Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Eric Fromm and his human needs theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Eric Fromm and his human needs theory - Essay ExampleErich Fromm, who was born in Germany in the year 1900, was exposed to the horrors of the first world war (Boeree, n.d., p.3). The pestiferous nature of the leaders, the mute submission of the civilians to the dictatorship and the way the society functi mavind developed Erich Fromms interest in psychology and social structure. He tried to get hold the answer to his search for the question, what drives man to behave the way he does?, in the psychoanalytical theories of Freud and social theories of Karl Marx (Boeree, n.d., p.4). However, he found that both the theories are incomplete as they treat man either as an individual or as a social animal (Boeree, n.d., p.4). He thinks that human beings own(prenominal) and social aspects are related and hence, his behavior and motives can non be exempted by separating the individual and the social aspects of his life (Boeree, n.d., p.4). Hence, Erich Fromm postulated a theory called Human Needs Theory, to explain those needs of human beings which drive them to behave the way they do and in doing so, has touched every aspect of the human personality(Boeree, n.d., p.10). By explaining how human behavior is not just a result of personal needs but also is a result of his dynamic relationship with existential aspects of life, Erich From has given us one of the most complete theories of human behavior (Boeree, n.d., p.10).According to Erich Fromm, the conditions of the society in which the human being exists, give birth to his needs (Wozniak, 2000, p.44). He does agree with new(prenominal) behaviorists when they say that every human being has basic biological needs like adequate nourishment and shelter, and meeting those biological needs can result them with a sense of satisfaction

Monday, June 10, 2019

Cashflow Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cashflow - Essay Exampleons or contributing - in spite of the fact that this likewise happens as a consequence of gifts or blessings on account of individual fund (Deveau, 2015). Money outpourings result from costs or ventures. This remains constant for both business and individual money.The primary essential whole step in keeping up a positive cash flow is putting a financial plan set up. One of the ways of dogmatic income is by getting ready and keeping up a capital forecast (Niven, 2013). Significantly, forecasting has key impact in deciding long tangle financing ask. Credit control and obligation recuperation are imperative figures in great income administration. Attempts to pay in time mean suppliers will be more prone to arrange deals with solid clients (Deveau, 2015). Issue updates when an installment is late and after that pursuit up also create positive possibilities. There is a need for considering charging punishment enthusiasm for late plan how to manage non-payment ( Niven, 2013). Entrepreneurs additionally need to give careful consideration to their receivable and payable cycles. Finally, pricing needs to bode well.Deveau, D. (2015). Planning ahead makes for stronger cash flow. Financialpost.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015, from

Sunday, June 9, 2019

United States use of fossil fuel Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

join States use of fossil enkindle - Research Paper ExampleThe United States is considered amongst the largest consumers of fossil fires, consuming 7.1 one thousand one thousand million barrels/year of oil, 23.2 cubic feet/year of natural gas and 1.04 billion short tons/year of coal (Whitney, 2010, pg 20). The countries colony on fossil fuel has increased over the years with its total fossil fuel consumption increasing 20 fold in the last 4 decades.The high dependence of fossil fuels is clearly noticeable in the fossil fuel per capita consumption that is the country consumes 20 to 30 times more fossil fuel per capita than exploitation nations. This high dependence on fossil fuels results in economic and environmental damage of the country. It is therefore needed that the United States adopt a reusable ancestor of fuel that would lessen the strain on the environment and its economy. It is a well known fact that burning and consumption of fossil fuels results in release of blas ting environment damaging substances. Fossil fuels mainly consist of petroleum, natural gas and coal. All three of which contribute to global warming by releasing nursery gases when combusted. These greenhouse gases further then contribute towards the global warming effect. Global warming is predicted to lead to other environmental disasters such as the sea direct rising and major climate changes. Ultimately, the phenomenon is expected to lead the world into an ice age. The United States has established itself as one of the largest contributors towards making this phenomenon a reality. The United States expelled 6633.2 million metric tons of Carbon dioxide, which is the primary ingredient of global warming (US Environment Protection Agency, 2011, p. 2-5). The countrys economy is heavily based and helpless on fossil fuels. Though the country has its own fossil fuel reserves, it still to meet its large fuel requirements, imports fossil fuel from fossil fuel rich countries such as Sa udi Arabia and Iraq becomes a necessity. This import of oil and its derivatives pushes pressure on the economy. The high consumption of fossil fuels also poses indirect monetary expenditures. Sea level rise and increase in destructive power of storms due to global warming, has put coastal cities such as in the altogether York, New Orleans and Miami in greater risk. It is estimated that damages could amount to $422 billion in the Atlantic and Gulf States between 2025 and 2100 (Environment America, 2009, p. 17). In a bid to avoid this catastrophic situation both environmentally and economically, it is essential that the United States slowly shifts its economy towards greener elan vital re comes. The country already has installed several power plants that utilize renewable energy resources. As of 2010, renewable energy accounted for 11.4 percent of the electricity produced within the United States. The major sources of renewable fuel within the country are hydro, solar, wind, geothe rmal (Blackburn, 1987, p. 44). to the highest degree of these energy sources have already been developed within the country. Hydroelectric power contributes 66.8 percent of the total renewable energy and has iconic projects such as the clean dam and Grand Coulee dam under its belt. Solar energy plants installed within the Mojave Desert are capable of generating up to 354MW of power. The Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) consists of nine solar power plants that were commissioned between 1984 and 1991. There are more solar plants being constructed in order to increase the amount of coverage by renewable sources of which two are the Blythe Solar Power Project and Ivanpah Solar Power Facility. Wind power is a growing source of energy within the United States. The power generated by wind farms currently amounts to more than 35,159MW. These farms are mostly located within ranches of Texas. The idea of wind farms for renewable source of energy is gaining popularity and wind power is expected to cover 20% of US electricity by 2030. Geothermal source of energy is the fourth largest source of renewable energy. Geothermal plants are mostly locat

Saturday, June 8, 2019

The importances of the primary,secondary and tertiary levels of health Essay

The importances of the primary,secondary and tertiary levels of wellness promotion in nursing place - Essay ExampleIt then becomes imperative for health nurses to define their services and to provide evidence that will support the effectiveness of the interventions they offer. In accomplishing this, Deal (1994) maintain that there should be an implementation of standardized nursing language.Unlike the last few years, cases of nurses have changed from not a good press to an essential mogul in the improvement of healthcare. Nowadays, nurses claim that caring is just as authoritative as technical skill. Nurses are directly involved in the implementation of health promotion. Their participation in the implementation of healthcare promotion determines the success or failure of the desired practice.The first article deals with a particular state in the United States New York and the role of the public health nurses to the health promotion and maintenance. Firstly, health promotion is initialized through assessing the health as well as the health care unavoidably of the population in identifying who would benefit from the health promotion or the ones that are being described in the article as at risk of illness, injury, disability, or premature death. Collectively, health promotion is being defined in the article as the respond to the identified healthcare needs in a form of range of activities that will contribute to health and the prevention of illness and the like.Article 1 takes the nurses as the critical and most important role inevitably involves in the promotion and maintenance of the health of the public. American Public Health Association and Public Health Nursing (2003) define nurses role as to promote the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences. Correspondingly, public health would be in great danger devoid of a strong nursing workforce. They are the ones that provide direct care to the public as a respo nse to the implementation of health

Friday, June 7, 2019

The Life and History of Jesse Stuart Essay Example for Free

The Life and History of Jesse Stuart EssayJesse Stuart (1907 ) was the son of an illiterate tenant farmer from eastern Kentucky. Jesse Stuart had little musket ball education as a child. When he finally managed to attend high school, and then college, he discove going that he had a talent for writing. He has pursued a successful career as a writer, at the same time serving as a teacher and administrator in southern schools. In addition to short stories, Stuart has written poetry, novels, an autobiography (The Thread that Runs So True, 1958) and a biography of his father (Gods Oddling, 1960). It was from his father, that the author gained his great love of nature and taste perception individuality. LOVE Yesterday when the bright sun blazed use up on the wilted corn my father and I walked or so the edge of the new desktop to cast a fence. The cows kept coming through the chestnut oaks on the cliff and running everyplace the young corn. They bit off the tips of the corn and trampled down the stubble. My father walked in the cornbalk. chase after, our Collie, walked in front of my father. We heard a ground squirrel whistle down over the bluff among the dead treetops at the clearings edge. Whoop, take him, Bob, verbalise my father.He lifted up a young stalk of corn, with wilted dried roots, where the ground squirrel had dug it up for the sweet grain of corn left(a) on its tender roots. This has been a dry spring and the corn has kept well in the nation where the grain has sprouted. The ground squirrels love this corn. They dig up rows of it and eat the sweet grains. The young corn stalks are killed and we have to replant the corn. I can retard my father keep sicking Bob after the ground squirrel. He jumped over the corn rows. He started to run toward the ground squirrel. I, too, started running toward the clearings edge where Bob was jumping and barking.The dust flew in tiny swirls behind our feet. on that point was a cloud of dust behind us. Its a big bull black snake, said my father. Kill him, Bob Kill him, Bob Bob was jumping and snapping at the snake so as to make it strike and throw itself off guard. Bob had killed twenty-eight copperheads this spring. He go to sleeps how to kill a snake. He doesnt rush to do it. He takes his time and does the job well. Lets dont kill the snake, I said. A blacksnake is a harmless snake. It kills poison snakes. It kills the copperhead. It catches more mice from the fields than a cat. I could curb the snake didnt want to fight the dog.The snake wanted to get away. Bob wouldnt let it. I wondered why it was crawling toward a heap of black loamy earth at the bench of the hill. I wondered why it had come from the chestnut oak sprouts and the matted greenbriars on the cliff. I looked as the snake lifted its middling head in response to one of Bobs jumps. Its not a bull blacksnake, I said. Its a she-snake. Look at the whitened on her throat. A snake is an enemy to me, my father snapped. I hate a snake. Kill it, Bob. Go in there and get that snake and quit playing with it Bob obeyed my father. I hated to see him take this snake by the throat.She was so beautifully poised in the sunlight. Bob grabbed the white patch on her throat. He wild her long body deal an ox whip in the wind. He cracked it against the wind only. The blood spurted from her fine-curved throat. Something hit against my legs like pellets. Bob threw the snake down. I looked to see what had struck my legs. It was snake eggs. Bob had slung them from her body. She was going to the sand heap to lay her eggs, where the sun is the setting-hen that warms them and hatches them. Bob grabbed her body there on the earth where the red blood was running down on the gray-piled loam. Her body was still writhing in pain.She acted like a greenweed held over a new-ground fire. Bob slung her brutally many times. He cracked her limp body against the wind. She was now limber as a shoestring in the wind. Bob threw he r riddled body clog on the sand. She quivered like a leaf in the lazy wind, then her riddled body lay perfectly still. The blood colored the loamy earth around the snake. Look at the eggs, wont you? said my father. We counted thirty-seven eggs. I picked an egg up and held it in my hand. Only a minute ago there was life in it. It was an immature seed. It would not hatch. Mother sun could not incubate it on the warm earth.The egg I held in my hand was well-nigh the size of a quails egg. The shell on it was thin and tough and the egg appeared under the surface to be a watery egg. Well, Bob, I guess you see now why this snake couldnt fight, I said, It is life. Stronger devour the weaker even among human beings. Dog kills snake. Snake kills birds. Birds kill the butterflies. Man conquers all. Man, too, kills for sport. Bob was panting. He walked ahead of us back to the house. His tongue was out of his mouth. He was tired. He was hot under his shaggy coat of hair. His tongue nearly tou ched the dry dirt and white flecks of foam dripped from it.We walked toward the house. Neither my father nor I spoke. I still thought about the dead snake. The sun was going down over the chestnut ridge. A lark was singing. It was late for a lark to sing. The red evening clouds floated above the pine trees on our pasture hill. My father stood beside the path. His black hair was moved by the wind. His face was red in the blue wind of day. His eyes looked toward the sinking sun. And my father hates a snake, I thought. I thought about the agony women know of giving birth. I thought about how they will fight to save their children. Then, I thought of the snake.I thought it was silly for me to think such thoughts. This cockcrow my father and I got up with the chickens. He says one has to get up with the chickens to do a days work. We got the posthole digger, ax, spud, measuring pole and the mattock. We started for the clearings edge. Bob didnt go along. The dew was on the corn. My father walked behind with the posthole digger across his shoulder. I walked in front. The wind was blowing. It was a good morning wind to breathe and a wind that makes one feel like he can get under the edge of a hill and heave the whole hill crest down.I walked out the corn row where we had come yesterday afternoon. I looked in front of me. I saw something. I saw it move. It was moving like a huge black rope winds around a windlass. Steady, I says to my father. Here is the bull blacksnake. He took one step up beside me and stood. His eyes grew big apart. What do you know about this, he said. You have seen the bull blacksnake now, I said. Take a good look at him He is assembly beside his dead mate. He has come to her. He, perhaps, was on her trail yesterday. The male snake had trailed her to her doom.He had come in the night, under the roof of stars, as the moon project rays of light on the quivering clouds of green. He had found his lover dead. He was coiled beside her, and she was dead. The bull blacksnake lifted his head and followed us as we walked around the dead snake. He would have fought us to his death. He would have fought Bob to his death. Take a stick, said my father, and throw him over the hill so Bob wont find him. Did you ever see anything to beat that? Ive heard theyd do that. But this is my first time to see it. I took a stick and threw him over the bank into the dewy sprouts on the cliff.

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Managing Information Essay Example for Free

Managing Information EssayIntroductionWith n early 40 years experience has seen the industry change many convictions, and has al appearances unplowed itself at the forefront of thatchange. Its re dictateation is a source of pride for each(prenominal) who prevail here, and its roughlything were keen to preserve and develop the only way possible through satisfying our clients. We study developed into a leading multidisciplinary contractor wrap upering a truly comprehensive, integrated service to clients in development, construction, zip and many other sectors. ( sympathize appendix 1 for Organisational charts of company)My mull over role inwardly the organisation is still a varied one in that my day to day activities ar never quite the corresponding, but to summarise my main duties include submitting monthly applications in melodic line with the various contracts worked on for utilization NEC and JCT to name but a few, attending situate communicate meetings with a ra nge of clients from the commercial / technical and construction departments, submitting internal applications and working progress, attending internal financial meetings with the Financial Director / Demolition Director and worry Accountant and producing a report with the inclusion of monthly forecasts, attending meetings with Contracts Managers and Estimating music director to handle and defecate budget and tooshie sheets, completion of contract sum analysis and end life forecasts which atomic number 18 then discussed and agreed by the Demolition Director, overseeing a wide variety of sub contractors from different construction disciplines used which requires the use up to send out tender packages, facts of life and awarding sub contract regulates, raising of sub contract payments after assessing applications received. All the above assists in the monitoring of various contracts and ensures shake offs argon lurched on time at heart budget and the client receives ma ximum satisfaction to secure future work opportunities.1.0 Understand the Management of Information within the organisation 1.1 Critically assess training come down through a number of different channels within the organisation Throughout the organisation thither is various different types of culture used which is transferred throughout the organisation in several capacities. Information generally described as at a lower placeProduction and Operational Information on assets / quality / standards Financial Information Profit / be / Margins / Cash Flow / Targets Internal Documentation Purchase Orders / Delivery Notes / Invoices Applications / Credit Notes / departmental reports / Department Meetings and minutes / Hire Sheets / go under Sheets and Information / Allocation Sheets and Plant Re period of plays / Employees Records / Cost Books Tender Information / Applications and Invoices (Client) All the above is aided with an Integrated Management SystemThis Integrated Manag ement System outlines how Cuddy plans to satisfy the Quality requi put of ISO90012008 (Quality Management System Specification) wellness safety requirements of OHSAS180012007 (Occupational Health sentry go Assessment Series 18001) Environmental requirements of ISO140012004 (Environmental Management Systems Specification) by operating a framework establish on these requirements This Integrated Management System is intended to directly meet the requirements of the interest legislation and regulations Health Safety at Work Act 1974 component 2(3) requires organisations to have a Health Safety policy which should include Statement of Intent (i.e. Health Safety mission)Organisation (i.e. structure, roles responsibilities)Arrangements (i.e. map and guidance)Management of Health Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Regulation 5 requires organisations to have arrangements for undertaking effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the preventive and protecti ve health and safety measures. HSG65 Successful Health Safety Management This guidance outlines the focussing system requirements for implementing the arrangements need within regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety Work Regulations 1999. This Integrated Management System exit provide the mechanism for managing other legislative, regulatory and other policy requirements (e.g. risk assessment, training, etc). Above abstract taken from CuddyTo be read on board the IMS as an aid is the adjacentStandard proceduresForms and Guidance NotesStandard Operating ProceduresCertificates, Insurances, LicencesPolicy StatementsStandard COSHH and Risk AssessmentsAs touched on there be various different ways in which the info is transferred throughout the organisation with the use of electronic, hard copy and spoken for the various types, all this aids us to capture the different types of hard and soft culture we need in order to ensure a project is a successful one. Soft schoo ling includes feelings, perceptions, opinions values on the other hand hard study includes verifi able-bodied information and intimacy. http//onemind.com/2010/03/07/hard-and-soft-information/I have touched on how information is transferred internally and itemally in the office and from a managers point of view through various different capacities but havent gone into attainment how information is transferred to the boys on the front line on station. As I currently see it within the company there is clear breakdown in communication from when we tender and win a hire out to what information is received on send and in particular how the grade force play are managed on that specific clientele In relation to what exactly we priced.This I believe is impacting on the duration we are taking to complete the job and impacting on the conjecture of reservation the job as successful as possible, also this may have a negative effect on the company as hale whilst tendering for works in the future. As part of the IMS there are procedures in place (listed below), but neither allows for the manner and information to be transferred to site. To summarise from the information that is transferred needs to be clear, simple and set out in the way in which the site supervisor understands what is required in order to ensure the project is successful. Place for Enquiry, tender and contract reviewProject DeliveryAs a brief understanding in reference to specifically the Demolition Department we have an estimating director who entrust visit the sites which require pricing and produce a cost keep document which is passed to thedemolition director and managing director for small talk forwards submitting what they believe to be our most competitive tender and or bid. If we are lucky enough to be successful in winning that specific job the cost book along with the tender information go forth be passed to the relevant contracts manager and quantity surveyor in order to gener ate a budget / target sheet and an extent of works sheet. This is when the halfway managers have the opportunity to raise any queries regarding the job with the estimating director or the demolition director on what exactly has been allowed and priced for.The next step in the current process is for the tender information to be copied and a site file produced and passed to the supervisor in order to carry out the works. The cost book, target / budget sheet is non passed onto site and this is just for reference between the middle managers and directors of the company for the rampart of vital information. Therefore I propose we come up with a procedure that depart allow the smooth transfer of information to site and offend a clear indication of what exactly has been allowed in the tender. In place this procedure I hope to keep going the gap between site and the information held at the office, and in doing so hold regular meetings with agendas, minutes disturbed.1.2 Propose impro vements to the ascend of information within your area of office, based on your organisational assessment collect to my job role being one in which I try to minimise cost and enhance value you for money, I believe in setting clear and simple targets to the Supervisors on site this testament empower them and prove them incentives and a clear understanding on what needs to be achieved in order to ensure the job awarded becomes a successful and profitable one. As mentioned previously in the current situation the Supervisors are given the tender information and briefly explained the job but in about senses are left to run the job with open ended targets and no clear sense of direction or management, this is turn is causing jobs to run over and us not maximising profitability.Currently the transfer of information from tender stage stops at the middle managers point. The reasons being for this is due to confidentiality of the information contained within the cost book and target / budget sheet and as managers there is information we do not pauperization the site operatives to see. Therefore the first action in the procedure would be to hold a pre start meeting orinitial meeting or the like on site with the following being in attendance. The reason I have listed the below as characteristicly they bequeath be deciding factor on how well a job goes Relevant Contracts ManagerRelevant Quantity SurveyorRelevant Site SupervisorWithin this meeting the job as a whole would be discussed briefly only. In demolition for example it is possible to break a general job up into the following categories Site set upAsbestos RemovalSoft StripDemolition to top of slabRemoval of slabs and foundationsCrush materialClear SiteAs you loafer see from above generally there are a few different categories of work required to be carried out on a typical demolition job. Therefore I believe we should not choose to discuss the whole job in detail but targets given for each soul work act ivity only, as if we discuss the job in detail this may cause the supervisor to go into his / her shell and be intimidated before the job has even commenced. Therefore within this procedure it will be broken down into the specific work activities and depending on the size of the job these work activates could even be broken up into phases if need be. For example in the first pre start meeting or initial meeting the general site set up would be discussed and particular what is required in love of cabins / welfare / heras fencing to name a few items and the location of where we intend to site up site.As it currently stands the contracts manager usually sets up the site but I believe if we have the supervisor on board early doors and allow him to have an input of the set up required / location this will give him a sense of pride and authority that he is in charge of the site. What site set up thats required usually depends on the size of the site but typically this usually takes a w eek or longer and under current HS and CDM Regulations 2007 no works are to commence unless the following are in place Flushing toilets and running water and drainpipe systems.Washing Facilities with hot and cold water.Soap or other suitable means of cleaning.Towels or other suitable means of drying.Sufficient ventilation and lighting.Sinks immense enough to wash expect, hands and forearms.Drinking Water.Changing rooms and lockers.Rest Facilities and heating.After initial site set up has been completed another progress meeting will be held on site with a specific target laid out for the work activity in question. Generally on a demolition site Asbestos Removal usually has to take place before we can commence soft rifle depending on what type of asbestos and in line with the specific site asbestos report in place. But for example if we take the job as a linear project and the soft strip cannot commence until after the asbestos, then within this meeting we discuss in length the asb estos removal and set a clear target with the input from the supervisor. veritable(prenominal) of example of this target could be again depending on size of the site but take for arguments sake we take it as the site is split up into 5 phases.Phase 1 -10 Men x 6 WeeksPhase 2-5 Men x 3 WeeksPhase 3 -8 Men x 5 WeeksPhase 4 -8 Men x 2 WeeksPhase 5 -6 Men x 6 WeeksThe groundwork will put in by the middle managers to ensure the target above is in line with the cost book and or target / budget sheet, and in line with this procedure it will attempt to set it out as basic as possible in order to attempt to take as much pressure off as possible. Weekly progress meeting will be held after the initial meeting in order to reflect on the previous weeks activity. Within this meeting it will be an opportunity for the supervisor to assess his performance and the performance of his team on site, in doing so will be a self appraisal tool for the supervisor without knowing. It will also give the mid dle managers an update of current position in rate of the targets set out and give an opportunity to amend or changeanything that is not quiet working fabricately and keep the things that are. The meetings will continue on a periodical basis with clear targets and open and frank discussions with input from all parties to create a sense of a team as I believe this will help with the running of the job.Constant communication will be held throughout on a occasional basis to ensure all parties are cognizant of constant ongoing on site. When works have been completed the final action in the procedure would be to have a post contract meeting again with all parties where all the information is discussed /analysed / targets reviewed and the like. This will be handy in going forward and used as a tool to gather date / information. This information could be fed back to the estimating director and demolition director in order to have the well(p) circle should a similar job arise in the fu ture. The above will be written out in a clear procedure therefore should someone leave the company, or the job being transferred to someone else then everyone will be aware what is required of them. SeeAppendix 4 for proposed new ProcedureBy putting in place the above procedure it will aid with spoken, electronic and hard information and the transfer of. communicate delinquent to the nature of the procedure it encourages the daily dialogue between managers and the site supervisors. Hard Copies Agendas and Minutes will be taken of all meetings taken placed, which will be updated electronically and distributed accordingly. Electronic Targets will be collated and circulated, along with copy of the minutes.2.0 Gather and try out information to create lasts to solve problems in your area of responsibility 2.1 Collect information from a wide range of sources to support management decision-making Site Managers / SupervisorsVerbal examples from site managers / supervisors stating t hat the lack of information in admire of the area / tender inclusions is having a negative impact on the overall performance of our jobs. As mentioned this is transferred verbally therefore we will have to take into account of its dependableness and validity.As mentioned previously there is a clear breakdown in the flow of informationfrom when we price and win a job to the information passed onto site and the management of that information in order to make the job as successful as possible. This is readily backed up from verbal conversations with the site supervisors themselves who are unsure of what the extents of works are and the possible impact this is having on the duration of the projects? Specifically within the Construction Industry as a manager the below is at the forefront of every decision we make.The triangle illustrates the descent between three primary forces in a project. Time is the available time to deliver the project, cost represents the amount of money or res ources available and quality represents the fit-to-purpose that the project must achieve to be a success. http//www.projectsmart.co.uk/project-management-scope-triangle.html But ultimately the decisions we make from site level up the chain to the managing directors determine the outcome. Below is evidence that everyone makes decisions.Above it shows the impact and importance of decisions with regards to the Cuddy Group it is possible to split the three groups up into the following High Value -Managing Directors and DirectorsMedium Value-Middle Managers e.g. Contracts Managers and Quantity Surveyors Low Value-Site Managers and Site PersonnelQuiet often when making a decision we use past familiarity in order to aid and assist us. Past noesis or the information that is generally contained within the brains of individuals is generally known as tacit familiarity. This knowledge is continually getting updated and revised depending on learning, experiences and insight. There are various different types of knowledge and this is summarised in various molds. One of the widely accepted approaches to summarising knowledge management is the Nonaka Takeushi, (see appendix 9 for web location) Below are a couple of diagrams showing the matrix.Nonaka Takeuchi model the process of organisational knowledge creation as a spiral in which knowledge is amplified through these four modes of knowledgeconversion.Quote taken from class notes.Along with the specific project management matrix / flow and knowledge diagrams there is general management information available that will aid in decision making see below. dependableness and severeness object lesson (see appendix 9 for web location)Knowledge Classifications Model (see appendix 9 for web location)Good decisions make good projects, so what makes a good decision (and, hence, a good project)? The answer is, one thats well planned. But then you run into the question of how long the decision-making process should take. Well, the last thing we need is a new formal methodology for decision-makingnothing would ever get done. Thats why Id like to propose several useful rules you can apply to decision-making moot the importance of the decision. To determine the importance of a decision, ask yourself What are the consequences for both the project and for you? In reality, how urgent is the decision? (Note that theres a difference between big and urgent.) Ask yourself if there are much options. In other words, if youre choosing between three options, ask yourself if theres also a fourth option. Think about stakeholders opinions. declare you listened to the opinions of stakeholders in the decision? You should. Even though they may not like your ultimate decision, theyll have to live with it. Concede the fact that youre going to make some irrational decisions. We often make decisions almost by reflex, using a combination of experience, data analysis, gut feelings, fear, personal preference, and peer pressure.Im n ot saying that you shouldnt take into account your sense of self-preservation, the views of your team, or your recollections about why a previous project caused you grief. You just need to be aware that each new situation demands a clear point of view and a fresh decision otherwise, the same mistakes will recur. look on that even some small choices can have big consequences. Dont underestimate the possibility that major consequences could result from seemingly insignificant choices you make along the way.http//www.techrepublic.com/ article/decisions-decisions-make-them-timely-wisely-and-responsibly/1049740 Along with the information above collated from the web I have also read the following text books / Management books.natural language processing Pocketbook (see appendix 10) lovely Employees, A practical guide for busy leaders managers (see appendix 10) Both books aid management and in particular with decision making. In respect of the NLP Pocketbook it produmitaly focus on yours elf and your actions, It works on a SMART address setting strategy. SMART goal setting is Specific Measurable realizable Realistic and within a outlined Time Frame.SSpecific and positiveM Measurable and meaningful to youAAchievable and covering all areas of your life, stated in the present deform as if you have achieved it now RRealistic and right for youTTimes and targeted, towards what you want.In addition to SMART goal setting, NLP incorporates a process called creating a well-formed outcome. Creating a well-formed outcome involves request a series of questions that will help you clarify your goal. They will help you to ascertain how important the goal is to you, how (if necessary) to revise it and make it more achievable.Well formed outcome questionsIs the goal stated positively? What do you want? (Eg, wanting to increase company profits rather than a avouchment about reducing the loss) Can you start and maintain the process of achieving the goal by yourself, and keep it in your control? Does the goal include all the senses? How will you know you have achieved it? What will you feel, see and hear when you have achieved it? What will other people fee, see and say when you have achieved it? Is the context clearly defined? How long will it take? Who will be involved? Where will it take place? How will it be achieved? When do you want it? Have you suss out that it is ecological or meaningful for you, ie is it worth the investment in time and money? Does the outcome fit in with your life and who you are? Does the goal keep those aspects of the present situation you want to preserve, ie are there positive elements you wish to maintain? Does it identify the resources you need those you already haveor those you need to acquire? What first step must you take? What are the next steps?Abstract directly taken from the NLP Pockebook.But in contrast to the above the Engaging Employees, A practical guide for busy leaders managers text book focuses predominately o n how to get the best out of your team. See contents page taken from the text book to back this up.Is starts with youPlanning to communicateUnderstanding your audienceEngaging people in change facet to face mattersTeam meetings getting it in concertHigh Impact presentationsChecking youre getting throughEffective email at lastThe write stuff.2.2 Analyse the information collected from a wide variety of sources, to inform decision-makingProject Management ModelsWhen project managing a job in construction there are various different types of models that we are able to follow some of which I have given examples of but ultimately the primary focus specifically within the construction industry is the triangle between the three primary forces. Delivering the job on time, within budget to a high standard.Decision making modelWith the triangle in mind we all have to make decisions of variable impact and volume as is set out in the decision making model. With this in mind managing information and the decisions we make are cay. By not making a decision youre making a decision to not make a decision taken from the ILM class notes. The decisions we make as a business ultimately determines how successful the outcome is, and in particular the flow of information within the company to aid our decision making is critical. Therefore before we makeany decisions we have to take into account the impact of the decisions we are making. Nonaka takeuchi modelWhen making a decision we usually take into account past experiences / doing otherwise defined as Tacit Knowledge. Under the Nonaka Takeuchi model it explains the relationship and how we can turn Tacit Knowledge into hardcore knowledge which can be readily transmitted to others. Most common forms of graphic knowledge are manual, documents and procedures in our organisation we can relate to the ILM system and the various procedures in place. Please see below which makes good reading. The patent had attempted to be bought by a buyer in other words the tacit knowledge had attempted to be turned into explicit knowledge but due to it peradventure not being documented correctly or the manner in which it was presented not being explained correctly it failed.Therefore the tacit knowledge that had been turned into explicit knowledge was little or no use to the buyer. We must bare this in mind if we are relying too heavily on explicit knowledge and in particular how reliable the knowledge is? In the same sense its possible to categorise Wikipedia as explicit knowledge but we have to take into account the source and what past experience or where the information originated from before using it to make a decision. Bessemer steel process Bessemer sold a patent for his advanced steel making process and was sued by the purchasers who couldnt get it to work. In the end Bessemer set up his own steel company because he knew how to do it, even though he could not convey it to his patent users. Bessemers company became on e of the largest in the world and changed the face of steel making.15 http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacit_knowledgeMeasuring Validity and Reliability modelWhen gathering information to make a decision we must take in the validity and dependability of what we looking to achieve. Especially within the construction industry there is specific ways in which to measure or calculate something and this can be best described as the below.ReliabilityReliability refers to how consistent a cadence device is. A measurement is said to be reliable or consistent if the measurement can produce similarresults if used again in similar circumstances. For example, if a speedometer gave the same readings at the same speed it would be reliable. If it didnt it would be pretty abortive and unreliable.Importantly reliability of self-report measures, such as psychometric tests and questionnaires can be assessed using the split half method. This involves splitting a test into two and having the same participa nt doing both halves of the test. If the two halves of the test provide similar results this would suggest that the test has internal reliability.http//www.holah.karoo.net/reliabilityandvalidity.htmIn respect of validity this refers to the extent of what we are measuring and what we hope to measure.ValidityThis refers to whether a study measures or examines what it claims to measure or examine. Questionnaires are said to often lack validity for a number of reasons. Participants may lie give answers that are desired and so on. It is argued that qualitative data is more valid than quantitative data.http//www.holah.karoo.net/reliabilityandvalidity.htmBoth the reliability and validity have categories in themselves in which we can use to measure if they are achieving what we set out to achieve. To summarise we need to be mindful if we are using specific data or gathered information if its reliable and valid in terms of what we are hoping to achieve and fit for purpose.Information to Know ledge ManagementWith respect of the next model it gives us an insight of how the ever evolving computer industry and in particular the capacity to store and distribute data / information is modify personnel learning and also the capacity to make correct decision in going forward. Given an example that is relevant to the Cuddy group is the below. We are able to save / store and distribute raw facts and figures on a particular job and in doing so we are able to see if a job was successful in respect of profit? We then can moveon to give meaning to the obtained data in respect of information and give reasons why that job was successful?We then can analyse the derived information and understand what we did well on that job. This will then give us the wiseness going forward to know what to do for the best on other jobs. As mentioned evolving technology is aiding us with the transfer and storing of this information and aiding us with the capability of personnel learning. There are vario us examples and models that differ slightly some of which I have given examples but all cover the above. General Management ToolsAs the assignment is targeted at middle managers I have looked into the impact that decisions have and what to consider before making decisions? As a rule the following applies study the importance of the decisionAsk yourself if there are more optionsThink about stakeholders opinionsConcede youre going to make some irrational decisionsRemember that even small choice have big consequencesI also looked into how SMART goal setting and how to engage with employees.2.3 Use this analysis of information to make and justify a management decision Using the analysis and the information collated along with the procedure I believe this will better the flow of information throughout the company.The triangleThe procedure will aid with delivering the job on time within budget and to a high standard. Delivering the job on time By having weekly meetings on site and the co nstant daily dialogue this should alter any problems to be caught at an early stage and thus swelled time to nip in the bud the potential to impact on progress and in particular the end date which quiet often is key to a job being a successful one from a clients point of view. Within Budget Due to the procedure allowing for a review of the target v actual on a weekly basis this will enable weekly monitoring of the budget to ensure everything is on track, atm there if only an allowance of monthly account and its possible for any job to change dramatically from month to month. High Standard Again as the procedure allows for the contractsmanager / quantity surveyor to visit site at least once a week with the supervisor having chance to put his / hers views across together this should raise standards.Decision making modelIn reference to the procedure this will reiterate the fact that everyone makes decisions especially as minutes will be keep, actions assigned and closed out as and when this occurs.Nonaka Takeuchi ModelWith the procedure in place it will allow for smoother transfer of tacit knowledge into Explicit Knowledge. This will be done by taking minutes monitoring progress against targets and reporting this information back to directors / managing directors in order to have the beat cycle.Validity and ReliabilityUnder the procedure progress meetings will be held on site this will allow us to audit and monitor the reliability and the validity of the information we are being told by the site manager / supervisor. This will be used as a checking tool before information is transferred around the company to directors and managing directors alike.Knowledge ManagementWith the procedure set in place where minutes are taken / targets are monitored it will allow for us to save / store and distribute raw facts. Also with the weekly minutes we will be to give meaning to the obtained data for example why we disoriented out specific targets? Why we bettered targe ts? From this then we can analyse the information and understand how and why? This will then enable us to make the correct decisions in going forward. Along with the analysing the above models and information, I have taking account of why from a managers point of view why the procedure in place will aid with the running of jobs on site and the transfer of information.With regards to the current situation of producing the cost book that is translated to a target / budget sheet, this information will be little or no use to the supervisor for a number of reasons listed below Information Overload Due to the nature of the document this may cause confusion in the way the document is set out, therefore as set out in the procedure by disruption things the whole job down into specific tasks this will more thanlikely take the pressure off and give a clear understanding of what is required and expected off of them. This is likely to make them less intimated and more confident as if they are clear More hands on and practical The schoolman level of a supervisor generally is not the same as what we would normally expect from a middle manager in that the cost book / target and budget sheet will not be fit for purpose if passed onto the supervisor, therefore the information should be broken down so it is easily understood. Team ethos As it currently stands the information is passed to the supervisor with no clear direction and management give, therefore by employing the proposed procedure this will then bridge the gap and increase the we are in it together approach. Why will meetings be held face to face?Sense of Importance By making the safari to travel to site, as typically our sites are all of the United Kingdom then this will instil into the supervisor the effrontery he needs in that he got your support should he need it. Ability may not be able to use the computer therefore face to face will enable supervisors to have an opportunity to contribute their input wit hout feeling intimidated Sense of importance By holding the meetings face to face this will enable them to feel like they got you in their corner and in doing so should create a clear divide from site operatives to supervisors. Meetings more personnel Generally meetings face to face are more personnel and can be structured better with agendas / minutes and the like assisting Why will the supervisor in respect of the site operatives be the only site member to be part of the meeting?Clear level of management between site operatives / supervisors and middle managers This will empower the site supervisors and in doing have a clear barrier between the site operatives and himself. Self Worth It will also give the site supervisor the self worth and mutual respect between himself and the middle manager, hopefully this should increase productivity as he is likely to want to do more for the middle manager if he believes he has the respect. Respect earns respect Company generally uses agen cy Labour As touched on previously due to the company operating throughout the company there is the need to employ agency labour, by having weekly meetings with the supervisor in attendance again this is creating a clear structure. How the meetings should be conducted?Ability plenty of discussions questions to ensure supervisor gets points youre making. Allow supervisor to have their say and input By asking questions this will allow supervisor to have their say and input. Informally rather than formally, dont want supervisor to feel under spotlight Due to the nature of the construction industry and especially on site it is rather informal, therefore if the meetings are held in the same manner this should enable the middle line managers to get the most out of the supervisors. From analysing the various different models and combining with general middle management responsibilities I believe the procedure I have put in place will significantly help with the transfer of information from site to board level alike.3.0 Disseminate information on a management decision, through the right organisational channels 3.1 Communicate information to team member or other colleagues to meet business objectives, using appropriate organisational channels In reference to the procedure set up this should allow for the constant communication of how a specific job is performing from site level to the board of directors and in particular through the correct organisational channel. To elaborate on the aboveSite Supervisors will have constant dialogue with middle managers on a daily basis, with a weekly progress held on site to discuss performance. Munities of the meeting with be typed up and performance analysed with knowledge added to explain how performance is operating? be we going to hit our target? Be on time? Within budget? To name a few of the questions answered? This will then in turn be disrupted to the relevant director, finance director and the management accountant. Thi s will then be discussed on weekly basis in the departmental weekly progress meeting, and the fortnightly Trading Review meeting with finance with the relevant directors.This in turn then can be reported back to the MD by the relevant directors when board level meeting happens. As you can see from the procedure put in place we will allow for the reporting from site to board of directors level to be on a weekly basis rather than a monthly as is currently in place, this in turn will give us every opportunity possible to achieve the best possibleoutcome in respect of the construction triangle. Delivering the job on time, within budget to a high standard.3.2 Communicate information to stakeholders or customers to meet business objectives In reference to the procedure as mentioned previously this will allow for the constant flow of information from site to managing directors (stakeholders) to be done on a weekly basis. In respect of customers or clients quiet the construction triangle is key, therefore by having weekly progress meetings this information will be able to be fed back to the client, giving them the confidence that we are putting their needs first the customer is always right ethos

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Attribution Theorists And Biased Judgements

Attribution Theorists And Biased JudgementsSocial psychologists constitute studied attribution theories for several decades, and their research has produced many interesting insights. The process of assigning a cause to ones have behaviour, or that of others stop be defined as attribution (Hogg, 2005). Considering that attribution is complex, many theories have been constructed to demonstrate its capital punishment. This essay will examine the evidence that biased lay soulfulnesss judgements of others are fatal by, first of all, focusing on explaining tierce classic theories of attribution, then paying particular assistance to biases in attribution in order to fully answer the question under investigation.Attribution guess is concerned with how individuals make instinct of their environment and how this affects their cognition and behavior (x). There exist three classic views on attribution that continue to be oddly influential. The first of these classic theories is Frit z Heiders (1958) theory of naive psychology where the layperson is viewed as a naive scientist who links observable behaviour to unobservable causes. Also Heider make a significant distinction between internal (dispositional) and external (situational) attributions. It was also underlined that individuals look for causes of others behaviours in order to find out their motives and give some sense of control in their lives (Hewstone, 1990). Related to Heiders theory is Jones and Davis (1965) theory of correspondent inference which is concerned with how tidy sum use information active others behaviour and its effects in order to find out their underlying dispositions and personality traits. Of particular interest is behaviour that is freely chosen, produces non-common effects (effects produced by a particular cause that could non be produced by any other apparent cause), and is low in mixer desirability. The last and the best cognize theory of attribution is Kelleys (1967) covaria tion model where Kelley believes that people act like scientists when they try to discover the causes of behaviour. People are interested whether others behaviour stems from internal (motives, traits) or external (social, physical world) causes, or both of them at the same time. In order to answer this question, individuals focus on three types of information that can be defined as consistence, distinctiveness and consensus (Baron, Branscombe, Byrne, 2006).Heider (1958), Davis and Jones (1965) together with Kelley (1967) have acknowledged that attribution is subject to many potential sources of bias. It has been noted that a bias occurs if the social perceiver systematically distorts (overestimates or underestimates) a procedure that is known to be correct (Fiske and Taylor, 1984). People constantly use cognitive shortcuts that are called heuristics in order to make attributions. Apart from being not always objectively correct, biases in attribution are entirely satisf doery and ada ptive characteristics of e very(prenominal)day social perception (Ross, 1977).In terms of studying how people interpret their social worlds, social psychologists have identified 3 general biases that often affect peoples attributions and definitions. One of the most authoritative of these biases is the fundamental attribution error, that is the tendency to explain others actions as stemming from dispositional causes even when situational causes are at present. Social psychologists have conducted numerous studies to find out the reasons that determine the occurrence of these biases (Robins et al, 1996), though the issue is still to some issue uncertain. One possibility is that when people observe another persons behaviour, they tend to focus on his or her actions and the situational behaviour tends to fade away in the background. Another explanation is that people notice such(prenominal) situational causes but give them insufficient weight in their attributions.An experiment cond ucted by Amabile, Ross and Steinmetz (2000) illustrates fundamental attribution error. In this experiment they learn up a quiz show design in which they randomly assigned participants to one of two pieces. First was a questioner whose occupation it was to pull in difficult questions for a contestant, and second was a contestant whose task it was to answer the questions prepared by the questioner. An perceiver watched the quiz show and then estimated the questioners and the contestants general knowledge. They order that observers thought that the questioners were far more knowledgeable than the contestants. However, everyone was assigned to conditions randomly, so it was highly un apparent that one group was more clever than the other. The most interesting affaire is that observers did know that participants were randomly assigned to their roles, yet they failed to consider the impact of that knowledge in making their judgement. Fundamental attribution error is not limited yet to quiz shows, its implications are far more encompassing. For eccentric, peoples common reaction to convicted criminals are that they are terrible human beings and that is why they committed a crime. However, there can be many factors other than personal characteristics that explain why a person commits a crime. These include lack of job opportunities, the lack of positive role models in the family and neighborhood, growing up in a dysfunctional family and many others (Aronson, 2003). In addition to this, Nisbett and Ross (1980) argued that the english language allows easy description of action and actor in the same terms but it gets more complicated when using the same terms in order to describe the situation. For example, it is possible to talk about honest and generous person or honest and generous action but not a honest and generous situation. This demonstrates that linguistic factors have an crucial role in making attributions. People are certainly unaware of this phenomen a because this is the way they have been taught from childhood and is something that happens without conscious thought.An equally common bias in social judgement is the actor-observer effect, in other words, the self-other effect that is really an extension of the fundamental attribution error. The actor-observer effect refers to the tendency for people to prop others behaviour to dispositional factors and their own behaviour to situational factors (Jones Nisbett, 1972). For example, in general, students tend to explain their poor performance in exams in terms of the difficulty of the test items whereas they tend to explain others poor performance in terms of their ability and personality. There exist several explanations for actor-observer effect. Firstly, according to Jones et al (1972), the informational factors are very important as the actors have access to a much wider range of information about the factors leading to their own actions. For example, behaviour that can be exp ressed in a party. Secondly, actors and observers have different perspectives. The actors attention is usually focused on the environment. On the other hand, the observers attention is usually focused on the actor and his or her behaviour rather than the background, which is why the observer may be unaware of why the actor behaved like this. Evidence for this explanation comes from Storms (1972) experiment where he had two subjects engaged in a talk while two observers watched it, and were instructed to monitor the behaviours of one or the other actors. Results showed that the actors were more likely to explain their behaviour in terms of the situation and the observers in terms of personality dispositions. However, this was not the only thing they found. Storm (1972) also present that when the participants were shown a video tape of their conversation from the same angle as they power saw it, actor-observer bias had occurred. On the contrary, when the video tape was shown from t he reverse angle, the actors saw themselves from the observers point of view and tended to charge their behaviour in terms of dispositional factors. This is a clear example of how biases are inevitable in everyday life. In order to avoid biases, one has to see others point of view but that is not an easy task to accomplish.One more bias can be identified in relation to attributions for success and failure. The self-serving bias refers to a tendency for people to attribute internally and take credit for their successes, the self-enhancing bias, or attribute externally and deny the responsibility for their failures, the self-protecting bias. For instance, gamblers perceive their successes as based on their skill and their failures as unfortunate chances (Gilovich, 1983). Kingdom (1967) provided an example of self-serving bias from the political world. He interviewed American politicians five months after the general election and asked them to describe the factors that led to their v ictories or defeats. Results indicated that the politicians tended to attribute successes to internal factors such as hard body of work, personality and reputation. On the other hand, they tended to attribute their failures to external factors, for example, lack of money, the familiar name of their opponent and state trends. It is important to understand the reasons why people engage in biases. Miller and Ross (1979) suggested that the self-enhancing bias could be explained in relation to the cognition model. People in general anticipate to succeed rather than fail and, therefore, are more likely to make self-attributions for expected than unexpected outcomes. For example, couples estimate their contribution to housework differently. Individuals are more likely to keep track of every job they do at home such as dusting or washing the dishes but when it comes to estimating the partners contribution, not all of their work is successfully remembered. This effect could be due to diffe rential attention and memory (Aronson, 2003). However, the cognitive perspective alone cannot explain all the examples of self-serving biases. Another explanation for self-serving biases is that people are motivated to engage themselves in attributions in order to protect their self-esteem (Greenberg, 1982). It is evident from the experiments of Weary (1999) that self-serving bias increases when the person is highly involved in that particular behaviour and when other people are watching. Self-serving bias occurs when an individuals self is threatened or when that individual has an probability to achieve and maintain a positive image of the self.To conclude, people do make judgements very quickly based on minimal information. As it has been demonstrated above, the reasons humans make biases seem varied and complex and different research reflects this (Storm, 1972 Ross et al, 1979 Kingdom, 1967 Amabile et al, 2000 Jones et al, 1972). Every day people try to justify themselves and th eir behaviour with the help of biases such as fundamental attribution error, actor-observer effect and self-serving bias. By using heuristics, individuals interpret and distort the meaning of their actions and the world around them, and make attributions that are very adaptive but not always correct. The situations people find themselves in, the cues they face and frustrations they may experience, also all appear to have the ability to inflame an rough response. Attribution is an important part of human existence and, although much has been achieved to aid the understanding of this behaviour, it is for now still reasonable to conclude that attribution is indeed an inevitable and inescapable part of our lives.