College Essays (563 words) - Xhosa People, , Term Papers

Robert Jencks November 8, 2011 The Island: Process Essay I discovered this task extremely testing now and again, yet at long last I took in a great deal about making verse. The principal obstacle I needed to defeat was who my letter would have been composed, and after much consultation, and to and fro I settled on Nelson Mandela. I have consistently respected his commitment, and his calm quality that makes everybody around him settled. His capacity to love instead of lashing out, and not look for retribution on those that removed his opportunity is dumbfounding. He has consistently yielded his own requirements for the improvement of his kin. I needed to see a customary South African resident who his penance has legitimately made a difference. I picked my persona to be young ladies, so it would permit me to differentiate the old and male Mandela. I needed to utilize my letter to not just say thanks to Mr. Mandela, yet to comprehend his encounters while at Robben Island. I needed to be in his cell, eat his food and smell what he smelled. I n eeded to absolutely drench myself in his regular day to day existence in jail so I could completely get him, and by doing this assistance to recognize the hardships he persevered. By doing this I had the option to truly put myself there close by Nelson. I had the option to strikingly consider your to be as I envisioned it to be which was unimaginably useful in creating my sonnet. After my underlying battles picking a persona I am exceptionally glad I decided to assume the job of Riley, and to keep in touch with Mr. Mandela. I likewise delighted in the innovative procedure that joined conceptualizing potential personas. It empowered me to take a stab at specific skins or personalities to check whether they fit me. Since the Apartheid government was so shrewd, and abusive to dark I thought that it was anything but difficult to feel the torment that an abusive government powers on the persecuted. The penance distraught by Mr. Mandela made him an unfathomably amiable and thoughtful man to relate to and inspired me to do the most ideal activity recorded as a hard copy about him. After my underlying letter was done I broke that letter into lines of 10 to 12 syllables. After I finished this I viewed that my center was much as excessively expansive and that I expected to concentrate all the more intently on one piece of his experience. I chose to concentrate on his cell at Robben Island. I needed to put myself there nearby him. This activity helped my general comprehension of graceful structure. The more I chipped away at sounding out focused and unstressed schedule the simpler it became. Since beat is so significant in verse this activity permitted me to rehearse this aptitude. Clear section is such an adaptable sort of meter it doesn't cuff us like some different structures. It looks like communicated in English more than most types of verse. Anyway it gives us a structure to manufacture our sonnet around. It gives us the skeleton of our sonnet, and gives us an extremely great beat that is satisfying to the ear. Clear section additionally gives us the opportunity to not stress over rhyme. So we get the dazzling advantage of the rhythm without the sing tune sound of rhymed poetic pattern. This is an aptitude that will assuredly help me in my future sonnet composing.

Learning How to Write a Final Paper

Learning How to Write a Final PaperIn the first semester of a new college, there is one thing that you will find is relatively difficult, and that is writing a final paper. You are probably a good writer, but unless you take some time to practice, there is no way that you will be able to write a satisfactory final paper. It is possible to learn how to write a final paper in the first semester.The first thing that you must do is make some sort of an outline of your topics. For example, if you are writing a paper on political science, you will need to have some sort of a general outline for your topic, but that will vary from student to student. By outlining your topics, you will be able to plan your paper more effectively. It is a good idea to have a rough draft of your outline and then go back to it later when you have finished your outline. Having a rough draft can also help you find any problems with your outline.After you have an outline, you will want to go through your outline a nd make sure that all of your paragraphs are complete. In this stage, make sure that each paragraph flows logically, and gives your reader a strong feeling about what the topic of your paper is. Each paragraph should contain a beginning, middle, and ending.If you find that you do not like writing, then you will want to make sure that you have someone help you with your writing assignments. If you are having trouble writing a paper, then you may want to hire a professional writer. There are many online services that offer to write papers for students for a low rate. However, you will want to make sure that the writer is a good writer, and that they can write a good paper.When you start writing, it is important to keep in mind that this is the final presentation of your work. It is very easy to write a paper that does not flow well, so you will want to make sure that your writer knows this. If you are having trouble writing a paper, you should ask your writer for some help and then as k them to rewrite parts of the paper that are difficult for you to write. It is also a good idea to ask them to rewrite the ending of your paper.Writing a paper is a very specific process. There are certain key stages that you will need to follow in order to make sure that your paper flows well. If you follow these steps, then you will be able to write a very good paper. Once you have completed the steps in the stages of writing a paper, then you will be able to relax and enjoy yourself while writing your paper.Writing a paper is quite an art form. The more practice you have done, the better you will become at writing a paper. There are so many different topics to write about in the paper, and the key is to figure out which ones are best suited for your topic. As you get better at writing papers, you will find that your level of writing will rise.Remember that writing a paper is not always easy, and that you will need to take time to perfect your craft. It is not hard to become a be tter writer, and you can make the process a lot easier by taking some time to practice and build up your skills.

Retail Management Definition, Processes, Best Practices

Retail Management Definition, Processes, Best Practices The business dictionary defines retail management as the process of promoting greater sales and customer satisfaction.If you break this down, you will get all the aspects of running a retail business. For example, to achieve more sales, you must know what the market needs. Once you know what is needed, then making sales becomes significantly less burdensome since needs have to be met.In the course of meeting people’s needs, you will recognize the place of quality products, great customer service and employee satisfaction. For you to keep meeting needs, you have to stay competitive and make enough profit so as to expand accordingly and motivate your staff as well.This article helps you understand how the retail management process works to give you maximum profits while satisfying both customers and employees.THE RETAIL PROCESSESBeing a process, retail management consists of several steps to be followed so as to achieve its goals. These steps are what determine the way the business w ill be run and how profitable it will be.In retail management, there are four basic steps which have to be followed so as to achieve the goals set. Let us look at these.PlanningA plan is a proposed method of doing or achieving something. It details the steps to be followed so as to ensure resources are well utilized and misuse avoided or at least minimized.In retail management, planning is what sets the ball rolling. It is the first stage of running the business. At this point, a lot of work is done to set the stage for the final and most visible part of the processâ€"selling.Planning in itself can be broken into several steps as discussed below.1. Market ResearchYou have decided to venture into the retail industry. Your intentions are to gain a considerable market share and eventually be the biggest and most profitable business. But have you decided on what to sell? Where and how to sell it?These are some of the questions that you need to answer at this stage. If you will for examp le sell general consumer products, like what supermarkets sell, then you need to research on that. If aiming to sell cars, then you also need to do some homework.What are the products available on the market? Who are the suppliers? What is the growth of the industry? How fast does it grow? What are the returns? What are the usual expenses?When doing market research, you are seeking to find out what to engage in so as to achieve your goals. You want to ensure that you have set everything right in order to avoid unnecessary obstacles.This could also come down to the difference between needs and wants. There are businesses which specialize in providing wants, e.g. luxury living, whereas others provide needs i.e. food, shelter, clothing and healthcare.If you are operating from a retailer’s level, you are interacting directly with consumers. It therefore becomes necessary to ensure there is a need for the product you want to trade in. Even if you want to provide wants, ensure there is ‘need’ for them. This is the essence of market research.2. LogisticsThis step includes detailed organization of how products will move from the supplier to your stores in the event that you are the one collecting them. This has to do with the transport options which you have available, considering the relevant costs.Apart from transporting, time is also crucial in this stage. It is not enough to know where to get goods from. It is equally important to know what time it will usually take to get them to your store. Part of this is the time spent having your purchase order processed at your point of purchase.Logistics is not just external but also internal. The staff handling logistics must know the size of your store rooms. All the goods that will be received will have to be either going to the shelves or a storage area. It would be a disaster having more products than can fit in your storage area.3. ExpensesNo business can make any profit without keeping tabs on its expenses. You r budget essentially determines how much purchases you make. More than that, it serves as a safety warning because ideally, you should never go beyond your budget.In this planning stage, you will have to look beyond purchases. Consider the operating costs, salaries to be paid, bills to be settled etc. Calculate the expected costs in terms of rent, marketing, computer systems to be installed and whatever else you will spend money on.Although you may not be able to cover everything, try to check on as much as possible. Since costs are usually higher than profits when starting out, find out how long it will possibly take you to break even. This is important as it helps you maintain a realistic focus on your pursuit of profits.4. Profit marginsYou are in business and that means you have to make profit. This is something you have to plan for. Having done your market research and engaged several suppliers on possible quantities and discounts, you should have decided on the appropriate pro fit margins.It is very possible that when the time to buy comes, there may be a change in the prices. Whether this will be the case or not, once you have decided on the percentages you will make, then it’s easy to adjust your prices.The issue of margins can be a tricky one to handle at times, especially if you are completely new in the industry. Since you may want to quickly attract customers, you may decide to significantly lower your prices compared to your competitors.You may however find that there are products which retail at specific prices such that going lower than that may even draw suspicion.At the same time, price wars can be very vicious. And if you start that war and your competitors realize you are eating into their market share, you may not be able to withstand a counter attack unless you have very deep pockets. Or you have managed to secure some strategic agreements with suppliers.Some of these agreements can be about you being the only authorized retailer of certa in fast-moving products. You could also be the only licensed provider of a specific in-store service. This can ensure more trust gets built with your customers as they seek licensed and authorized services.These however don’t have to be the only means of achieving your goals. When it comes to strategy, there are always many ways to win.You can negotiate discount percentages on the basis of huge quantities being purchased. As long as the products do not have a short shelf life, you can for example buy 3 months’ goods at once so that you get higher discounts.Such a move would require you to also check your procurement policies so as to avoid overstocking your store. If you have someone or people handling your finances, you’ll need to consult them so that they can advise.5. StaffingHave you decided on the size of the store or whole company? This should be decided early. If possible, the hired staff should be part of the team arranging the goods on the shelves before the opening o f business.When staff are hired in the early stages of planning, they form relations which will help build the team spirit. You can start with a minimum number of employees then increase as you see the need.In planning for your employees, you should have in mind the various positions you will need to drive your business. From the managers to the cleaners, you will be looking for different qualifications.With the different qualifications also come different pay amounts. This is something to be discussed with the finance team. If you are looking to start a retail business and you are yet to have any employee or don’t have someone to consult on this, then you will have to work on this at the market research level.Included in staffing matters is training and other forms of employee retention. This is of great importance to avoid the resignation of your top talent. This can be a big blow to your business especially if it comes after you have started making profits.Your staff will typic ally be aware, or think they are aware, of your company’s profitability. When they think you are making much money but not investing in their good, then they can leave for the competitor or worse, defraud you.This means that you need to provide great incentives to your employees. Although there may be different types of incentives for the different categories of employees, there should at least be a standard. Ensure all your employees are happy with what they get.6. Inventory ManagementThe inventory is the backbone of any retail business because the stock is what is making the business stand. Minus the goods, there is no business. This means that the inventory is your company’s main asset. You will recognize this reality when you learn about the effects of pilferage.For an idea how you can lose business through employee theft. Watch the below video and see how it happens in a restaurant setting. Pilferage causes many companies to suffer great losses. If undetected or not tackled effectively, then you could as well end up shutting down. This is because the stock available for selling is less than what you bought. You will therefore make no profit from what you are selling.When you consider inventory management, there are three main points to consider:I. Restock levels â€" the products you are selling will run out and you will have to buy some more. The question is, at what point do you buy more stock?Ideally, customers should never come to your store and find that you don’t have the stock that is available elsewhere. If you have worked hard and managed to get the customers into your store, then ensure they come back again for the supplies they need.Because stocks run out, you have to replenish them soonest possible. At the beginning, you may have a hard time knowing the appropriate time to restock.The best way of going about this is by doing a thorough market research. This should include finding out what products move fastest and which ones move slowest. You should always have enough quantities of the fast-moving products in your store.If you know that the supplier takes two days to deliver and you sell 5 pieces of product A in three days, then make weekly orders of 12 pieces. From that point, closely monitor the progress and change accordingly.II. Understocking â€" this is having less products than the quantities needed by customers. This eats into your profits because customers will not have much to buy. When you notice that your store is experiencing dropped sales, this can be one of the causes.Understocking also does another harm. This harm is in the minds of customers but the effect is on your business. When your shelves look empty because you don’t have the right quantities of goods, they paint the picture that the business is not doing well.You might be experiencing delays in delivery but your customers rarely get to understand that. If they experience this severally, they will just go to the store which offers them everyt hing they need.III. Overstocking â€" this is just the opposite of understocking. When you have excess stock, your cash flow will suffer. This is because your money will be held in stock which is not moving thus causing a lot of inefficiencies in your operations.You will realize that you cannot operate in an efficient manner when the daily payments that need to be done can no longer be made. Another symptom of cash flow problems is the lack of petty cash.When you overstock, not only do you lack petty cash, you also stand to experience problems with expiring goods. When you buy too much and cannot sell them fast enough, you end up with goods whose shelf life is pretty short.For you to clear them, you will have to reduce their prices to encourage sales or give them away while it is still safe to use. This eats into your profit margins and could even lead to losses.Worse still, there is the danger of your staff not recognizing a certain product as almost expiring or already expired. If a customer buys such a product, you have very little control over what his reaction would be. Anything from being maligned to being sued is possible.BuyThis is the process of acquiring the products which you will sell. Although it may seem like an easy step, it is best to recognize its importance. Without careful consideration, you may not be able to maximize on some great opportunities.There are two basic stages in the buying process. SourcingFor you to buy, you have to find some sellers. In the retail industry, unless there is only one supplier of a product, it is best to have several suppliers you can buy from. This helps you stay in control of your business in case one is not able to deliver.In the sourcing stage, you will have to find out who is the best supplier. Note that the best is not necessarily the one who other retailers are buying from. The best is strictly according to your business needs.Who sells at the lowest price? Who is willing to deliver to your store? Who give s the best after sales services? What are their return policies? What are their credit periods? What discounts do they give? These and many other questions will be asked and answered at this stage.Take time to know the people behind those businesses. In some cases, the manager may not be able to give you a discount. But if you get to know the owner of the business and form a good relationship with him, you can get lower prices.Remember that relationships are not just built with your customers but your suppliers as well. These are the people who facilitate your business. If you don’t have the goods then you will have nothing to sell.Note that negotiations do not have to be solely based on the prices. Depending on what will benefit your business, you can get some advantage over your competitors if they collect their supplies while you get them delivered to your stores.The advantage for you is the cutting down of operating costs. This eventually adds to your profit. Additionally, if you can get suppliers who are willing to give you longer credit periods, that can also work to your advantage.This way, especially if you sell well, you may make more profit per financial period compared to the competition. This comes from the lower expenses you will have incurred due to less outgoing payments. This gives you the opportunity to put more money where it profits most.This can be especially good when you are just starting your business. ProceduresThe act of buying involves some processes. These processes can literally make or break your business especially when speed is required. At the same time, your processes must have appropriate checks and balances so as to ensure the safety of your business.In this age of technology, you most likely have a computer system which is running a software fit for the buying process. There are notable retail systems which have functionality to help you achieve efficiency. In general, there are two types of systems you can employ, either alone or together:I. Back-office system â€" this is the system you will use to make purchases and handle other work like record keeping. In purchasing, there is at least one document needed. This is the local purchase order (LPO). However, depending on the requirements of your system, which is really a reflection of the requirements of your business, you may need more documents.Some businesses may require a purchase requisition from the shelf attendant to be attached to the LPO. Others may also require a quotation to show that the price in the LPO is what the supplier gave.Most of these requirements are usually put in place for security purposes to prevent manipulation of the system. It is important to note however, that the more the requirements, the longer it takes to finalize the process of buying before making the actual order.II. POS system â€" this is the system running at the check-out counter. The POS system is usually meant to communicate with the back-office system to give information of what has been purchased. This way, the whole system keeps the inventory in check.In smaller businesses, the POS and back-office system can be combined. One system could have both capabilities such that the back office work is done when there is less POS work.This should only be the case if you are the only person working in the business such that you do both the back-office and cashier work.Procedures are key both when securing your system and the business in general as well as when looking to avoid unnecessary steps in the buying process. This is because it may take too long to go from one person to another in the case of a big business where there are several people who should give approvals.MoveThis stage describes the processes involved in getting the bought goods ready and available for selling. Several steps are involved as discussed below.1. Receive goodsWhether you have collected the goods from the supplier or they have been delivered at your store, this is t he first step. Here, you have to confirm that the delivered goods are what you ordered. This is a safety measure.Mistakes may happen either while receiving or they may have happened at the supplier’s side where the wrong goods were released. Check the exact goods in terms of weight/volume, quantity, type or flavor if applicable and any other relevant thing to be considered.Something else to be confirmed is that the set procedures were followed when making the purchase. Depending on the requirements you have for your business, it is important that all the requirements be followed.If for example there should be a requisition form, a quotation, LPO and maybe an electronic or manual approval, ensure these are all available.Along the same line, the selling documents from the supplier should match the buying documents from your side. This is important so as to avoid problems during payments. Check whether the information on the invoice and delivery note match. These should also match th e information on your LPO.If your LPO used the prices quoted by the supplier, then those are the prices which should be on the invoice. If there is a difference, then it should be resolved before the goods are received into the store.After all has been confirmed, then the receiving staff signs on the supplier’s documents and the goods are accepted into the store.2. StorageReceived goods will normally head to the allocated storage space first. If the products have run out at the shelf, then immediate replenishing should be done.Under storage, the goods are to be arranged in an orderly manner to enable quick and easy access when replenishing the shelves. It is also a good idea to have someone in charge of the storage area who can keep records of the products as they come in and leave for the shelf.This acts as an extra layer of security and comes in handy when tracking down missing goods.3. Shelf and product arrangementGoods have to be arranged on the shelves where customers will pi ck them from. These arrangements should be done in ways which make it easy to be seen and picked.Product arrangement should also be done in a relevant manner to draw customers in. For example, related items like toothpaste and toothbrushes should be close to each other. This will prompt some customers to replace their toothbrushes as they buy a new toothpaste.Watch the below video for some tips on how to do visual merchandising. 4. PricingThe products on your shelves must have the correct prices. Whether you use price tags or you have labels on the shelves themselves, the price must be correct. This is to avoid situations where a customer picks an item according to his budget only to realize when at the counter that the item is more expensive than the price indicated on the shelf.The customer then has to make the decision at the counter on whether to pay extra or leave the product. Such a situation can also raise questions of insincerity and once customers can’t trust you, then yo u lose them. Possibly forever.It is important for the shelf attendants to confirm prices upon receiving new stock. This is crucial because if goods come in at a higher price, you may have to increase their selling price to maintain your margins.If there is a possibility of price variations from what is currently in the system, it may be advisable for the purchasing staff to quickly work on the changes. In case it may take long, then it is better for the products to stay off the shelf with customers being advised appropriately.SellSelling could easily be said to be the main thing going on in a retail store. In any case, isn’t it all about buying goods to re-sell?All the same, there are several things that make up the whole selling process. Since it is an ongoing business of selling, then you have to ensure that this is always happening. How do you do this?1. In-store assistanceFor maximum sales, you have to ensure that customers get assistance when in your store. You can consider e mpowering your shelf attendants for this task. Generally speaking, customers are likely to buy more and come again if they get assistance during shopping.In-store assistance can be anything from welcoming customers into your store to helping them locate the products they want to buy. You can direct them to the right aisle, show them the manager’s office, help them find out whether another branch of your store has the product they want etc.2. Customer serviceAt the heart of customer service is the need to develop relationships. Every human being wants and needs to feel valued. So when customers come to your store, no matter how big it is, they will appreciate more if they have someone to ask questions and get advice from.The biggest mistake your staff could do at this point is rushing to sell. The customer will realize that you aren’t interested in meeting his needs but in getting his money. This will only work against you.It is important that you first of all understand the need s of your customer then proceed to offer a suitable solution. If this happens well, then you could be the authoritative voice which gives advice instead of the internet.The rule in customer service is that you should always seek to solve the customer’s problem. Once you do this, the customer will have no problem buying from you. Just remember to be honest and don’t push them to make a particular decision.Another aspect of customer service with the intention of selling is doing suggestive selling. This is simply recommending to them to buy something that works alongside what they have bought.For example, if someone buys toothpaste, you can suggest that he buys a toothbrush. To strengthen your suggestion, tell them that it’s advisable to change toothbrushes every three months. The more relevant information you give, the more likely you are to sell.A common mistake to avoid during customer care is giving certain customers preferential treatment over others. Understand that as muc h as the returning customer is important, so is the new one. If you treat the new customer well, he will come again. And he may come back with a friend.3. Handling complaintsDespite all your good efforts, you will always have complaints from customers. Be it products which did not work as expected or complaints about the customer service you thought was awesome. You should be ready for these.If you have a returns policy, then you need to follow it in case products are being returned. However, there will most likely be unique situations which need a different approach.When it comes to handling complaints, remember that the focus should be on the customer. Seek to understand the customer and make them feel valued. Let them know that their complaint has been received as feedback then proceed to solve the problem.BEST PRACTICESEvery industry has some best practices which help guarantee smooth operations. Although some of these are applicable across all or many industries, there are thos e which are quite unique to the retail industry.Below we look at some best practices which you can implement for better business results. This list is a mix of general tips that can be applied to any business and those specific to the retail industry.1. CommunicationThis is really necessary everywhere regardless of the industry you are in. When you have good communication, you can be sure that the job will be done well. This is because information shared is being understood.At the heart of communication is the mutual respect between the people exchanging information. Each party should first seek to understand the other person then be understood. Without understanding the other person, you might not communicate with him well.For your retail business, communication comes in three ways:Business to business communication is when you are exchanging information between yourself and any of your business partners. These could be your suppliers, banks, auditors and any other external entity which is facilitating your business. You have to keep in mind that just as you are in business, so are your business partners. Both you and them are seeking to make money. As such, clear communication that is understandable should always be sought.Business to employee communication is where you are communicating with your employees. As the people who are mainly working for you, you have to treat them well. Failing to treat your employees well could raise issues with labor officers or even lead your employees to defraud you. It is therefore important to develop a good relationship with your employees just as is the case with your customers. Keep in mind that it is your employees who interact with customers.Business to customer communication is what happens through advertising, marketing etc. This communication is mostly one-directional whereby it is you giving the communication while your customer is consuming the information. Customer care can also be viewed as business to customer communication. In this case however, the communication is slightly different in that it it two-way. The customer gives feedback, while you respond to them.2. Limit sales / promotionsIn your desire to make more sales, you might be tempted to offer more promotions to attract more customers. This however should be done in moderation. Over-doing it can bring serious challenges which may not be very easy to handle.To understand this, just think of your profit margins. As much as more sales could bring bigger profits, the way to go about it is not always the promotion way.When you offer too many promotions, you create a mindset in the customers’ minds that you are all about promotions. With this attitude towards your business, whenever you are not having a promotion, they will not buy. They will be waiting for the upcoming promotion so as to buy when things are cheaper.Watch the below video to see what other options your retail business could use to move stocks faster. 3. Employee train ingGetting the right employees for your retail business is a must. You will obviously do well to hire qualified and hopefully, experienced employees. That hiring should however not be the end of having a great team.Employees know how competitive the job market is. As such, the smart ones usually enroll themselves in classes to further their knowledge and remain relevant. As good as this is, it gets better when their employers recognize the need to offer them training that is relevant to the business.The truth is that not all your employees are excited about working for you. Some may be with you just for the rime being as they search for their dream jobs. Others may not have desired the retail industry but having gotten the job, lack the enthusiasm to develop themselves along those lines.But won’t your business need more knowledgeable staff?You need to make it your responsibility to offer employee training. This maximizes on their suitability to serve your customers in the best way possible, or as the industry requires. Still, the industry requirements can be exceeded.When you offer your employees relevant training, you make them more productive for your business. As you increase their capacity, you also reap the benefits.4. Salaries, benefits and incentivesWhenever effort is dispensed, there has to be some form of compensation. This is true for all work.Your employees work for you and they expect to have compensation for the efforts they put in. Although not all of your employees may know exactly how much your business makes, they are smart enough to know that they are important to the business.As you build a team to work with, consider the market rates of the salaries of the various employees you will have. Unless yours is a really small business and cannot manage to offer competitive salaries, ensure you explain it to the candidate during the interview.Make it known that there are benefits and incentives. These will show that you have other ways of rewardi ng your employees and will help in retaining them.Benefits are usually available for all employees e.g. a pension scheme, health insurance etc. Incentives on the other hand are more performance-based. They tell the employee that the more they deliver, the more of something great they can get.As an employer, you will have to make these very attractive and as your business grows, ensure that you make them even better.5. Recognize and value your employeesAs much as incentives can recognize the efforts an employee puts in, there is more to recognizing your staff than through these. To better understand the importance of valuing your staff, consider that there is a relationship between you and your employees.It is therefore all about building that relationship.Just as it works in other kinds of relationships, you have to respect your employees. Respecting them means that as much as you are giving them instructions, also consider listening to them. Some of them may know something about yo ur competitor that you may not know from any other source.If you are implementing some new ways of working, don’t just direct them to do things in a certain way. Create an environment that is suitable for holding conversations. Engage them and explain how the company is changing its approach thus the new way of operating.Whenever an employee does something good, be sure to acknowledge his effort verbally. Encourage them by mentioning it during office meetings. Do not hold back those positive comments as they really build up your staff and encourage them to do more. This shows them that their efforts are noticed and valued.6. Hiring and firingAs a business, you need to make decisions on a daily basis. Some may be easy whereas others may make you uncomfortable though they are necessary.Two major decisions are about hiring and dismissing an employee. You may think that this is not a difficult decision until you get a friend or family member who approaches you for a job though he is n ot qualified. Or an employee performs fairly well but is disrespectful to others.In such cases, you will need to make the decision that is best for your business. For example, if a family member needs a job but is not qualified, you should put the needs of your business first. Remember that you have to protect the needs of your business.Although your decision may seem harsh, just consider the effects of having a non-performing staff who may not be very open to correction. Always consider the pros and cons of working with family members.7. Know your competitorsApart from knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your staff, you should also know two more kind of people: your customers and competitors.Knowing your customers helps you serve them better. Many businesses put a lot of effort in thisâ€"and that is good. What should be included on top of that, is the knowledge of your competitors.These are the people who may potentially push you out of business. They are the ones who work on e nsuring that your customers become theirs. When you know your competitors, you will have a balanced and informed approach to your own business.You should know the individuals behind the big brands. You should know about their relationship with suppliers, customers and employees. Such information helps you understand the strengths and strategies used by them in their quest to gain a bigger market share.With this information, you are then well placed to come up with a strategy that will effectively counter them and establish you as the best option in the industry.8. Respond to your customersIf you value someone, you will be naturally interested in knowing what is troubling him. This means that you will be willing to listen to them express themselves about the issue at hand. It is through listening that you understand the situation then respond accordingly.This is what customer care is really about. When customers make inquiries or give feedback, their communication should be considere d and responded to. No matter how small the issue raised by a customer is, the right response is important.If you have given an email address on on your website or business card, ensure that you check those emails regularly. In fact on a daily basis or several times in a day. When a customer recommends a certain way of operating, listen and promise to share his thoughts with the appropriate people.When your customers feel that they can give feedback and it will be considered, they feel like they are a part of you. This increases their loyalty to you.9. KPIsThese are the basic methods of gauging an employee’s performance at work. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) help you set some standards for your employees either for individual performance or group performance.KPIs are helpful as they make it easy for an employee to know exactly what he is expected to achieve. When expectations are clearly defined, it becomes easy to work towards them and monitor progress.The achievement of KPIs also helps in recognizing the efforts of employees. In this case, you cannot use one person’s KPIs to “wrongfully” reward someone else. You will therefore have no complaints about one employee working but the recognition going to another.10. Prioritizing tasksTime is a very valuable but scarce resource. It is also impossible to recover it once misused or lost. So how do you avoid such situations?There is a lot of talk about setting priorities and following through with them. The problem usually starts with the challenge of distinguishing between what must be done from what may not even be necessary.When it comes to your retail business, you may face a lot of challenges with the many tasks that need to be done. This is especially a problem when you are starting and don’t have the money to hire enough employees.As such, you may be the one doing everything though nothing is really getting finished. This can lead to frustrations. There is an easy way to avoid the frustration.Nu mber the tasks you have in an ascending order. Then proceed to allocate time frames for each tasks. From here, start working on the tasks from the most important to the least.For example, you may have received some products to sell. Those products may have been more expensive and so you need to work out new retail prices. On this same day, you may not have checked your emails. This means that you have not responded to your customers.You will therefore need to start working on the most important task. In this case, it is the new prices of the received goods. Once this is done, you can safely sell the goods. Since selling is the primary work to be done, mails can be checked afterwards.CONCLUSIONThe retail industry has been experiencing changes as more people shop online. Buying from the physical store is however not stopping any time soon. People still want to touch products, interact with live humans and enjoy a real shopping experience.If you are thinking of starting a retail busine ss, just follow the advice given in this article. You will then be on your way to carving a market share for yourself.

Sociology - the Blind Side Essay - 919 Words

The Blind Side In the context of this extraordinary real life story a boy, depending on which society you come from he came from â€Å"The other side of the tracks† or â€Å"The wrong side of the tracks†. The story is about a young black kid who is shuffled between the welfare system, Foster homes that he runs away from and the mother (a drug addict) that has let him down. Big Tony takes him along I think as leverage to get his own son in to a Catholic school because they can both play sports. The coach seems more interested in â€Å"Big Mike† more because of his size and agility. The teachers are very concerned about the lack of education he has had, but they pull together to bring his grades up. The Tuohy family is well off and†¦show more content†¦Birth alone does not Determine his entire life. Social Stratification works here in that as a trait of society is not simply a reflection of Individual differences, privileged position, children born into wealthy families are more likely to enjoy better health, do well in school and have a successful career and also live along life. With Michael and his circumstances and the welcoming of him in the family this enhanced his chances for his entire life, also the social mobility was his change within the social hierarchy. Others in this story are more critical than the school, peers, teachers, coaches and some of Leigh Anne Tuohy’s friends. The racial card rears its ugly head at a football game where racial Slurs are yelled out like â€Å"Fat ass boy† â€Å"Kickin that blue gums ass†, â€Å"Boy†, â€Å"Big black bear† and by her friends he is ranked from their social standards as â€Å"A large black boy† and for his size he will â€Å"eat them out of business† ( They own like a million Taco Bells, according to S.J). Michael is just an even tempered 17 year old that just wants a family and an identity as an individual. We are a â€Å"melting pot† of differences that should work together to create a better future for us all not just for the privileged. The N.A.A.C.P. was a shocking moment they tried pulling the racial Card because of his color and size saying the family had done this to better benefit them as well as the College theyShow MoreRelatedA Sociological Analysis Of The Blind Side1517 Words   |  7 Pages Hayden Allis July 30, 2017 Sociology 101-L66 A Sociological Analysis of The Blind Side The Blind Side is a true story about a boy named Michael Oher who grew up in a very bad neighbor hood that was taken away from his mother at a young age. He was brought to a private school by his friend’s parents. The Tuohy family saw him walking in a storm found out he does not have a place to stay, so they took him in, fed him, then gave him a few new clothes. They then helped him get hisRead MoreLooking For A Peer Review1352 Words   |  6 Pageswas â€Å" An Avenue for Challenging Sexism: Examining the High School Sociology Classroom.† This article was very interesting to me. I went to a small school so we didn t have sociology classes. It is very interesting to see their approach to teaching about gender. In this paper I will be examining the purpose and goal of this article. The way that this study was set up was through six social studies teacher who were teaching a sociology course. Each of these individuals worked in a variations of smallRead MoreFilm Analysis : The Blind Side1471 Words   |  6 PagesThe Blind Side, directed by John Lee Hancock, is a film that focuses on the social injustices experienced by a young African-American man, Michael Oher, during his childhood into young adulthood. Michael, a teenager, is found walking along the street one rainy night by Mrs. Leigh Anne Tuohy, an upper-class white woman (The Blind Side). Mrs. Tuohy grows concerned when she learns that Michael had planned to spend the night in the school gym instead of in a home (The Blind Side). She invites him toRead MoreB Dubois Prejudice And Discrimination1717 Words   |  7 Pagesforemost problem (Horne). He also coined the term double consciousness in sociology. The phrase â€Å"color line† was derived after the civil war where African Americans were segregated from whites. In 1903 Dubois used the phrase in his book â€Å"This meaning is not without interest to you, gentle reader: for the problem of the Twentieth century is the problem of the color line† (England). The reason Dubois studied, sociology was to eliminate segregation, discrimination and inequality (England). He believedRead MorePerspectives Essay examples824 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction to Sociology PSYC-2314-S03 In class we have been discussing the analogy of perspectives. A perspective is a way of seeing, also thought of as a ‘point of view’. This mental view or outlook can both enhance and constrain how we view the world in our own eyes. In the field of psychology and sociology there are many ways to perceive our world in which we live. No one perspective alone can define the world. Each perspective has its own distinctive strengths and blind spots. In classRead MoreRacism And Racism Essay971 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican community. This proposal will further investigate whether the emotional scars of slavery continue to hamper African American progress or if racism is actually the cause. The economic cost of discrimination against African Americans has many sides, which are interconnected with the effects of social discrimination and racism. According to Michael Reigh, a professor of economics and director of the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE) at the University of California at BerkeleyRead MoreEssay on Sociology and Social Power827 Words   |  4 PagesPart 2: Introducing Sociology People today blame themselves more and more for every bad thing or troubles they have on personal fault rather then looking towards the social issue (Mills 1959, pg.1). In the article The Promise C. Wright Mills say that the individual can understand his own experience and gauge his own fate only by locating himself within his period, that he can know his own chances in life only by becoming aware of those of all individuals in his circumstances (Mills 1959Read MoreImmigration Perpectives in US1473 Words   |  6 Pagesof economic departments at Freiburg University (1894) and Heidelberg University (1894). During his secondary education, Weber studied languages, history, economics and philosophy, but he is considered to be one of the founder fathers of modern Sociology. After studying many of the world’s political and social issues, Weber desired to explore the origin of the modern West and how it would develop for years to come. (Kalberg, S. (2011) Weber’s theory of a value neutrality was directed toward sociologistRead MoreEssay on Marriage in Romeo and Juliet1448 Words   |  6 Pagesmight become acceptable in the future. In the play, Shakespeare uses a lot of illuminating quotations from the play, illustrating a range of themes such as light and dark, sun/moons/stars and sociology. He uses stars to emphasize the fact they were star crossed lovers. Sociology is the main theme throughout, showing that in those days it really was important, I think he also wanted to prove it was a big flaw to their society. This needed to be changed. Illuminating imagesRead MoreNegative Effects of Obedience Exposed in Milgram Experiment vs â€Å"The Lottery†1052 Words   |  4 Pages‘Seventy-seventh time.’†(Jackson), the lottery has been going on for at least eight decades if not more. Further indications includes the black box, â€Å"The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained.† (Jackson). Estimating from these two quotes, the lottery could have started back in the ancient days where people at the time were far more superstitious and made this ritual as

The Iliad Literary Analysis - 1552 Words

The Iliad: Literary Analysis Throughout The Iliad, an epic poem written by Homer, there were numerous warriors and other characters that could be looked upon as heroes; some of these heroes included Achilles, Ajax, Diomedes, Hector, and Glaucus. All of these individuals were heroes because of their remarkable mental and physical strength: they were courageous and were better fighters in war than other ordinary men. The trade of battle was a way of life to the Greeks back in Homer’s time. Children were raised to become great servicemen to their country, and warriors lived to fight for and defend their nation with pride and valor. The heroic code was a strict morality that dealt with matters relating to honor and integrity in battle.†¦show more content†¦Achilles possessed superhuman strength, he was swift and agile, he was brave, and he was intelligent. Achilles shows his extraordinary fighting skills and his intelligence in Book XXII, when he duels against Hector. Achilles manages to kill Hector â€Å"†¦like a high-flown eagle†¦Ã¢â‚¬  with a perfectly timed stab to â€Å"†¦where the collar-bones hold the neck from the shoulders, the throat, where death of the soul comes most swiftly; in this place brilliant Achilles drove the spear as he came on in fury, and clean through the soft part of the neck the spearpoint was driven† (Book XXII Lines 324-327). His intelligence is shown in that he knew a wound to this spot on Hector’s neck would be fatal, as Hector was wearing Achilles’ old armor that he stole off the body of Patroclus. An ordinary warrior most likely would not have had the skill with the sword to kill Hector, nor the intelligence to know to aim for the exact uncovered spot in Hector’s neck in the first place. Achilles also shows his bravery before this fight by wanting and agreeing to actually fight against Hector, who was the strongest warrior of the Trojans and the one person who was believed to actually have a chance i n combat against Achilles. Additionally, Achilles was the only hero who fought solely for his own heroics, and he was the only one who had a real love for battle and the glory of winning in war. Achilles’ love of war was on par with the love that many other Greeks expressed for their wives andShow MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis Of The Iliad1050 Words   |  5 PagesThe Iliad is an ancient Greek epic that depicts the conflicts of the Trojan War. Throughout the story, many smaller arguments take place between the characters of the epic. Like all stories, The Iliad is filled with literary devices to allow the readers to garner a better understanding of the motivations of each character throughout encounters. Translators have to maintain the nuances of each situation while accounting for an unavoidable skewing from the original passage. In reality, this means thatRead MoreSimilarities between Oral and Literary Traditions663 Words   |  3 PagesWhen thinking of oral traditions and literary traditions they b oth have their own similarities. Oral tradition is information that is passed down from generations by words that is not written down. On the hand literary tradition would be a language that is written and well spoken. It also makes whatever is written down permanent. Both are similar but slightly different from another. Before the literary tradition of written texts, oral tradition passed tales of gods, heroes, and other memorable mortalsRead MoreThe Muse of History by Derek Walcott1751 Words   |  7 Pagesrenewed†(38). Literary tradition can be made to suit or adapt to the voice of the writer. The analysis of Walcott’s Omeros and Rhys Wide Sargasso Sea will show how these writers use the fragments of history as a source of renewal, which engenders an Antillean space and voice which challenges, redefines, and recreates literary canons. Hybrids emerge from fragments of cultural and historical memories fused together, forming something new. Lorna Burns discusses ‘writing back’ to the literary canon in herRead MoreExistentialism And Akhilleus : State Of Affairs1182 Words   |  5 PagesAkhilleus’ State of Affairs in Homer’s Iliad Existentialism is a philosophy that deals with human existence. This philosophy is a complex subject that asks questions about life that include meaning, purpose, choice, morality, ideology, and individuality. When reading other texts one could easily make connections to existential themes within the book’s literary tropes. Occasionally, some books have an overloaded abundance of existential themes. Homer’s Iliad is one of the books that comprise of anRead MoreHomeric Vs. The Iliad1654 Words   |  7 PagesHomeric View of War in the Iliad Being a milestone for all ancient Greek Literature, the Trojan War was discussed and narrated in many different works, most notably Homer’s epic poem the Iliad. Depicting a classical style of mass battle, Homeric warriors were thus treated equally as fighters, but were disregarded in the text in order to illustrate the sheer power of the heroes and leaders. Every warrior was just another piece of the phalanx, which is why the army was so withstanding of attackRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Beowulf 851 Words   |  4 PagesThis essay offers literary analysis of Beowulf, the oldest epic poem that has survived in English literature. It is also widely known as the earliest surviving piece of literatures in vernacular European Literature. The language of this poem is Old English, spoken by Saxon people. This poem depicts a traditional story that is a part of oral Germanic tradition. As per experts, this is work of a single poet and was composed in then England. It has been dete rmined by the scholars that this poem wasRead MoreJohn Keats: The Next Shakespeare Essay829 Words   |  4 PagesKeats can easily be ranked as the top British poet to ever live; or at least in the top five ranking mark. His usage of his poems structures has become famous, just as his poems have become famous. Due to the young death of this famous poet, his literary work was cut short. Ever since he knew he was going to die, when he discovered he had contracted tuberculosis, he had thought that he would never be remembered; so much so that according to the web-site â€Å"Poets Graves† which states the inscriptionRead MoreThe Epic Of The Ramayana887 Words   |  4 PagesAn ancient literary monument that incorporates a rational perspective and approach towards life helps a person resolve infinite conceivable questions, unlock morals and ethics, and approach enlightenment. The Ramayana, a relic with sacred relevance not only to India, but all of humanity, consolidates the innum erable queries by humans, answers them with morality, principals, and philosophical beliefs. This Indian heroic epic poem, comprises of approximately 24,000 verses, is mostly written using theRead More Honor as the Theme in Homer’s The Iliad Essay2033 Words   |  9 Pagesthat are highly esteemed worldwide. These examples of literature would awe the world with how much literary skill they entailed when they were composed and written: attention to details as to formation of characters, the most crafty of plots, the most eloquent speeches and lines, the most astounding of twists of scenes, and most of all, the most universal and meaningful of themes. The theme of any literary work is what makes it great as it should be able to encompass the immense diversity of the worldRead MoreHistorical And Cultural Context Of The Movie The Odyssey 2026 Words   |  9 Pagesagainst a normally insurmountable amount of enemies and triumphing against all odds seem like a modern day movie con cept. In actuality, the first â€Å"western-style† action story was written by an eighth-century B.C. poet named Homer. It was titled the Iliad and it told of many great stories involving Greek gods and horrid monsters. The second of these epic poems was named The Odyssey. The Odyssey had to have been an intensely popular story to have survived for centuries and recognized as a milestone in

Authority Power Politics Free Essays

Authority/Power/Politics Authority What is Authority The word authority derives from the Latin word auctoritas meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence or commands which originate from an auctor, indicating that authority originates from a master, leader or author. Essentially authority is imposed by superiors upon inferiors either by force of arms (structural authority) or by force of argument (sapiential authority). Usually authority has components of both compulsion and persuasion. We will write a custom essay sample on Authority Power Politics or any similar topic only for you Order Now For this reason, as used in Roman law authority is differentiated into potestas (legal or military power) and imperium (persuasive political rank or standing). Weber on Authority Max Weber in his sociological work has identified and distinguished three types of authority. Weber defined authority as the chance of commands being obeyed by a specifiable group of people. Legitimate authority is that which is recognized as legitimate and justified by both the ruler and the ruled. Weber divided legitimate authority into three types: The first type discussed by Weber is Rational-legal authority. It is that form of authority which depends for its legitimacy on formal rules and established laws of the state, which are usually written down and are often very complex. The power of the rational legal authority is mentioned in the constitution. Modern societies depend on legal-rational authority. Government officials are the best example of this form of authority, which is prevalent all over the world. The second type of authority is Traditional authority, which derives from long-established customs, habits and social structures. When power passes from one generation to another, then it is known as traditional authority. The right of hereditary monarchs to rule furnishes an obvious example. The Tudor dynasty in England and the ruling families of Mewar, in Rajasthan (India) are some examples of traditional authority. The third form of authority is Charismatic authority. Here, the charisma of the individual or the leader plays an important role. Charismatic authority is that authority which is derived from â€Å"the gift of grace† or when the leader claims that his authority is derived from a â€Å"higher power† (e. . God or natural law or rights) or â€Å"inspiration†, that is superior to both the validity of traditional and rational-legal authority and followers accept this and are willing to follow this higher or inspired authority, in the place of the authority that they have hitherto been following. Some of the most prominent examples of charismatic authority can be politicians or lead ers, who come from a movie or entertainment background. These people become successful, because they use their grace and charm to get more votes during elections. Examples in this regard can be NT Rama Rao, a matinee idol, who went on to become one of the most powerful Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh. History has witnessed several social movements or revolutions, against a system of traditional or legal-rational authority, which are usually started by Charismatic authorities. What distinguishes authority, from coercion, force and power on the one hand and leadership, persuasion and influence on the other hand, is legitimacy. Superiors feel that they have a right to issue commands; subordinates perceive an obligation to obey. Social scientists agree that authority is but one of several resources available, to incumbents in formal positions. For example, a Head of State is dependent upon a similar nesting of authority. His legitimacy must be acknowledged, not just by citizens, but by those who control other valued resources: his immediate staff, his cabinet, military leaders and in the long run, the administration and political apparatus of the entire society. Power What is Power Power is a measure of an entity’s ability to control the environment around itself, including the behavior of other entities. The term authority is often used for power, perceived as legitimate by the social structure. Power can be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to humans as social beings. Often, the study of power in a society is referred to as politics. Sources of Power Power may be held through: Delegated authority (for example in the democratic process) Social class (material wealth can equal power) Personal or group charisma Ascribed power (acting on perceived or assumed abilities, whether these bear testing or not) Expertise (Ability, Skills) Persuasion (direct, indirect, or subliminal) Knowledge (granted or withheld, shared or kept secret) Celebrity Force (violence, military might, coercion). Moral persuasion (including religion) Operation of group dynamics (such as public relations) Social influence of tradition (compare ascribed power) In relationships; domination/submissiveness Politics What is Politics Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in other group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions. It consists of â€Å"social relations involving authority or power† and refers to the regulation of a political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy. Politics at Workplace Politics – the other face of the creative, innovative and manipulative and human mind, which always seeks power, recognition and authority. So how can there be no politics at the place where hundreds and thousands of human minds are spending most part of their day and there’s a constant struggle for power and recognition. Yes, double standards, secrecy, camps, demoting others and/or self promotion, in short – politics is all over the workplace. No organisation is and will be completely free from the politics. Office politics refers to the use and manipulation of situations, power and people to secure their position, gain from the situation, let others down or even increase their own power, image and status within the organisation. The results or the benefits can be tangible or intangible, depending upon the situation. Politics at workplace is a game can be played equally well by a single player or teams together, can result in the interest and benefit of the organisation or go against it, can benefit those who don’t play or can throw them out of the organisation. It is a double edged sword which can either create a happy, dynamic and improved environment at the workplace or can destroy it. Politics at workplace is often hard to resist and be away from. It compels and makes you compete. Although a part of all the organisations across the world, the politics at workplace has taken the more advanced and dangerous form in India, where the people staying away from it are being seen as a threat. Office politics has made employees good actors, hiding the facts and even true self from their own colleagues and organisation and being hypocrites for their reasons. Grey side of the issue Every workplace has conflicts, but how the employees and the organisation tackle it goes a long way in ensuring the success of the employees as well as the organisation. Politics at workplace is complex, and can turn the organisation into an ugly and nasty battlefield. Most often, the power is the bone of contention. The powerful employee can take advantage of the situations and manipulate things. The employees can take the things to them at a personal level. This, in turn, can harm their personal and professional lives. Playing on other people’s emotions to make things work for them, people have stooped to such levels where they have put their own morals and conscious aside. But the organisation feels the brunt of the continuous politics at workplace when it starts effecting the overall performance, efficiency and productivity of the organisation. This is mainly due to the considerable amount of time spent on the politics and thinking about the strategies and the moves, rather than the job and the work. Ultimately, this can lead to losses for the organisation and even the loss of jobs for the employees. Workplace Politics: A necessary evil Again, the question arises about the employees who do not become a part to this politics at their workplace. Experts say that giving up to the politics without being a part of it and fighting it, especially when it is unfair, is not advisable either. Sometimes, the politics becomes the necessary evil simply for self defense. As often, the people staying away are taken as a threat and become the victim of the workplace politics and are eliminated. As it has become unavoidable to avoid the politics at today’s workplace, it has become necessary for every employee to: connect to people, try to identify the source of power, bserve and be aware of the happenings around, people’s strengths and weaknesses and their emotional intelligence. Avoiding politics at workplace Although it is practically impossible to make your workplace free from the politics, but the organisation and the employees can follow certain ethics for themselves to make their workplace healthier: Avoid distor ting or manipulating the truth and the facts. Be yourself. Don’t have different faces to suit different people and different situations. Be fair in your dealings. Take decisions based on other’s performance and not on the basis of your relations with them. Be flexible, approachable and accessible to others. Rigidity can isolate you. Communicate – Lack of proper communication is the root cause of most of the problems. Therefore, ensure a timely and open communication system. Hiding information, rumors or distorted information can aggravate the situation and problem. Proper communication will also help to combat the effect of gossip. Have a broader perspective. Don’t work to satisfy your ego every time. Give a fair chance to everyone to put forward their thoughts. Last but not the least; be clear in your conscious. Don’t compromise on your morals and ethics and, don’t hesitate to apologize if you realize that you are wrong. It would be right to conclude that being a part of the interpersonal relations, politics at workplace is prevalent everywhere, and is unavoidable in most cases. But it’s more important to play the game right. Know the rules, stay true to yourself, don’t harm someone personally or his/her career, don’t take grudges home. Try to create a win-win situation for yourself, others and the organisation. Politics at workplace – can be good or bad – depends on how people take it and make it! Don’t confuse authority, power, and politics If you work in an organization, you need a clear understanding of three closely related concepts–authority, power, and politics. Unfortunately, for many employees these concepts often confuse, frustrate, or elicit anxiety or indifference. The traditional concept of organization is built upon the principle that someone has the â€Å"right† to command someone else, whose duty is to obey the command. This â€Å"right† is bestowed by the formal organization, and we call it authority. It is important to note that â€Å"right to command† does not connote the â€Å"capacity to command. Most of us would be making a mistake if we were to equate right and capacity–i. e. , authority and power. This is especially true in a professional environment. We must always be careful to undergird our right to command with the appropriate power, the capability to secure dominance of one’s values or goals, if we w ant to develop and maintain highly effective organizations. Even though it may be socially unacceptable to admit that one aspires to power or worries about power relationships, we must recognize that power and politics enter into every organizational decision. Positive power. However, concern about power and politics does not mean that a person is committed to such Machiavellian tactics as â€Å"doing unto others before they do unto you. † Power has a positive side as well. Organizations could not function without some kind of power relationships. The positive side is characterized by a concern for group goals and their achievement. Leaders enjoy the greatest overall influence when they help their followers feel powerful and accomplish greatness on their own. The direction of communications, their frequency, and their content reveals a great deal about the power relationships within an organization. It is as simple as who talks to whom about what. Office politics. The process by which power is exercised and sometimes acquired is called politics. In politics, contesting forces compete for favorable outcomes on decisions involving who gets what and how. Political activity is usually stronger where there are no prescribed routine answers or no stated policy. It also centers around the interpretation of existing policies and those situations involving value judgments. Any organization that attempts to totally reduce these arenas of political activity by instituting rules, regulations, and policies from the top would quickly strangle in its own red tape. Political processes form the dynamic that enables the formal organization to function. In a sense, power and politics act as the lubricant that enables the interdependent parts of the organization to operate smoothly together. When we pretend that power and politics don’t exist, we greatly reduce the ability of an organization to get things done, especially when innovation and change are involved, because they abandon procedures we have always followed. Since power and political processes are a fact of life in all organizations, we must develop and use the appropriate skills to achieve the organization’s goals. Managers must avoid working in isolation and instead as part of the flow of social forces. They must understand that a managerial position is not self-perpetuating. References Don’t confuse authority, power, and politics, By Ted Gautschi, Consultant, Wellesley Hills, MA — Design News, May 4, 1997 How to cite Authority Power Politics, Papers

My First Day at University free essay sample

I approached to one girl and asked for the classroom. It’s so lucky when I knew that we were in the same group, so I felt less nervous. I introduced myself and she also did it, her name is tip. We came in the classroom when the time to start classes began. All our classmates were quiet, nobody talked at all. The teacher arrived early. She started the class and after that we introduced ourselves. There were many people that came from different areas of over country, they were friendly and interested. tip and I sat closely and talked very much. After that, we spent the rest of the day together until we had to go home. We felt that we have many things in common with each other. Day by day, we have been best friends at university and usually helped each other in studies and also in life. We will write a custom essay sample on My First Day at University or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page At last ,days ago It was a Saturday when I first saw her. Her brown caramel eyes made my heart skip a beat for I had never seen anything so breathtaking. Her skin was a russet color and her hair was a shady black. That first moment when we saw each other is engraved in my head. I can still hear my heart throbbing loudly in my chest as her eyes landed on me in that small room. We stared at each other as she made her way to the seat in front of me and a smile flicked on her lips to seal that moment. It took a year for me to talk to her; we became best friends but nothing more, nothing that I wanted. Her life was mine, her thoughts were mine, she was my world and she didnt even know. Everyone said that we had something between us, she always laughed because she never notice how I shatter every time she notice someone else, but what really destroyed me was the day she broke the news that she was leaving and maybe never coming back. I am always going to remember that day because I had the opportunity to meet more people ,especially made friend with tip. Finally, I think it is natural that on the first day we feel nervous, but this always have a happy ending. thats why I believe my first day in the university was very good. My love for her is like the waves in the sea, it comes and it goes and She made me cry but she also made me laugh. But she never come back to me forever.