Democratic Leadership in Education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Democratic Leadership in Education - Assignment Example The finance department was considered by many as superfluous to the Agency, but the government was demanding more financial information, so the Agency was â€Å"forced to broaden their focus to make a bigger role for financial reporting.† Even without the Finance Branch, the Agency was able to function in a manner consistent with world-class standards both in its core business and in other areas of its business. In this case, the Agency felt that it would have done well without the finance department, but it is a subjective and therefore imbalance point of view. The imperative to form a new department enhances the function it discharges – in this case, financial reporting and management – according to the needs and strategies identified by the higher unit (i.e., the government). What the Agency considers its â€Å"world class† performance may only be in its view, which a balanced financial reporting system using accrual accounting should provide an imparti al view into. Issue Two: The existing system had to be upgraded, according to the senior financial officer, but it would result in a non-standard system. Furthermore, it was perceived as risky due to the fact that â€Å"so much money had already been spent on the existing system without providing a satisfactory system.† Establishing a new system would necessitate new substructures; for it to pertain only to the finance department would necessarily create a system not consistent with the rest of the Agency, but this should not deter the move where it is deemed necessary. As Alfred Chandler (1993) put it, a structure must support strategy, not impede or constrain it. Issue Three: The new Finance Director formed a small project team including Mark Black (MIS) and Henry Tell (senior financial officer) to determine requirements for the new financial management system. She also requested funding for the team. Consultants were not used for this assessment, but latitude and confidenc e were given to the existing staff and their technical background, with inputs drawn from key stakeholders through interviews. This appeared to be a wise move. In the development of new structures within an existing organization, it is important to build a sense of legitimacy and acceptance. Bringing in outside consultant who hardly knows the Agency would have been a mistake; although the resultant system might have been superior, if it were prejudged as unacceptable for being irrelevant, then the new unit may not get the chance to prove its system’s merits and the benefits it may provide the organization. The benefits of taking a structural perspective are that it focuses corporate activity to the specific goals it wishes to achieve, organizes and coordinates the efforts taken towards this effort, and therefore optimizes the firm’s resources. Resources should be organized to support vital functions, and organizational units seen as superfluous should be taken out (Lie vegoed, 1973). The usefulness of the structural frame, in this case, is to realign roles and responsibilities according to a new (accounting) environment, as well as to transmit facts and information.

Turning Points in History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Turning Points in History - Essay Example An in-depth analysis of the political scenario that was shaped by the assassination of President Kennedy suggests that for a considerable time, United States continued to suffer from political turmoil. The Vietnam War flared up and brought many displeasing results for America. Why were the events immediately preceding the turning point necessary and essential in preparing for the turning point? Events preceding the assassination of President John F Kennedy were essential because they threatened the interests of many ruling powers. President Kennedy was restructuring the CIA to deprive the capitalist cabal of the ability to spread terrorism, both locally and internationally. The ruling powers would not be able to handle the economy if President Kennedy lived and restructured the Federal Reserve System. Another potential reason of the assassination of President Kennedy was that he had resolved to quite the war in Vietnam which the ruling powers were using as a tool to make profits thro ugh sale of weapons. All of these events flared up the urge to get President Kennedy out of the way of mean ruling powers so that they may practice their malevolent plans and evil machinations.

Factors in American Democracy

Factors in American Democracy American Democracy The seven key functions of interest groups. The interest groups are organizations that may be formed in reaction to certain issues either as a single event or threat that may later become institutionalized. They are private organizations that endeavor to influence public officials to respond the shared aspirations of their members without holding to political power. They stimulate interest in public affairs through members representation based on a criterion of shared beliefs rather than by geography. Interest groups provide useful data to governments and are a means through which political participation is attained hence they act as a check and balance. This is a fundamental role that manifest itself in politics, education, business etc. These Interest groups may be for profit while others are for non profit. One function of interest groups is to garner representation that may be political. They seek out memberships as more members more power hence attaining a position where election outcome is influenced. Therefore securing money for its cause is central and advantageous in order for it to sustain itself and be effective at lobbying and influence government policy. They have the responsibility of spreading information to the general public because they pose information that either the public or the policymakers may lack. This helps it to gain more followers and influence policy makers to take certain favorable actions. They have an inbuilt mechanism to change policy both in both private and public spheres. Interest groups do educate both their own constituents and the public and by this members are educated on the most recent developments on the issues at hand. With their developed expertise on a particular field or policy area they are normally called to testify before congress on their position concerning legislation (Aldrich, 1995). The two-party system today: is it in decline or in resurgence? Over the last three decades pundits have claimed that the American political parties are on the decline in the US politics. Their role has been reducing in the political process and it has been inferred that they are not a useful tool any more. The political action committee (PACs) has supplemented the political parties rendering them to be outdated. The view is reinforced with the idea that candidates are independent of political parties to get elected rendering the parties to be less significant. Parties do not make significant and purposeful stand on issues but are concerned with accommodating followers form the middle of the ideological spectrum rendering them irrelevant to progression of society. The party leaders do not make important decisions on presidential candidate as a result of party primaries and committees. The role of the party in educating and influencing the electorate has been overtaken by the mass electronic media. Democratic Party reformed the delegate selection process trough the 1968 convention that led to increase usage of the primaries leading to an increased youth, women and minorities representation. These reforms in the Democratic Party have made it to be reflective to the view of academicians and intellectuals at the expense of the working masses, unionist, elected officials etc who have the numbers. A large number of citizens are distrustful to the major parties viewing them as corrupt institutions that circumvent the issues at hand, have no ideas and follow public opinions rather than generate them. Nevertheless political parties still do play a crucial role in American politics (Reichley, 2000). The parties are transforming but not declining despite the political environment being more candidates centered than before. Today parties are better funded with permanent headq uarters. They are more capable to providing assistance to states and local party organizations due to the strengthened financial base. They have defined themselves as providers of expertise to the needy but they cannot themselves acquire it. They have shown unity during roll call votes in congress and after the 1968 convection the Democratic Party replaced the unit rule with system of proportionality. The Republican Party has given the national committees more control over presidential campaigns and urged state parties to encourage broader participation of all groups. Today both parties do provide training sessions for candidates on campaign planning, marketing, fund raising, volunteers and campaign scheduling. The two major political parties have demonstrated adaptability to change with time and respond to constitutes demand despite the cultural and structural forces that perpetuate the two party system showing little signs of relenting. The three types of third parties. The US electoral system works against a proliferation of political parties but minor parties and independents have still managed to run for office. Third parties are created for various reasons; a split within the republican and democratic parties often represents factions over policy issues. These splinter parties have been at the forefront in gaining popularity and the electorate college (Aldrich, 1995). Ideologically related parties and issue advocacy parties do cover both ends of the political continuum. These political parties are formed around single issues e.g. green energy. Voters normally vote for third parties because they are trying to send a message to the two big parties often with success. Both the two major parties have embraced reforms and programs that were often rejected when presented by third parties. Third parties in the long run do fail to maintain themselves at local and state levels due to skimming of their talent by the major parties. There members are always small to have any domineering influence plus lacking the financial resources to carry out effective campaigns. The two major parties consolidate their dominance of the political system through high profile campaigns and conventions subsidized by tax payer’s money. Nevertheless they have been successful at calling for attention to an otherwise ignored, misrepresented or surprised issues. They have over the years managed to get the major political parties to adopt the most important portion of third party platforms as theirs giving the far sighted voter a means of making tangible statements with greater impact on the direction of the country. They work to enhance the prospects and credibility of lesser know ideas and lesser known candidates to gain and solidify ballot access. There activity provides whoever wins off ice with a more latitude and public support in choosing new public policy approaches or solutions to existing or future problems or concerns (Schaffner, 2012). Elements of referendums, initiatives, and recalls. Many countries that are representative’s democracies permit three forms of political action providing limited direct democracy. These are initiative, referendum and recall. An initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote on a proposed law, amendments or ordinance. It allows citizens to bypass their state legislature through placing proposed statutes or constitutional amendments on the ballot. In America twenty four states have adopted the initiative proceeds in their constitutions. Two types of initiatives exist. Direct initiatives are submitted to the legislature which may act on the proposal. This depends on the state hence the question may go to the ballot and if rejected a different proposal is submitted. For indirect process the legislature submits a competing measure that appears on the ballot together with the original proposal examples states of Nevada, Ohio and Massachusetts. In Utah and Wash ington proponents either chooses the direct or indirect method (Schaffner, 2012). A referendum is a direct method of voting where an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject an article proposal. This may lead to ratification of a new constitution, amendment, law or recall of an elected official. Legislative referendum is where the legislature refers a measure to the voters for approval. Popular referendum is a measure that appears on the ballot as a result of a voter petition. Legislative referendums are less controversial than citizen initiatives with high success rates. Popular referendum is a means that allow voters to approved or repeal an act of the legislature. Law passed that citizens do not approved for may lead to gathering of signatures to demand a popular vote. Advisory referendum is where the legislature and in some states the governor places a question on the ballot to asses voter opinion where the results are not binding. A recall is a procedure where voters remove an elected official from office through a direct vote when sufficient vot ers sign a petition. It allows citizens to remove from office a public official before the expiry of the term. Recall is apolitical device different from impeachment that is a legal device (Aldrich, 1995). Media Bias Professional who constitute Americas mainstream news media are mainly left oriented and democrats. They make it clear that they are giving their opinions and analysis of the news as they perceive it rather than being impartial and focus on research so as to represent relevant facts to the audience. A more useful way of measuring the news media political and ideological makeup is to examine what the professional in the industry believe about a wide array of social, ethical amend political issues. Bias manifests itself not in the form of outright lies but as a function of what reporters choose not to tell their audience. They omit factors so as to avoid contradicting the political narrative they wish to propagate. Some mangers in American newsrooms are so ideologically entrenched that there is a feeling and discussion that some of them have a difficult time reviewing a story that reflects negatively upon government or the administration. Politicians are a biased lot and they belong to political parties that champion policies and ideologies. Irrespective of their thought these ideologies are common since they do perceive their political conversations as politics. Journalist do also speak form a political position but the industry ethics and the objective of fairness do influence there profession that endeavors to do the right thing. This objective is met through fairness to those concerned with the news covered, completeness and accuracy. The American press is a unified voice with a distinct bias that generates a simplistic thinking that fits the needs of an ideological struggle. American media bias is as a result of journalist failure to reflect upon the meaning of the premise and assumptions that supports their practice because the mass media wanted to apply a narrative structure to ambiguous events in order to create a coherent and casual sense of events (Reichley, 2000). WORKS CITED: Aldrich, J. H. (1995). Why parties?: The origin and transformation of political parties in America. Chicago [u.a.: Univ. of Chicago Press. Reichley, A. J. (2000). The life of the parties: A history of American political parties. Lanham, Md [u.a.: Rowman Littlefield. Schaffner, B. F. (2012). Politics, parties, and elections in America. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Analysis of Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour Essay -- Kate Chopin St

Back in 1894, the American writer Kate Chopin wrote the short-story "The Story of an Hour". Chopin, born O'Flaherty, wasn't renowned as a writer during her time, but she has achieved recognition in the 20th century especially with her 1899 novel "The Awakening". Her stories about strong women have really been paid attention to in relation to this century's sexual liberation debate. This short-story revolves around what goes through a person's head when informed that a close family member has perished. However, I wouldn't say that this is the theme of the story, which I'll get back to. Louise Mallard is a young, yet married woman who suffers from heart trouble, and that's why her closest relatives feel that they have to break the news to her as gently as possible. Immediately after hearing the shocking news, Louise starts crying, and storms into her room. Since Louise spends the majority of the short-story in her room, this is the setting of the story. Noone really knows early in the story how Louise really feels about her husband dying. But the author certainly gives some evident hints. The fourth paragraph's content, which revolves around the period of time where Louise has just entered her room, is fairly surprising. Everyone would expect Louise to weep with agony and pain, but instead she sits calmly down: "There stood, facing an open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair." The interested reader will already here discover that something is terribly wrong, since a word like comfortable is used. A newly widdowed woman would probably not look upon a chair as comfortable shortly after receiving the terri... ...t she starts dreaming about it. That shows that she has an enormous respect for her husband, and doesn't dare to do anything that breaks or is in variance with his rights, restrictions and groundrules. Today we have procedures and laws regarding women's rights when it comes to feeling trapped in a marriage and urging to end it. Getting a divorce from one's husband is about as easy for women nowadays as opening a can of beer. Nevertheless, Chopin's story tells a lot about the situation women were in a century ago, and its morale has blossomed lately following the recent liberation debate. "The Story of an Hour" has probably inspired a great deal of women to oppose their husbands if they feel like their marriage isn't quite as jolly as it ought to be.

Kinetic Sculptures

A sculpture or three dimensional work of art, can not only be stationary, but kinetic.   Kinetic sculptures can and does move.   Many times mobiles are fixed to a baby’s crib to engage the child in active visuals.   The same principle is used in kinetic sculptures except they are works of art and are for every age to appreciate.   The intriguing element of a kinetic sculpture is that it changes because it moves.Alexander Calder was innovative in the area of kinetic sculpting.   IN 1960, he created a sculpture, The Star.   The Star is a light mobile which changes with the slightest movement of wind.   Even though the he uses nonfigurative shapes, they almost resemble birds in colors of black and red, with a single yellow star at the top.   These shapes were made from thin strips of sheet metal and attached by rods to hold them in place.The lightness of weight gives the sculpture an airy effect.   The lightness adds to the mobility of the art.   The rods are connected to the sheet metal shapes so that there is mobility in there as well.   The concept is for the statue to be a little different every time one looks at it.   The sculpture looks as if it glides in the air.   While Calder’s first kinetic sculptures relied on cranks and pulleys, he totally relied on wind to move his mobiles.Calder’s kinetic sculpture The Star was a unique form of abstract art.   The objective of the sculpture was shape and color.   The Star is a sculpture that is a new work of art every time the air moves around it. Works CitedCalder, A. The Star. 1960Delahunt, M. (1996-2008). Artlex. Retrieved April 12, 2008 from

Development Of Appraisal And Reward System

Reward system is an instilled component of the personality of every man; he is a tripartite being with a spirit living in a body, and a soul. He thinks, feels, decides and acts. These are the elements of human interaction either at home or in any other organization. This system has long been proven by brain biologist and psychologists to be of paramount use in the development of a responsible and effective. This is further confirmed by the nature of outputs produced by organizations that have harnessed this for industrial use [Wilson, 2003].The recognition of intuitive input to the productivity of an organization, and the subsequent reward of such has indeed advanced the course of man at all levels of human administration. Really, its importance can not be overemphasized in this age of competitive business market. There are specific and pragmatic ways of establishing this amiable system into the company’s mainstream activity; this is the main focus of this article. IMPORTANCE OF APPRAISAL AND AWARD SYSTEM This is a ‘global age’; an age where the large world is shirked into a small global village.Innovations are emerging daily. Alls spheres of human endeavor are advancing at millennial speed. In this age, there is intense search for talents and skills that can maintain such developments or excellence, and also even work on them to produce better. This has created keen competition in the labor market, and every company knows the value of its high-output workers, and would never want to loose them. It is this that has made performance and character based appraisal and reward system more important to the survival of any enterprise than ever before in the history of man.Every one wants the best. The search for the best leaves no space for inefficiency, as the best must be delivered by employees. Companies have also inculcated diversity into their mission statement to accommodate enough space for this search for the best, and retaining those who h ave also proven to be of optimum impact to the activities of the organization. The concept of diversity has thrown appraisal and reward into a bigger landscape for employees ready to give their best to their chosen area of influence at work.In this case, the impact of encouraging an effort geared in this direction is of utmost importance and can not be overlooked. Leading organization in any known industry, and even new inclusions understand the place of recognizing and awarding ingenuity by company employees targeted at improving customer patronage or better service delivery. Great managers and leaders do acknowledge that humans can deliver beyond their present status if only they are encouraged by a credible means. A child who receives encouragement at home from his parents usually performs better that one that does not enjoy such privilege.It is an inherent need of man, that his potential can be better harnessed with tangibly significant appreciation. In the presence of a credibl e and fair reward system, employees have a basic encouragement to deliver their best to the Company, in their capacity. They can afford to stretch themselves with their elastic limit to meet deadlines, increase effectiveness and productivity, deliver more efficient and customer-friendly service because there would be a reward for their labor. This leads to increased productivity for the Company.This productivity is relative to the Company product. Even religious organizations understand this as they promise more blessings for obedient servants. This system, if properly put in place, heightens sense of responsibility of the employee and creates a ‘working bond’ that may not be easy to break. With a fair plan, there is increased interest in Company acts, mission, plans and goals. This created a better working environment for them, and there is increased trust and more fruitful human relationships in the Company. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEMA system that recognizes human inpu ts and quality ideas directed at optimal productivity, improved working environment and human relations, confidence and profitability of a company, and significantly rewards such via credible and fair techniques is referred to as an appraisal and reward system; its effectiveness is enhanced as all participants, employees and managers, understand its purpose and are poised to make useful contribution towards achieving the set goals. A good plan is based on a combination of performance and character [John Bill].Its development involves steps outlined below: DEFINITION OF PURPOSE It is important to start with a well-defined purpose. Purpose of the system is clearly outlined from the outset. This is seen to be consistent with the Mission statement of the Company in writing and principle; it is communicated to employees and is also broken into smaller units called Goals. It is in bringing such purpose down into those achievable units that they show pragmatism and spur workers to work[ Ga llup]. COMPANY INTERACTIONS/COMMUNICATIONThis involves a forum through which such system is communicated to participants in clear and understandable terms. Suggestions and quality ideas are welcomed on the plan and execution of the plan. This also affords an opportunity to for skill acquisition and training geared at achieving the Purpose. Really, this is inevitable to the survival of the program Communication should not be a once-and-for-all thing; it need be continuous. In this way and at any point in the course of organization’s work, there is a location, personality or unit constantly refreshing people’s mind about the program.This keeps the spirit alive. GOALS This should be SMART: Stipulated and Stimulating, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. With effective communication, employees understand and can work toward them. With those criteria, goals are closer to the heart and easier to handle at work. It is important to combine an insightful technique in drawing such goals; this is easier when everybody- all participants are part of the decision making. IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE This is the most important of all.If purpose is then and goals are made with effective communication and there is no CREDIBLE AND FAIR structure to implement the plans, then the result can be easily guessed: there would be result at all. Therefore, it is important for the structure to be credible and fair in such a way that the criteria for adjudging performance is well-stipulated and combine quantitative and qualitative means. No element of subjectivity should be seen because this is the major worry of employees. If there is no open and transparent objectivity in the implementation, the program would fail.This structure is vital to the success of the program; it could be created as another committee entirely or a unit per session [ups] that would oversee the activities of workers at different levels. It would also be interested in accurately informing uni t members about the nature, category and content of reward. This would remove the excuse of inaccurate information and promote trust in the system. CATEGORISATION It is important for a categorization of the Purpose and goals into specific ‘committee’ or section where people of different work experience and exposure status can accurately fit in.This is to ensure that there is space for everyone, and a chance to be recognized as diligent. No one should be left out. Company products can also be categorized, with respectively competent employee. This is to ensure equal distribution of work based on talent, skills, and company’s expectation. REWARDS There should be a stated method of rewards and it should be both significant and tangible. Announcement is not enough reward. Such tools that can be employed include by compensation, awards or increase in base line salary.The latter is widely appraised, and is best effective when the incentive is about 25% of the baseline pay. Such should also be done with a short period of time. REVIEW It is important to review the activities of program, it impact on the organization and its vivid dividends at regular intervals. This would sustain and strength awareness of and confidence in the program. CONCLUSION All companies need a n appraisal and reward system, as ways of maximizing their workers input. This system affects all aspects of an organization.It is inevitable in this global and highly competitive age. Such can be established with defined purpose broken into goals, communicated to all participants under a credible and fair structure which is regularly reviewed for productivity. Gold companies retain best workers, and attract others by such means. It is no loss to any business at all. BIBILIOGRAPHY Wilson, Thomas. Innovative Reward systems for the changing workplace John, Bill: Reward and Appraisal. http://www. accaglobal. com/students/study_exams/qualifications/acca_choose/acca/fundamentals/ab/technica l_articles/2944835Performance Based Reward system Accessed from www. performance-appraisal. com/rewards. htm Performance Reward and Compensation. Accessed from http://www. gallupconsulting. com/content/? ci=58 Performance and Reward Accessed from Peter Scott www. peterscottconsult. co. uk/briefings/yourpartnerrewardsystem. doc Effective performance appraisal system. Accessed from www. allacademic. com/meta/p154789_index. html Effective Employee development Program http://www. maritz. com/employee_recognition_awards. html

Ready Or Not Here It Comes! Professor Ramos Blog

Ready Or Not Here It Comes! For a young child, learning how to swim can be scary and overwhelming at the same time. Having someone there to guide you can make it much easier. It took me a lot of courage and persistence to get comfortable with the water but when I finally got the hang of it, I fell in love with the water and it was hard to get me out of it. I was two years old when my mom left my two older sisters, my brother and I in Nicaragua with my father to come to California. She left to establish something for us so we could have a better life because our country was in civil war at the time. My mom started her own housekeeping business cleaning upper class homes where she made really good money in those days. She was able to save and send us money at the same time. When my mother had all the money she needed, she was able to bring my dad, my siblings and I to the United States. A year later, my parents got hired at an apartment complex in Claremont where my mother cleaned the apartments and my father painted them to get them move in ready. My siblings and I had access to a pool which was great because back at home we did not have one and I wanted to learn how to swim. Before we were allowed to get in, my parents would put each of my siblings in change to help clean a section of the apartment. I was always in charge of taking the plated off of the outlets, wash and dry them and screw them back on. My parents would take us with them over the weekends so they could teach us how to work for our money. We were just kids though and we only cooperated because we wanted to swim. When we were finally done they would allow us to spend the rest of the day at the pool where I learned how to swim. When my parents first started letting me get in the pool, they would only allow me to be on the steps with my floaties around my arms. I felt dumb and embarrassed because most of the children my age at the pool were already swimming at the eight feet with no floatation devices. I was stuck at the stairs where the babies were being carried by their mothers. I wanted to swim in the deep end like the rest of the kids. I remember walking up to my second oldest sister Pal and asking her â€Å"sis can you please teach me how to swim? I don’t want to wear my floaties anymore!† Pal was always the one I went to when I wanted to learn something and every time I asked her she would teach me with no problem. She then asked me with one eyebrow up â€Å"are you sure you’re ready to learn how to swim?† I was not sure what she meant by that with that look in her face but I answered her yes. At that very moment she took my floaties off and threw them to the side, grabbed me and threw me in the eight feet like nothing. I remember struggling in keeping my head above water and swallowing the water at the same time. I began screaming for help and all I could hear is my sister Pal laughing her butt off and my parents yelling at my sister to help me. All the response I got from my sister was her saying to me â€Å"peddle your hand and feet faster!† She obviously did not comprehend that I barely knew how to peddle. When she finally realized that I was drowning she jumped in to get me. Crying hysterically I asked my sister Pal â€Å"why did you throw me in the deep end like that I could have drowned!† She answered â€Å"if you want to learn how to swim you have learn how to keep your head above the water.† I am not sure why my sister chose that method to teach me how to swim not grasping that it was dangerous but I had no choice but to trust her if I wanted to how to swim. As weekends went by my siblings and I going to help our parents, my sister Pal continued to teach me how to swim by throwing me in the deep. My sister’s harsh way of teaching me how to swim finally paid off. I was the one throwing myself in the eight feet, swimming all the way to the bottom touching it and swimming all the way back up and holding myself up. I was swimming like a fish in the sea. From then on, I started to make friends around my age and played Marco Polo with them. We also raced each other to see who would make it to the other side of the pool first or we would throw either a coin or rock in the pool and see who would get it the fastest once it reached the bottom. It felt great finally knowing how to swim and getting the chance to interact with kids my age at the same time. The way I learned how to swim was probably not how most would learn or even the best way to learn but it sure did teach me pretty fast. Even though I look back and think to myself as an adult that I would probably would never teach a six-year in that way, but I still thanked my sister for taking the time to teach me how to swim. I love to swim even more now than I did then. I love summer because I get to go to the beach often, catch some waves and swim most of the day. If anyone knows me, they would know to invite me if they were going to a pool, beach or river. What can I say, I’m just a fish in the sea.