The Nature Of Leadership Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Nature Of Leadership - Case Study Example Such a situation arises from the complex nature of leadership. The only common thread that can be found is that the nature of leadership involves an influencing process and the consequences of this influencing process (Antonakis, Cianciola & Sternberg, 2004). It is for this reason the leadership definition that works for me is focussed on the influential nature of leadership and its implications. Daft and Lane 2008, p.4, define leadership as â€Å"an influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes†. Expanding on the term influence is a key reason for my choice of this definition. The nature of influence here is that it is not passive but active, and it is multidirectional, and without the element of coercion. Furthermore, the influence is not merely from leaders to followers, but is reciprocal in that there are times when the influence flows from followers to leaders. Moving on to another key ingredient in this definition of the intention for real changes, it implies that leadership does not accept a status quo situation, but aims for creating change. This striving for change is based on the shared purposes of the leaders and followers and not on the desires of the leaders. In real terms this means that the created change is towards a desired future state or purpose (Daft & Lane, 2008). This definition also brings us to the important aspect of leadership in that it cannot be present in the absence of followers and that followers are an essential to leadership (Maxwell, 1993). 2. Without followers there are no leaders. What is known about followers? The first thought that comes to mind when we talk about followers is sheep following the shepherd, implying that followers merely follow a leader. This is not essentially true, for there are many in the flock of followers that assist the leader in the influence of leadership, and demonstrate capabilities to become leaders in the future (Yukl, 2006). This perception of followers indicates that followers are made up of different types of individuals. Followers may be classified into five types of followers. The first type we may take as the sheep and they look up to the leader for directing them in all that they do. The second type of followers consists of those that keep saying yes all the time to the leader, or accept leadership influence without any outward sign of opposition and devout their energies towards accomplishing the direction of the leadership influence. The third class of followers consist of individuals that we may term as alienated. These individuals are capable of independent thought and action. The problem here is that they also possess a lot of negative energy that works to the detriment of the group, as the leadership influence is unable to get to them and they make no positive contribution to the shared purpose of the group, rather they work against it. Leadership influence that can remove the negative energy from these followers can convert them to extremely useful members of the group and the leader. The next class of followers are the fence sitters or those that we may term as pragmatists. These followers refrain from accepting the influence of leaders, till such time they are sure that the trend is favourable and then jump on the bandwagon, in the manner that trees sway in the direction of the wind. It is not that they have any opposing views or are capable of contributing positively towards the shared purposes. Self-preservation is of primary importance, and hence the wait and see attitude on the impact of the change influence that emanates from the leader. The final classification of followers may be viewed as star followers. They possess the same vibrancy as the

Mmigration in the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mmigration in the US - Essay Example Still women are not better off than men when it comes to migrating. It is easy for men to socialize and settle due to their nature. They can compromise on many things like privacy and cleanliness. Many men can stay together in a small place together. The same is extremely difficult for a woman. She has needs of privacy therefore cannot just stay anywhere. She also needs safety as she cannot defend herself. The treatment of a lonely female is not very well in many societies. All in all the needs of women are different than that of men and therefore they find it difficult to migrate as compared to men. Women, if coming from a culture where they are not treated equally to a host country where laws are much more developed, may still not be better off than men, at least in the beginning. The cultural shock is something that a woman has to face when migrating in a new country. The customs and traditions are different and they may cause discomfort for a woman. Men on the other hand can adju st to such changes rather easily. In today’s world there has been seen a surge in demand for female labor and this is attracting women to migrate. According to the latest trends women are migrating independently to support their families (Oishi, 1). The overall labor market has gone through many changes. In developed countries today husband and wife both are working and this creates a demand for migrants Nannies. This is one of the reasons behind increase in women migration. Female migration is increasing but it is still safe to say that women are at the losing end. This is because most women that migrate come from poor background and desperately need money for their families. This increases the social position of the family and of women but internal happiness of women is compromised. She is mostly living away from her child or her family. It is important to note here that women migrate when they have reached the mature ages. They are born in a culture where families live tog ether closely. They come from a collectivist background where family is more important than an individual. These women when migrate to developed world are not comfortable in working individually. They are only doing it out of necessity not by choice. This takes the toll on the personal life of a woman and therefore she has more to lose than a man. Men even in collectivist society enjoy power and freedom to a certain extent therefore they are better off when migrating. Part 2 When adopting policies for immigrants countries first have to understand the possible issues that immigrants face in the host country. After an understating of these issues appropriate measures can be suggested. Most of the immigrants travel to the host countries for earning more money and living a better lifestyle. Immigrants identify needs that cannot be met in their home countries and therefore they migrate to other countries. The main reason for migration is financial in nature. Most immigrants are poor ther efore they are willing to work at lower rates because of the difference in exchange rates. Earning for example $3 an hour is more than enough for a person to finance his whole family in Nigeria. This is where state should intervene because immigrants are not aware of their rights in the new country. State has to protect immigrants from possible exploitation of business owners. For this purpose state can open special centers for immigrants that can keep

The impact of the internet on the fashion industry Essay

The impact of the internet on the fashion industry - Essay Example Many online users have now use so called option "Choiceboard" where the visitors of the web sites can design the products they would like to purchase; apart from external design visitors of the web site have now the possibility to choose among the prices and delivery options. 1 These options allow the customers wherever they reside to order goods and products at London or in Paris, without actually visiting these cities. Moreover, residents of various countries have received the possibility to view latest trends in the design of the apparel and new collections in various nations of the world. In short new technology has increased the exposure of fashion companies as well as designers to the public. New creative ideas are exchanged between the nations with rapid, hitherto unknown speed, which certainly facilitate and simplify the work of the designers. Internet also offers new opportunities to those people who study at the fashion courses as well as those who would like to keep themselves abreast of the trends in the design of the fashion. 2For instance such web sites as WGSN -EDU provides students and academic staff with the access to the latest information on design trends, fashion shows, textiles and new fashion products from all over the world. One of the leading internet fashion web sites Worth Global Style Network provides its subscribers with numerous options vital for those who are interested in the latest changes in fashion. Subscription for 3000 USD per year provided the customers with the possibility to watch various fashion shows around the world and evaluate various marketing strategies of fashion houses of Scandinavia as well as to see high quality photos of the youth from Los Angeles. Whereas it might have taken several days to obtain this information several decades ago, it can be done much quicker with the help of internet. Moreover the founders of WGSN were able to provide the visitors of their web site with latest samples of fabrics, apparel and show displays. Moreover apart from the photos from officially held fashion shows the company also provided the customers with photos of so called "cool hunters" independent photographers who visited discos and clubs and could take the shots of the public at these pre mises. The service of the company has facilitated the life in fashion industry. Some of the subscribers (most of whom consisted of famous and large fashion houses) have spent more than half million dollars in subscription fees, yet this money was well spent. The service of the web site helps to reduce the time spent on business trips, which have became less expensive and more efficient due to the fact that the web site provides detailed and informative advice on what to visit in a particular geographical area, where the most interesting sites for fashion specialists are located as well as what date should be chosen for the visiting of the area. Moreover it has reduced the time of the meetings at the offices as no longer the junior design assistants are held in ignorance about current trends, they can see everything and even more than their managers who are traveling around the globe. 3 Whereas fashion companies can subscribe to this web site, academic staff and students can get

Case Description on Monsanto Company Research Paper - 1

Case Description on Monsanto Company - Research Paper Example The company had been constantly attacked because of health concerns and company transparent. The media has been recently attacking the company because of their business practices that have raised public concern; thus impacting the performance of the company. Recently, there was an argument in the Supreme Court of America about cutting patent rights for the genetically modified seeds. The argument was between Bowman vs. Monsanto Company and the case was how Monsanto Company can control the Roundup Ready patent. Vernon Hugh Bowman, the Indian farmer presented the case to court arguing that he had discovered a loophole for a second and riskier crop in the growing season (Liptak 2013). Bowman argued that the Roundup Ready gene, which is a patent for the Monsanto Company was a threat to farmers. This patent was for the soybeans that the company patented, but it was also argued that the patent was likely to cause broader implications for many biotech products, as well as impact information technology products. The lawsuits over the patent rights for their seeds, which are distributed across the globe, were presented into the court. The farmer (Bowman) argued that Monsanto could not have sold their Roundup Ready soybeans to farmers because thi s patent and the progeny are exhausted (Mann, 2013). Additionally, the lawsuit pointed out every case that was presented to the court about Monsanto’s products. Many of the company’s patent dealt with varied issues affecting the company including the living organisms such as seeds, which sells replicates. Each case presented to the company contributed to another verdict; thus, it became apparent that some of the case rulings could impact the patent right of the company and humanity because of cloning effects. The company received a lot of pressure and this impacted their performance because it started producing little without caring the long-term impact on people.

The importance of accounting information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

The importance of accounting information - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of accounting as the process of â€Å"identifying, measuring and communicating economic information to permit informed judgments and decisions† by the users of the information. Hence accounting information is very useful to its various users as it helps them to make informed and calculated decisions. All stakeholders of an organization including the shareholders are potential users of accounting information. Following are some of the user of this information: decision makers inside the organization (such as the directors, managers, etc.), employees, shareholders, customers, lenders, shareholders, suppliers, etc. Traditionally anybody who is interested in the activities and performance of an organization is a stakeholder. Accounting information is useful to different users in a different way. Accounting information such as cash inflows, expenses, fixed assets, liabilities, operating profits, can be used by decision makers inside an o rganization to make critical decisions such as future investments, pricing strategies, expansion plans, etc. Employees of an organization can use accounting information to analyze the financial and commercial success of a company and in turn understand the security with respect to the job that the organization promises. Lenders and suppliers can use the information to analyze the financial health of the company before lending loans and materials to the organizations.

Advantages of queuing theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Advantages of queuing theory - Essay Example Reneging happens when a prospective client decides to leave and forgo that service he is queuing for mostly because the queue is too long. In this calculation the main principle is that the costs of waiting in queues are normally inversely proportional to the timely cost of service. Queuing theories are clearly known to be simple as they normally require less data and it is known to produce results that are generic. This is the advantage of using queuing theory over the use of simulation as models of queuing theory. The theory is widely used in service rendering sectors such health services area. Also in the same field of health care (Aaby et al. 575) describes the use of spreadsheets and spreadsheets software to implement the desired queuing network models of mass vaccination in the dispensing clinics. Another important example of software that forms part of such a system is found in an emergency department. (Broyles and Cochran, 615) say it is quite able to calculate the percentage number of patients who usually leave the emergency department without actually getting help. This can be done by assessing the arrival rate, utilization, service rate as well as the capacity of the health care. It is out of this percentage that they can be able to actually determine the revenue that has been lost from the patients who left without being served. Disadvantages of queuing method Since the queuing theory models are mostly based on what is referred to as the exponential distribution, they work through applying these traits of exponential distribution. The main problem that comes with this is that in that this exponential distribution normally has a coefficient with a variation of one. This fact has the effect of precluding the modelling of any other process that has a coefficient which is of variation significantly different from one. Therefore Because of the low likelihood that any of a random process will just be having a coefficient of variation that is just one, thi s queuing theory is considered to have the disadvantage of low applicability and practicality. While the number of assumptions for most of these applications of queueing models is normally few, they sometime tend to be quite irrational. This is clear especially when human queues are involved. From the theory, it is understood that human behaviour is uniform and can be determined. This is quite untrue because human character and behaviour vary from one human being to another. Thus from these assumption some critics have argued that the queuing theory cannot apply where human being are involved in the queue. The assumptions are not normally correct as human behaviour is not actually determinable. Where as one person shall behave in a certain manner, another person might act the actual opposite of what the other person did. For instance, one assumption can be that a person is likely not to enter a queue if he finds that there are too many people already ahead in the queue. In reality, this may not be true; otherwise, the situation would be that there would be no lines outside stores. Another point to discard the assumption there would no store opening on holidays for those maybe seeking to buy late gifts. The restrictive nature of the assumptions of the queuing theory is also another disadvantage that exposes the theory to criticism. The nature of the production lines is quite complex and cannot be fully explained by the simple models that are provided for by the queuing theory. Therefore in order to cure this there are specialized tools which have been developed in order to simulate, visualize, analyze, and finally

Arguments Of Placebo Effect Health And Social Care Essay

Arguments Of Placebo Effect Health And Social Care Essay The placebo effect may be described as a phenomenon where the symptom of a patient may be modified by ineffective treatment. Essentially the patient has been seen to receive some form of treatment that he or she believes will work. This is a psychological response that can reduce stress and panic thereby leaving the bodys true immune system with an improved chance of working. Placebos are not a cure but merely help to place the patient in a more relaxed and receptive state for treatment. In this regard all medicines essentially provide what is known as the placebo effect. In general terms the placebo has a positive impact if managed by physicians in a proper and responsible way. This is because stress and anxiety are known to affect the body in an adverse manner and possibly make the symptoms worse. Researchers have found that large dummy placebo pills that are coloured seem to stimulate a more positive response from the patients. The important point to emphasise is that the placebo effect is practiced in all medicines and whilst some consider it to be a bogus form of treatment, nevertheless, it accomplishes more good than harm. Counter arguments state that the feel good generation is purposely misleading and could create more serious conditions. The argument is somewhat flawed as very rarely is it ever used as a standalone form of treatment but more a precursor to getting a patient stabilized in a relaxed and more receptive state in order to receive proper medical attention. The arguments of the placebo effect Those arguing against the use of the placebos normally present the following arguments: [1] Introduction of the Nocebo effect whereby patients state that they experience side effects from the in ineffective treatment [placebo]. In most cases this is restricted to clinical trials where placebos are used to test against real medicines. [2] The placebo response of a pain reduction may obscure the real disease and lead towards misleading information to the physician and thus return an incorrect diagnosis of the problem. This can be serious as the wrong course of corrective treatment may be prescribed [3] the illusion effect where the patient is led to believe that the bogus remedy may have worked. This in turn may result in an incorrect or wrong course of treatment to deal with the problem. The medical journal The Lancet provided on an article that stated a new analysis of 110 placebo-controlled randomized trials of homeopathy, indicated there is no evidence that homeopathic tablets perform any better than placebos (Goldacre 2006)  [1]  . Modern medicine has moved towards better patient relationships keeping the patient informed and moved away from the old paternalistic placebo doctrine. Most doctors are uncomfortable with dishonesty and perhaps this is one of the key distinctions against that of the homeopathy practitioners. Adam Harrington stated in Hoboken that the placebo is much more ado about nothing the answer is NO because of the powerful therapeutic effects and YES because of the faddish exaggerations about placebo power. (Harrington 1999). The term placebo is Latin and originated from the Catholic vespers for the dead and translated means I shall please. They emanate from the early medical practices where medical practitioners were unable to diagnose a specific illness and used a placebo essentially to buy time in order to allow additional medical investigations to take place. It was Arthur Shapiro  [2]  who reminded everyone in the 1960s that the physicians themselves were important placebos in their own right i.e. people were comforted by the fact of having an experienced medical practitioner take control of their medical issues. Positive claims for placebos have been made by Dr. Robert Buchman  [3]  and Karl Salsbugh they seem to have effect on almost every symptom known to mankind, whereas Arthur Shapiro was much more sceptical stating placebos could have a permanent effect on medical disorders. (Evans 2004) One of the most convincing positive arguments for placebos resulted from the work of Dr. Henry Beecher  [4]  who was the American anaesthetist who treated US soldiers in a field hospital in World War 2. In one instance he was treating a soldier with bad injuries and was considering morphine as a pain killer but he was concerned about cardio vascular shock. Instead he put the soldier on saline solution and the result was the patient settled down, he felt less pain and the reaction was similar to morphine. It seemed that salt water could be as effective as morphing considered one of the most powerful painkillers at the disposed of the medical practitioners. Beecher later repeated the trick with the same results and after the war returned to Harvard University to continue his research. Similar studies were being carried out at Cornell University. The subsequent studies carried out by Beecher, gold and lasagne change the way the medical profession viewed placebos and by the mid-1950s doctors were thinking of this as their longer a fraudulent practice. (Evans 2004) Figure : Total Drug Concept by ClaridgeThe complementary practitioners of alternative medicines have advocated that mainstream medicine should become more inclusive and doctors need to incorporate some of these methods into the overall approach to healing. The placebo should no longer be considered as a fake treatment but used where it may influence possible positive outcome on patient care. A model developed by Claridge (Peters 2001). In 1970 required a useful insight into close examination of the placebo effect [Fig 1 refers]. Here he separated the drug out into its very opponents; [1] the drug itself color, shape, form, brand and attributes [2] the prescriber attitude, beliefs, competence, and authority. [3] The recipient the psychological side suggested intelligence, personality etc. [4] selling and clinical side hope, clinic, hospital [physical settings]. Hence the doors former placebo is that so these items without the pharm logical presence of the drug. The concept of beli ef is considered a vital component towards a positive outcome of all forms of medical treatment i.e. Belief in the success of the treatment towards a positive outcome and the expectations in the efficiency of that treatment. Belief lies very central to the persuasive ultimate for the use of placebos. The fact that placebos act on the mind creates an important psychological consideration in their applied use in medicine. Hence more studies in the use of the linkage to the neural system may be appropriate. The US government are taking placebos more seriously and recently the US Food and Drug Agency requires that all new drugs undergo a double-blind, placebo control trial. (Edin 2010). These testing different patient responses to the new drug with the controlled drug or placebo. Medical practitioners have stated that the placebo effect has already made significant contributions in the treatment of ulcers, postoperative pain, seasickness, headaches, colds, arthritis and hypertension. In the treatment of depression statistics have illustrated as high as 70% of relief has been achieved by the use of placebos. This would suggest that a lot more is going on here than pure deception. The belief concept may well i nfluence the chemical releases within the body that are controlled by functions of the brain. Tests with depressive patients were conducted by doctors using brain scans and where there was an expectation by the patient that the condition would improve there was a marked increase in biological changes to the brain. Hence the biological stimulation of the brain is strongly linked to the potency of placebos. People who have been suffering postoperative pain have reported considerable improvement in pain reduction after a simple saline injection. These analgesic effects suggests suggest some form of reception by the brain; this has been referred to as activation of the endogenous pain-relief system of the brain (Connors W 2007). The brain itself manufactures morphine like substances called endorphins the brain can trigger or send these to those parts of the body experiencing pain. Hence placebos may be able to stimulate this part of the brain in order to enhance that stimulation process . Placebo affects are not limited purely too chemical or drug treatments, they have also been included in both surgery and physiological therapies. A summary of the many literature works on placebos leads towards a number of preliminary conclusions:- [1] A significant number of patient show a therapeutic response from the administration of a placebo [2] There seems to be no uniform practice that sets itself out as a prescribed means of treatment in this area [ 3] It appears that any object with therapeutic intent can invoke similar circumstances [4] The mechanism of the effects remains relatively unknown and the conditions in which it operates are unclear. (Wickramsehera 1988) CONCLUSIONS The advantage that supports the use of placebos are essentially threefold: [1] the mind over matter concept whereby the placebo acts as an assist to the bodys natural defence mechanism [2] the provision of a psychological boost or stimulus to the brain which may prove to be an important contribution to the overall recovery of the patient [3] A support to the central concept of belief which is known to be a major contributing factor towards recovery. The main disadvantages might be summarised as [1] In the area of chronic pain the patient may show an immediate spontaneous improvement and as such give cause to a false diagnosis of the problem [2] The element of deception may provide the patient with false hope or expectations and give rise to medical ethical considerations [3] The patient may provide the Doctor with erroneous information believing that the placebo has resolved the problem. This loses valuable time in the determination of the correct prognosis and could prove serious in certain cases. There is also the strong argument that placebos can become habit forming. One example being the use of valium for strong headaches. These may essentially provide temporary relief but they are certainly not an ongoing solution. It is the unsettling notion that people are getting medical treatment from unqualified practitioners. The concept of non-medically trained people prescribing any form of placebo implies that the patient is ill and as such this can be a powerful message to the patient. The action of medication is not just controlled by the drug companies as the pharmaceutical companies have to undergo extensive clinical trials before they can release a product to the market place. A lot of the controversy with the applied use of placebos is around the use of these in clinical trials. Many consider that the use of these is unethical but it raises the question as to whether the trials could be successful without them Arguments against the use of placebo groups in clinical trials have been based on opinion rather than evidence. Ethical issues have been raised, but these are contentious. (Martin Tramer 1998). The ethical consideration will continue to be debated in the medical profession but the continued use in clinical trials is likely to proceed at least for the foreseeable future In clinical settings where no gold standard treatment exists and where event rates vary widely, trial designs without placebo controls are unlikely to yield sensible results (Martin Tramer 1998). The concept of Doctors saying the placebo is a nuisance variable has equally been contested by the medical profession There has been sharp disagreement on this point, due to the fact that medical literature includes a great deal of testimony that the placebo effect routinely works 30 percent of the time, with Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard stating that it may work up to 90 percent of the time. (World Research Foundation 2011). 2015