MasterCard International

Introduction In the present world, information technology (IT) is at the core of most business activities. It provides the foundation that enables today’s business enterprises to function and flourish.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on MasterCard International specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Whether it is in procurement and production, manufacturing and maintenance, customer care and sales, communication and collaboration, tracking and measurement, or virtually any other business discipline, IT plays a critical role (Laube Zammuto, 2003). This paper provides a case study of MasterCard International and looks at how the company uses technology to enhance its business operations. A summary of the case is presented followed by a detailed discussion and finally, the main points are highlighted. Case Study Description In the process of carrying out its business operations, MasterCard International uses cli ent/server architecture. This is an architecture that exists in a networked environment where there is a server dedicated to offering services to clients. The clients send requests to the server and the server responds appropriately. In the case of MasterCard International, there is a computer that authorizes, clears, and settles each credit card transaction whenever a client interacts with the system. With its massive data warehouse, MasterCard’s client/server system links 25,000 member banks spread out in different regions. The client/server arrangement greatly improves the rate at which decisions are made and ensures that customers receive quality services.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More MasterCard’s data warehouse was presented as a strategic move to give the company a competitive edge and improve its market share. Using a combination of in-house deve loped and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products, the company is able to identify customers’ buying trends, credit card fraud, and other useful information. Presenting a Business Case for MasterCard’s Data Warehouse In an environment that is characterized by reduced spending on IT initiatives, IT Managers are often faced with a tough challenge of selling concepts to top management. Rather than investing in new IT initiatives, top management would rather focus on cost cutting. This is also due to the fact that most executives can not easily quantify the benefits associated with the use of IT services. The confusion always arises because many top executives see IT departments as nothing more than cost centers. Regardless of the IT concept being presented to top management, the IT manager must provide a very convincing case for his or her ideas to be accepted. In the case of MasterCard, there is a very strong foundation on which an argument by the IT manager can be base d. As can be seen from the given model, and as explained in the case, MasterCard’s data warehouse has a number of strengths that make it appealing to any prospective user. First of all, the data warehouse is supported by client/server architecture which happens to be very reliable. For most companies, client/server systems offer the best combination of features that help to meet critical business requirements. Among such features are scalability, power, and flexibility (Shelly Rosenblatt, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on MasterCard International specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Whether a business is expanding or downsizing, client/server systems enable a company to scale the system in a rapidly changing environment. As the size of the business changes, it is easier to adjust the number of clients and the processing functions they perform than it is to alter the capability of a large scale cent ral server. Client/server computing also allows companies to transfer applications from expensive mainframes to less expensive client platforms. They also help to reduce the network load, improve response times and allow communication to happen across multiple platforms (Shelly Rosenblatt, 2011). With emerging technologies such as cloud computing, client/server architecture has the advantage of being easily scalable and as such integrating it with new technology is greatly simplified. Data and network security is a key requirement for any business that deals with sensitive customer details and the model given by MasterCard offers very strong security features. For a company to win and expand its customer base, it must be able to guarantee customers of secure transactions. Any system with a weak security structure will simply keep customers away. In the case of MasterCard International, member banks must be assured of the security of their transactions. They must be made to know tha t their transactions will not be compromised by intruders. MasterCard’s elaborate system requires all users to be authenticated before accessing the transaction and data warehouse servers of the company. The use of a firewall ensures that any unwanted connections are blocked from entering the system. This further enhances the security of the system.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Implications of Banks using their own Analytical Tools The marketing of MasterCard’s IT services will definitely suffer a big blow if member banks opt to develop and use their own analytical tools. By developing their own analytical tools, the member banks will put MasterCard in a very difficult situation that may lead to the system’s security being compromised. This is because there will limitations on the design of applications developed by MasterCard as the company will be forced to develop applications that can easily interface with what the customers have. Certainly, this may not be an easy task and additional cost will be needed. The same will happen with security implementation. MasterCard may not have the freedom to put in place any security features that will not work with the customers tools. The end result will be a compromised security environment that in the long run may drive customers away. To deal with this concern, MasterCard may need to convince custo mers on the importance of using analytical tools provided by MasterCard rather than developing their own tools. MasterCard should enlighten customers on the serious repercussions associated with member banks using their own analytical tools. As pointed out earlier, MasterCard will end up with a very weak security structure if the use of analytical tools developed by customers is given a go ahead. Applications and Tools that May be Attractive to Member Banks Various tools and applications are available for use by member banks as well; as MasterCard to improve the quality of services. Applications such as Customer Relations Manager (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) can be used to create huge amounts of data. Furthermore, the data generated by these enterprise applications is likely to be in demand all over the company and this will allow marketing, sales and service representatives to effectively respond to customer buying habits and sales trends. The CRM application will e nable member banks to interact well with staff at MasterCard for the benefit of the company and the customers. However, these applications will need to be used together with other tools such as storage resource management (SRM), storage network management (SNM) and storage virtualization tools. SRM keeps a bird’s eye view of storage capacity on the network and allocates more capacity as needed. If SRM software sees that more storage is needed by CRM applications, it will locate and re-allocate some unused capacity. SNM tool creates a map of all the devices on the storage network and monitors them for errors such as network or server failure. Storage virtualization software enables a variety of proprietary devices to interface well and this increases interoperability among storage devices (Markantonakis Mayes, 2007). With these applications and tools, MasterCard will be able to offer improved services to member banks without compromising the quality of its services. Conclusio n Based on the discussion presented in this paper, there is no doubt that the continued use of information technology will be a great boost to MasterCard’s business. As a result, the company will be able to keep its existing customers and attract more. There are distinct advantages that are related to the use of information technology and MasterCard should continue to look for opportunities to use IT to strengthen its business operations. So far, the client/server architecture in use provides a secure operational environment and only needs reinforcement. To address the concern of member banks using their own analytical tools, the company should continue researching and investing in services that will enable it to offer what the customer wants to see so as to remain competitive. This case study has been particularly useful in understanding the importance of technology in business. Clearly, technology provides a wide range of services that can enable an organization to offer ex cellent services which will finally lead to customer attraction and retention. However, with increased competition, there is need for continuous technological advancement. References Laube, D. Zammuto, R. (2003). Business Driven Information Technology: Answers to 100 Critical Questions for Every Manager. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. Markantonakis, K. Mayes, K. (2007). Smart Cards, Tokens, Security and Applications. New York, NY: Springer. Shelly, G. B. Rosenblatt, H. J. (2011). Systems Analysis and Design. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. This case study on MasterCard International was written and submitted by user Kristopher Barr to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Technology Prioritization Proposal

Technology Prioritization Proposal IT systems have become indispensable in the management of healthcare. It is clear that modern healthcare systems cannot operate without IT systems. However, the cost of IT infrastructure can be prohibitive. In this regard, every healthcare provider must find a way of prioritizing its IT budgets to achieve the most value from its investments. This paper proposes a method of prioritizing IT spending with the goal of maximizing the value of investments in IT infrastructure.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Technology Prioritization Proposal specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Proposed Prioritization Process The nature of IT infrastructure makes prioritization of IT spending very complex. It is very difficult to quantify the benefits associated with an IT program. This is because IT mainly plays a facilitative role. In this regard, IT spending decisions require an understanding of the value chain of a business. The model proposed for the prioritization of IT decisions in a healthcare setting is as follows. Development of an Information Flow Model for the Facility The first step in the prioritization of IT spending is to develop an information flow model for the healthcare institution. This model should capture all IT-based services in the organization and the information they carry. The model should also identify the people involved in the management of the information. The third aspect of the model is the identification of internal and external stakeholders of the organization. The objective of the information flow model is to develop a full view of the information ecosystem of the healthcare organization. This model will make it easy to analyze the impact of every proposal sent by individual departments. Devolve Spending to Ensure all Departments Maintain Adequate IT Capabilities The second element of this model is to devolve spending to the departments. The council should assign some resources to every department to ensure that they can address their local IT priorities. The council should prioritize projects that promote interconnectivity and the sharing of resources. For instance, if a department requests for a server that can help to manage information from other departments, such a request should receive more attention. The need to devolve a fraction of the spending is that each department has its priorities. Some of the priorities are unique. In this regard, centralized control of IT services can lead to a reduction in the benefits associated with specific IT investments. Identify the Needs of the Organization Thirdly, the healthcare organization should use the priorities identified by the departments to identify common problems and similar infrastructure needs. The list of projects that arise from this exercise will give the organization a picture of its strategic needs.Advertising Looking for proposal on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More If the IT-Council can identify common IT problems that require similar solutions, then it can find out whether it can develop a centralized response to these problems. To use the earlier example, if the healthcare institutions find out that many departments are looking for storage space, a centralized storage facility may be the answer. This will enable the IT-Council to save on the decentralized expenses. Develop a Needs-Based Criterion for Making Funding Decisions The fourth element of the proposed model is to develop a common criterion for funding IT projects. It’s very important to involve all stakeholders in this decision. This is because of the need to create a sense of ownership for all IT projects. Failure to win the support of all departments in this exercise may work against the organization. If some departments fail to appreciate why the IT–Council made a decision to adopt a particular project over others, then they ma y resist its implementation. This will lead to a loss of value. The proposed criteria for the funding of IT projects include the following guidelines. First, the project must support interconnectivity among business systems. Any high level project funded directly by the IT-Council should fit into the information ecosystem of the health care facility. Secondly, the IT-Council should support projects that encourage the sharing of IT resources. This means that the council should only fund projects that can support the largest number of users in the healthcare facility. This will eliminate investment in unwanted spare capacity and will help to maximize the value that the organization derives from its IT infrastructure. Thirdly, IT projects funded by the IT-Council should be scalable. The IT needs of many organizations grow and evolve with time. Scalability can help save money because there will be no need to invest afresh in bigger systems as the needs of the organization grow. The comp any will only need to increase the capacity of existing systems. Establishment of a Permanent IT-Council to Monitor IT Projects The final element of the proposed model is the tasking of the IT-Council with the responsibility of monitoring the IT budget on an on-going basis. It is possible for the organization to establish an ad-hoc IT-Council just in time for its annual budgeting activities. However, an IT-Council that sits throughout the year will ensure that the company gets the highest returns from its spending on IT infrastructure. In addition, the council can act as the custodian of the company’s IT infrastructure development projects.

TELUS company Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

TELUS company - Research Paper Example This paper gives a detailed case analysis of TELUS Corporation and describes its current financial status. Keywords: telecommunication industry, competitive advantage, business strategy TELUS Case Analysis The telecommunication industry is viewed as being highly dynamic and is characterized by ever growing competition. The communication industry has gone through a revolution from the postage of hand written letters, to telephone communication and to mass communication through wireless gadgets and the internet (Rens, 2001). TELUS Corporation is one of the key telecommunication companies competing in the global market for customers’ usage and advancing communication technology. The company focuses on more than the telephone services by allowing use of IP, data, voice and wireless technology to provide their customers with fast, convergent, efficient and convergent solutions. The company was started in Alberta in 1990 and entered into a merger with BCTel in 1999. Currently, the c orporation provides services in entertainment, internet, video, satellite, internet access and voice services. The corporation is considered to be the third largest telecommunication operator in Canada having approximately 7 million customers. The company’s major competition comes from Roger with over 8 million users and Bell with slightly over 7 million users. In 2010, the company posted annual revenue of over 9 billion dollars (TELUS Corporation). The condition of the industry environment is favorable since the number of wireless subscribers in the Canadian market is fast growing and has a medium level penetration. The 21st century has presented the corporation with new challenges which have had an impact on its financial status. The major challenge facing the company is the high level of competition that is experienced in the telecommunication industry (Aburdene, 2007). It can be observed that although the company is among the largest mobile operators in Canada, it takes u p the lowest market share. Rogers has 36 percent, Bell has 29 percent while TELUS has 28 percent. Recent studies have found out that the company’s market share is affected by three major aspects. First, the brand awareness of the company’s products and services is relatively lower in comparison to the other two key players. Secondly, their variation strategy is poor and fails to yield the desired results. Finally, the company’s average price is higher, for example it is 38 percent higher than Bell’s and 7.58 percent higher than Rogers’. The company faces increased competition as it operates in the deregulated market place. The competition does not only arise from the giant telecommunication company but also from emerging companies that provide improved services such as the IP telephone (Aburdene, 2007). Here, the greatest challenge is holding on to their market share and remaining at the top of all market segments. The competition in the market has been intensified by dynamic customer needs and high levels of consumer sovereignty. Consumers can easily switch their good and service providers in the telecommunication industry depending on their tastes and preferences (Aburdene, 2007). The company is advised to adopt the use of the latest technology in order to satisfy needs of the customers and to compete

Introduction to Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Introduction to Law - Essay Example Should any element be absent, their effects vary, and the contract would be rendered either void, voidable or unenforceable, depending on the element missing. Legislation includes the statutes and Acts of Parliament, which are laws that pass through the legislative process of both Houses in order to become law. Some significant statutes passed include the Education (Student Loans) Act of 1998, the Education (Schools) Act of 1997, the Protection from Harassment Act of 1997, the School Inspections Act of 1996, and the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995, among others. This is the law made by judges. Although judges are not allowed to legislate, it is through hearing cases and rendering judgments before the courts that cases become a source of law. The basic concept of this is through the doctrine of stare decisis, which translates, "stand by what has previously been decided." Through stare decisis, a statement of law made by a judge in a case can become binding on subsequent cases and can become the law, by setting precedents for judges in later cases to follow when they find that the ruling of a case held earlier applies to a current case that has similar facts and legal issues. This source is acquired through the UK's participation in the European Union. As an organisation of European States, it has a developed system of internal law directly affects laws of member states. Examples of European Community law are treaties, EU institution's regulations, directives, decisions and recommendations, legal decisions of the European Court of Justice, etc. Legislative Process Before it proceeds to become an Act of Parliament, a bill passes through many stages outlined below: First reading - formal presentation of the bill Second reading - start of debates on principles of the

Top 10 New Years Resolutions Essay Example for Free

Top 10 New Years Resolutions Essay New Years Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. Its a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. Did your New Year resolutions make our top ten list? 1. Spend More Time with Family Friends Recent polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others shows that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year. Make plans to meet up with friends for an evening of comaraderie at a favorite Pittsburgh restaurant or take the family to one of these popular Pittsburgh places for family fun. Work shouldnt always come first! More: Home Family in Pittsburgh 2. Fit in Fitness The evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better. Why not make this the time to start getting in shape for one of these popular Pittsburgh Area Charity Walks, Runs or Rides? More: Getting Fit in Pittsburgh 3. Tame the Bulge Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Years resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New Years commitment to shed extra pounds. More: Weight Loss Help in Pittsburgh 4. Quit Smoking If you have resolved to make this the year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now  provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids. Even if youve tried to quit before and failed, dont let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life! Even Allegheny County is trying to go smoke-free, and its taken them a few tries as well. Locally, there are a variety of free support services, hotlines and smoking cessation classes to help you kick the smoking habit. More: Quit Smoking Classes Support Groups in the Greater Pittsburgh area 5. Enjoy Life More Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that enjoying life more has become a popular resolution in recent years. Its an important step to a happier and healthier you! Consider one of Pittsburghs holistic healing centers for products designed to bring balance to your body, mind and soul. Or just get out and try something new! Take up a new hobby or try your hand at skiing. Go to a theater performance, or head to the local spa. Pittsburgh offers a wealth of artistic and recreational activities to meet just about anyones wishes. More: Things to Do in Pittsburgh 6. Quit Drinking While many people use the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey but do much better when they taper gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking. If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available. Pittsburgh Alcoholics Anonymous offers meetings throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. There is also a Pittsburgh group for Parents of Teenage Alcohol and Drug Abusers. There are also a number of treatment-based programs, as well as support groups for families of alcoholics. More: Alcohol Recovery Support in Pittsburgh 7. Get Out of Debt Was money a big source of stress in your life last year? Join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances. Its a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year  ahead. More: Find a Financial Planner in Pittsburgh 8. Learn Something New Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer? Whether you take a course or read a book, youll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Years resolutions to keep. The Community College of Allegheny County offers a wide variety of lifelong learning courses, and local YMCAs offer great recreational training for beginners of all ages. Most local colleges and universities offer distance and adult education programs. Or if the arts are more your thing, places such as the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts offer adult studio classes. Lifelong Learning in Pittsburgh 9. Help Others A popular, non-selfish New Years resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house, there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help. The Pittsburgh Cares organization makes it easy by connecting volunteers with projects to fit practically any schedule. Or if your time is really in short supply, maybe you can at least find it in you to donate the furniture, clothing and other household items that you no longer need, rather than leaving them out by the curb to fill up our landfills. More: Volunteer Opportunities in Pittsburgh 10. Get Organized On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and resources should get you started on the way to a more organized life. Pittsburgh has quite a few professional organizers who can help you reduce the clutter in your life and find peace in your home. Professional Pittsburgh organizer Patty Kreamer even offers a a six-month But I Might Need it Somday! ecourse.

Productivity Rate Of Roof Works For Project Scheduling Construction Essay

Productivity Rate Of Roof Works For Project Scheduling Construction Essay Abstract: In Malaysia, there is no research done specifically on collecting construction productivity data to serve as a guideline and standards for use by all players in the construction industry. Similar to JKR, as the largest implementers of government projects, the current practice on approval the schedule of works that submitted by contractors are mostly based on the engineers gut feeling/opinion and past experience. There is no standard procedure and guidelines to review and checking the duration and resources allocation in each activity in contractors work program. As an effort, this study will start with focusing on the identification of factors that influencing roofing works productivity in construction project. Those factors can be obtained through a series of statistical analysis based on the data collected from questionnaire and interview with the experts. Data from previous projects also very important in order to get the actual productivity rate for roof works. Finally, the expected finding for this study will be: a) List of factors that influence the productivity rate for roof works, b) The critical factors affecting most to productivity rate for roofing works, c) A metrics of productivity rate for roof works as a standard and guideline for improving JKR projects scheduling. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Managing construction projects always requires constant monitoring of project performance and the updating on project schedule. Project performance data and productivity data from the construction field is a key role in evaluating and predicting project performance in term of cost and schedule. According to Motwani et al. (1995), the productivity in construction has always been very difficult to measure and control. Even though, productivity in construction hard to measure, there is a need to use it for timely decisions and reduce the negative impacts on cost and schedule. Therefore, the integration of historical productivity data with the on-going performance data in construction field are required (Hwang and Liu, 2005). Hwang and Liu, (2009) presented that an accurate productivity prediction is important for managing construction projects. In fact, a construction project is commonly to be successful when it is delivering within its budget and timeline. The planning and control process also explains the importance of accurate productivity estimate which first, estimating time and cost of construction activities that inevitably requires productivity estimates (Hinze, 1998), and second, integrated management of time and cost must involved productivity factor (Dawood and Molson, 1997). There are most previous studies focusing on defining factors influence productivity and measuring limited parts of activities at micro level to investigate the relationship between factors and productivity. A standard construction productivity metric system that more reliable is a critical element in construction productivity performance evaluation and improvement process. There need a tool to drive performance improvement through internal and external benchmarking. Park, et al., (2005) present that nowadays, demand from the construction industry on developing acceptable construction productivity metrics and standardized productivity data are the main issues to focus by the industry players and researches. Problem Statement As the main technical agencies for the Government of Malaysia, Public Work Department (PWD) or Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) entrusted to implement development projects throughout the country. It is the goal of JKR to ensure that the organization is run efficiently and effectively in order to achieve the vision, mission and objectives of the department. JKR is responsible to ensure that all the projects must be implemented well, complete on time, within the budget and provide quality products. In 9th Malaysian Plan (RMK 9), most of JKR projects cannot be deliver on time. For example, about 41% of projects in JKR Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur cannot be delivering on time which is most of it are due to wrongly estimate the duration of the construction activities in project scheduling. It is also regarding to lack of competency of JKR officers in reviewing and giving advice to contractors especially in preparing realistic projects work program. This problem can be categorized as serious m atter and give high impact to the overall performance of JKR due to unsatisfaction of client with JKRs reputation. As the biggest technical government agency, there should be a way to solve the problem so that it will improve JKR image and give high reputation to the clients. 1 Master Student, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. 2 Supervisor, Professor Dr, Lecturer of Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. There should be a standard productivity rate of each activity in the project in order to guide the contractor and the JKR supervision team to plan and implement the projects successfully. Therefore, the study on productivity rate of roof works for building project scheduling as an effort and starting point to develop the standard productivity rate of project activities for JKRs projects. In fact, this study is consistent with JKR strategies and action plan in achieving Effective Implementation of Malaysia 5 Years Plan especially to ensure that projects are implemented through appropriate implementation methodologies to meet customer needs and outcomes. One of the action plans stated in JKR Strategic Framework is to establish effective project performance tracking system which is JKR must analyzing all data that related to the project in order to improve JKR project implementation (JKR, 2007). The Objectives The aim of this study is to establish the productivity rate of roof works for JKR building projects scheduling. In order to achieve this, the following are the objectives of the study: To identify the factors that influence the productivity of roof works To establish the relationship between influence factors and productivity of roof works To develop a metrics of productivity rate for roof works Scope of Study There are certain limitations to be follow to ensure that this study is completed within the time frame given. Firstly, this study only takes into consideration on all projects which implement in central region of Peninsular Malaysia i.e. projects in JKR Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur and JKR Selangor. Second, the sample for this study is concentrate only in school projects which are the most of JKR projects implementation in 9th Malaysian Plan. Since standard design was using in school projects, the area of roof is fixed. This given the standardization to estimate the productivity rate for roofing works referring to the floor area involved. Roof trusses in construction projects can be classified in timber roof trusses, hot rolled roof trusses, cold form roof trusses and etc. The third limitation of this study is only taking into consideration of the cold form roof trusses because most of the school projects are using this type of trusses. In addition, JKR already has a list of 22 names of cold form roof trusses suppliers which their design have been reviewed and approved by the JKR Structure Expert Division. This list is for the JKR officers in state and district office to choose for their projects especially school projects. Forth, part of roof covering for this study only take into consideration one(1) types which is concrete roof tiles including insulations. 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW Recently, construction productivity is on a long-term slide and it is recognized as industry challenge. System, people, materials, information and energy must flow effectively and efficiently to produce its objective at high productivity to complete construction at lowest possible cost with possible shortest timeframe (Picard, 2005). Productivity is critically important in construction industry. Many researchers have expressed their concern over productivity in construction industry. Defining productivity is not a simple task to everybody. Different people will give different definition and understanding. Most of them agreed that marketable output was essentially the main measure used. Increased productivity was a leading concern to all Committee stakeholders such as users, contractors, and construction labor unions and led by the owner. The construction users emphasized the need of collecting data directly relevant to productivity improvement. The Committee was concluded that the front-line construction foreman/supervisor would be a reliable source of information. These informants would be asked to provide their judgment of the greatest impediments to a productive construction project (Tucker, 2003). Definition of productivity Within these several decades, many researchers have defined the productivity term in their studies in a number of ways. The term productivity has different meanings to different people. Many individuals automatically think only of labor unions when the term productivity is mentioned. Others associate capital expenditures with the term. Each of these interpretations is only partly correct (Adrian, 1993). Many researchers have attempted to define precisely the meaning of productivity and below are some of it that referred from their studies: Oglesby et al. (1989), presented that productivity can be defined as in-place value divided by inputs. Some researchers have defined it as works-hours divided by the equivalent quantity of work. In construction, productivity normally can be understood as work quantity divided by man-hours (or work-hours) consumed to accomplish the work. Productivity = Work Quantity Man-hours According to Dolman, Parham, Zheng, (2007), productivity is a measure in order to know how much output is produced per unit of input. Diewert Lawrence, (2006) presented that productivity can be defined as the level of economic output per unit of input and also per worker. Productivity is important to the wealth and well-being of a nation and give efforts to improve productivity occur at all levels of society. Thomas and Mathew, (1986) presented that no standardized productivity definition had been established in the construction industry. It is difficult to define a standard productivity measure because companies use their own systems which are not standardized. Association simply illustrates the productivity between an output and an input. The form has been widely used and existing in literature over the years in construction industry is; Productivity = Input/Output 2.3 Measurement of productivity There is controversy surrounding productivity that rooted in the differences in data collection. It is due to incorrect in assuming productivity measured uniformly and that all published productivity values have the same basis (Whiteside, 2006). Overall conception of productivity is difficult to express or to measure. It is sometimes expressed either in terms of output from labor or from services or from capital invested. These parts of expressions often do not give an accurate picture of the overall position. Although, there are measurements of some or all of the inputs and outputs of the industry but they still failed to combine these measurements into any satisfactory measure of efficiency. In fact, the ratio is easy to compute if the unit uses a single input to produce a single output (Choy, 2008). Although there are numbers of publications exist on construction productivity, there is no agreed upon definition of work activities nor a standard productivity measurement system. Most of researchers have concluded that it is difficult to obtain a standard method to measure construction labor productivity because of project complexity and unique characteristics of the construction projects (Oglesby et al. 1989). The uniqueness and non repetitive of operation in construction projects make it is difficult to develop a standard productivity definition and measure (Sweis, 2000). Factors influence productivity in construction Lim et al., (1995) has studied that factors affecting productivity in the construction industry in Singapore, indicated the problems affecting productivity were difficulty with recruitment of supervisors, difficulty with recruitment of workers, high rate of labor turnover, absenteeism from the work site and communication problems with the foreign workers. Olomolaiye et al., (1996) also studied that factors affecting productivity of craftsmen in Indonesia show the findings indicating craftsmen in this country spent 75 % of their time working productively. There are five specific productivity problems were identified such as lack of materials, rework, absenteeism, lack of equipment and tools. Kane et al., (cited in Herbsman et al., 1990) has classified the factors affecting construction productivity into two main groups which is technological factors and administrative factors. The technological factors involved those related to the design of the project and the administrative group factors are related to the management and construction of the project. Technological factors are comprises of sub-groups such as design factors, material factors and location factors. Administrative factors are comprises of sub-groups, such as construction methods and procedural factors, equipment factors, labor factors and social factors. Based on Heizer and Render (1990), they classified that factors influencing site productivity into 3 groups which are labour characteristic factors, project work conditions factors and non-productive activities. Olomolaiye et al., (1998) also stated that factors affecting construction productivity are rarely constant and may vary from country to country, fro m project to project and even within the same project which are depending on circumstances. They classified the factors influencing construction productivity into 2 categories which are external and internal. That means its representing those outside the control of the firms management and those originating within the firm. The external factors included the nature of the industry, construction client knowledge of construction procedure, weather and level of economic development. The internal factors included management, technology, labor and labor unions. Choi, (2007), stated that based on his finding, weather and poor communication prove to be the greatest impediment to roofing productivity, whereas the field workers pointed out that roof pitch, height and age of the roof along weather were major causes for lack of productivity in their job at site. He also stressed that roofing contractor generally not consider safety as a high priority in their business. Metrics an overview According to Melnyk et al., (2004), they stated that metrics are fulfill with the fundamental activities measuring (evaluating how we are doing), educating (communicating what is important and how we intend to deliver value to our customers) and directing (flagging potential problems by size of gap between the metrics and standards). Ideally, metrics are consistent with the way operation delivers value to the customers. Based on Melnyk et al., (2005), they presented that metric is a verifiable measure which consists of three elements such as; a) the specific measure, b) the standard (the numerical values that identifies the minimum threshold of performance, and c) the environment which the activity or person being measured operates. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY In order to achieve the objectives, Figure 1.1 illustrated the schematic of research methodology for this study. Generally, it consists of four distinct phases, which are phase 1, phase 2, phase 3 and phase 4. 3.1 Phase 1 Selection of the topic has been done after gone through JKR listing of significance topics that can contribute to department as a whole. Topic of the study and proposed productivity rate of roof works is important to JKR building project scheduling to ensure all project can be completed on time with good quality. Based on previous researchers, there are several measurements on productivity rate in construction. This study will be focusing on the identification of factors that influencing roofing works productivity in JKR projects. From this scenario, the objectives of this study has been identified which are identifying of factors influence, the relationship and the establishing productivity rate of roof works. In such way, the focus of this topic must be in line with study limitation. In order to strengthen knowledge and ideas in this research area, extensive reading from journals and books must be thoroughly done. Besides that, preliminary site observation has been conducted to the selected site. Furthermore, the preliminary interview was conducted to get overview information about productivity rate of roof works. Due to time constraint, the observation has been done only for school projects. 3.2 Phase 2 A few samples of studies will be identifying purposely for running through the method of productivity measurement for getting accurate and practical data. Observation on quantity of roof works per man hours should be performing at site. During observation at site, interview with the expert is use as a tool to collect information data on how the productivity rate of roof works can be estimate and what are the factors influences the productivity rate Several interviewees will be selected based on qualification and experienced more than 10 years especially contractors and suppliers. Beside that, questionnaire will be distributed to technical person such as supervisor, engineer, manager and contractors to obtain their opinion in term of productivity rate of roof works. 3.3 Phase 3 In this stage, all the data from the questionnaires and interviews will compile. The data will be analyze accordingly and transform into productivity rate. Data analyzing, there will be a confirmation on what are the factors influence productivity rate of roof works will be getting through data analyzing, while standard productivity rate metrics of roof works will be producing after transform all the data into productivity rate by using appropriate statistical analysis. 3.4 Phase 4 Extract from data obtained in Phase 3, some proposal or recommendation will be highlighted in order to enhance a metrics of standard productivity rate for future building project scheduling. EXPECTED RESULTS The expected results of this study in next semester are: a) List of factors that influence the productivity rate for roof works, b) The critical factors affecting most to productivity rate for roofing works, c) A metrics of productivity rate for roof works as a standard and guideline for improving JKR projects scheduling. Selection of Topic Identify the Objective and Scope Phase 1 Preliminary Site Observation Literature Review Preliminary Interview Objective.(c) Objective.(b) Objective.(a) Case Studies Identify the factors influence Observation on quantity of works/ man hours DATA COLLECTION Interview with Experts Selecting several experts with experience more than 10 years Phase 2 DATA ANALYSIS Figure 1.1: Schematic of Research Methodology TENTATIVE SCHEDULE The following table is the tentative schedule for final project in next semester:

Assignment Organizational Behavior Essay

Situational Leadership provides a simple and logical framework with four basic decision-making styles – authoritative, consultative, facilitative, and delegative. Briefly describe these styles and describe when they are appropriate to use. Our textbook states that authoritative decision-making style, â€Å"applies in situations where the manager has the necessary experience and information to reach a conclusion and followers do not possess the ability, willingness, or confidence to help† (p. 295). This would be appropriate when you are the only source of information or expertise. According to p. 296 of our textbook, consultative decision-making styles are a â€Å"valuable strategy when the manager recognizes that the followers also possess some experience or knowledge of the subject and are willing but not yet able to help†. This style is appropriate when there is more time to make a decision on important issues and requires input from people who can be directly impacted by those decisions. Facilitative decision-making, as stated on p. 96 of our textbook as well, â€Å"is a cooperative effort in which manager and followers work together to reach a shared decisions†. This approach would be useful when dealing with an able, but not confident follower. Delegative decision making, covered on p. 297 of our textbook, is used â€Å"when follower high in readiness who have the experience and information needed to make the proper decision or recommendation†. This style is appropriate when â€Å"the manager can look forward to a high level of performance by saying, ‘You know this subject. Work on it and let me know what you come up with’† (p. 297).

Bureaucracy Essays Examples Essay

Introduction Given the subject matter of this essay revolves around bureaucracy, and given that bureaucracy is concerned with rules and order, it seems fitting to first begin with an official definition of the term; â€Å"A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives; a state or organization governed or managed according to such a system.† This essay will break down how this definition came about and where bureaucracy first originated before moving onto explore its unintended consequences and some of its extreme uses while counter balancing this with some of its more positive attributes. I shall look at the modern cases of bureaucracy and weigh up whether there is a place for it in the modern world and if not whether post bureaucracy is more fitting. Finally I shall conclude by attempting to come down on one side of the argument as to whether in fact bureaucracy is bad. Bureaucracy as an ideal type and form of power based on legitimate authority Max Weber was a German social scientist (1864-1920) who was concerned with the question of what held societies together, he came to the conclusion that it was down to authority which allows those who have the right of legitimacy to give orders (Wilson, 1999). Weber questioned what the power of this authority was based on, because in most societies it is not based on force, fear or coercion. This authority previously came about in two main ways; authority based on charisma (the personal authority of a particular individual) or authority based on tradition (the established authority of institutions) (Grey, 2009). However, Weber put forward the idea that these previous types of authority were increasingly being overshadowed by rational-legal authority in modern societies (systems of rules devised for rational reasons). Weber was writing at a time where organisations were growing at a rate not seen before. He was commentating o the transformation that he was directly seeing. The idea of this rationality in society and organisations is not a new one and indeed in Weber’s study regarding the rise of capitalism he argued that it owed a considerable amount to the practices of the Calvinist Church which was itself involved in logical  calculative thought. This rationalisation can be defined as a process whereby the means chose to pursue ends can be determined by logical and rational calculation (Wilson, 1999). When applied to organisations, this rational-legal authority means bureaucracy. When Weber was putting forward his ideas regarding bureaucracy he discussed it as â€Å"an ideal type† however a common misconception is that by this Weber meant bureaucracy was a desirable ideal when in fact he despaired of how dominant this organisational structure was becoming. The â€Å"ideal type† is simply a subjective element in social theory and research which formed from characteristics and elements of the given phenomena, but it is not meant to correspond to all of the characteristics of any one particular case. According to Wilson (1999) â€Å"the ideal type of bureaucracy is governed by a formal set of rules and procedures that ensures that operations and activities are carried out in a predictable, uniform and impersonal manner†. This comes from the four foundational aspects that according to Weber bureaucracy consist of; functional specialisation (the formal division of labour), hierarchy of authority (the structure that gives those in a superior position authority, simply because they hold that position), system of rules (everything is based upon following a formal set of written rules about practices and procedures) and impersonality (rules are followed without regard for emotions) (Grey, 2009). According to Weber it was these four concepts that meant bureaucracy was the most technically efficient and rational form of organisations, it was adopted because it was simply better than any other system. Form of rationality it promotes (instrumental/formal vs. value/substantive) It is clear to see that bureaucracy promotes an instrumental form of rationality, which is a type of decision making which is subject to calculation that goes into an action to increase its chance of success. Its decisive feature is that it eliminates an orientation to values because they are non-technical. Rationality is instrumental (formal) when problems are solved by the application of technical criteria. In opposition, substantive (value) rationality is a type of decision making which is subject to values and an appeal to ethical norms – this is not something that bureaucracy is  concerned with especially given substantive rationality does not take into account the nature of outcomes. Weber also concluded that bureaucracy was substantively irrational following his work and reading on the â€Å"overall societal effects of its rise† (Grey, 2009). This is where Weber coined his term of â€Å"The Iron Cage† of rationality. The idea was that because bureaucracy was becoming so dominant in every aspect of life and work more and more people’s lives were lived within the constraints of a rationalised system. Grey (2009) takes it ones step further and claims that bureaucracy undermines our very humanity. Whilst this may seem ludicrous, he presents a very interesting idea. We live in a world â€Å"in which every experience is organised from the hospital in which we are born to the undertakers that take us to our graves† (Grey, 2009). Unintended consequences/Dysfunctions of bureaucracy (Blau, Gouldner, Merton) It is already clear to see that bureaucracy may not be without its problems, or unintended consequences. The word itself in the modern day world is often frowned on and associated with issues of red tape as well as a â€Å"needless waste and pedantic obsession with rules† (Grey, 2009). It is essential in many organisations nowadays that there is a paper trail, so that it can be proved everything was done how it was meant to be. However, the unintended consequences of bureaucracy go much further than this and begin with the idea that bureaucracy is thought of as a mechanical form of organisation. Whilst this means that every part is designed perfectly and operates in a predictable and standard way, it also means that the people within the organisation have to function as if they are merely cogs which lead to a number of key unintended consequences. There is firstly an issue regarding the levels of motivation among employees. A lack of personal commitment is bred from having to follow set rules and having no discretion about doing so. These standard procedures that must be followed also provides little interest or stimulation for employees which again weakens their commitment to the organisation. It is not a new idea that motivation is clearly linked to job satisfaction and that higher motivation leads to better work performance. It therefore follows that in bureaucracies where motivation is low employees will simply perform sub  optimally meaning they are not as efficient as first thought. Following on from the above problem, is that this lack of motivation often translates into poor customer service. Employees will simply follow rules and procedures blindly with little regard for the customer in the process. Bureaucratic rules are also designed for the benefit of the organisation, not the customer meaning they will not be ch anged to suit the demands of one individual. A final key problem involves a resistance to innovation and change. In a bureaucracy once rules are made they will only change very slowly, if at all. This is specifically a problem for organisations that exist in markets with volatile and uncertain conditions. It is well known now that to keep up with competition an organisation must change with the times or will disappear because it cannot keep up with changing markets. It also stifles individual freedom; many of the best ideas within organisations come from the bottom up, but bureaucracy destroys this initiative as â€Å"there is little bureaucrats hate more than innovation, especially innovation that produces better results than the old routines. Improvements always make those at the top look inept† (Herbert, 1984). There are also a number of dysfunctions of bureaucracy which have been written about by a number of theorists; primarily Merton (1940), Blau (1955) and Selznick (1949). Merton (1940) addressed a core theoretical and practical issue with his concept of goal displacement. His argument is an interesting one, and one that can be clearly seen in the working practices of bureaucracies in modern day organisations. He claims that people in bureaucracies started to see following the rules as the goal or purpose rather than the effect that the rule was supposed to produce. Goal displacement became about â€Å"doing the thing right, rather than doing the right thing† (Merton (1940). This is perhaps where the negative connotations about bureaucracy come from, this â€Å"slavish adherence to rules† (Grey, 2009) becomes the end in itself and becomes central to the concept of red tape which people have come to loathe. Merton termed this as the bureaucratic personality, where someone w as so busy adhering to official rules that they lose sight of the aims of the organisation. Selznick (1949) undertook a number of studies that supported Merton’s (1940) theory of goal displacement. His studies found that the divisionalised structures – a key aspect of bureaucratic organisations – led to employees being concerned only with the aims, rules and procedures of their division with total disregard for the organisations aims as a whole. This disjointedness between divisions meant employees pursued divisional interests often at the expense of the organisation with delivers, what Grey (2009) calls â€Å"organisationally sub optimal outcomes†. Blau (1955) looked at one of the dysfunctions of bureaucracy via the trade union tactic known as work to rule. This means exactly what the terms suggests, employees refuse to do anything over and above the formal and established rules of their contract or workplace. Similarly if they are contractual obliged to do something, but the rules are not laid out on exactly how to do it, they constantly ask for assistance or guidance. The reason this is done is to disrupt organisations. However, Blau addresses the important question that rules under a bureaucratic system are supposedly meant to be a good thing as they are meant to establish the most efficient way of doing something – so how can following them religiously disrupt an organisation. Blau answers his own question and states that following the rules to the letter without using your own initiative is actually not the most efficient way of organising which undermines the whole model of bureaucracy. Whilst the work of Merton, Selznick and Blau show that following bureaucratic rules to the letter may not lead to efficiency there is the work of Crozier (1964) and Gouldner (1954) which is in diametric opposition to this. The issue is not over attachment of rules but instead a total disregard for them. Gouldner (1954) introduced the concept of mock bureaucracy after his investigation into a gypsum mine revealed its presence. Despite the â€Å"impressive array of rules and regulations† (Grey, 2009) found in formal rulebooks, in practice these were ignored. This was specifically noticed in regard to the safety regulations in the mines and is evident today in the disregard for a number of safety regulations that exist in potentially  dangerous industries such a building sites and chemical plants. Despite the fact that goal displacement and mock bureaucracy are diametrically opposed, both undermine the bureaucratic model. Bureaucracy as a source of extreme power (Bauman) It would be an injustice not to use the case of the Holocaust to highlight what can happen when bureaucracy is used as a source of extreme power. Wilson (1999) notes that in bureaucracy â€Å"personal relationships are excluded from everyday life† which may go some way to explaining the detachment Nazi soldiers were able to show to their victims. Bauman (1989) wrote prominently on the subject in a book entitled Modernity and the Holocaust. According to Bauman, horrific though the Nazi regime was, the genocide was simply an â€Å"extreme application of bureaucratic logic with a system of rules, uniformity, impersonality and technical efficiency† (Bauman, 1989). Shooting of victims was, after a while, deemed to be insufficiently productive mainly due to the large numbers to be killed. The Nazi regime therefore found a new way, in the form of permanent concrete gas chambers â€Å"in which the perpetrators need not see, hear or feel the human consequences of their actions† (Russell and Gregory, 2005). This also backs up a prior point I made regarding the instrumental rationality involved within bureaucracy. Such indifference and neutrality to human life shows that bureaucratic practices can in no way, or from no angle, been seen as substantively rational. Contemporary manifestations of bureaucracy, audit cultures (Power, 1997) and McDonaldisation (Ritzer, 1993 and 2003) Contemporary manifestations of bureaucracy are all around us, though the most obvious example is that of McDonaldisation (Ritzer, 1993). At the time, Ritzer claimed that fast food restaurants were the new model of rationalisation; however, in the 21st century we know that this model of rationalisation, which is built on many ideas found in bureaucracy, is by no means confined to the fast food industry. Ritzer (1993) defined McDonaldisation as â€Å"a process by which the principles of the fast food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of US society as well as that of the rest of the world†. Four basic dimensions lie at the heart of the success of McDonalds (and as such McDonaldisation); efficiency, calculability, predictability and increased control. Ritzer was quick to highlight the negatives of McDonaldisation and believes that â€Å"McDonalised systems through their rules, regulations and scripts encroach upon us and ultimately threaten the ability of people working within these systems to think intelligently†. This was what Grey (2009) was implying when he spoke of employees merely being cogs in a machine. Ritzer also carries on Weber’s theory of â€Å"The Iron Cage† by describing that this iron cage is being constructed, piece by piece, by the various organisations and institutions that follow McDonald’s model. Audit cultures are also an increasing phenomenon in modern day bureaucracies. Power (1977) authored a book called The Audit Society where he argues this culture of auditing is one that has come to dominate more and more areas of our lives. One example is the targets set by the Labour government in the public service, and specifically public health, services where measurements are made according to the outputs (the ends). The problem with this is that it can cause employees to manipulate the system in order to achieve the targets. In addition the fact that audit cultures focus on what you can measure and see means that it is not based on quality, so the measurement itself holds little value. Power argues that it becomes a self-referential system in that an employee can display they are meeting the targets but it does not show the reality of what they are doing. The reality that is in the documents is not the same as the reality that is experiences. In an audit society how something is done is less important than that it is done. One key example of this is the Mid Staffordshire trust. Ineffective management was often too concerned with hitting targets that between 2005-2008 it was reported that between 400-1200 patients died from preventable causes. However, at the same time this trust met all of its targets to the point that it received foundation status. This demonstrates just how important it is that people look at how targets are achieved rather than just that they are received. Bureaucracy as good because it avoids  patronage (DuGay, 2000) or bad because it doesn’t manage to prevent it (Jackall, 1988) DuGay (2000) is a key advocate of bureaucracy and draws upon Weber’s ideal type of bureaucracy that business is discharged â€Å"without regard for persons† (Weber, 1978). All love, hatred and purely irrational and emotional sentiments are excluded. Whilst this main seem callous it is this exact bureaucratic ethic of impersonality and fairness that DuGay defends. In contrast with Bauman’s view of the distinct lack of morality, DuGay (2000) in fact claims that bureaucracy is imbued with morality due to the demands of instrumental rationality for maximum efficiency. DuGay states that for those demands to be satisfied the ethic of impersonality and fairness must come into play. Therefore bureaucracy is actually a way to eliminate discrimination. Jackall’s (1988) work regarding bureaucratic careers is in opposition with this however, as he claims much of bureaucracy is based on old authority. His work is based on a large organisation in the US and is recorded in his book Moral Mazes. The idea of the hierarchy within the ideal bureaucracy is that you are trained for a role and then you occupy a role, taking on the authority that came with it. If that ideal occurs than it is an efficient system. However, Jackall found that patronage (an old form of authority associated with traditional authority) was more common within the organisation. In other words, doing things to please your boss who is at the top of the hierarchy of authority purely based upon his position. According to Jackall (1988) and two years previously to DuGay’s conflicting ideas, fairness and equity are abandoned in favour of â€Å"keeping ones eye on the main chance, maintaining and furthering one’s own position and career†. Subordinate advancement is based upon protecting the boss rather than on hard work, ability and dedicated service. The way to move up the career ladder is to keep your eye on the political gamesmanship of the organisation. Is bureaucracy dead (post bureaucracy?) This brings me onto the question of whether if bureaucracy is bad, then what is the alternative. An alternative has been put forward, and it is that of post bureaucracy. Heckscher (1994) is one of the leading writers in post bureaucracy and has created a type in contrast to Weber’s which is called  the post bureaucratic ideal type. There are three key strands to his ideal type. Firstly, formal rules are replaced with a consensus based upon personal influence rather than status; employees are also trusted to act on shared values rather than rules. Secondly, responsibilities are assigned based on competence and merit rather than hierarchy and individuals are treated as such. Finally, the organisation is much more flexible with regard to employment and working hours. The ideals of post bureaucracy have been developed as the conditions in which bureaucracy worked are becoming increasingly rare. The industrial era has given way to the post-industrial and the economy has moved away from â€Å"mass production of standard products towards short product runs for niche markets† (Grey, 2009). To address the final point of Heckscher’s (1994) post bureaucracy ideal, there is also a growing need for more flexible and innovative working rather than the blind following of orders. Whilst post bureaucracy does seem to address some of the problems associated with modern day bureaucracies it also generates its own set of problems, many of them being what bureaucracy solves. In opposition to the idea of bureaucracy as a machine, post bureaucracy is portrayed as a living, growing organism which means it is far less predictable and prone to malfunctions. Grey (2009) outlines three key problems with a post bureaucratic ideal. The problem of control is key, the lack of rules means it is difficult to exercise control. Post bureaucracy instead proposes a different form of control based on a culture of management on trust – though this is a rather fragile form of control which relies on self-control. This is particularly difficult to sustain given the conditions in which post bureaucracies claim to operate – flexible and fast moving organisations – which means short term contracts where a trust is hard to build up. Another problem is that of risk which is inherently linked to a culture of freedom and innovation. Whilst freedom can result in good ideas, it can also result in inaccurate and damaging decisions for an organisation. Finally, the problem of fairness is also inherent in an organisational system that stressed individual treatment as this opens the possibility to irrationalities and prejudices. Conclusion To come back to the original question, is bureaucracy bad, having evaluated and considered the two sides of the argument. I would have to come to the conclusion that while today’s common form of bureaucracy is bad, the Weberian ideal type is not necessarily so. Like any structure, concept or theory, bureaucracy has its downfalls but there can be no denying that bureaucracy in its ideal type is the most rational and efficient form of organisation. However, over the years and into the 21st century it has become too rigid in its rules and procedures, people working within bureaucracies have lost their sense of initiative and cannot fathom anything that exists outside of their ruled environment. As Merton (1940) summed up, bureaucracy has become about â€Å"doing the thing right, rather than doing the right thing†. The stifling of innovation can lead to the failure of organisations and as James Hayes states â€Å"Endless meetings, sloppy communications and red tape steal the entrepreneur’s time†. Through bureaucracy the capacity for discretion is removed, which means that the ability to reason, act and exercise judgement is restricted. The individuals are told to enact a role into which they throw themselves whole heartedly. However, that is not to say that the alternative of post bureaucracy is much better and one of the particular pitfalls is the lack of security it provides for employees as well as an intensification of time pressures. Though perhaps this is simply the way organisations have to work in the 21st century in order to keep up. Bureaucracy is clearly more relevant is some industries than others, and this should be kept in mind when evaluating the use of bureaucracy. For example it is far more essential to have a paper trail regarding a patients medication and hospital treatment than it is for an artist to rigorously note down the materials they have used. As with most things, neither of the two extremes of bureaucracy or post bureaucracy is ideal, both have their dysfunctions and both have their advantages and as such a merging of the two (as seems to be the case in most organisations) is the most efficient and effective way forward.

Kate Chopins The Awakening

Kate Chopins The Awakening Introduction In the novel â€Å"The Awakening† by Kate Chopin, the author depicts Edna as a woman who is unable to hide sexual desires. Moreover, Edna juggles her private life with the life she is expected to lead by the society. According to Baym (2008;10-12), Edna struggles to assert the individual identity of a woman beyond the limits set by the patriarchal society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Awakening† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The novel cannot reconcile the public and the private self because of societal expectations that severely curtail freedom of choice. Edna’s sexual escapades are synonymous with the art experiments, which remains a vital part of her life. The changes articulated in Chopin’s novel elucidate the confusion and lack of reconciliation between the role of Edna as a female artist and her sexual inclination. This conflict culmin ates in the death of Edna. Discussion Conflict between Public and Private Life The start of â€Å"The Awakening† depicts Edna as an epitome of the American ideals of the 19th century. She is a young woman married to an attentive and wealth husband. By the social standards of the 19th century, Edna is leading a perfect life. The social picture of this woman is that of a perfect mother and a happy woman. The marital tag â€Å"Mrs. Pontellier,† introduces the reader to the picture formed by Edna’s husband and the society that expects every woman to be respectful. This picture comes with responsibilities that curtail Edna’s freedom. Henceforth, she is referred to as Edna after casting aside the fictional role of the woman to lead a carefree life. Edna has a love for the arts, although her main interest is in accomplishing a woman’s dream. Edna is not fully committed to the societal role of a wife, which is against the expectations of the public. Moreov er, she undertakes motherly duties with discontent and constantly asserts her position. She thinks that women have no choices in their private lives. Moreover, they are compelled by the patriarchal society to assume their responsibilities of bearing and rearing children (Baym 15). Edna cares for her children although she cannot match the prowess with which Adele performs her societal duties. Edna’s husband reprimands her for her laxity in taking care of their sick son. Moreover, her response on the issue evokes fury and the husband is on the blink of insanity.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The husband does not expect such a response from the wife and rebukes Edna for neglecting children, a feat unheard in a perfect patriarchal society, where the woman is supposed to be submissive and attend to the needs of the husband and the children (Baym 105). Edna†™s husband was attentive and loving as any American husband in the 19th century. The century depicts women as objects for the gratification of the men rather than subject determining their free will as would be the wish of Edna. Edna embraces modernity in a peculiar way by failing to settle into the designated societal roles that she deems inappropriate and a form restriction. Edna offers a satirical description of her friend’s predicament as a perfect assimilation into the mother role. To Edna, Adele’s situation depicts colorless existence, which fails to emancipate the possessor from the domain of blind contentment (Baym 257). The Awakening When Edna starts to experiment with art, painting surpasses important activities. Painting sparks Edna’s repressed desires to purpose beyond the societal and public roles given to her. Concisely, she wants her private life to be devoid of any form of interference. This forms the genesis of Edna’s awakening. Edna ha s realized realizes the position she has in the Universe as a human being. She also recognizes that her relationship with others as an individual is preceded by painting. Edna attempts to decipher the lifestyle led by Adele via painting (Baym 280). Ironically, Edna feels the need to connect with the maternal figure notwithstanding that she is determined to dismiss her maternal role of supporting her children. Her art depicts connotations reserved for the private life, which should not enter into the public domain. She focuses on women in a sensual manner. The desire evokes argument that she has a homosexual-maternal aspect. Edna is oblivious that such private matters are not encouraged in the public but she admits that her art is socially acceptable as it depicts the life of Adele. Edna’s art is disrupted by her romantic ardor. She burns with desire when painting Adele. This desire is homosexual and is opposed in such a society. Edna strips away from restrictive aspects in he r life. These aspects are social rules, marriage, and clothing (Baym 145).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Awakening† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Conflict Between Private and Public Life After fuelling sexual desires through exploration of painting, Edna recognizes another life. She is conscious of the lack of satisfaction her domestic and social relationships provide her with. Her friends and the family physician fail to recognize what may be happening to her. The doctor claims that the cause of Edna’s unhappiness is her sexual escapades with men. Despite being inscribed with maternal instincts unavoidable after pregnancy, she cannot subject herself to the life led by Adele. Adele is obsessed with her social and maternal duties and can only get fulfillment after caring for the children. Nevertheless, in the attempt by Edna to forge a different life with differen t roles, Edna leads a life that is different from that of her friend. Moreover, the desire to create a different role and life for herself, emanates from the struggle against social stereotypes (Baym 487). Edna’s aims at becoming conscious of the full potential she has. Notwithstanding that emotional satisfactions are requisites to a full life, the society in which Edna lives in is marred with chauvinistic tendencies. In the light of this, the women are not expected to be self centered. This simply means that the women cannot focus on their happiness and the first priority is family preservation. Edna voices her dissatisfaction with her husband’s views on Victorian ideals. She views the ideals as a form of oppression because her husband determines her choices. She distances herself from the husband through art. The income from these sales gives her a feeling of independence. On the other hand, this move gives the husband a feeling of threat (Baym 452). As opposed to ma ny respectable women who are shy around a doctor, Edna is comfortable. She does not gesture or glance when touched by the doctor. Edna also shows no emotion when she refuses to attend the wedding of her sister. She insists that her husband should attend the function alone because it reminds her of her own marriage. The refusal to attend the wedding reveals that Edna is determined to distance herself from all possible societal roles. By watching her sister become a subservient wife meant for serving her husband, she cannot think of a worse experience. Edna’s father reminds her of the bad experiences she has had in life. Edna’s father and Margaret’s life are perfect examples of patriarchal forces dominating the life of Edna.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As she extends the distance between the husband and her, her art increases in force and reality. Edna goes against the societal norms by moving into a house away from their matrimonial home. She does this thinking that she will evolve from an amateur artist to a professional artist (Baym 278). Conclusion In summary, Edna is a hard working woman torn between leading a public or a private life. She uses Adele as a perfect example of the effects of a patriarchal society on the freedom of a woman. This is because Adele is a loving and caring mother. Moreover, Adele is a model of in the 19th century’s woman. The submissiveness of Adele is a source of concern for Edna who views that the woman should emancipate herself from the societal and familial roles and pursue a free life. Edna has no stand. She admires Adele but ridicules her submissiveness. She cannot be like Adele but she worships and idolizes Adele’s children. Through her awakening, there is a further conflict betwe en her personal choice and the choices determined by the public. Beauty, social, and sexual issues also characterize this awakening. This is a difficult way of trying to bring out the private life of an individual in a patriarchal society. Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Beginnings to 1865. New York: W W Norton Company Incorporated,2008.

Hills Like White Elephants

Hills Like White Elephants People often face situations that require them to make tough decisions and they have to live by them for the rest of their lives. In the story Hills Like White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway writes about a couple that is in a dilemma about an unborn child and they have to decide on the best decision to take regarding the pregnancy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Hills Like White Elephants Ernest Hemingway specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Jig and his companion the American are in Spain at a rail station taking drinks while awaiting a train. The American tells Jig to abort the fetus because the procedure is simple. He does not entertain the thought of becoming a parent. After, the deliberation on the issue, Jig decides to carry out the procedure. Jig and the American man is an unmarried couple who have consummated their relationship and as a result, Jig is pregnant. Her boyfriend the American tells her to get rid of the pregnancy even though the author does not use the word abortion we can deduce its meaning from the conversation, â€Å"It’s just to let the air in† (Hemingway 1). The man tells Jig, â€Å"It’s really an awfully simple operation. It is not an operational at all† (Hemingway 1). The American wants the fetus aborted because he does not want it to interrupt his adventurous lifestyle. He is a man who likes to travel from one place to another, their travel bags had labels from the various hotels they had checked into during their travels (Hemingway 1). On the other hand, Jig wants to have the baby as she hints in the conversation. She seems to be tired of the adventure and wants to settle down. The American man manages to manipulate Jig psychologically by telling her not to abort if she does not want to because he senses her hesitance, â€Å"I think it’s the best thing to do. But I don’t want you to do it if you don’t really want to† (Hemingway 1). He tells her that after she aborts they can have everything they want in the world. However, she does not agree with him and tells him that, â€Å"No, we can’t† (Hemingway 1). She is aware that once she loses her child she can never have it back, â€Å"And once they take it away, you never get it back† (Hemingway 1). In spite of that knowledge, she seems like she is willing to go through with the procedure not to lose her American. Jig seems afraid of losing the American man â€Å"And if I do it you’ll be happy and things will be like they were and you’ll love me† (Hemingway 1)? The question shows that she is not ready to lose him and says, â€Å"Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t care about me† (Hemingway 1). The only thing she cares about is being with him and his love. She also wants to make him happy and reduce his worry because he says the only thing making them unhappy is that baby. Therefore getting rid of the baby will remove the hurdle to their happiness.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More She also decides to abort because maybe she knows that marrying a man who is not wiling to settle down would only mean a difficult marriage. The American hints that he is ready to settle if she decides to keep the baby, â€Å"You’ve got to realize †¦that I don’t want you to do it if you don’t want to. I’m perfectly willing to go through with it if it means anything to you† (Hemingway 1). This does not reassure her because the American keeps bullying her into procuring an abortion by drumming in the message that the procedure â€Å"is perfectly simple† (Hemingway 1). Thus, she chooses to have the abortion as it seems as the only way out of her current predicament. They do not discuss other options of dealing with the pregnancy suc h as giving up the baby for adoption and hence she might have decided to abort. Finally, I think Jig should not abort simply because I belief that abortion is morally wrong. She does not seem to have her own voice. She is controlled by the American because she is willing to go along with his suggestions even if she does not agree with them. She should keep the baby because she hints that she knows of people who have gone through the procedure and they are not happy. If she goes through with the procedure, she will live with regrets for the rest of her life because she will never be able to bring back her dead child to life again as most of the women who have gone through the procedure attest. Even if, keeping and raising the child will be a burden she should be willing to bear the consequences of her actions instead of trying to look for an easier way out. She should be firm and tell the American that she will keep the baby and that it is time they stopped their adventurous lifestyl e. On the contrary, if she goes through with the abortion she should take precaution not to become pregnant again by using contraceptives because she will find herself in the same predicament yet again.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Hills Like White Elephants Ernest Hemingway specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Work Cited Hemingway, Ernest . Hills Like White Elephants. gummyprint.com. n.d. Web.

Summery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Summery - Essay Example Compared with the private sector, the public service will value intrinsic rewards such as service delivery to the people, public interest and the importance of work (Houston, 2000). In terms of accomplishment and fulfillment in work, public employees rated higher than their private sector counterparts (Houston, 2000). The motivation rewards will vary depending on social, cultural and ethical environments. Employee attitude is another determining factor in the accomplishment of a successful motivation reward. The reward may be in terms of income; however, it may be dependent on other social and economic structures like education background, experience, service delivery and efficiency. The managerial structures and the bureaucratic stem of governance play a big part in the effectiveness of employee motivation. Streamlining of processes and making the work environment adaptable is a more convenient way of motivating the employees. Better working conditions also play a major role in ensuring that the employees feel valued and appreciated (Houston, 2000). Rules are there to be followed. Sometimes they can be effective or ineffective depending on how they are managed, applied or regulated. In the public management system, certain standards are always required for efficient service delivery. Red tape is an excessive regulation applied in most public corporations and governments that is usually considered to be rigid or bureaucratic as it affects the flow of action, service delivery and decision making. With the aim of reversing the negative effects of this kind of system, public management scholars have come up with a reliable, effective and productive theory known as Green Tape Theory (DeHart-Davis, 2009). Transition is a very delicate topic especially in the public management system. In most cases, the fear of change stops us from taking action. Anxiety in the public system has limited the effectiveness of the Green Tape Theory because of

Starbucks ethics negative side Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Starbucks ethics negative side - Assignment Example Interest of the enterprises to follow and adopt business ethics as part of their functioning has fallen down during the recession period, with unethical practices indirectly leading to recession. (Purlys 711). Starbucks is under this ethical scanner for a long time, and now the global changes on how companies should function ethically, make it imperative on the part of Starbucks to be more ethically sound, but that is not the case, with Starbucks facing problems in organizing in the changing global environment. Although, Starbucks wants to establish itself as the most recognized and respected brand in the world, it is facing some ethical issues and it is negatively affecting its organizing efforts in the changing environment. Starbucks is facing criticism for unethical as well as controversial activities like not compulsorily providing Fair Trade Coffee in all its stores and because of the use of Bovine Growth Hormone milk in its coffees and ice-creams. Fair Trade Coffee is the term given to the coffee beans, which are purchased by Starbucks or other coffee makers through ethical means like providing fair and industry standard prices to the coffee growers in the Home country as well as in the Third World countries. Also, Fair Trade activities including Fair Trade Coffee support and intersect with other community development efforts, grounding and enhancing the resulting benefits (Raynolds, Murray and Taylor 1116). However, Starbucks is accused of not selling these Fair Trade coffees in all its stores compulsorily, instead selling only to the clients, who ask for it or demand it. This way, they still selling non-Fair Trade coffees and because of this unethical practice, they are giving very low prices to the farmers, forcing them into a cycle of poverty and debt, and also not doing enough community services for them. Although, Starbucks’ chairman, Howard Schultz mandated that coffee farmers from its major sources in the African countries