Long-Term Structural Change Essay -- Organizational Change, Change Pro

A lot of organizations initiate change programs and action plans that vanish after a while but have had, it’s hoped, some impact on performance, even though one cannot be sure. The first challenge when initiating change is to make sure that every employee understands that this business system is not an action plan; it’s a faith that is about what should characterize a really good company, and there are no option to this faith. It is important to put a lot of effort into making everybody understand this (Ahlberg & Nauclà ©r, 2007). Long-term structural change has four characteristics: scale which is the change that affects all or most of the organization, magnitude which entails significant alterations of the status quo, duration or the length of time it lasts, and strategic importance. Yet companies will garner the rewards only when change takes place at the level of the individual worker. There is no single methodology fits every company, but there is a set of practices, tools, and techniques that can be tailored to a variety of situations. Using a systematic, comprehensive framework, allows executives to understand what to expect, how to manage their own personal change, and how to engage the entire organization in the process (Jones, Aguirre & Calderone, 2004). An official approach for managing change that starts with the leadership team and then engages key stakeholders and leaders should be developed near the beginning, and modified frequently as change moves through the organization. Since change is intrinsically unsettling for people at all levels, when it is on the horizon, all eyes will turn to the CEO and the leadership team for strength, support, and direction. The leaders themselves must accept the new approach... ... of the outlook they seek to create, and the principles and guiding practise by which they hope to get there. The fourth discipline is team learning. Through methods like dialogue and skilful discussion, teams alter their collective thinking, learning to mobilize their energies and ability beyond the sum of individual members’ talents. The fifth discipline is systems thinking. In this discipline, people learn to better understand interdependency and change, and thus to deal more effectively with the forces that shape the consequences of actions (Green, 2007). This means that change must be driven by developing competence within the organization, by managers and workers in each unit creating and taking ownership of their change programs because they are motivated by pride in improving their professionalism and achieving better results (Ahlberg & Nauclà ©r, 2007).

Green Computing Essay

Green computing or green IT, refers to environmentally sustainable computing or IT. It is â€Å"the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of computers, servers, and associated subsystems—such as monitors, printers, storage devices, and networking and communications systems—efficiently and effectively with minimal or no impact on the environment. Green IT also strives to achieve economic viability and improved system performance and use, while abiding by our social and ethical responsibilities. Thus, green IT includes the dimensions of environmental sustainability, the economics of energy efficiency, and the total cost of ownership, which includes the cost of disposal and recycling is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. To comprehensively and effectively address the environmental impacts of computing/IT, we must adopt a holistic approach and make the entire IT lifecycle greener by addressing environmental sustainability along the following four complementary paths: †¢Green use — reducing the energy consumption of computers and other information systems as well as using them in an environmentally sound manner

Television and Social Capital

Television a blessing or a curse? TV or not TV? That is the question. .Television is one of the greatest and at the same time worst inventions of all times. . It is true that television can inform, inspire and create. But it can also misinform, deceive and destroy. Firstly, watching television makes people depended on laid-on entertainment. That makes them lazy and unoccupied. People used to have hobbies, read books, listen to music, go outside for walks now all of these have been replaced by television.Furthermore, our communication with the members of our family can be affected by television. Being glued to the â€Å"box† for so many hours can be really unsociable as you can’t talk and communicate with others while you are watching TV. Added to that, television promotes a fake lifestyle, which is totally irrelevant to real living. Children can easily be affected by that, as it is possible that they believe in fake life situations which can even lead to death. For exam ple, a young child jumped off his window, believing that he could fly just like superman.However, TV is not always a bad influence to us. Without television, we wouldn’t be able to experience the â€Å"visual travelling†. We can watch the Eifel Tower, the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum of Rome, the Sydney opera House in Australia and many other great buildings by just turning the TV on. Also, the information that television offers, can sometimes be vital as we need to be informed about the climate changes, the earthquakes, the wars, and a lot of other events which could lead to destructions.Moreover, there are enormous possibilities for educational programs on television. Since children love watching TV it can’t be that hard to convince them to learn through a television program. The lesson will be a lot more amusing and not so tiring as school lessons. Considering the audiovisual perspectives that TV can offer, teachers can easily be replaced by televisions ! In conclusion, the question â€Å"TV or not TV? † still remains unanswered. The negative points are as many as the positive ones. It’s up to us, then, to decide whether we are going to be watching TV or not.Television has the potential to unite communities, provide information to allow positive cultural, social and environmental change, and to create a true global village. It also has the potential to alienate, desocialise, to promote aggressive and negative behaviours, provide negative and inappropriate role models to our children, and to create negative values such as values of consumption and possession. During the past two decades there has been considerable debate on the issue of the impact of television violence on youth behaviour.Many in the television industry deny television's contribution to youth violence. The Net-generation refers to people born between 1977 and 1997. There have been many studies that identify an association between exposure to violence i n entertainment and violent behaviour, but these studies do not prove that exposure causes violent behaviour. They show that there is a risk that exposure to media violence will increase the likelihood of subsequent aggressive behaviour. This risk can be increased or decreased by a large number of other factors.Recent research into the effects of pornography and violent video/computer games is starting to draw similar conclusions, although findings suggest that pornographic films, especially those containing violence, can contribute to callous sexual behaviour and violence towards women. The relationship between what we see and what we do is extremely complex. Some of the more important variables are context in which violence is portrayed, the age of the viewer, the sex of the viewer, the ability of the viewer to differentiate between fantasy and reality, and justified and unjustified use of force.Violence on television seems to be effecting our feelings of safety within the communi ty. There is some evidence to suggest that the level of violence in television programs, films, news, may have led to an increase in fear that society is more dangerous than is actually the case. Censorship issues are difficult to resolve. What are our rights? Are they to be protected from viewing things that may be harmful to our own or our children's psyche, or are they to have the right to decide for ourselves? Censorship may also lead to the ‘forbidden fruit' phenomenon and the development of black markets.Similar results may occur if there is regulation of broadcasters. Would self-regulation work? It is well known that parental influence can be a major factor in reducing the impact that television violence will have on children. But parents need to be aware of this and need to take the time to know what their children are viewing and, at best, view programs with children in order to ameliorate the negative impacts from such viewing. Parental influence can also enhance the positive impacts of television, and can allow children to understand social systems and appropriate behaviour more fully.Parental education and awareness programs will determine how successful this approach is. One option to ensure television viewing is less damaging to children is to have media literacy education for children in all schools. The aim of this education would be to help children to critically evaluate the images, which are presented to them on an everyday basis. If we are concerned about the kind of television our children are watching, technological advances such as the ‘v-chip' (violence chip) can be programmed to block out unwanted programs from television broadcasts.Just as it is with censorship issues, new technology relies on parental involvement. Television programming is driven by commercial intent. Television appears to be harmless entertainment, but the function of global television is connected with the ideology of globalising capitalism. It appears the commercial intent is focused on distraction and cultural reformation. Television has a large social cost. Television viewing removes us from the physical reality of our current lives – and often for extended periods of time. When we watch television, we stop social interaction – conversation becomes fractious and partial, if it continues at all.While we watch television we miss the verbal interaction that allows for sharing, learning and building collective perspectives. Television changes culture in more ways than we can imagine. In the United States, half of the population now report watching television while eating dinner, and more than a third watch while eating breakfast or lunch. People in the US spend more time watching television than they do talking with their spouses (four to six times more) and playing with their children (an average of twenty minutes each day compared with four hours of television viewing).The situation is no much different in the UK wh ere 46 percent of people say that at the end of a working day all they want to do is watch television. It is, in fact, the number one leisure time pursuit in much of the developed world. ; People's absorption in television results in far less time for intimate social connectedness, which is visible not only in the home but in the broader patterns of community vitality, or social capital. Social capital is a term used to describe the overall health of social connectedness – feelings of common purpose, common identity and common commitment.Television viewing has been implicated in the collapse of positive civic participation in almost all of its forms. Since healthy communities are characterized by high levels of social capital and participation, lack of positive civic participation indicates and unhealthy communities. This is decline in civic participation reveals a clear inter-generational shift Music and Human life Music is one of the greatest creations of human kind in the course of history. It is creativity in a pure and undiluted form and format.Music plays a vital role in our daily life. It is a way of expressing our feelings and emotions. Music is a way to escape life, which gives us relief in pain and helps us to reduce the stress of the daily routine. It helps us to calm down, an even excites us in the moment of joy. Moreover, it enriches the mind and gives us self confidence. Music surrounds our lives at different moments of lives, whether we hear it on the radio, on television, from our car and home stereos.Different kinds of music are appropriate for different occasions. We come across it in the mellifluous tunes of a classical concert or in the devotional strains of a bhajan, the wedding band, or the reaper in the fields breaking into song to express the joys of life. Even warbling in the bathroom gives us a happy start to the day. Music has a very powerful therapeutic effect on the human psyche. It has always been part of our association wi th specific emotions, and those emotions themselves have given rise to great music.The origins of Indian music can be traced back to the chanting of the Sama Veda nearly 4,000 years ago. The primacy of the voice, and the association of musical sound with prayer, were thus established early in the history of Indian music. Today, music is available for us in different forms and the choice for music varies from person to person just as the reading choices vary from one another. There is folk music, classical music, devotional music, instrumental, jazz, rock music, pop music, hindi movie songs and many more.

Analysis of Sophocles’ Creon in Oedipus the King Essay

Sophocles is considered one of the most profound and best tragedians in the Ancient Greek. Sophocles came from a wealthy family and was highly learned and skilled. At young age, he had already seen many plays that were exhibited in ancient Greek theatres during his time. One of his favorite dramatist-writer was Aeschylus, whom he had replaced after a few years. Sophocles had written many plays; scholars estimated that he had written about one hundred and twenty plays yet only a few of them had remained in complete form. Yet, those plays were enough to define the immense tragedian behind the great works that were still venerated today. However, the reasons behind the popularity of Sophocles were due to his style and wit; and as many chroniclers asserted, he always surprised the audience. The plays of Sophocles were mythical and dealt with society- deviant ideas. He also asserted in his plays the act of fate in one’s life, even though many linguists had described this as force coincidence. Moreover, one of the immortal characters, aside from King Oedipus in the famous trilogy of Sophocles, was Creon. Creon was Jocasta’s brother and one of those who held the Theban throne. Laius, the King of Thebes had entrusted the throne to Creon while he was in Delphi to confer with the oracle. Meanwhile, the Sphinx and its spell had assailed the city. Creon, learning that Laius was dead, had offered the hand of her sister, Jocasta – the queen, to anyone who could solve the puzzle. Oedipus, the son of Jocasta who fled from Corinth had solved the puzzle of the Sphinx and was married to his mother. Creon had been instrumental in the fulfillment of the prophecy about Oedipus. Yet, Creon was unaware that Oedipus was the son of her sister. Moreover, Creon yielded the throne to Oedipus. He helped Oedipus in establishing and in strengthening the kingdom. He had been a constant adviser to Oedipus and had been his counter-ego. Creon was liked a brother to Oedipus that he had helped him in those troubled time where the latter was in the midst of discovering that the prophecy which he tried to escape had occurred to him. Yet, in Oedipus the King, Creon had been faithful to Oedipus. He had referred him to Teiresias, the blind prophet in order to know the cause of the plaguing of the city. However, they had known from Teiresias that the reason was Oedipus himself. Nonetheless, Oedipus had accused Creon of treason and conspiracy. Yet, Creon had denied the allegations of Oedipus, pointing out that he would not benefit in overthrowing him. Yet, Oedipus had known that the statements of Teirisias were true, so he requested Creon to put him to incarceration and exile to stop the plague that had been attacking the city. Meanwhile, he also had surrendered the throne to Creon and the latter had accepted Moreover, the character of Creon, in the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles, had been often contrasted to the character of Oedipus. Oedipus was rude in manners while Creon was temperate and kind. Oedipus was rough while Creon was gentle. Oedipus easily jumped into conclusion while Creon was somewhat logical and rational. Even though Sophocles’ Creon in Oedipus the King was mythical yet that was the ideal characteristic of a king. They should always consult the prophets and the oracles. That was the reason why Creon had consulted Teiresias, the blind prophet, regarding the plague that had been attacking the city. Yet, Oedipus was a very stubborn king. He did not believe the assertions and claims of Teiresias. He tried to assert his own will and his own power as a king. Yet, Creon had been his counsel and after realizing his follies he had yielded the throne to Creon and imposed a self-exile to him. The Creon in Sophocles’ Antigone was very different from the Creon in Oedipus the King. Even though considered as a sequel to Oedipus the King, scholars had noted a large degree of changes that had occurred to Creon in Antigone. Creon had been considered as a harsh and tyrannical character in Antigone. Yet one of the most enduring character of Creon in Antigone and Oedipus the King was his loyalty to the country. He considered sacrifice of self for the security and betterment of the state as the highest form of honor and service to the country. Yet, he was the one who sought forgiveness in the last part of Antigone, when his son had died due to his decree. Therefore, Creon in the plays of Sophocles had shown the characteristics of a good king. He had been loyal and honest to his country. He upheld the laws and the edicts strictly. He honored the gods and the deities. He honored those who served their countries well and despised those who serve as threats to the country. He had been a good family man. He was not stubborn yet he followed the orders of the prophets and the oracles. He was religious and pious. Yet, even though Friedlander (1999) had asserted that Sophocles plays were not â€Å"family entertainment,† yet the variety of characters and the style was outstanding. The way Socrates projected his play had always attracted audiences, both in his time and in the modern times. He was very creative just like the varied, changing and unique characters like Creon that he had created. References Friedlander, E. R. (1999). Enjoying â€Å"Oedipus the King† by Sophocles Retrieved May 22, 2007 from http://www. pathguy. com/oedipus. htm Sophocles. (2006). Oedipus the king. New York: Filiquarian Publishing.

CASE- 3 Computer technology and the networked organization Essay

CASE- 3 Computer technology and the networked organization - Essay Example On the other hand use of networking systems will help me in gaining a competitive edge among all other restaurants operating in the same area. The entire facility will be well equipped with computers and other related devices networked with one another. Following is the brief description of the overall networking architecture. In order to establish Italian Food Restaurant I would require computer networking for customer orders, processing and delivery of services. Star topology would be most feasible for this purpose as it will integrate all computers connected to the central network (Risley, 2001). Although this particular setup might create bottlenecks in the data transference but that would be managed by security systems later discussed in this paper. Moreover, I would be needing protocol system for the provision of internet services. Wireless internet connection would be available to all employees and customers who might be willing to utilize it. Generally protocol is defined as a set of signals and rules which are used by the computers to communicate within the same network (Risley, 2001). Here, I would be using TCP/IP or Transmission Control Protocol for cross multiple and routable internet. LAN is a contemporary data network which can effectively and efficiently increase the customer service processes at the restaurant. It is most suitable for small geographic area. In typical circumstances it is used to connect personal computers, servers and printers with other devices. Moreover, LAN facilitates the file exchange, electronic mailing and other similar applications (Internetworking Technology Handbook, 2012). In the restaurant setting customers would be entering their orders at the main counter which will be directly transferred to the concerned department through wireless networking. Thereafter the responsible customer service staff member will carry out further

How Standards Set Improve Organizational Performance Assignment

How Standards Set Improve Organizational Performance - Assignment Example Through creating a golden package, they were to rival their competitors and remain the market leaders as they created a fast instant delivery. FedEx has various ways to motivate their employees. The staffs are given more authority in their business decisions and take responsibility for their actions. Through this, employees are actively involved in the production hence are more confident about the company since the company trusts them. Workers are also more united towards the business hence their sense of togetherness that provides extra energy at the workplace. The company also set an excellence award to best performing station. This creates hard work and motivates the staffs even more since their productivity would be reorganized. In any organization, managers play a key role in the success of the company. In FedEx, managers act as the link between employees and management ensuring clear dissemination of information from the top to the bottom hence the efficient flow of work. They set clear objective goals that are to be achieved by the company increasing the profitability of the organization. They also act as a unifying factor among the teams that ensures cohesion, collective responsibility for the benefit of the organization. Managers also provide a working example to other teams as shown by helping in times of emergencies hence clearly defining expectations. The task force- this is a team designed with specific responsibility to solve an assignment that is allocated to them by the management (Griffin & Moorhead, 2010). This is shown by the organization setting up companywide projects team so as to counter-attack competitors. Functional teams - Ensures specific functions are carried out in different parts (Daft, 2010). This can be explained by FedEx creating different business units e.g., FedEx ground, FedEx express and many more.

Business and Informtion Systems Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Business and Informtion Systems - Case Study Example Thus new sources of competitive dvntge--coordinting nd integrtion skills--become strtegic wepon tht is not rooted in trditionl fctors. The requirements of globl sourcing, rel-time informtion shring, mss customiztion nd virtul clustering of ctivities redefine ntionl competitiveness--nd the links between firms nd their home territories--in wys significntly different from those envisioned erlier. Current pper presents n overview of orgniztionl business strtegy in terms of ITC inititive to support business nd build competitive dvntge. Prticulrly, the cse of Tesco grocery is provided to cover the issues of corporte informtion nd communiction strtegy. s well s operting in the UK, it hs stores in the rest of Europe nd si. It lso provides online services through its subsidiry, Tesco.com. The UK is the compny's lrgest mrket operting under four bnners: Extr, Superstore, Metro nd Express. Tesco sells pproximtely 40,000 food products in its superstores, s well s clothing nd other non-food lines. The compny's own-lbel products re t three levels, vlue, norml nd finest. Own brnd ccounts for pproximtely 50% of sles. s well s convenience produce, mny stores hve gs sttions. The compny hs become one of Britin's lrgest petrol independent retilers. Other retiling services offered in the UK include Tesco Personl Finnce nd Tesco.com. Tesco Personl Finnce is joint venture with the Royl Bnk of Scotlnd. It hs over 3.4 million customers, nd provides vrious finncil products nd services. The compny hs opertions in the rest of Europe, including the Republic of Irelnd, Hungry, Polnd, Czech Republic nd Slovki. (Finch 2005) Tesco's Republic of Irelnd business opertes in the region of 82 stores, nd round 60 stores in the Hungrin mrket. Tesco's Polish opertions include former HIT operted stores. It opertes round 66 hypermrkets nd supermrkets in this country. In the Czech Republic nd Slovkin mrkets, Tesco opertes 22 nd 23 hypermrkets respectively. (Flvin, 2005) Tesco lso opertes stores in si, including Thilnd, South Kore, Mlysi nd Tiwn. The compny opertes 64 stores in Thilnd nd 28 stores in the South Koren Mrket, while in the Tiwnese nd Mlysin mrkets it hs three stores in ech ntion. Business Strtegies of Tesco Tesco core competencies When speking of compny's core competencies it is mter of discussing compny's competitive dvntge tht differentite it from the list of competitors. The most importnt trget for Tesco is to set the competent position between businesses on the mrket nd sustin its mrket power through long period of opertions nd ctivities. There theory sttement s for the mtter of sustinble development nd core cmpetences of the business where Tesco opertes is the on tht dvises the compny to dpt in ccordnce to chnges in compny's enverinment; it should be flexible nd evolve over time. Therefore, Tesco needs to dpt to new rpidly chnging circumstnces nd opportunities, so its core competencies will hve to dpt nd chnge. The exmple of this ws when the compny hs lunched its loylty crd nd went into bnking. Core competences cn be shped within the frmework of following three fctors: Provision of potentil ccess to wide vriety of