Physics And Computer Science Study The Behavior Of Complex...

If I can describe computational modelling as ‘the use of mathematics, physics and computer science to study the behaviour of complex systems by computer simulation’ (http://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/computational-modeling) then that’s something I’m very familiar with, especially when modelling chemical processes in a manufacturing environment. In Chemistry, computational modelling is used for a range of different purposes (see Figure 1 below). You can use computer models to predict the behaviour of chemical reactions, changes to the properties of fluids as they flow through pipes and using computational models to simulate manufacturing process of synthesising chemicals before a chemical plant is built. Figure 1†¦show more content†¦Why use computers to model cognition? Computational modelling has become so popular in cognitive science (which I will refer to as cognitive modelling) and I will discuss a few that I think are the most important and of interest. The first involves the rise of cognitive psychology. The previous school of thought in psychology was behaviourism and in the early 20th century, John B Watson, instrumental in the birth of behaviourism, claimed that we can understand mental processes of an organism by analysing its behaviour. That given a stimulus, an organism’s reaction could be predicted. Even though behaviourism gave psychology credence as a scientific discipline allowing theories to be falsified, it did have its problems, namely that behaviourists where allowed to ignore the inner workings of the mind. B.F Skinner, an influential defender of behaviourism, argues that behaviourism looks at ‘the environmental histories of both the species and the individual.’ That environment selects behaviour.(Skinner, 1985) However, there were problems understanding cognition by simply studying the behaviour of an organism. This approach to psychology caused a lot of conflict and disagreements in the academic world (e.g. from Noam Chomsky, Ulrich Neisser). It was frustrating for psychologists working in this field to ignore the brain because, according to behaviourism, the internal

Mexican American War Essay - 709 Words

The Mexican-American War was driven by the idea of Manifest Destiny (Which is the belief that America had a God-given right to expand the countrys borders from sea to sea) This belief would eventually cause a great deal of suffering for many Mexicans, Native Americans and United States citizens. Following the earlier Texas War of Independence from Mexico, tensions between the two largest independent nations on the North American continent grew as Texas eventually became a U.S. state. Disputes over the border lines sparked military confrontation, helped by the fact that President Polk eagerly sought a war in order to seize large tracts of land from Mexico. The war between the United States and Mexico had two basic causes. First, the†¦show more content†¦The second basic cause of the war was the Texas War of Independence and the subsequent annexation of that area to the United States. Not all American westward migration was unwelcome. In the 1820s and 1830s, Mexico, newly independent from Spain, needed settlers in the underpopulated northern parts of the country. An invitation was issued for people who would take an oath of allegiance to Mexico and convert to Catholicism, the state religion. Thousands of Americans took up the offer and moved, often with slaves, to the Mexican province of Texas. Soon however, many of the new Texicans or Texians were unhappy with the way the government in Mexico City tried to run the province. In 1835, Texas revolted, and after several bloody battles, the Mexican President, Santa Anna, was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco in 1836 . This treaty gave Texas its independence, but many Mexicans re fused to accept the legality of this document, as Santa Anna was a prisoner of the Texans at the time. The Republic of Texas and Mexico continued to engage in border fights and many people in the United States openly sympathized with the U.S.-born Texans in this conflict. As a result of the savage frontier fighting, the American public developed a very negative stereotype against the Mexican people and government. Partly due to the continued hostilities with Mexico, Texas decided to join with the United States,Show MoreRelatedThe Mexican American War Essay1223 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States of America has been through many wars, wars concerning many things such as land oil, pride and respect. However, when the United States went to war with Mexico, it was planned over greed. The Mexican- American war was a war provoked by the United States, in efforts to expand the coasts of the country. Mexico was a small under privileged country who had previously to the war had already lost part of their country (Texas). Needless to say this war was cut throat and violent, it was howeverRead MoreThe Mexican-American War Essay870 Words   |  4 Pagesdisregard for the toll a war can take on human lives. When the Alamo was fought back in February 1836, it was about the independence of Texas from Mexico. In retaliation of the death and destruction of human life, Sam Houston retaliated in April and killed 630 Mexican soldiers and took General Santa Anna prisoner (Tindall Shi, 2010). This was the start of the independence of Texas and the quest for annexation into the United States, which ultimately led to the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. ThisRead MoreEssay on The Mexican-American War1466 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mexican-American war determined the destiny of the United States of America, it determined whether or not it would become a world power and it established the size of the United States of America. Perhaps the war was inevitable due to the idea of Manifest Destiny - Americans thought they had the divine right to extend their territory. The Mexican-American War started mainly because of the annexation of the Republic of Texas (established in 1836 after breaking away from Mexico). The United StatesRead MoreEssay The Mexican-American War1216 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mexican-American War. The Mexican-American war was a process of years of battles between the Mexicans and Americans but I think after this informational paper, you’ll seem to know a little bit more knowledge about it. How it all started, well in the beginning, the Americans and Mexicans both wanted to control Texas, but at the time it was a part of the Mexican territory, well soon enough Americans wanted control over it so badly that they started to travel into Texas’s land. Part of the reasonRead MoreCause Of The Mexican American War1864 Words   |  8 PagesThe Mexican-American war, also known as the Mexican war happened between 1846 and 1848 with the participants being United States of America and Mexico. Texas, previously a Mexican state, was the primary cause of the war. A series of disagreements had occurred between Texans and the Mexican government leading to Texas declaration of its independence in 1836. Later, Texas decided to join the United States as the 28th state and this infu riated Mexico. Additionally, border disagreements came up withRead MoreThe American Army in the Mexican War1085 Words   |  5 Pagesrepel invasions. This two level arrangement formed the basis of military establishment during the war. The U.S. army was not prepared for the war. The congress authorized 8613 men and officers for the war but, the actual number was fewer than 5500. Many regimental commanders entered before the War of 1812 but, were too elderly and infirm for an active duty. Looking at the poor state of army during the war, the Congress increased the number of private individual companies to hundred. This turned outRead MoreMexican American War Essay4448 Words   |  18 PagesIntroduction/Background The Mexican American War began on April 25, 1846. The war lasted two years losing many men on both sides. The Mexican war was the third major fought by the United States. In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla triggers the beginning of Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain. Mexico gained its independence in 1821 after a long and bloody revolution against Spain. For Mexico, the war between them and the United States was a fight to keep their institutions and national integrityRead MoreCompare and contrast the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War.1456 Words   |  6 PagesThe War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War are two wars that physically appear two opposites. The War of 1812 involves plenty of naval battles and a few major land battles, while the Mexican-American War involves numerous land battles and few, if any, naval battles. However there are numerous similarities. The War of 1812, The US saw Great Britain as a major problem because of their definition of contraband and the impressment of American sailors into the British Navy. And around this time theRead MoreMexican And Mexican Americans During The War Of Texas And The Wrongful1206 Words   |  5 PagesThe Unit explains the hardships many Mexican and Mexican Americans have carried and continue to carry till this day due to their ethnicity and roots. The inequality and struggles rooted from the invasion of Texas and the wrongful â€Å"won† over Mexican territory by the Euro-centric American who then expanded their border down south unjustly colonizing the Northwest of Mexico. Along with land many Mexicans who resided in this land were now living in among a strange new government and environment thatRead MoreMexican American War And The Mexican War1380 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mexican American war better known as the Mexican war, was a conflict between The united states of America an d Mexico. from 1846 to 1848. It followed in the wake of the 1845 US annexation of Texas, which Mexico considered part of its territory, despite the 1836 Texas revolution. After its independence in 1821 and brief experiment with monarchy, Mexico became a republic in 1824, characterized by considerable instability, so that when war broke out in 1846, Mexico was ill-prepared for this conflict

Use Of Drones in Agriculture - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 677 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/08/16 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Drones Essay Did you like this example? Drones, more scientifically known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have been around for ages, but are just starting to become beneficially used in the agricultural business. Farmers can get a birds eye view of their land, animals, and crops just by flying drones at low altitudes. I believe that drones can be extremely beneficial to agricultural farmers in todays day and age. Given that most farmers are in their fifties, drones can come to be of great use, if known how to operate properly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many pros and cons that can go along when working with drones. First off, a few pros are monitoring, spraying, and analyzing/mapping. Monitoring is one of the most important aspects of having a drone. Monitoring can be used for livestock, as well as other farm animals, to keep watch and make sure no predators are coming in. Predators, such as cougars and wolves, are attacking livestock species and killing them, which results in a loss for farmers. With the use of drones, farmers can track what is coming in and out, and are then able to set up some different techniques that wont kill the predators, such as hanging strips of cloth from the fence lines, which causes a flutter and scares away the animal. Also, drones have thermal sensors in which monitoring can be used for the crops to make sure that everything is growing properly and identifying irrigation where necessary. Secondly, spraying is a big component of having a drone. Drones can visually scan the ground and spray an even amount of liquid making sure that everything is properly covered. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Use Of Drones in Agriculture" essay for you Create order It has been concluded that spraying with drones can be completed up to five times as fast than with tractors or other spraying machinery. Mapping is essential when it comes to drones and farming. It can be used to map out the land and measure out the whole area. Cameras are an accessory to drones, in which it takes high quality pictures that can evaluate the condition of the farm at that exact moment so that farmers know what needs to be done. The quality of crops is an important factor in farming and is essential to the farmer. Drones are able to analyze the crops by visualizing them and helping improve the overall quality. On the reverse side, the cons are limitations to routes, high prices, and weather conditions. Drones have a limited amount of airspace to fly around. They cannot fly too low, too high, or too far away. Drones are meant to fly at low altitudes to reach its full potential. Although, drones must stay in a certain area and cannot exceed two kilometers. As far as pricing goes, drones are not a cheap toy for adults. The more expensive the drone is, the better qualities it may have. They range from about 10,000 to 20,000, which is quite high for the average farmer. Not to mention, the accessories do not come with the actual drone. Cameras, controllers, and Wi-Fi are all required for the drone to operate in full effect. Lastly, weather is also a big issue. Conditions like thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes have the ability to interrupt the signal and make the drone not functional. Because of these weather conditions, it could completely damage the drone, making for an unhappy farmer. As a result, there are far more good things about drones compared to bad. Yes, they are expensive, but would be money well spent in the long run, if taken care of properly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, drones are and can be a tremendous benefit to farmers, now and in the upcoming future. There are three benefits that I found to be extremely important: yield increases, time saver, and a safe plan for the upcoming future. Using drones not only helps improves the rate of production, but it can also save time for farmers as well as help better plan for crops in the future. On top of that, it can do a ton of other helpful things that will help save time for everyday farmers.

Should Minimum Wage Be Increased Essay - 963 Words

According to the reference (Issues Surrounding the Minimum Wage Debate REVISION 2- Bruce D. Philips,NFIB Research Foundation, 11/30/05) increasing the minimum wage hurts low-skill employees. Most economists agree that increasing the minimum wage destroys jobs. This job loss is concentrated on the least skilled employees in the economy. Research from Duke University, the University of Wisconsin, and Michigan State University indicates that increases in the minimum wage hurt low-skill employees. Cornell University economists found that groups such as high school dropouts and black young adults suffer four times more employment loss from a minimum wage increase than their non-black and more educated counterparts. Losses to small business†¦show more content†¦More than 45 percent of respondents in a 2000 survey of members of the American Economic Association said they mainly agreed that minimum wages increased unemployment among young and unskilled workers. But over the last few decades there have been several increases in federal and state minimum wages, with little impact on the level of employment. This has led economists in the last decade to reconsider the link between wages and jobs at the bottom. In 2005, about 1.2 million workers in the leisure and hospitality industry were earning no more than the minimum wage: restaurant cooks, hotel maids and others, accounting for almost 64 percent of all minimum-wage workers in the country. Unlike a manufacturer, a McDonalds in the United States will not relocate to China when its labor costs rise. And until a machine is developed to adequately sautà © the vegetables and toss the salad in Americas sit-down restaurants, it will be hard for employers to replace them, even if Congress agrees to increase their pay to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 over a couple of years. In one study, Mr. Krueger and David Card of the University of California, Berkeley, found that in the eight months after New Jersey raised its minimum wage to $5.05 an hour from $4.25 in 1992, employment in fast-food restaurants grew slightly fasterShow MoreRelatedMinimum Wage Should Be Increased1057 Words   |  5 PagesRebecca Nevins Meredith Sides English 101 16 November 2015 Minimum Wage Should Be Increased Congress enacted the federal minimum wage in 1938, during the Great Depression. Congress had two goals; keeping workers away from poverty and boosting consumer spending for economic recovery. Today, there is a debate, whether we should increase the minimum wage again. Increasing the minimum wage is useful for several reasons. First, the current minimum wage has failed to keep up with inflation. Second, a higherRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Increased?1472 Words   |  6 Pagesdifficult if you are living on minimum wage. Of course it’s more difficult for some people than others depending on their situation and their living conditions. Americans and working class people who do come to America for a â€Å" better opportunity† and for the famous American dream struggle. Minimum wage should be increased because of the overqualified, educated, and experienced Americans who are relying on minimum wage jobs as a result of the struggling economy. Raising minimum wage will hel p employees sustainRead MoreShould Minimum Wage Be Increased?1691 Words   |  7 PagesShould Minimum Wage be Increased? Introduction The term, â€Å"minimum wage† refers to a lowest payment that an employer is bound to pay to its workers. Today minimum wage is made compulsory in more than ninety percent of nations including Canada where workers are demanding to increase minimum wages for a long time. Minimum wages are revised by governments in order to met growing needs of workers. There is a difference of opinion on the issue of increasing minimum wages among people of Canada. EmployersRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Should Be Increased1289 Words   |  6 PagesThe National Minimum Wage Should be increased to a Living Wage. Back in 1998 Labour s’ Tony Blair introduced the national minimum wage (NMW). It was created in aid of employers not valuing their workforce, often giving them very little wages. When it was first introduced the rate was set at  £3.60 and has slowly risen to  £6.70. However this is not enough to live on. It has been estimated that you need no less than  £7.85 an hour, rising to  £9.15 in London, to survive on. There is a clear differenceRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Should Be Increased976 Words   |  4 Pagesthe federal minimum wage. The post may have a picture of a soldier, a disheveled EMT in the back of an ambulance, or a waving American flag with overlying text stating something to the effect of ‘â€Å"Burger flippers† think they should be paid as much as these minimum wages workers? No way!’ If my experience on social media is any indicator, the most popular posts always contain â€Å"burger flipper† or â€Å"baconator.† Posts like the ones described above make moral judgements about the minimum wage with littleRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Not Be Increased1669 Words   |  7 PagesFederal minimum wage is a huge controversy around the world and especially in the United States today. It is the lowest wage that employers can legally pay their employees. The world’s first minimum wage law was passed in the year eighteen ninety-four in New Zealand. New Zealand’s minimum wage experiment caught the attention of other countries. It made them start considering the law for their own countries. The United States passed their federal minimum wage law in nineteen thirty-eight. The federalRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Should Be Increased Essay1758 Words   |  8 Pagesincrease the minimum wage in California from ten to fifteen dollars by the year 2022. The minimum wage will be increased by one dollar each year until 2022. This will give businesses enough time to meet state requirements to raise wages for em ployees. The bill was created to help people who are making less than minimum wage but it will disable California’s economy system and cause negative effects for people who are living on the current minimum wage system. The rise of the minimum wage will causeRead MoreShould The Minimum Wage Be Increased?1169 Words   |  5 Pageslarge scale over the State of Michigan’s plans to increase the minimum wage from seven dollars and fifty cents to ten dollars. Although increasing the minimum wage may seem beneficial to some, possibly stimulating the economy or increasing the standard of living for those who live below the poverty line, when looking at the economic issue through a larger lens and placing it into its context, one finds that by increasing the minimum wage, not only is the State of Michigan not addressing the most criticalRead MoreEssay on The Minimum Wage Should Be Increased1048 Words   |  5 Pagesfederal minimum wage in 1938, during the Great Depression. Congress had two goals; keeping workers away from poverty and boosting consumer spending for economic recovery. Today, there is a debate, whether we should increase the minimum wage again. Increasing the minimum wage is useful for several reasons. First, the current minimum wage has failed to keep up with inflation. Second, a higher income level reduces employee turnover and increases efficiency and ultimately, raising the minimum wage doesRead MoreFederal Minimum Wage Should Be Increased911 Words   |  4 PagesThe question that ponders many people’s minds is whether the federal minimum wage should be increased or not. The current U.S. minimum wage is $7.50 and this wage has not increased since 2009. Families with minimum income wages are suffering due to the fact that they cannot provide everyday needs for their families. This is the reason why many people are rioting. They are frustrated with the government’s nonchalant attitude towards the hard situations i n which they are living in. A final decision

The Truth Regarding Puppy Mills Free Essays

Page 2 Puppy mills have long been a problem in the United States, specifically the Midwest region. Puppy mill dogs live in cages 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The dogs’ only purpose in life is â€Å"to sit in a cage, constantly producing more puppies to make a profit for their owners† (Best Friends Network, 2007). We will write a custom essay sample on The Truth Regarding Puppy Mills or any similar topic only for you Order Now The dogs have little to no human interaction. Puppy mills are licensed facilities, which mass-produce puppies for pet stores and/or auctions, and should be banned due to the horrible conditions in which the animals live; they are bred repeatedly, and often killed when having outlived their usefulness. According to Pet Shop Puppies (n. d. ), Congress enacted the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The AWA was meant to protect the animals, but instead opened up the door for dog farms. This act changed the definition of dogs from pets to livestock. Today we have moved up from dog farms to puppy mills. Puppy mills breed dogs repeatedly and have turned breeding into a multi-million dollar industry. Best Friends Network states there is an estimated 6,000 licensed puppy mills breeding approximately 500,000 dogs each year with an unknown amount of unlicensed facilities (The Skinny On Puppy Mills section, final paragraph). Puppy mill owners breed dogs, sell the offspring to pet stores and auction houses. The puppies are sent to auction to be sold to the highest bidder in order for other puppy mills to be able to continue the breeding cycle. When puppy mills run out of new dogs to breed, they will begin breeding mother to son, daughter to father, etc. creating inbreeding. Inbreeding causes many genetic problems for any breed. Page 3 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires minimum standards for puppy mills, breeders, and rescues. According to Prisoners of Greed (n. ), the cages are required to be six inches longer, wider, and taller than the dog inside. The cages have to be made of coated wire. This coated wire cuts into the paws of the dogs causing severe infection, loss of limbs, and sometimes death. The USDA does not require dogs to be exercised. There is no requirement as to how clean the cages have to be kept. Often, the dog cages are stacked on top of one another to save space. The dog’s feces and urine drops through the coated wire bottom onto the dog(s) below. There are many differences between puppy mills and licensed rofessional breeders. A professional breeder only breeds to improve or sustain the breed. Puppy mills breed for purely profit. Professional breeders will only breed their dogs a maximum of once a year. Some breeders only breed their bitches every other year. Puppy mills breed their dogs repeatedly. When a person purchases a puppy from a professional breeder, the facilities, which the parent dogs live, is available for a tour. Puppy mills wholesale their puppies to stores and auction houses only. Puppy mills and private auctions are not licensed to sell directly to the public. This means the purchaser is unable to see the conditions of which the parent dogs live. Professional breeders will retire their dogs once they are too old to be used for reproduction. Retirement means these dogs get to live out their life as a family pet. Puppy mills kill the dogs, dump them on the side of the road, give them away, or send them to animal control once they are not able to reproduce. According to the USDA, animal control is not required to keep a surrendered dog for any length of time. Animal control is free to euthanize the animal when the owner brings them in. Page 4 The USDA has many responsibilities. The USDA is responsible for inspecting yearly all professional breeders, puppy mills, and rescues. When the USDA inspects the officer is required to enforce the federal AWA. The USDA does not always fine or shut down puppy mills when the officer discovers a violation. These facilities are allowed to continue to operate while the animals are kept in poor conditions. According to Prisoners of Greed (n. d. ) â€Å"there are over 4,000 federally licensed breeding kennels†. In Susan Montee’s report (2008), Missouri State Auditor, the USDA â€Å"failed to inspect 1,111 of 2,769 licensed animal care facilities in 2006. The same report states only 27% of licensed facilities were inspected in 2004. In Claire McCaskill’s report (2004), Missouri State Auditor, the USDA has received three negative reports in the last seven years. These reports inspections by the Missouri State Auditor happen every other year. The issue being the USDA is required annually to inspect every li censed animal care facility and is not even inspecting half. Puppy mills treat their dogs like livestock. The dogs live in small cages, stacked on top of each other, with a coated wire bottom cutting into their feet. The dogs breed repeatedly with no attention paid to genetic defects. Sick puppies are often produced and sold to pet stores. These pet stores in turn sell the sick puppies to the public (S. Rhoades, personal interview, June 7, 2009). There are people, which have the mindset of only buying from pet stores because they only want a purebred puppy, and do not want to pay the prices professional breeders charge. (S. Rhoades June 7, 2009) There are many pure bred dogs on death row at animal shelters all over the Midwest. (S. Rhoades, personal interview, June 7, 2009) It is important the general public knows the truth regarding where that cute puppy was born, and where its parents live. (S. Rhoades, personal interview, June 7, 2009) There are also breed specific rescues, which have Page 5 only purebred puppies and dogs for adoption. As long as we have dogs on death row do not breed or buy, adopt from the local animal shelter or rescue. (S. Rhoades, personal interview, June 7, 2009) Page 6 References Best Friends Network, The Skinny on Puppy Mills [A. Abern]. (October 20, 2007) http://network. estfriends. org/puppymillrescue/news/19928. html Pet Shop Puppies, Incorporated ( n. d. ). The Joy of a Puppy. Brochure distributed by Pet Shop Pet Shop Puppies, Incorporated [no author]. (2004-2009). The Truth Behind Pet Store Puppies. June 3, 2009, http://www. petshoppuppies. org/psppuppymills. htm Prisoners of Greed [no author]. (n. d. ). Puppymills Breed Misery. June 3, 2009, http://www. prisonersofgreed. org/Com mercial-kennel-facts. html Rhoades, S. (June 7, 2009). Personal interview with S. Rhoades, Follow Me Home Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, http://www. followmehome. org How to cite The Truth Regarding Puppy Mills, Papers

Essay on Elements of Management

Question: Write about theEssay on Elements of Management. Answer: Introduction Organizations formulate ways and strategies that aim at improving their overall performance. Analyzing their human and material resources is an essential step to achieving their goals and objectives. However, the management of some organizations fails to formulate policies and measures that control the behavioral patterns of individuals (Abadi, et al. 2011, 157-169). Thus, they are unable to manage their employees effectively. Therefore, it is important to determine the various elements of management that influence the behavior of supervisors, subordinates, and our peers. Maintaining a shared workforce that focuses on improving the performance is a must do the task, although personality factor brings conflict between individual and organization behavior. In this report, motivation, individual differences, conflict and change management are the key elements discussed to evaluate their influence on employees effort and behavior (Abadi, et al. 2011, 157-169). Understanding the different styles and skills of people helps management in getting the right people to a particular job title and at the end improve work performance and achievement of the set goals and objectives. The report has provided an in-depth analysis and evaluation of motivation, conflicts, individual differences and change as elements of management. Motivation Motivation is a key determinant of the behavior in a given organization. Employees should be motivated to arouse them towards certain goal directors, but the question remains, how the management reinforce such an action. Various definitions and theories of motivation have been developed by different scholars such as Maslow, who established the need hierarchy theory (Abadi, et al. 2011, p.157-169). Such approaches provide detailed explanations on how to motivate the employee to improve the performance of organizations, but their practical applications in real life of a business environment become cumbersome. Use of intrinsic motivations by management gives personal satisfaction, hence leading to individual recognition, trust, empowerment, and good relations among the employees in various departments. However, intrinsic motivations are applicable when employees take their tasks and duties to be routine and bureaucratic and where there they perceive that it is paramount to comply with r ules and procedures. Extrinsic motivations such as bonuses, salary raise, gifts, and promotions also play a significant role in inspiring the firms workforce (Slocum and Hellriegel, 2007). People always put more effort to improve their performance when they are sure of material rewards. The management of an organization should ensure that they motivate their employees in a hierarchical order as described by Maslows theory. The employees behavior is influenced by the ability to satisfy basic needs first before moving to a different level (Khan, et al. 2010, p.37-52). A persons paycheck can be used to meet the psychological needs, but it is crucial to ensure that such pay meets safety and esteem need as well. However, this theory may be challenging to apply in real life situations because what one perceives to be a basic need may be a luxury to another person. Therefore, not all categories of the members can be fully satisfied. Individual needs cannot be the only motivators as several elements can encourage a person to work efficiently to improve the performance of the firm. The two-factor theory of Fredrick Herzberg has approached motivation in two perspectives, motivators and hygiene. Its hard to classify since people attribute the causes of satisfaction to themselves and blaming a given situation that occurs to be the cause of dissatisfaction (Josse Robert, 2007, p.605-624.) Although the theory has various limitations, managers can use its concepts to improve the working environment so as to motivate their employees. They should not solely focus on only hygiene factors look at other ways of enriching the jobs such as greater responsibilities and challenging work. Life experiences have led to individuals acquiring a need for achievement, affiliation, and power. This argument is as per the acquired needs theory of McClellands (Greguras Diefendorff, 2009, p.465-477). Such combination of requirements influences the behavior of employees in an organization. Individuals with high need of achievement always prefer doing tasks for themselves and not delegating them to subordinates. Therefore it is not simple for them to perform the managerial activities that involve coaching and holding meetings. The outcomes of a person regarding rewards should be proportional to inputs. When there is the perception of inequity among the working staff, they will tend to reduce their inputs and quality of their duties. This explanation is derived from Adams equity theory which specifies that people with same qualifications and efforts should be rewarded equally (Chowdhury, 2007, p.238-243). Individual Differences Individual differences affect all the areas of an organization including behaviors, perceptions and interactions and influence how people respond to change and productivity in the organization Gully, S., Chen, 2010, p.3-22). Diversity, perceptions, emotions, attitudes, personality, abilities and skills are the elements of individual differences that impact workplace behavior either negatively or positively. If management wants to improve the performance, they have to understand and take into consideration peoples drives, and desires operate (Bauer, et al. 2007, p.707-721). Therefore it is not easy to motivate two different people using the same methods. The values a person accumulates throughout the life experiences affect how he/she makes decisions regarding assigned duties and responsibilities in an organization and their actual behaviors. Value attainment leads to satisfaction and as a result motivate people to work efficiently to achieve the set goals and objectives (Fritzche, 2 007, p.335-343). Although, it is difficult for managers to select which personal values should be sacrificed to achieve consistent values among employees. Understanding employees personalities such as openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism help a manager to effectively manage organizational behavior. Encouraging openness among people in the workplace leads to high adaptability to change and team experience (Suar Khuntia, 2010). Management should be cautious of the extent of openness as it can result in poor performance. Employees can end up spending much of their time with their friends and fail to perform their tasks and duties (Blader, 2007, p.108-126). Highly conscious personnel tend to focus on improving their performance. It is complex for managers to correctly maintain a lasting between personality and behavior of individuals since personality traits are inborn. Additionally, it is difficult to predict job performance using a character as one may portray to be open and extravagant, but as time goes, such behavior diminishes and ends a being a cause of conflicts in an organization. Effective application of the abilities and skills of individuals contribute to the success of a firm. They influence how one feels concerning an assigned task (Borghans, et al. 2008, p.972-1059). In the selection of employees, personality traits of a person help in predicting the work behavior of the individual and how he/she can influence other staff in bringing either positive or negative outcome. It is hard to manage employees with low self-esteem as a negative feedback by managers aimed at improving their performance can be viewed as underestimating their worth as subordinates. Self-monitoring is also a personality trait should be encouraged among employees. Despite the vital role self-monitoring plays, it has limitations too. How can a person monitor the actions at the same time focus on avoiding confrontations from the authority due to either underperformance or misrepresentations? It is quite difficult, and therefore self-monitored people may use a certain situation as a stepp ing stone to move to a different level or organization. Conflict Conflict is an element that is inevitable by the managers of an organization. The various types of conflicts that occur may result in either negative or positive outcome. It can lead to maladjusted behavior among the employees of the organization (Cropanzano, et al. 2007, p.34-38). Various strategies have been established that management team can use to neutralize the conflict that may exist with their employees. They include; when wages are paid on a regular basis, workers are expected to perform duties more efficiently. However, delay of payments cause strikes and lack of devotion. According to Skinners theory of motivation, rewarding individuals basing on spectacular performance encourages excellent performance and doing it more exceptionally and repeatedly without causing conflicts (Danish Usman, 2010, p.159-167). Provision of free training and participation in decision making motivates employees to be more productive and develop a behavior that enhances the image of an organization. Establishing conflict resolution techniques such as negotiation and arbitration can enhance peaceful coexistence among the workforce and thus improve their morale in job performance (Bauer, et al. 2007, p.707-721). Such resolution methods should be accompanied by other measures or else they will not have any impact on the overall performance. The measures may include; establishment of an enabling working environment, recreation facilities and canteen services and computerized communication networks. Therefore, managers need to analyze the various sources, causes, and consequences of disagreements so as to establish an enriching and conflict free working environment. Understanding the basics of human recognition will enhance their management of employees (Cropanzano, et al. 2007, p. 34-38). The values and personality traits need to be aligned with the organization vision and mission so as to establish a behavior that encourages efficient work performance. Change Management Managing change is a significant part of the tasks of managers. Therefore, when implementing changes, such advanced methods of production ensure that all people including employees are involved in the process. Participation of employees can lead efficient utilization of resources and efficiency on duties given as they shall respond positively to the change (Bauer, et al. 2007, p.707-721). Besides, there is reduced labor reductions, willingness to contribute, and reduced staff turnover. The rapid changes in the workplaces call for employee satisfaction. However, this function of management is more complex as employees motivations change from time to time. Moreover, also, various researches have made assumptions that as income of employees increase, money cannot continue motivating them to work more. Also, as they become older their interest to work is the motivator (Beier, Kanfer 2010, p.65-98). However, one person may treat a given change to be unfair while the other one perceives it to be fair, as a result contradicting opinions arise within the work environment. The management uses concepts from reinforcement theory by Skinners to either reward or punishes employees behavior that gives positive or negative outcomes respectively. However, how can one be sure that after rewarding a certain behavior the person will repeat it? It is not an excellent way of encouraging positive behaviors that lead to improvement in overall performance. Task performance is linked to goal setting. Establishment of new targets and the appropriate changes required gives employees direction on what should be done to improve performance. They help in developing a desirable behavior of employees who focus on attaining the set goals and objectives. However, when people set their goals, they may end up conflicting with management goal, according to Lockes goal setting theory (Mani, 2010, p.129-139). Change management helps to determine challenging task and hence, fit with the social environment in which they operate (Bauer, et al. 2007, p.707-721). When managing it is good to put in mind Katters steps to successful changes, which include, increasing the urgency, empowering actions, make the change to stick, getting the vision right and creating short-term wins. However, before applying such techniques try to understand how they people will respond to the change. How a person communicates the recommended changes to the affected individuals substantially determines the feedback in the long run. Conclusion In summary, to improve performance level in the organization, the management should motivate their employees, try to neutralize individual differences and conflicts. Motivated workforce focus on creativity, innovation and zeal components that aim at pushing the firm to a higher level. Satisfied employees tend to portray behaviors that enhance the image of the enterprise and as a result attracting more labor force and reducing personnel turnover and strikes due to various conflicts emanating from individual indifferences. References Abadi, F. E., Jalilvand, M. R., Sharif, M., Salimi, G. A., Khanzadeh, S. A. (2011). A Study of Influential Factors on Employees Motivation for Participating in the In-Service Training Courses Based on Modified Expectancy Theory. International Business and Management, 2(1), 157-169. Slocum J.W., and Hellriegel, D. (2007). Fundamentals of organizational behavior; Thomson south Western publishers; Printed in China Bauer, T. N., Bodner, T., Erdogan, B., Truxillo, D. M., Tucker, J. S. (2007). Newcomer adjustment during organizational socialization: A meta-analytic review of antecedents, outcomes, and methods. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92, 707721 Beier, M. E., Kanfer, R. (2010). Motivation in training and development: A phase perspective. In S. W. J. Kozlowski E. Salas (Eds.), Learning, training, and development in organizations (pp. 65-98). New York: Routledge. Blader, S. L. (2007). What leads organizational members to collectivize? Injustice and identification as precursors of union certification. Organization Science, 18, 108126. Borghans,L., Duckworth, A.L.,Heckman, J.j., ter Weel,B.(2008).The economics and psychology of personality traits. Journal of Human Resources, 43,972?1059. Chowdhury, M. S., (2007). Enhancing Motivation and Work Performance of the Salespeople: The Impact of Supervisors Behavior. African Journal of Business Management, 1(9), 238-243. Cropanzano, R., Bowen, D. E., Gilliland, S. W. (2007). The management of organizational justice. Academy of Management Perspectives, 21, 3448 Danish, R. Q., Usman, A., (2010). Impact of Reward and Recognition on job Satisfaction and Motivation: An Empirical Study from Pakistan. International Journal of Business and Management, 5(2), 159-167 Fritzche, D. J. (2007). Personal values influence on the ethical dimension of decision making. Journal of Business Ethics, 75, 335-343. Greguras, G. J., Diefendorff, J. M. (2009). Different fits satisfy different needs: Linking person-environment fit to employee commitment and performance using self-determination theory. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94, 465-477. Gully, S., Chen, G. (2010). Individual differences, attribute-treatment interactions, and training outcomes. In S. W. J. Kozlowski E. Salas (Eds.), Learning, training, and development in organizations (pp. 3-22). New York: Routledge. Josse, D., Robert, D. (2007). Signaling and screening of workers motivation. Journal of Economic Behaviour Organization., 62: 605624. Khan, K. U., Farooq, S. U., Ullah, M. I., (2010). The Relationship between Rewards and Employee Motivation in Commercial Banks of Pakistan. Research Journal of International Studies, 14, 37-52 Mani, V., (2010). Development of Employee Satisfaction Index Scorecard. 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Behavioural Skills in Business free essay sample

Role of managers Report By Caroline McNaught Role of managers Report By Caroline McNaught CONTENTS * Analyse Jess’s role as manager of the Customer Engagement team using appropriate management and leadership theories. * Analyse how assertiveness, influencing and negotiating techniques could be used with reference to specific team members and show why the techniques proposed might be effective in this situation. * Identify potential sources of conflict within her team and the effects of these conflicts. Provide techniques to assist Jess in the management of these conflicts. Consider approaches to managing meetings and make suggestions that may help Jess in her management and conduct of team meetings. * Outline techniques that may help Jess manage her time. * Identify and deal with the stress that Jess currently faces. * Provide approaches that may assist Jess in managing problems and enhance her decision making skills. * References Introduction My name is Caroline McNaught and currently I am a mentor for Jess Green who is a newly appointed manager for the New Customer Engagement team of Balance Banking PLC. We will write a custom essay sample on Behavioural Skills in Business or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I have been asked to write a report regarding Jess’s role as manager and some of the obstacles that have been getting in the way of her being able to do her job efficiently. These include lifting team morale, managing conflicts within her team, approaches to managing meetings, time management and dealing with stress. The aim of this report is to inform Jess of some techniques that can be used effectively to help her in her new position. Analyse Jess’s role as manager of the Customer Engagement team using appropriate management and leadership theories. Jess’s role as manager is to ensure that the performance of her team is geared towards achieving the strategic objectives of the organisation. These are: * To achieve financial security and return to profit. * To become a place of choice for employees. * To create an open and transparent management style. * To focus on customer and shareholder needs. * To focus on long-term quality profitability. * To create a new business mix and manage the business risk. Unfortunately for Jess, not all of her team are performing very well. Some of them are reluctant to embrace the changes that have occurred since the restructuring of the organisation. For Jess to be able to achieve the goals of the organisation then she must look at the alternate ways of managing her team. In reality, Jess’s role of manager changes every day into many different roles. Some of these roles include being a planner, organiser, negotiator, leader and representing her team at board meetings. As tasks and situations change Jess has to be able to keep up with these changes herself. In today’s society being a manager has many more obstacles to overcome than earlier years. With new technology, globalisation and the changing marketplace being just a few of these obstacles faced today. Many theorists have different views on the role of manager. In 1916, Henri Fayols book Administration Industrielle et Generale was first published. From Fayols observations of managers he concluded that every managerial job contained the same five elements. These elements are: * Planning * Organising * Commanding * Co-ordinating * Controlling ( H. Fayol, 1916) Fayols framework for looking at what a manager does is still valid today. By planning, organising, co-ordinating and commanding then Jess may be able to take control of her team in a more productive way. Henry Mintzberg is another theorist who studied the activities of managers and identified 10 roles common to the work of all managers. Mintzberg published his book, â€Å"Mintzberg on Management: Inside our Strange World of Organisations,† in 1990. The ten roles are: 1. Figurehead. 2. Leader. 3. Liaison. 4. Monitor. 5. Disseminator. 6. Spokesperson.