History Today Essay

  History Today is actually a magazine, and historytoday. com is its website. The purpose of the website is to target the global audience and to publicize or introduce the magazine to them. 5. Yes, i believe the website is easy to read, with appropriate ads spaced on the sides, the layout is professional and pages are easy to follow, with drop down menus popping out when the cursor is moved to the various sections of the website which also makes it easier to navigate through different pages. The links are all up and running as they should. 6. Even though the website has the names of all the production team and editorial advisory board listed, no email addresses or contact numbers are given on the website. 7. The website i believe is current, however, this particular article i am looking into was published in 2007. 1. The website provides access to some of the articles that were initially published in the magazine. Data sources would mainly include both primary and secondary sources of information, as well as independent interpretations of historical events or personalities. Eventhough the website doesn’t include visual images, the actual magazine ‘History Today’ does. 2. Yes i believe the website is objective and free from any bias, as the page i happened to run into mentions both sides of the arguments. For example, the brief literature part of the original article says that yet, it is also necessary to explore the self-destructive qualities of Napoleon’s character. 3. NOTE: I dont know anything about your textbook, so i cannot answer this Question 4. Eventhough, the site only contained a small extract of the real article, it is useful for people who are looking towards finding a small hint on a topic related to history. Further details are present in the magazine itself. I would definitely recommend this website to any friend intersted in getting some insight onto a topic that directly or indirectly relates to history.

A manager’s job Essay

1. A manager’s job can be described from various perspectives. (Functions, roles, essential skills, systems, contingencies). describe what managers do using Henri Fayol’s functions approach and the contingency/situational approach. Bring out in you presentation, the advantages and disadvantages of the approach. Successful organizations are led by experienced and knowledgeable managers. Good managers are there to make work load look less difficult and their responsibility is mounting and endless. Managers oversee the use of all resources; that is to say financial, physical, information and human resources in their respective firm. All the aspects of a manager’s job are interrelated. Managers also develop, maintain and implement the organization’s goals and objectives. They also lead their employees as well as motivating them to meet set targets. What managers do is represented by the term POLC. This means; planning, organizing, leading (commanding), and controlling. According to Henri Fayol, there are fourteen management principles. However not all of them apply to manager’s roles, essentials, system, functions or contingencies. Planning is a predetermined course of action in order to set up clear business objectives and making of decisions on the best use of resources. Mangers here decide on the tasks and resources that are needed to achieve business objectives. It is the most difficult among the four and therefore requires active participation of the whole organization. This then comes out as a manager’s role that is he/ she is responsible for coordinating this setup. According to Fayol, planning must be coordinated on different levels and with different horizons. Since this process involves defining goals and establishing strategies for achieving those goals and developing plans to integrate and coordinate activities, the manager is responsible for such. (w ww.provenmodels.com/3/five-functions-of-management/). Planning as presented by Fayol facilitates management objectives that are it highlights the purpose for which various activities are to be undertaken. It also helps  in focusing the attention of employees on the objectives or goals of the business. However on the other hand, planning is rigid that is it has a tendency to make administration inflexible. There also is high doubt in the development of employees because of which management might have faced lot of difficulties in future. Planning therefore introduces inelasticity and discourages individual initiative as well as experimentation. Planning minimizes uncertainties that are it reduces uncertainty of the future as it involves anticipation of future events. Planning also facilitates coordination. Planning improves employee’s moral Employees know in advance what is expected of them and therefore conformity can be achieved easily. This encourages employees to show their best and also earn reward for the same. Planning encourages innovations. In the process of planning, managers have the opportunities of suggesting ways and means of improving performance. However planning is time consuming and expensive. Planning is a time consuming process because it involves collection of information, its analysis and interpretation thereof. The entire process of planning takes a lot of time specially where there are a number of alternatives available. Collection, analysis and evaluation of different information, facts and alternatives involve a lot of expense in terms of time, effort and money. Organizing according to Fayol’s perspective, is when managers provide capital, personnel and raw materials for the day to day running of the business and building structure to match the work. However, Luther Gulick and Brit Lydnall Urwick expanded organizing as establishing a structure of authority for all work. This is an essential role played by a manager. Managers arrange work to accomplish the organization’s goals. Managers also are concerned with assigning and allocation of resources and duties to employees. This is quite essential since the process brings people together that is as employees are grouped they get time to actually discuss therefore covering the social need as indicated by Abraham Maslow. It is also a manager’s job in organizing that is it is entirely up to him to know how tasks are to be grouped, who is to do the tasks, what tasks are to be done and who is to report to whom. Organizing helps in the division of work that then aids in the bringing up of specialization in various activities of concern. Specialization helps reduce wastages and in turn increases the quality of products produced. This is because everyone will be obliged to a  duty and the employees in a bid to get some recognition at work, they tend to work hard. Organizing also helps enhance effective administration, coordination, scope for new changes, and classifies authority. This is to say that organizing helps to define job positions, creates clear cut relationships among positions and ensure mutual cooperation among individuals, classifies power to every manager and the way he/ she has to exercise those powers can be clarified so that misuse of power will not take place respectively. However, specialization leads to boredom that is if the person continues to work in the same department for a long time. Leading is optimizing return from all employees in the interest of the entire enterprise. Successful managers have personal integrity, communicate clearly and base their judgments on regular audits. Leading is the imparting of a vision to the organization in order to achieve a goal. It does this by formulating a well-thought out vision and then clearly communicating it. It involves managers giving orders to employees. Managers here analyze workers’ reports and in turn get to know more about an employee. This thorough knowledge of personnel creates unity, energy, innovation, loyalty and eliminates incompetence. Managers here also motivate subordinates, influence individuals or teams as they work. This comes to the point in which a manager is said to work with and through people to accomplish organizational goals. It is within a manager’s job as well to choose the most effective communication channels or to deal with any employee behavior. Leading maintains order in the sense that everyone will be under one superior hence there are chances of having an organized structure. Members know to whom they report and who reports to them. This means that communication gets channeled along defined and predictable paths, which allows those higher in the organization to direct questions to the appropriate parties. It also means that individuals tend to know who does and does not possess the authority to assign or change tasks. A clear chain of command also generates clearly defined sets of responsibilities. However, Organizational structures that have leading as a management’s role are highly at an advantage because it offers very clear, if not always easy, advancement paths. In business organizations, for example, advancement frequently means replacing a departing or advancing superior. Also a leading management role  divides these areas of concern into various department configurations that specialize. Specialization allows organizations to concentrate particular skill sets and resources to achieve maximum efficiency. However In theory, organizations pursue a goal or goals as a unified team. The departmentalizing of specializations leads, in some cases, to decisions made to benefit a department rather than the organization goals. Amongst the POLC, controlling is the last element. Mangers here identify weaknesses and errors by controlling feedback and conforming activities to plans, policies and instructions. The manager under controlling; monitors actual performance, compares actual to standard performance and takes action basing on the outcome. It is entirely a manager’s job to come up with plans, policies and instructions that can govern the business and in turn benefit the business as a whole. By allowing controlling functions to operate effectively and efficiently through coordination and control methods for Fayol, the manager is the one who overlooks an employee as a living organism that requires liaison officers and joint committees. Controlling is precisely a way of monitoring, keeping, comparing, correcting, giving explanation and evaluating how well the purposed organization is achieving and accomplishing its goals and how they are taking action to improve or increase their performance. Controlling is the process used to establish and provide structure in order to deal with uncertainties. Control helps to reduce the wastage of human, material and financial resources. This increases the profits of the organization. All the work has to be done according to these standards. So control, acts as a guideline. It guides all the operations of the organization in the right direction. A contingency approach is a situation in management where there is no one approach to management. In short, it is a situation where there is no one size fitting all. According to Wikipedia, it is also known as the situational approach that is to say that there is not a set of management principles or tools that can be used to manage an organization. This is because organizations are different hence they face different circumstances and this may require different ways of managing. The contingency theory states that managers must understand the situation contingences facing them before deciding the best way to work with and through others as they  coordinate activities. In this case it’s not that managers just sit back and relax, rather they work the hardest because they have to first observe before acting. Managers in the contingency approach, first have to evaluate and understand what type of situation they will be in. this is mainly because situations vary and change over time. The right approach to use depends on the complex variety of critical environmental and internal contingences. The manager’s job under the contingency approach is to observe and be quick to adapt to the changes inconsiderate of how extreme the situation is, the manager therefore instills flexibility in oneself so as to find relevant solutions to different contingencies within a little amount of time. The key advantages of situational leadership are that the model is easy to understand and REFERENCE RICKY W GRIFFIN (BUSINESS 6TH EDITION) (www.provenmodels.com/3/five-functions-of-management/ managementstudyguide.com/organizing_importance_htm www.ehow.com/about_7382944_advantages-disadvantages-succession-planning.html www.ehow.com/info_8416158_advantages-disadvantages-management-information-system.html http://www.ehow.com/about_5522264_advantages-situational-leadership.html http://www.ehow.com/info_8536984_advantages-disadvantages-hierarchical-structure.html

Setting team objectives in the workplace Assignment

Setting team objectives in the workplace - Assignment Example Good time management is also attributed to doing things in a faster way. In fact, there is nobody who would not want to do things in a faster way. Therefore, it is no secret that things can be done much faster when the time is managed in a better way. Finally, good time management is an incentive that leads to improved productivity. When employees utilize techniques of time management such as calendars, their organization is improved. A well-managed time is equated to higher output, and it in turn creates more opportunities. One of the workplace time management techniques that can be employed to attain a personal objective is ‘make and use lists’. They are four basic lists, which include (1) my schedule, (2) Things-to-Do List, (3) people –to Call-list, and (4) conference planner. My schedule is the list for the entire year, day by day, which can be employed to attain personal objectives. The list helps one to focused and manage time well. The things-to-do list is a list if things to be done, organized by month, week and day. This list is prioritized alphabetically. People –to-call list comprises of individuals to be called and is organized alphabetically. The last one is conference planner is a page for each individual one’s interact with a lot. Concisely, an individual to achieve his /her objectives can use make. Workplace team objectives are an important tool for the organization because of the various benefits associated with it. As a matter of fact, every group that wants to achieve its goals has to be deeply founded on a sense of mission. Workplace team objectives are more important to the organization than individual agendas. Through team objectives, a team is bound together and kept in a unified manner even when internal disagreements or obstacles are high. Additionally, workplace objectives can become an incentive to productivity if everyone involved understands the mission and buys into the idea of moving

Flexibility for 421 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Flexibility for 421 - Essay Example Changes in organisational, economic and employment conditions have brought about innovations in work systems, including flexible work policies and practises. Employees have been experiencing conflict among demands from personal, family, and social responsibilities; such conflict can significantly reduce workers’ well-being which, in turn, may influence organisational outcomes including absenteeism, performance, productivity, and turnover. Companies can effectively improve work-life balance among employees through the provision of flexible work arrangements (Schmidt and Duenas 2002). UK employees continue to feel increased stress and tension in their work environments, due to work intensification and increased work pace. These have created the need for flexible work to achieve balance between work and non-work demands (Green 2006). The application of flexible working practises enables employees to manage their workload, as well as when and where they can carry out such tasks fo r them to effectively attain stability between professional and personal activities (Lewis 2003). Flexible work practises can bring about a wide range of positive outcomes for employees. When employees are given the freedom of choice with regards to their work patterns, job satisfaction can be increased (Hyman and Summers 2004). In remote working, for instance, aside from increased employee satisfaction, there has also been an increase in worker autonomy and independence. Moreover, the use of flexible work arrangements has led to reduced levels of stress and pressure among employees. Although remote workers, such as those who work at home or make use of telecommuting, experience a decrease in stress levels, others on the contrary assert that flexible work practises can bring about further stress and ill mental health. This is in comparison with those who work onsite (Tietze and Musson 2005). Nonetheless, work flexibility has caused positive outcomes such as improvements in achieving work-life balance. Organisations have also benefited from such practises through increased productivity, enhancement of work quality, and improvement of financial performance. Decreases in absenteeism and increased employee loyalty, commitment, and retention rates are also apparent outcomes of flexible work practises (Branine 2003; Greenhaus and Powell 2006). However, it is important to understand that although work flexibility may allow employees to manage their work patterns, positive outcomes have not always been achieved. Critics assert that focusing on choice and balance suggests having control over one’s life decisions, although these have to be considered in relation to the constraints brought about by gender, norms, and organisational culture. Flexible work practises should not merely focus on achieving balance between work and family, as flexible workers may experience certain challenges due to other factors outside the work-family context (Ransome 2007). 1.1.1 Flex ible Work Practises: An Overview Flexible working arrangements have served as a means for attracting, retaining, and motivating employees. This is especially true as work environments become more demanding and intense in terms of work pace and intensity. These practises also serve to align individual goals with organisational objectives (Lambert, Kass, Piotrowski, and Vodanovich 2006). Flexible work pr

Is the United States an empire To what extent do you agree or disagree Essay

Is the United States an empire To what extent do you agree or disagree - Essay Example Similarly, the Mongol empire extended from Southeast Asia all the way to Europe. On the other hand, the tenure of the Byzantine Empire covered years 395 to 1453.Whereas, when at its peak the British Empire was able to rule over approximately one-fourth of the total world population (The world Empire) The US global empire however is different than the previous empires the world has seen. The uniqueness in the nature of this empire is the global presence that it enjoys as opposed to the control over huge masses of land etc. such a presence is almost immeasurable. The recent US Defense Department â€Å"Base Structure Report† identified that the physical assets of the Department comprise of more than 600,000 individual buildings and other structures covering more than 6,000 locations and are spread over an area of more than 30 million acres. To be exact, the total number of locations is 6,702 which is then sub-divided into: 115 large installations; 115 medium installations; & 6,47 2 small installations / locations. Although the major portions of these locations are found in North America, however a considerable number of locations are found outside this region. ... S. Department of State indicates that all the 192 countries in the world, with the exception of Bhutan, Cuba, Iran and North Korea, have diplomatic relations with the United States of America. All these countries also enjoy the membership of the â€Å"United Nations† with the exception of the Vatican City. â€Å"Active Duty Military Personnel Strengths by Regional Area† (a publication by Department of Defence) states that the troops of the United States of America are presently posted in up to 135 countries. This amounts to 70% of the world’s countries. America is the world’s only super power by the reason of its having an advantage over the rest of the world due to its military capability, economy, global influence, scientific and technological edge and its alliances throughout the world.(Historical News Network) USA status as an empire Empire would mean political control the one that is exercised by one organized sort of political unit over that of anoth er unit separate from an alien to it. Many of the factors enter into empire—the economics, technology, religion, ideology above all the military strategy and weaponry--but the vital core is political: the possession of the final authority by one of the entity over vital political decisions of another. (USA as an empire) This might not mean the direct rule exercised by any formal occupation and administration; but most empires involve the informal, indirect rule. But the real empires require the effective final authority so states can enjoy various types of superiority or domination over that of others without being empires.( defining Empire, is the US an Empire) This empire dialectic yields some of the profound historical lessons, offered without proof, though the historical

The Cultural Perspective of the American Civil War Essay

The Cultural Perspective of the American Civil War - Essay Example With each passing year, the need for slaves in the South led to an increasingly different culture from the North. The North underwent a period of technological advancements that stimulated export and subsequent revenue, allowing it to forge ahead of the South as the Northern culture incorporated office jobs, busy lifestyles, and factories (Weidenmier 879). The North saw an expansion of mass communication, education, literacy, and urbanization, while also being more progressive. This was in stark contrast to the South that was more traditional and rural oriented. The North had a more materialistic and coarse way of life, which led to its population being disdainful of the manner in which the Southern people lived, and viewing it as a sign that they were superior. While the North modernized, the South relied more on its traditional values, leading to the exacerbation of the ever-increasing differences between the two regions (Weidenmier 879). Due to the use of slaves in the South, its white population had no need to do manual labor, which left them with a lot of free time. They would entertain guests and take part in society enhancing activities. The minimal contact between the North and South states during this period led to an establishment of stereotypes about the way that those in the South lived (Bestor 34). In economic terms, those in the South preferred the simple and slow life, while the Northerners were more profit oriented. Due to these, both regions felt superior to the other. For this reason, it is no longer feasible to assume that only the South was responsible for the Civil War because the polar opposite nature of the two cultures pushed each other further apart until violence was the only way to solve the issues between... The North underwent a period of technological advancements that stimulated export and subsequent revenue, allowing it to forge ahead of the South as the Northern culture incorporated office jobs, busy lifestyles, and factories. The North saw an expansion of mass communication, education, literacy, and urbanization, while also being more progressive. This was in stark contrast to the South that was more traditional and rural oriented. The North had a more materialistic and coarse way of life, which led to its population being disdainful of the manner in which the Southern people lived and viewing it as a sign that they were superior. While the North modernized, the South relied more on its traditional values.Due to the use of slaves in the South, its white population had no need to do manual labor, which left them with a lot of free time. They would entertain guests and take part in society enhancing activities. The minimal contact between the North and South states during this period led to an establishment of stereotypes about the way that those in the South lived. In economic terms, those in the South preferred the simple and slow life, while the Northerners were more profit oriented. Due to these, both regions felt superior to the other. For this reason, it is no longer feasible to assume that only the South was responsible for the Civil War because the polar opposite nature of the two cultures pushed each other further apart until violence was the only way to solve the issues between them.

Promise and peril Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Promise and peril - Essay Example The article also notes there are challenges in implementing pay-for-performance programs by managers. One of such is seen on the negative impact on motivation, self-esteem, teamwork, and creativity (Beer, and Cannon 4). The second challenge is that the program may lead the employee to forego other things that would help the organization in pursuit of rewards. Merit has also been shown not to be based on performance. The proponent of the program believes the challenges can be overcome through intelligent design of the program (Beer, and Cannon 4). The article also highlights the role played by managers in pay for performance programs. The article notes managers may opt for adoption, modification, or discontinuation of the programs (Beer, and Cannon 13). The article shows reasons for managers coming up with any of the decision. One influence for decision is on pragmatic commitment to finding ways of improving performance (Beer, and Cannon 13). Their goals are just driven by ensuring there is an improvement in performance but not just desire to apply the new programs. They also viewed the new tool as a combination of other tools that could be used in solving some of the challenge they face. Moreover, failure to gain result of the new tool makes manager adopts other traditional tools. Such tools include close supervision, clear goals, coaching, and training (Beer, and Cannon 13). The manager’s view these tools as being fundamental in management hence change of decision. Additionally, the manager viewed the new program as requiring more time to implement and attracted difficulties in setting performance standards. The new program has been viewed as advantageous. However, it faces the challenges of implementation by