Casy said that â€Å"a fella ain’t got a soul of his own, but on’y a piece of a big one. † Tom’s thinking also helps to foreshadowing the decision Tom made which is to continue what Casy had done later in the chapter. Tom’s decision: Here, in the cave, Tom told Ma his decision. He plans to continue and hopefully finished the work that Casy started. Tom wants to organize a strike to bring out the fair wage. John Steinbeck use Tom’s decision finally complete his character portraying for Tom since Tom is at his closest point to being self actualized. And at this point Steinbeck also helps reader to find out how a soul has been growing during the harsh time and suggests that Tom is one of the million people who has gone through these and realized the â€Å"a fella ain’t got a soul of his own, but on’y a piece of a big soul†. Description: Steinbeck uses a lot detail description in this chapter. As Ma setting out ot find Tom â€Å"The movement stopped, and after a long moment †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ that it might have been a stump. Here, Steinbeck helps reader understand that after Tom killed two cops and Casy’s death, Tom is living like a rabbit. Tom is hiding and staying along so that he can think and decide to continue what Casy had started. Then Steinbeck also use detail description â€Å" Her reaching hand found his head in the blackness and her fingers moved down to his nose, and then over his left cheek. † This shows reader the love Ma has giving to Tom, the greatness of mothers’ love which Steinbeck intend to express.