Leadership Theories in Organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Leadership Theories in Organisations - Essay Example There are various theories that explain how entities are led to achieve company’s objectives. Trait approach theory, skills approach theory, transformational leadership theory, situational approach theory, style approach theory, contingency approach theory, path-goal theory and psychodynamic theory are leadership theories to be analyzed. The area of focus is leadership in the construction industry. Sir Michael Latham, Sir John Egan and Ray O’Rouke (Build 2008) have been identified as leaders in the construction industry. According to Chartered Institute of Building (2008), UK’s construction industry does not have highly influential leaders. Trait leadership approach suggests that personal characteristics dictate success and effectiveness of a leader. According to Daft (2007 p. 38), intelligence, honesty and patience are some of the personal characteristics that must be possessed by all leaders. Creativity, self confidence, higher levels of energy, height, self ap pearance, knowledge, speech fluency, popularity, sociability, persistence, hard work and desire to excel are some of the key traits that define leaders (West and West 2006 p. 98; McNeal 2010; Griffin P. 473). In addition, simple acts of kindness can make one a strong and reliable leader (Maxwell & Littleton 2001).Trait approach theory presumes that leaders are born and not made. This theory approach does not seem consistent with the construction sector in the UK. This is because the sector lacks highly influential leaders yet it presumes that leaders are born and not made. Does it mean that of all the employees in the construction sector, there is no single natural leader? It is not possible in the whole industry not to have a single person with all or most of the personal attributes that makes one a natural leader. Most leaders and managers in the construction industry were above forty three years of age. If leaders were born, then the industry could have

Short Response to event Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Short Response to event - Assignment Example For business communication seeking partners and collaboration in order to achieve some goal is priority. Audience was allowed to communicate in a dialog to members of software companies only before presentation speeches. I talked to some of them, asking questions, gathering information and trying to make contacts, but real interest and good questions logically appear after you’ve heard a presentation speech and understood the subject. But it was jury only allowed to ask speaker questions, so to another part of the audience the main part of the event was a monolog and we were listeners. I suppose that means audience wasn’t considered like a business partner on this event, so jury and App software companies were only interested in each other, and it makes sense according to the kind of event. But I think audience should be allowed to ask questions, because in business you need to think wider. A company can not win the prize pool, but there are potential partners in the au dience, maybe. As a rule audience in such kind of events is professional orientated and someone could be interested in your project, or your company may hear an interesting question and find a partner itself. So I think taking audience into account is important, so I will in my future career. The entire event was pretty much verbal: speakers from App software companies proclaimed speeches 10 minutes long and then answered jury’s questions, audience were listening and we all were wearing tag sticks on our chest with information we had put there etc. I was involved in nonverbal communication nodding as a response on verbal communication, shaking hands with members of software companies I talked before presentation, I was slapping hands etc. About the same did the rest of the audience and jury. Speakers used gestures, voice intonations and posed themselves differently to look confident and professional etc. But mostly I was interested in short videos that were shown as a part of

Evaluate the empirical evidence on the predictability of excess stock Coursework - 2

Evaluate the empirical evidence on the predictability of excess stock returns using technical analysis - Coursework Example There exist two means of evaluating a stock to make investment decisions. These include fundamental analysis and technical analysis. Fundamental analysis deals with studying the company in details and making the characteristics that make its value identified for decision-making. Technical analysis on the other hand looks at the factors of supply and demand. Technical analysis considers the application of the study on the market factors of the company, their effects on the price and factors of demand and supply. Technicians pay attention to the prices of the market and make predictions based on their understanding of the effect that information may have on the stock. They depend on the market efficiency hypothesis in making their decisions. To obtain a full view of market inefficiency, one needs to obtain returns over a long span to evaluate a company’s performance since stock prices changes slowly as per information provided (Fama, 1997, p.284). The changes sometimes close to zero providing no effect unless huge funds are invested in the counter to provide the power of quantity. The market of technical analysis depends on the market anomalies though may not provide a good picture of the actual market position. The use of information to determine the ability of the stock to provide massive returns to the investors is tricky and may at times provide misleading information to the investors. The use of a different approach to technical analysis that considers the studying of the model that describes the cash flows of the firm discounted by pricing aspects may deliver a positive correlation between the current returns expected and the past returns that the firm made (Johnson, 2002, p.585). Understanding this and applying it in the analysis to top up on the market and price study of the technical analysts would provide confident answers to predicting a stock’s

Prosecuting Violators of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Essay

Prosecuting Violators of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law; and The Merits and Limitations of the International Criminal Court (ICC) - Essay Example The researcher states that although international jurists may not agree entirely with this argument, an actual discontent should go with an examination of theoretical perspectives which are believed to offer answers to these stubborn issues. Apparently, humanitarian and human rights law do not provide simple solutions as to how to deal with violations of the fundamental human rights of people in times of crisis. They embody judicious efforts to implement norms which ideally will become unanimously recognized and support the international community in its assessment of, and response, to these crimes. The international community has been triumphant in establishing an agreement on numerous norms in the areas of humanitarian and human rights law. There is at present a solid set of laws, even though it evidently does not cater to every crisis or include every region. This code of rules will be raised to change as the problems confronting the international community assume new forms. Certa inly, the implementation of the Statute of the International Criminal Court is a sign of the pace at which several sectors of international law are evolving. ... The primary purpose of the formation of an international criminal court was to change a tradition of immunity for the perpetration of severe crimes, which has thrived and remains in existence significantly, with a tradition of liability. The formation of an international criminal court is in several contexts the finale of a chain of international attempts in such path. Nevertheless, those attempts have usually been unsuccessful for different causes, and, at any rate, have been greatly discriminating. The Tokyo and Nuremberg Tribunals, after the Second World War, expressed genuine confidence for the tradition of liability, but the facts of the cold war aftermath immediately surfaced. The idea that individuals and states perpetrating the most serious violations of human rights law should be prosecuted disappeared, and a tradi tion of immunity resurfaced. The discourse about the competence of international committees should be situated in a more enduring point of view. The influence of newly formed institutions like the informal committees cannot justly be weighed against that of established organizations like the International Court of Justice (ICG) and the Security Council (SC).

The use of vaginal examinations in assessing progress during the first Essay

The use of vaginal examinations in assessing progress during the first stage of labour - Essay Example During the first stage of labour, which begins with the onset of regular uterine contraction, it plays instrumental role in assessing the progress made in labour. It provides information about the cervical effacement and dilatation, descent , position and attitude of the fetus. But it may also give rise to certain problems like infections, premature stimulation of cervix, premature rupture of membranes and women find them uncomfortable. The approach used by midwives to vaginal exam further adds to the problems. While undertaking these exams, they become inconsiderate towards the feelings of the women and in their attempt to deliver a healthy baby ignore their professional ethics , which requires them to provide a supportive, encouraging atmosphere for birth, respectful of the woman’s wishes. Although midwives acquire enough skill through practice and experience to use external signs to gain knowledge about the progress, still they consider it the most accurate method. This study revolves around vaginal examination at the onset of labour. It attempts to find the reason behind the frequent use of these interventions to assess the progress during first stage, despite its problematic nature. This report explores the necessity and effectiveness of the vaginal exams in assessing the progress. It brings to notice the problems faced by the women from vaginal examination and from the methodology used by the midwives in conducting them. It considers the alternative techniques that can be used instead of vaginal examination. This study takes into consideration the results of various researches done on vaginal examination during the labour. Vaginal examination is a complete

Macroeconomic Principles and Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Macroeconomic Principles and Policy - Essay Example A policy to fight a recession would need to take into account these numerous variables. One area that the government can control is the money supply. The Federal Reserve is tasked with monitoring and stabilizing the amount of currency in the economy. In recent years, they have accomplished this by controlling the interest rate. A lower interest rate will stimulate borrowing and investment. This will put more money into the economy as the money supply grows. As more money enters the economy, purchasing picks up and the economy grows and expands. However, the expanding economy also signals the potential for inflation. With high inflation, people have less purchasing power and the economy may falter dramatically. While controlling the money supply may be helpful, it is usually not a good long-term solution and should be used to stabilize and not control the economy. There could also be external factors that are working against the economy. High oil prices have taken money out of consumer's disposable income. Recent events such as natural disasters and inclement weather have also created hardships for consumers. The recent winter weather in the West devastated farmers while providing an additional blow of higher beef prices. There also may be cyclical pressures that are extending the recessionary period. This could be the result of a correction for the recent boom in the real estate market. Many borrowers were strapped with debt beyond their realistic means by below prime lenders. Credit card debt has also risen dramatically and consumers who are servicing these debts do so at the expense of their purchasing power. Global economics may have some effect on the flat GDP as more products are outsourced and offshored. While free trade agreements have made a system of corporate nations around the world, it has resulted in flattening the median income and created an underemployment situation in the US, which may contribute to a prolonged period of recession. This period may be exaggerated by mounting consumer debt and more difficulty managing it. All these events contribute to the consumer's negative outlook on the economy. It creates what Banik (2002) calls a climate of fear where the psychological behavior of consumers creates a cycle of recession. While 18 months may seem like a considerable downturn, with the right combination of external events and loss of consumer confidence, the recession could continue to hold back the economy for several more months. The Federal Reserve and the Money Supply The Federal Reserve (Fed) controls the money supply by controlling the reserves that banks are required to hold against deposits. By buying and selling US Treasury securities, the Fed controls the amount of reserves and therefore the money supply. With more money in reserve, banks are free to loan out more money. They also control what is known as the currency component. It is a smaller portion of the money supply that deposits and withdraws currency from banks. Together with the reserve deposits, these two factors make up what is known as "high powered money" (Schwartz 2002). Interest rates are another method that the Fed has used to control the money supply. "In recent decades the Federal Reserve...interpreted a rise in interest rates as tighter monetary policy and a fall as easier monetary policy" (Schwartz 2002). This is a method of controlling the demand for money by making it

The foghorn and the sea Raiders Essay Example for Free

The foghorn and the sea Raiders Essay Thought (Hugin) and Memory (Munin) were the two ravens that went unto the world to observe and return to tell of what all men do, Driven by further search for knowledge, Odin begged Mimir, the wise, to allow him to drink from the well of wisdom, for this he consented to lose an eye. Wounded I hung on wind swept gallows For nine long nights, Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odin, Offered myself to myself: The wisest know not from whence spring The roots of that ancient rood. They gave me no bread, they gave me no mead: I looked down; with a loud cry I took up the runes and I fell. (The Elder Edda 56) Here we find Odin once more sacrificing himself for knowledge, In The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology it is said that Odin actually died on the gallows of Yggdrasil, that he traversed Nifleheim, or Hel in order to obtain the nine sacred runes, that seem to be extremely powerful as described in The Elder Edda. The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology adds yet another theory to Odin hanging himself, The parallel between Odins voluntary death on Yggdrasil and the crucifixion remains striking. Odin was pierced with a spear and like Christ, cried out before he died there is little doubt that his hanging on the cosmic tree had pre-Christian origins and derived from ancient pagan worship. Odin had long been the god of the spear, the god of the hanged. This could definitely be determined as less than speculation, seeing as we must rely on our sources and to this point one could say that this is a very valid and well thought out work. Regardless of minor differences in text again we must as they did default ourselves to the larger span of information. There were two different groups of gods in Scandinavian Mythology, The Aesir and the Vanir. Each having their own respective dwelling place, Asgard for the Aesir, and Vanaheim for the Vanir. Of the two, The Vanir have been said to be the older. Unlike the warrior Aesir, the Vanir were a race of gods associated with fertility, wealth, and good weather. (The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology 500) Among the Vanir were, Njord, the sea and fortune god, Skadi, the god of destruction, Freyja, the goddess of love, and Freyr the god of Fertility. Among the Aesir were, Odin, Balder, Bragi, Forseti Heimdall, Hodr, Thor, Tyr, Vili, Ve, Vidar, Frigg, Sif, and Idun. At one point in time there was a great war between these two branches of gods, yet both the Aesir, and the Vanir came to terms by exchanging several prominent gods of each side. The Vanir sent Njord, Freyr, Freyja, and Kvasir, while the Aesir sent Mimir, and Honir. The Vanir soon found that they got the bad end of the deal due to the fact that Mimir was the only one who knew what he was talking about, and that in his absence Honir, wasnt really that bright. The Vanir then sliced of Mimirs head and sent it back to Asgard, where Odin used Powerful magic to allow Mimirs head to speak. Little else is known of the Vanir, they seemed to lose importance quickly after it was concluded that the war was resolved however it was noted that Vanaheim, was potentially unaffected by Ragnarok. This shows evidence of two religions colliding with Scandinavian and Germanic mythology. Revealing to us that Scandinavian mythology has most definately influenced by other ancient tales and stories. (Cherry, Vanaheim) Scandinavian mythology might have been the inspiration to several works of modern day literature. It is Nicole Cherrys opinion that Tolkien was very well acquainted with the northern mythos, as can be seen by the use of it in his books. The name of one of his main characters, Gandalf, is found in The Poetic Edda. Gandalf is, in some ways, reminiscent of Odin, the leader of the Norse pantheon. Even the name Middle-earth, the setting for Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings, comes from Norse mythology. There are several other modern day works of literature based on or derived from Scandinavian mythology as well, such as, The Ring of the Nibelung and The Nibelungenlied. These works, may well show the effect and legacy of Scandinavian Mythology in the World. Another notable element of Tolkeins Lord of The Rings was his use of the ring itself to the Viings the ring meant wealth honor fame and destiny. It was in fact a tradition to give rings to neighboring countries, bringing to notice the ever prominent focal point of the Lord of the Rings. (Day 29) There is no Heaven or Hell in Scandinavian mythology, the only hope is to be brought up to Asgard by a Valkyrie or Battle Maiden. Even then those chosen or the Einherjar (The Heroic dead) faced defeat at Ragnarok in the Final Battle on the Vigrid Plain. This may be unlike any other focal point of religion known. It reasons in many ways that the only way to gain honor is to die in battle unfaltering. Scandinavian Mythology, although comparable to other religions or other pagan beliefs is an original and unique work of the Norwegians, Swedish, Icelandic, and Danish peoples of Europe. Hamilton describes it justly by saying, Asgard, the home of the gods, is unlike any other heaven men have dreamed of. No radiancy or joy is in it, no assurance of bliss, it is a grave and solemn place, over which hangs the threat of inevitable doom the same is true for humanity this conception of life which underlies Norse religion, as somber a conception the human mind has ever given birth to A heroic death is not a defeat, but a triumph. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE JRR Tolkien section.