Thursday, January 30, 2020
Hris Replacement Essay Example for Free
Hris Replacement Essay Cost Plan Part of project management is the estimation of the project cost. The budget can be derived from the project plan by looking at the following criteria (Marchewka, 2009): * estimated duration of activities, * resources identified and assigned to tasks, and * wages and overtime rate for resources. In addition to hard numbers resource leveling is important. Resource leveling helps with accurately planning a project and will help identify if people are scheduled to have more work than hours in a day. Having too much work assigned to one person is a risk to the project. Figure 2 Riordan Budget Report illustrates the Riordan HRIS replacement project budget based on the resources allocated to tasks in the project plan. The budget report will be monitored weekly at the beginning of the project and daily as the project progresses. Additional cost factors such as material, facility cost, insurance, and other administrative costs will be added to the project budget cost to establish the overall project budget. Figure 2 Riordan Budget Report Performance Measurement It is important to not only to establish critical tasks and sub-tasks, but also to identify a means to measure current progress against estimated progress. Without a clear understanding of where the project is in regards to the timeline management is unable to identify potential trouble spots and delays that can drive up costs and derail the project. What Is Performance Measurement The U. S. General Accounting Office (GAO) provides the following definition of Performance Measurement: ââ¬Å"Performance measurement is the ongoing monitoring and reporting of program accomplishments, particularly progress towards pre-established goals. It is typically conducted by program or agency management. Performance measures may address the type or level of program activities conducted (process), the direct products and services delivered by a program (outputs), and/or the results of those products and services (outcomes). A programâ⬠may be any activity, project, function, or policy that has an identifiable purpose or set of objectives. â⬠(Performance-Based Management Special Interest Group [(PBM SIG)], 2001, p. 3). When undergoing a project or process there must be a method in place to judge or measure the progress and outcome, which will allow management to make intelligent decisions. Performance Measurement delivers that data management requires by applying a method of evaluating progress toward accomplishing predetermined goals, including information on the efficiency with which resources are transformed into goods and services (PM Solutions Center for Business Practices, 2005). Performance Measurement vs. Value Measurement In measuring performance, program management is trying to gather information to help them make decisions to affect change that, with any luck, will improve that performance. For example, project performance measures are initiated to provide crucial information to managers in order to provide purpose and direction over the project. Those measures must be pertinent and applicable to the organizational level that can immediately effect change based on information it learns in order to control the performance of the project. In measuring value, you are trying to demonstrate that decisions you made to implement change, through project management improvement initiatives, has indeed added value to the organization. This is actually measuring value rather than performance, which may not be the same. While improved performance can be translated into value, value measurement, provide information on the performance of the organization rather than performance of the project. Riordan Project Performance Measures Measurement Construct The Measurement Construct utilized in the Riordan Project is based on the adherence to estimate. Accurate project estimation is crucial in keeping project costs down and stakeholders happy. The Key Performance Indicator project managers want to minimize is expressed by the formula [(E-A)/E], where E = estimated Value to complete project and A = actual Value used to complete project. Project managers can substitute any value into the equation, such as hours or cost, to determine adherence to estimate. This will allow the project management team to spot trends early on during the project and then make the necessary adjustments. To better illustrate this concept figure 2 depicts the subtasks identified as Milestones. The project management has estimated the time required to complete the 1st phase of the project (Project Preparation) would require 10 days. Completion of the phase is signaled by the development of the Statement Of Works. The project management team could measure the performance of the project resources or team members by comparing the actual time required to complete the Milestone against the estimated time to complete the Milestone. Figure 3 Milestones Figure 2 depicts that the estimated time to complete phase 1 was 10 days. If the actual time required to complete phase 1 was recorded at 12. 5 days the performance measure would be as follows: [(10-12. 5)/12. 5]= -20% This value describes a value of -20% of efficiency of the performance of this task. Ideally the task performance would be 0%; the milestone would have been completed within the time estimated during the project inception. While many may feel it is better to come in under the original estimate, the goal is to optimize resources and organizational assets throughout the project. Over committing assets and resources on one project may have undesirable effects in other areas of the organization. The key is to have exactly the required assets and resources available when required and only when required. Project Baseline The project baseline is set when all of the details for the planned project are set. The project baseline in MS Projectà ® is set by selecting View Gantt Chart Tools Tracking Set Baseline Entire Project (eHow, 2011). The Riordan HRIS replacement project baseline is illustrated in Figure 3 Riordan HRIS Project Baseline Illustration. Figure 4 Riordan HRIS Project Baseline Illustration Evaluation Figure 5 Riordan HRIS Replacement Tracking Sheet Risk Analysis Reporting Project Evaluation and Reporting takes a key role in the process and collection of project information for all members involved in the project to track changes, maintain budgetary requirements, and complete objectives on-time. ââ¬Å"Monitoring the progress of the project allows you to adapt the program as needed to ensure that you attain your objectives.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Comparing London by William Blake and Westminster Bridge by William Wor
Comparing London by William Blake and Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth William Blake was born in London in 1757. He was taught by his mother at home, and became an apprentice to an engraver at fourteen. In addition to poetry Blake spent much of his time painting. Blake lived on the edge of poverty and died in neglect. His poetry receiving little acclaim while he was alive. ââ¬ËLondonââ¬â¢ was written by Blake in 1789. Taken from Blakeââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËSongs of Experienceââ¬â¢, the style is darker and in a sense depressing. It describes the city after the Industrial Revolution. Blake takes a very negative and hopeless view of the city and the lives of those living within it. He hated the way London was becoming, looking negatively on business and materialism. Blake felt himself as free, and the poem is a comment on others living in London. In the first line of the first stanza, he creates immediate effect as he contrasts the words ââ¬Ëwanderââ¬â¢ with ââ¬Ëcharterââ¬â¢dââ¬â¢, which he goes on to use to describe the Thames River in the following line. Wander suggests a sense of naturally meandering in an open expanse, contrasting greatly with the latter, which referring to the city itself, suggests a sense of narrow enclosed in space. This description leads the reader to envisage a regulated and constrained city, limited by business and materialism. Blake goes on to describe the ââ¬Ëcharterââ¬â¢d Thames does flow.ââ¬â¢ This is ironic in the sense that any flow seems to be restricted by the banked in and concreted image of the river that the poet creates ââ¬â there is nothing natural or beautiful about the Thames any longer. Equally Blakeââ¬â¢s repetition of the word mark, while us... ...r for what she does in order to make a living. This is ironic because the business of prostitution is caused in part by the restrictions placed upon the married man. It is also ironic because the married man is what has created the need for, and use of prostitutes. The harlot curses the respectable and polite society because it is they who have created the demand for her, and then look down upon what she does. ââ¬ËBlights with plaguesââ¬â¢ implies that perhaps she also infects them with some sort of sexually transmitted disease, conceivably as a type of vengeance upon those who shun her. The final words of the poem, ââ¬Å"Marriage hearseâ⬠compares marriage to death. The narrator sees marriage as another type of restriction placed upon man by society, marriage is a sort of death in manââ¬â¢s ability to be free to do as he wishes.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Over-Crowded Classroom and Students Attitude Towards Learning Essay
Table 1. Class by Class Enrolment of Grade 4 pupils of four selected schools. Class Section| Digos CentralElementary School| Rhema Kingââ¬â¢s KidAcademy| Sta. MariaElementary School| Sta. Cruz Elementary School| A| | | | | B| | | | | C| | | | | D| | | | | Table2. Problems of over-crowded classroom and student-teacher interactions. Please make how much you agree or disagree with each of the following: | StronglyDisagree| Disagree| Agree| StronglyAgree| 5| 1. Noise-making is very rampant during lessons.| | | | | | 2. Securing students total attention during lesson is almost impossible.| | | | | | 3. Many pupils at the back do not participate much in the lesson.| | | | | | 4. Quiet students often get rejected.| | | | | | 5. Only brilliant students answer questions in class.| | | | | | 6. Teachers questions cannot spread round the class.| | | | | | 7. Teachers movements restricted to the front of the class Because studentsââ¬â¢ chairs and tables have locked every space.| | | | | | 8. Teachers cannot move around the class to mark students assignment.| | | | | | 9. It is impossible to catch students cheating.| | | | | | 10. Late-comers sneak in unnoticed.| | | | | | 11. It is difficult for teachers to see students who are not paying attention.| | | | | | 12. Truants go unnoticed in the class.| | | | | | 13. Teaching aids cannot go round everybody.| | | | | | Table 3. Please mark how well you think the following statements describe you: | Not at allLike Me| Not muchLike Me| SomewhatLike Me| A lotLike Me| 1. I really want to learn.| | | | | 2. I participate regularly in class.| | | | | 3. I often need extra help with homework.| | | | | 4. I try my best but it doesnââ¬â¢t help me do well.| | | | | 5. I usually bored with what we study in class.| | | | | 6. The topics I am studying in school are Interesting and challenging.| | | | | 7. I can do better work than Iââ¬â¢m doing now.| | | | | Thinking of the teachers you have in class, how would you grade them in these areas. | Failing ââ¬Å"Fâ⬠| Poor ââ¬Å"Dâ⬠| Fair ââ¬Å"Câ⬠| Good ââ¬Å"Bâ⬠| Excellentââ¬Å"Aâ⬠| 1. Well organized.| | | | | | 2. Communicates clearly.| | | | | | 3. Explains material.| | | | | | 4. Teachers a variety of perspectives.| | | | | | 5. High expectations for all students.| | | | | | 6. Understands subject matters very well.| | | | | | 7. Treat students equally.| | | | | | 8. | | | | | |
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Marriage Ancient China - 924 Words
In recent years, marriage has become not only a relationship with one man and one woman, but in America same sex couples and men who have multiples wives are able to wed as well. Indian and Japanese men and women are able to wed through an arrangement of both families. In ancient China, Chinese couples also had arranged marriages, but in modern times the tradition has faded. Although the way people get married is different a womanââ¬â¢s role in the marriage is similar culture to culture throughout ancient India, China, and Japan, divorce is a common practice in American now, but thousands of years ago there were still laws and criticisms among couples in Indian and Chinese Civilizations preventing such action, and life after a death of aâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Most of the women in the stories were young girls and the time of marriage was usually very short. The girl, Sun Yinxiao was seventeen and her marriage lasted less than a year. She, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦bound a wide gir dle round the beam to hang herself.â⬠(180) Huang Yujue was only fifteen and was only engaged to Chen Rujing when she took a knife to the throat. The amount of bravery shown by the Chinese women to kill themselves to have personal virtue is still questionable to the Chinese people. Marriage, divorce and death is shown and presented in different way in different cultures. Indian civilizations have the Laws of Manu to explain what roles women should perform and how divorces should be performed. Chinese cultures who have the Yin and Yang as a part of marriages not specific duties. Because of the bond, the ancient Chinese wives committed suicide after the death of their husbands. The Japanese are simple in what a womanââ¬â¢s role should be, simply loving and forgiving her husband after mistakes. Although different cultures have different ideas of marriage most husbands and wives still work hard to make it strong, healthy, andShow MoreRelatedWomen Of The Roman Empire102 2 Words à |à 5 PagesIn the Roman Empire, and in most ancient societies, the role and status of woman has been obscured by the bias of ancient male writers. Just as women are viewed in ancient Greece, and Imperial China, women in the Roman Empire were viewed as inferior to men. In the Roman Empire it was believed that women should be under the control of a guardian, which controls the aspects of her life. This guardian could be her father, husband, or a male relative (Nystrom). Marriage in the Roman Empire was not romanticRead MoreHomosexuality in China1749 Words à |à 7 PagesFreedom or Conservative ï ¼Å¸ ----Homosexual in China China was considered as a conservative society where do not get really open to sexual discussion. Even now, dating in high-school is considered too early and does not appropriate in China, which would cause problems in school if being found by teachers or parents. Meanwhile, Chinese attitude towards homosexual is more open than the West society. The night life for gay people are so various and at least among the young, we do not avoid talkingRead MoreThe Status Of Women : Ancient China1508 Words à |à 7 Pagescustoms that dominated in China in the past century, numerous topics appear. Thanks to the numerous written testimonies, we can almost reconstruct the life and experiences of people in ancient China. Of course, many of the practices described are not only interesting, but surprising. In this paper I am going to take a closer look at the status of women in ancient Chinese family. Relevance of the topic is that today the interest in the culture of Asian countries, including China grows and so does theRead MoreWomen During The Roman Empire921 Words à |à 4 PagesAside from ancient Greece and China, there has also been much diversity and contradictory evidence for women in the Roman Empire. On one hand, the cultural assumption was that women were inferior to men and they should obey their husbands or fathers. While, on the other hand, there is scattered evidence that women were engaged in commerce, heading of the household, and influencing politics. An approach to this second assumption was suggested that their participation by women in all these affairsRead MoreHow Chinese Culture Has Changed Over The Years1509 Words à |à 7 Pagesworld. One of the integral parts of Chinese culture that was not thoroughly discussed in class is the role Chinese women played in ancient traditional society and how it has transformed in the many historical changes is the way of life in china. I aim to speak on women in ancient times, women at the end of feudal society as well as the role of women in present day China. I chose this topic because I view women as the backbone to the development or a nation, therefore the Chinese woman is paramountRead MoreAncient Rome And Ancient China939 Words à |à 4 PagesAncient Rome and Ancient China were two different civilizations with very different yet very similar ways of life. Culture, religion, and more importantly, politics, helped make life the way it was for those who lived in ancient rome and ancient china. Politics were what made everything function, just as it does today. Politics is what was responsible for the wars that took place between civilizations, and why dynastyââ¬â¢s fell and why new ones rose right after. Politics were the backbone holding upRead MoreSummar of The Radical Idea of Marrying for Love, by Stephanie Coontz965 Words à |à 4 PagesENG 112-250 Summary Final Draft Love Actually Author Stephanie Coontz writes about the ideas of love and marriage through out history in the article ââ¬Å"The Radical Idea of Marrying for Love.â⬠Early in the article Coontz quotes an early twentieth century author by the name of George Bernard Shaw, who states, ââ¬Å"marriage is an institution that brings together two people under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive, and most transient of passions. They are required to swear thatRead MoreConfucianism : Religion, Religions, Ideologies, And Philosophies1564 Words à |à 7 Pagesminds of the ancient people whom crafted these religions and follow them. There is many misconceptions of any religion which can create a bias against learning about the religion. By doing that you also do not learn about a culture Some religions and philosophies have stood the test of time. Many religions have died out but there are still a few which have survived and even thrived over thousands of years. One of the most well known smaller religions is Confucianism. Its ties to ancient Chinese governmentRead MoreThe Banning Of Movies On Lgbt, Religion, Laws, And History1532 Words à |à 7 Pageschurches are beginning to grow more accepting towards the LGBTQ community (Murphy). Indic religions, or Dharmic religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, do not express strong opinions on homosexuality. In fact, a third gender is mentioned in an ancient Hindu legal text called Manu Smriti. This excerpt explains the third gender as such: A male child is produced by a greater quantity of male seed, a female child by the prevalence of the female; if both are equal, a third-sex child or boy and girlRead MoreThe Radical Idea Of Marrying For Love923 Words à |à 4 Pages Love is rarely the motivating reason for marriage, and Stephanie Coontzââ¬â¢s article, ââ¬Å"The Radical Idea of Marrying for Love,â⬠discusses this. Coontz brings forth a lot of information and many examples to inform the reader of how the western idea of marriage isnââ¬â¢t really as common as we believe that it is. She starts her article with a quote from George Bernard Shaw, who says that people who marry for love are, ââ¬Å"under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive, and most transient
Saturday, December 28, 2019
A Comparison of Emma by Jane Austen and Movie Clueless Essay
A Comparison of Emma by Jane Austen and Movie Clueless The film Clueless, written and directed by Amy Heckerling, is an adaptation of Jane Austens novel Emma and closely parallels the story in terms of character development and action. Although Emma was written in 1816 and developed ideas and issues of that period in time, 180 years on we can still recognize and identify with the exact same issues. This just proves that despite all the radical social changes that have taken place since Jane Austens time, people and life havent really changed all that much. The general life issues of money, love, friendship, class and finding ones place in the world are raised in both texts. From the veryâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦But with these compliments and cash comes a certain amount of snobbery and I believe that it is the fathers over-indulgence in their daughters that has caused this. It is here that the real problems of both Chers and Emmas situations come to light. Both girls have the habit of getting rather too much their own way and a disposition to think a little too highly of themselves. In both movies the girls mothers died when they were quite young and at first viewing do not have a major part in either movie. But at second glance we can begin to see the root of the fathers over-indulgence. Because of their wealth, Emma and Cher are spoiled, in control socially, and tend to think too highly of themselves. This is a result of the lack of a maternal figure in their lives and the fact that their fathers and governess (in Emmas case) were too lenient and indulgent during their upbringing. Another branch of the relationship issue that is shown in both movies is friendship, and follows on from the issue of Chers and Emmas wealth and power. The snobbery of both girls leads Cher and Emma to, in their eyes, take pity on Tai and Harriet Smith, two girls of lower social status. Emma decides that Harriet should be made into a proper young lady, and that the friends Harriet has already made are unworthy of her and causing her harm. Even though Emma has never met Mr Martin, with whom Harriet hasShow MoreRelatedEmma Woodhouse Is Handsome, Clever, And Rich1111 Words à |à 5 PagesEmma Woodhouse is handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition and has lived twenty-one years and has very little stress in her life. But what if Emma was taken from her Georgian-Regency England and placed in the Twentieth century; would she be just as accomplished or would she just be a silly little girl. Jane Austin herself stated that ââ¬Å"I am going to take a hero ine whom no one but myself will much likeâ⬠. The narrator of the book Emma also describes her as being spoiledRead MoreTransformations: Emma and Clueless1297 Words à |à 6 PagesThe universality of themes pervading both Emma and Clueless in correlation with the humanistic, obviously flawed protagonists in both texts, captivates and immerses responders. This engagement leads to an involvement and enjoyment in the composerââ¬â¢s craft, which enables the respondersââ¬â¢ to obtain sophisticated insight into the textââ¬â¢s concerns on both subjective and objective levels. Critiques agree that the transformation enables an audience to ââ¬Å"enjoy cultural capital and aesthetic knowledgeâ⬠while
Friday, December 20, 2019
Islam Is The Third Largest Faith - 1976 Words
Currently in the United States, Islam is the third largest faith following Christianity and Judaism (Religious Landscape Study). Sadly, with Islam being the third most popular religion, most Americans hold false views and miss informed judgements towards Muslims community, their practices, and beliefs. Prior to attending the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, I knew very little about my Muslim neighbors. During my time at the mosque, I learned about the Qurââ¬â¢an, how to write in Arabic, and the history of Islam. Islam is the belief of the teachings of Muhammad, who is believed to be the Messenger of God. Muhammad, the last prophet sent by God in 610 A.D, claimed to encounter an angelic visitation which is believed to be the beginning of Islam. Muhammad began preaching the words of Allah (the Arabic word for God) which was later compiled into the text of the Qurââ¬â¢an. The Qurââ¬â¢an did not originate with Muhammad, but contains many of Muhammadââ¬â¢s teachings h e spread. The Qurââ¬â¢an contains the Muslim five pillars of Islam. These pillars include Testimony of Faith, Fasting, Charity (zakat), and Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) for those who are able (Enchassi). These five pillars of Islam are the framework to the Muslim beliefs. Along with learning about the history of Islam, it really opened my eyes to how similar the beliefs of my faith, Christianity, is compared to the Muslim faith. Prior to learning about the Islamic faith, I did not realize that Christianity and Islam sharedShow MoreRelatedThe Teachings of Islam662 Words à |à 3 PagesThe Teachings of Islam Islam is a religion with different rules, and beliefs. Islam is not only a religion, it is also a teaching. It takes a lot of time away from a Muslims everyday life, the Muslimââ¬â¢s have to do multiple prayers every single day. Islam includes, the five pillars of faith, and the holy Qurââ¬â¢an. All Islamics must believe in one god and only one god, Allah. The five pillars of faith are basic acts, the first one is the Declaration of Faith. This act states that you can see AllahRead MoreThe Nature of Islam 1006 Words à |à 4 PagesThe Nature of Islam Although Islam is the second largest religion in the world with over 1.6 billion devotees, making up about twenty-three percent of the worldââ¬â¢s population, for the hoi polloi, the image of Islam remains unclear. In contrast to contrary popular belief, research shows that Islamic practice is simplicity itself. Muslims live a normal life on a day to day basis. Itsââ¬â¢ practice does not require mediation of ministers, priests or gurus, instead it incorporates five rules to live byRead MoreThe Religions Of Islam, Hinduism, And Buddhism1241 Words à |à 5 Pagesdeveloping world. This paper will discuss the major religions of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism and how these faiths connect to politics of nations. Islam has always been a very mixed within state and society as a whole, with no true line between church and state. Islam began in the Arabia by the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century, and is the second largest religion in the world today. Muslims are the followers of the Islam and believe in only on God, or Allah. Muslims base their beliefsRead More Trinity of Beliefs Essay1361 Words à |à 6 Pages We study different religious faiths in order to understand other people. Many people have strong religious convictions, and it would be impossible to understand them without first understanding their faith. Which is why when studying the early Western World the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which are all closely related, are examined. All three of these religions are Western, they are monotheistic, and together they form the Abramic religions. Judaism is the oldest, dating from aroundRead MoreThe Tangling Of Religion And Politics1399 Words à |à 6 Pagesthe two do es cause controversial decision making. Using major religions such as Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism to show how faith relates to politics will be demonstrated. Islam has been and still is heavily intertwined within the society and government with no real line separating the two. The Prophet Muhammad started Islam in Mecca, Arabia centuries ago and now it has grown to become the second largest religion dominating the world today. Muslims, Islamic believers, believe in oneRead MoreEssay about Islam: The Rich Culture of the Middle East936 Words à |à 4 Pagesreligion of Islam is the second most popular religion over the entire globe, and follows a strict set of rules derived from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, a messenger of God, or Allah. Founded in 622 C.E. (also known as A.D.) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Islam is a strictly monotheistic religion that drew inspiration from earlier religions like Christianity and Judaism. It is divided into three different sections- the Sunni, Shiââ¬â¢a and Sufi sects. The Qurââ¬â¢an is the holy book of Islam, and is consideredRead MoreSpread of Islam in India1409 Words à |à 6 PagesBroadcastin g of India the third largest Muslim population of the world is embedded in India. Even though the major religion of India is Hinduism, and Islam is in the second place of its minor religion still it has the largest Muslim minority all over the world (World Directory of Minorities- Muslim of India). This statistics clearly depicts the successful expansion and establishment of Islam in early period of India even though India was populated with indigenous religious beliefs. Islam is a monotheisticRead MoreThe Religion of Islam Essay1446 Words à |à 6 Pages The country of Saudi Arabia has only one religion which caused Islam it is the largest religion in the Middle East. The follower?s of Islam are Muslims. Muslims believe in only one God just like the Jews and Christians, the major difference is the belief in the nature of God. The word for God in Arabic is Allah and that is what Muslims call God. By looking at the history, the beliefs, and the Islamic terrorists, Islam has been view as a bad religion. The Islamic religion is generally a veryRead MoreHinduism And The Islamic Religion1329 Words à |à 6 Pagesof the more prominent religions in society are Hinduism and the Islamic religion. The Origins of Worship | Urantia Book | Urantia Foundation. 2015. Hinduism Hinduism has acquired over 900 million followers worldwide which has boosted it to the third largest religion. Founded roughly 4000 years ago, Hinduism is also one of the oldest religions to still exist today. It does not have a specific founder as due to people being called ââ¬ËHinduââ¬â¢ if they lived in either the Punjab or Indus valley and it eventuallyRead MoreIslam : A Religion Of Discipline And Devotion1298 Words à |à 6 PagesIslam: A Religion of Discipline and Devotion Islam is the second largest monotheistic religion in the world that comes under Abrahamic faith. It consists of one point six billion followers that cover approximately twenty three percent of the worldââ¬â¢s population, and adherents of this faith are known as Muslims. The ideal fundamentals and principles of Islam is often misunderstood in the western society. Eventhough it is one of the most powerful growing religion in the world, it is percieved to
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Conflict Management Essay Example For Students
Conflict Management Essay Organizational BehaviorBut we cannot avoid conflict, conflict with society, other individuals and with oneself. Conflicts may be sources of defeat, lost life and a limitation of our potentiality, but they may also lead to a greater depth of living and the birth of more far-reaching unites, which flourish in the tensions that engender them. -Karl JaspersThe amount of entropy in corporate America has increased substantially because of two basic reasons. The first involves the immigration of a large and continuous population of ethnic, migrant workers from different corners of the world. These knowledge workers are products of varying, and at times diametrically opposing environments that in turn, affect their perceptions and subsequently the formulation of their opinions and beliefs. This may be illustrated in a comparison between two coworkers; a wealthy Swede and a lower-middle class Pakistani (first world and LDC comparison) working on the same project simultaneously. Their perspectives on several issues will vary, as their upbringing is mirror opposite. The second reason may be attributed to the era of globalization, which has created a favorable environment for mergers and acquisitions. The acquisition of smaller companies by a large firm creates large amounts of conflict within the organization, as the acquired company becomes a mere sub culture within the larger firm. A collection of these sub cultures causes cross-cultural conflicts between employees as each employee has their own fixed mindset. However, they now have to adopt a new set of (conflicting) goals, work in a different environment under a separate management team. The resultant conflict is harmful to the existing organizational environment, and unless rectified, produces a self-destruct climate that does not support the long-term goals of the corporation. As corporate America enters the next millennium, it is faced with the increasingly difficult task of integrating these varying opinions, climates and management styles to produce an environment that supports the companys long terms goals. This process of integration is better understood by studying the science of conflict management. A Conflict is a process that encompasses all kinds of antagonistic interactions (passive resistance to overt aggression) among people, designed to inhibit the attainment of goals of another party that has dissimilar and incompatible objectives. Conflict management involves resolving these negative processes through communication and compromise. It is the art of persuading two antagonistic parties to come to a workable solution on a debatable subject to attain a common goal. This paper performs an acute dissection of organizational conflict. It emphasizes that a certain amount of conflict is necessary for corporations to constantly innovate and survive in a turbulent environment. Particular attention is devoted to organizational metamorphoses in mergers and in trade negotiations between the U.S and Pacific-rim countries, as they both present cases of differing organizational cultures and ideologies. PERSPECTIVES IN CONFLICT ANALYSISConflicts can be analyzed from five different perspectives, beginning from the individual level, up to the organizational level. It starts at the individual level (Intra-indvidual conflicts) where individuals are confronted with moral dilemmas or ?deadly quarrels . The next level involves conflicts between individuals (Inter-individual conflicts) that occur because of communication gaps and differences in opinion. Individual-group conflicts are ones where individuals find themselves sparring with groups. This may occur when an individual breaks a norm. They usually occur with newer employees who are not familiar with the norms of the organization. A rung above this level of conflict involves conflict between groups, which include conflicts between all aggregations of people, regardless of size. It encompasses conflicts across departments of a firm as well as conflicts between different firms. Inter group conflicts are most commonly found in acquired c ompanies where cultural differences exist between old and new employees. The best way to resolve these conflicts involves setting up work teams within the troubled zones, whereby grievances are openly aired and defensive routines (not discussing the undiscussability of the undiscussable) are avoided. While studying an acquisition between Compaq and Tandem computers, I proposed that the establishment of work groups across all levels of the organizations consisting of Compaq and Tandem employees would be the most effective way of diffusing tension and subsequently reducing conflict between employees. Communication in small groups enable peers to interact with each other, increasing their understanding of each other which in turn increases interpersonal coordination. SOURCES OF CONFLICTConflicts usually spring from the following sources within an organization. 1. Limited Resources: Basic economics state that all resources are finite, and this promotes conflict among individuals and groups. 2. Interdependent Work activities- Differences in opinion regarding the usage of these scarce resources result in conflict as people have differences in perspective. 3. Communication problems- inadequate channels of communication between opposing parties result in the escalation of conflict. 4. Environment of the organization- this is applicable to the creation of an organizational climate in a corporation that has recently acquired other firms. Cultural differences coupled with poor communication between managers create conflict between all employees. Frequent changes in a firms environment, or the amount of turbulence in the environment often promotes conflict among members. An example is the change in importance from hardware to software in the computer industry, and the subsequent actions IBM had to take in the early 1980s. CONFLICT MANAGEMENTConflict is good! Stimulating conflict can provide several benefits to the organization. They provide the organization a means to introduce radical change. Management can drastically change the existing power structure and attitudes. While it is argued that conflict increases hostility between group members, external pressures and threats tend to make the unit more close knit. Intergroup conflicts raise the extent to which members identify with their own group and increase feelings of solidarity, while, at the same time, internal differences and irritations dissolve. Additionally, Conflicts improve group and organizational effectiveness by encouraging innovation through diversity of opinion and through the creation of a more constructive level of tension . Low-tension levels signify insufficient motivation within the group. The introduction of a conflict activates peoples gray matter and this is beneficial for the organization. Recent studies show that the ?right a mount of conflict maximizes organizational performance (See Appendix A). Although conflict does not facilitate efficiency in decision making, it prevents groupthink. Differences in opinion prevent wayward decision making as they provide a natural system of checks and balances for the group. Americas intervention in the Vietnam War is the perfect illustration of the negative effects that the lack of conflict has on the eventual decision. Recorded below are transcripts of four successive American presidents regarding the importance of Americas intervention into the Vietnam War. EISENHOWER, August 4, 1953: So when the United States votes $400 million to help that war, were not voting for a giveaway program. Were voting for the cheapest way that we can prevent the occurrence of something that would be of the most terrible significance to the United States of America, our security! KENNEDY, September 2, 1963: If we withdrew from Vietnam, the Communists would control Vietnam. Pretty soon Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaya would go. JOHNSON, August 2, 1965: If this little nation goes down the drain and cant maintain her independence, ask yourself, whats going to happen to all the other little nations? NIXON, March 22, 1971: If the United States now were to throw in the towel and come home and the Communists took over South Vietnam, then all over Southeast Asia, all over the Pacific, in the Mideast, in Europe, in the world, the United States would suffer a blow. And peace because we are the great peacekeeping nation in the world today, because of our power would suffer a blow from which it might not recover. Their unanimous agreement over the importance of Americas participation in the war was not questioned at any cost. That negligence on Americas part would create a domino effect in south East Asia had become the underlying assumption that was never questioned. The lack of dialogue on a topic of such magnitude points to the fact that groupthink arises from a lack of conflict. It was this lack of conflict and diversity of opinion that lead to a faulty foreign policy decision and a subsequent escalation of commitment by President Lyndon B Johnson. In a sample study to prove the effectiveness of conflict in work groups, ?Groups were formed to solve a problem. As in the typical experiment, there were experimental and control groups. The experimental group had a ?planted? member who job it was to challenge the majority view; the control groups had no such member. In all cases, the experimental groups came up with better solutions to the problem than did the control groups. However, excess conflict has a diametrically opposite impact on organizational performance (See Appendix A). It hinders team development, promotes aggression, causes indifference and has negative consequences on team spirit. Consider the National Democratic Alliance, Indias ruling party that comprised of 15 coalition members. After being elected into government in early 1998, it was toppled over within a year due to a terrific amount of friction between the coalition members. The coalition parliamentarians could not agree on a single issue and this complete lack of coordination lead to the downfall of the government and subsequently to fresh elections. Resurrection And Christ EssayThe Otis Elevator Companys entry into the Chinese market is a prime example of how conflicts can be resolved through integration, compromise and positive confrontation. The Otis Elevator Company wanted to gain access and participate in the Chinese market It would use the cheap, skilled labor to its advantage to have a competitive advantage over its competitors. Chinas primary objectives behind allowing the Otis Elevator Company into its market were to acquire advanced technology, earn valuable foreign exchange and gain management expertise. During negotiations, three major hurdles were encountered. The first hurdle involved Chinas demand to produce advanced products to substitute for imports and save valuable Chineses foreign exchange. Otis on the other hand wanted to initially transfer their more primitive technology since they could meet the demands of the market. Over a period of time, the latest technology could be transferred as they gained experie nce in the technology. Through compromise, the Chinese drew up a technology transfer schedule that entailed the transfer of the latest technology over a period of time. Otis compromised on the second Chinese demand- shared management. The contract specified that Otis assent would be necessary for major management decisions within the firm. This reflected Otis willingness to integrate their needs with the Chinese demands. The most difficult issue related to foreign exchange. The Chinese currency, the renminbi (RMB) is non-convertible and the government seldom converted foreign business earnings into foreign exchange. After much bargaining, Otis and the Chinese government agreed to a solution whereby Otis was not required to buy a fixed amount of products and the Chinese government did not have to guarantee conversion of RMB earnings. This is an excellent example of how conflicts can be successfully navigated and resolved through mutual compromise to produce a symbiotically beneficial agreement. Had their not been conflict between the two parties, it would have been a case of pure exploitation by one party against another. Through conflict management, they innovated to constitute a fresh agreement that would suit both their needs along with turbulence in the environment. I would like to conclude by reiterating the importance of constructive conflict and its management in this day and age. Conflicts are beneficial if they are harmonious and tranquil. They promote intellectual dialogue and prevent groupthink. In an age where mergers become more common by the day, conflict management holds the key to saving millions of dollars by increasing interdepartmental coordination by reducing friction between employees. Conflicts should be used as opportunities to refine behavioural patterns and constantly innovate in a changing world. We find comfort among those who agree with us. Growth among those who dont. -Frank. ClarkMy sentiments precisely. Psychology
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