Building effective teams task 6

The use of 360 degree feedback based on peer review as the key method to evaluate an individual’s performance is disputable in human resource management, especially where it is intended as the key method to evaluate an individual’s performance.The decision in favor of it or against it depends on the targeted use of this appraisal tool. It seems perfectly acceptable as a development tool that allows the employee glimpses into his or her performance and areas for improvement. In this context, â€Å"the results from 360-degree feedback are often used by the person receiving the feedback to plan their training and development† (Wikipedia, 2006).However, its use as the tool in decision-making on pay increases or decreases should be restricted for a variety of reasons. First of all, it is not always clear who will pick the evaluators and how this will influence the process.Besides, from the developmental point of view because of the anonymity of the process, those who are being evaluated â€Å"have no recourse if they want to further understand the feedback† (Heathfield, 2006). If suppliers or clients are involved in the process as they frequently are, there is no guarantee that they will be able to assess an individual’s performance adequately, relying on the criteria desired by the management team.Therefore, it seems a good idea to recommend that 360 degree feedback be used as a developmental tool for employees’ reference. The standards performance appraisal by the supervising manager has to be used, however, as a basis for reward decision-making.The manager is better equipped with an understanding of the employee’s contribution to the organization by virtue of the managerial position. However, if the results of the managerial performance appraisal differ dramatically from those obtained via 360 degree feedback, senior management might want to explore the discrepancy.ReferencesHeathfield, S.M. 360 Degree Feedback: Th e Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Retrieved August 1, 2006, from http://humanresources.about.com/od/360feedback/a/360feedback_3.htmWikipedia. (2006). 360 Degree Feedback. Retrieved August 1, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/360-degree_feedback

Dewey’s Progressive Era

John Dewey was rather important figure in the history of education. Despite the fact that his progressive ideas aren’t accepted widely, some of his concepts and ideas are quite popular among today’s teachers. Actually, Dewey’s idea was to promote democratic education at school based on philosophies of Plato and Rousseau. Dewey wanted to prove that teaching wasn’t simply remembering, paraphrasing and answering lessons; instead, he argued that experiences, knowledge and skills should be integrated into students’ studying process.Actually, such concept refers to school of Pragmatism. (Hickman 1992) Some teachers like Dewey’s idea of learning by doing. It is stated that Dewey’s progressive education became popular after the Cold War period. Dewey is known to be the founder of standard-based education reform, outcome-based education and NCTM standard. Dewey positively influenced teaching process in many public and private schools.For exampl e, Dewey provided an idea that teachers should focus on intellectual development of students, their critical and creative thinking instead of learning material by heart. He showed that education is strongly connected with democratic process in society: â€Å"Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife†. (Martin 2003) Also teachers realized that personal growth and exploration ensure better results and are more interesting for students. They become more motivated to study. Judgment is one more focus rather than knowledge.Simply saying, students have to become grown-ups who â€Å"are able to pass judgments pertinently and discriminatingly on the problems of human living†. (Martin 2003) Dewey’s contribution is that many schools nowadays tri to help students to learn how to survive and to succeed in life, how to cooperate with others, etc. Dewey often argued that â€Å"in a complex society, ability to understand and sympathize with the operations and lot of others is a condition of common purpose which only education can procure†. (Martin 2003) References Hickman, Larry. (1992). John Dewey's Pragmatic Technology. Indiana: Indiana University Press. Martin, Jay. (2003). The Education of John Dewey. USA: Columbia University Press.

River Valley Civilizations

Approximately 5000 years ago the first complex, politically centralized civilizations began to form independently along numerous river valleys throughout parts of Asia and Africa. These civilizations were the building blocks for organization of human economic, political, religious, and social practices. Although the cultures of both Ancient Egypt and Shang China River Valley Civilizations share geographic, religious, and political similarities, the cultures are vastly different when social characteristics and economic trade are taken into consideration. Both Ancient Egypt and Shang China both developed closely to major rivers. The Ancient Egyptian River Valley Civilization was located along the Nile River which helped to provide a reliable source of water for farming. The Nile River current runs north-allowing movement along the river, and the winds blow from the north allowing sailing vessels to travel against the current. It was easy to travel and interact along the Nile. When the Nile would flood, it would naturally fertilize the surround soil with nutrient deposits that gathered within the river. The same thing would occur with the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers, which were located near the Shang China civilization. This is why both civilizations flourished when it came to crop production. Near the Yangzi River, however, people had to work harder at flood control and irrigation. It is said that perhaps this stimulated a greater effort at organization. Both Ancient Egypt and Shang China were both ruled by kings, too. In Ancient Egypt, they believed that the pharaoh had all the power and influence over his people. He was considered to be divine, stood above the priests, and was the only individual who had direct contact with the gods. This is similar to how the emperor was looked at in Shang China, where he was seen as a chief priest, and he had an administrative bureaucracy, with councilors, lesser priests and diviners. Emperors and aristocrats had splendid homes with walls of pounded earth or earthen bricks while common people continued to live in their pit homes of earlier times much like how the Ancient Egyptian pharaohs were built high class pyramid tombs after they became diseased. In both civilizations, the king figure was highly important and very much valued. They were often showered with gifts. However, unlike Ancient Egypt, women had no rights in Shang China. Women held many of the same rights as the men in Egypt. Women were allowed to own their own land and to share equal property with their husband once they married. On the other hand, in Shang China, the oldest member of the family controlled the family’s property and made the important decisions. Women were inferior expected to obey fathers, husbands and then later their sons. Each women may have had between 13 and 16 marriages arranged marriages without any ability to protest it, and only by bearing sons could she improve her status. Shang China used items such as wheat, mullet, and silk, for trade, where metals were more common for trade in Ancient Egypt. The Silk Road was used to open trade between Ancient China and Rome. People in China were the first to master the development of silk and they did so by raising silk worms and then collecting the silky web that they formed. They then weaved the web together to form a more substantial material. Wheat and mullet were also common edible items used for trade in Shang China because they had suitable temperate weather along with forested land. Using metals in trade was important for Ancient Egyptians because it was plentiful and could be made into an assortment of items from weapons to tools. Egyptians did not harvest the same type of grains as those in Shang China because they had too much of a dry climate that did not allow crops such as those to thrive.

Suitable Nutritional Care

Any sports played or even trainings and exercises may be beneficial to anyone unless done with in good condition. It may lead to development and improvement may it be physically or mentally. On the other hand it may also lead to body exhaustion in particular for those who do it on a regular basis, the athletes. This is why suitable nutritional care must be made to ensure that an athlete is competitive all throughout his career.   He must know how to develop good physical condition through proper diet. For every competition, trainings and exercises, an athlete must not fail to remember not to eat before and after the activities. Eating after the game or the post game nutrition is extremely essential. We must choose the right kinds of diet to fasten body recovery. After the activity, it is recommended that we eat rich in carbohydrates foods and beverages which can reload glycogen stores. For the lost fluids, replace it by drinking 2 cups of fluids especially cold water, it is more rapidly absorb by the body than warm waters. Beverages and sport drinks may also be taken in exchange for the fluids lost. Caffeine and alcohol containing fluids must be avoided.   The body fluids lost must be replaced within the period of 2 hours after any athlete’s activity. Replacement of the fluids lost benefits the body by eliminating the general discomfort not only the thirst and to regulate the body. Potassium and sodium were also lost during the activity, to replace it eat more fruits and vegetables for the replacement of potassium and salty foods for the sodium lost. (http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~excs597k/tow/NF92-66.htm) Proper pre-game and post game meals must be observed to ensure anyone’s not only for normal athlete’s health and body development. Pre-game nutrition is needed for the body to prepare the body for a strenuous activity. It provides additional body strength.   Post-game nutrition is more important, significantly helps out for exhausted person to recover and restore all nutrients and fluids lost in the body. It helps to normalize the body as well as the organs. It will be a good method to reestablish the body’s strength and shape and performance in order to perform any regular body activities.      

Entrepreneur Interview & Personal Analysis Essay - 1

Entrepreneur Interview & Personal Analysis - Essay Example The opportunity is at the center of the process, however, the identification opportunity and its realization depends upon the personality of the entrepreneur and his team. Other important elements of Timmons’s model are technical expertise and experience required to cash on the identified opportunity. The finance and other resources are placed at the last of this model of entrepreneurial process. (Lebherz, 2010, p.16-20) Specific questions were articulated to gain Mr. Hudson reaction on each element of the Timmons’s model. Clutching an opportunity requires a vigilant eye on current issues and openings. First three questions are focused to gain some knowledge of innovative thoughts that help Mr. Hudson to conceive the idea of the Edge Technologies. Because Mr. Hudson is not a descendent of an entrepreneur family, the enterprise realization is a display of his leadership and managerial qualities. The second question is targeted to gain his input on early strategic plannin g he did to minimize risks and enhance the chances of his success being an entrepreneur. Early shocks of business are a sheer test of entrepreneur courage and character. Third question is aimed at learning about the things that went wrong and posed a challenge to the existence and continuation of corporate operations. This might be very helpful in the assessment of an entrepreneurial character and can provide important insights into the strength of strategic plans laid down in early phases of enterprise establishment. The next section of the interview is aimed at understanding some personal attributes and characteristics of Mr. Hudson personality. This includes his concept of a successful entrepreneur and personal independence, which serves as lighthouse to guide rest of the entrepreneurial activities and forms the basis of other principles. Bygrave & Andrew (2010, p. 52) observes, â€Å"It does appear that entrepreneurs have a higher internal locus of control, than non-entrepreneu rs, which means that they have a stronger desire to be in control of their own fate.† The success of an entrepreneur is characterized by his attitude, ambition, confidence, knowledge, skills and experience. A variable mix of these personal attributes defines the future direction of the business and decides the way corporate objectives are pursued. Among all the attribute of an entrepreneur that contributes towards the success, the most significant is the knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses. It is important for an entrepreneur to know exactly what shortcomings he needs to avoid and where he can zoom into his strengths. Some of the questions were designed to gain a professional and technical insight into the business. Despite of the over whelming influence of the entrepreneur on the enterprise, an efficient team is required to materialize and achieve corporate goals. This team marks the difference how risks and financial challenges to the enterprise are interpreted an d responded. Moreover, Mr. Hudson’s response on policymaking in the enterprise was sought to catch on his corporate philosophy and decision-making process. The concern of an entrepreneur for his society in this age is considered very important towards the fulfillment of corporate responsibility. Towards the end of Mr. Hudson interview, a question was targeted to get his input on social awareness. The last question was

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS - Essay Example xv). Organizations today need to focus on developing and implementing a comprehensive corporate communications plan in order to address and resolve the challenges posed by the highly dynamic external environment and the cope with the media pressures in this new corporate environment. McDonald’s Corporation: McDonald’s Corporation is a global multinational fast food restaurant chain touted to be the world's largest chain of fast food restaurants headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois United States. As of 2013 the company boasts of over 34000 restaurants in more than 119 countries worldwide including Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, the Middle East, as well as Africa (McDonald’s, 2013a) serving over 69 million customers daily (McDonald’s Corporate Report, 2012). Values, mission & vision: The brand's mission is â€Å"to be our customers' favorite place and way to eat and drink†. In order to achieve this objective it follows its global strategy 'Plan to Win' which is centered on ensuring an exceptional experience for their customers (McDonald’s 2013b). Its vision is â€Å"to be the world's best quick service restaurant experience. Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile† (McDonald’s, 2013c). Corporate Communication Plan – McDonald’s Corporation McDonald’s has recently faced severe criticism from the mass media, as well as from the general public, for various reasons including - its aggressive marketing strategies which mainly targeted children and minority population selling them unhealthy food with low nutritional value; increased dissatisfaction among the workers for low pay; increased complaints from the customers for rude behavior by their employees; growing dissatisfaction among the franchisees for increased pressure to deliver etc., among others. Such events have res ulted in a chain of negative repercussions for the organization and in the absence of a proper strategy, might lead to disastrous consequences in the long run affecting their profitability and credibility. Effective corporate communication strategy

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 135

Summary - Essay Example There were so many restrictions in that Africans had limited movements and could only access limited areas of the states. By 1877, reconstruction was no more because Africans had been separated and thus were considered second-class citizens. These were some of the things that the author explains that had influenced Africans to fight for their positions. During the 1920s, there were lots of negative socio-political perceptions about the blacks. This was readily evident when blacks were stripped off their rights to access medical rights among others after the First World War. They had a rough time fighting for equality and good treatment which however, increased the cultural and social drift. The continuous fight depicts education as an important tool which can shape leadership skills (Lewis, 1987). For instance, W.E.B. Du Bois used such skills in fighting against racism. He supported Pan Africanism since it was in favor of African ideologies in terms of culture, language and ethnicity. Racial and political equality was a major concern by most African Americans. Even though some radical American whites considered it a myth, a good number of them ganged up to help in the fight for equal rights. Washington’s philosophy was a major contributor to African oppression. For this reason, Africans had to rely on paternalism in which the Southern whites offered symphathy. All in all, they had to accept the oppression and admit the superiority of whites. The Africans, while in the south took education seriously, began to save money and made investments. This was the only means through which they could get their equal rights and identity. Even while trying to popularize the African culture, some key aspects must have been forgotten especially the stereotype associated with â€Å"tap dancing Negro† (Lewis, 1987). This was something that most visual artists like Stuart Davies embraced all along. However, African elites considered such a move to be a racial joke since it