Leadership Styles Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Leadership Styles - Research Paper Example 2003). The leader uses his/her abilities to socially influence others to perform particular tasks for the common good. The person needs to possess particular competences that enable him/her to effectively persuade people to follow certain guidelines that he/she thinks need to be used for success to be accomplished. Beattie (2002) observes that leadership involves steering others to do something that is desirable or to develop something that is useful. In organizations, competent leadership is one of the aspects that are important in enhancing the accomplishment of organizational goals. Competent leaders can propel an organization ahead through effective management of resources and maintenance of a favorable working environment. Finding solutions for workplace conflicts that may hamper the accomplishment of organizational goals is usually the responsibility of the leader (Kotter, 2001). All professions require strong leadership for goals to be accomplished. The success of organization s relies on the leadership to a large extent. It needs to be differentiated from management roles that are mainly focused on maintaining high profits with minimal use of resources. Leadership is about providing direction through socially influencing the followers and ensuring that they understand that the leader’s role is not focused on supervisory activities only. Rather, leadership needs to be seen as an important aspect of the organization that promotes harmonious working relations in the workplace (Barrett, 2006). Managers can possess the qualities of strong leaders, but it is not obvious that all managers are effective leaders. When people note that their personal needs are disregarded by their leaders, they are likely to develop a negative attitude towards their tasks, which may lead to failure in accomplishing organizational goals (Kesler 2002). Strong communication skills are significant for effective leadership. The leader should be in a capacity to effectively commu nicate ideas to the subordinates. Effective organizational relationships are based on good communication. The leader should also be honest with the management team as well as with the subordinates. He/she needs to possess unquestionable integrity to maintain confidence among the subordinates. The leader should be a visionary person who can see ahead of the others. This enables him/her to help others to understand the destiny of the organization. The leader should be in a position to select a strong team that has the capacity to act as an enhancement of his/her skills (Avolio & Bass, 2002). 2.0 Problem Statement Failure by leaders to apply tactical leadership in organizations is a major impediment to success. Strong leadership skills can be accomplished through understanding the appropriate leadership style for teams and organizations. This paper seeks to address this issue by highlighting various leadership styles and their impacts on

A Gridlock that Costs the Nations Progress Essay

A Gridlock that Costs the Nations Progress - Essay Example Tom Udall of New Mexico in terms of the gridlock in the US Senate. It exposes how things do not get done because of each party’s blocking the other from getting their points across and delaying decisions altogether. The congress has become so impersonal due to conflicts between the Democrats and the Republicans, to let it affect their efficiency in deliberating over the necessary legislations. It was a revelation to George Packer to see an empty chamber while a senator delivers a speech in congress with only the presiding officer present, and probably the next senator scheduled to give a speech, and cameras all around to capture the speech. Packer expected a chamber-full of senators and congressmen as he imagined it while watching speeches on C-span, but he was disappointed to know that in reality, it was only for the sake of the cameras. Packer remembered how the congress was in its so-called â€Å"golden age† from the 1950’s to the 1970’s. He idolized Eu gene McCarthy and how charismatic he was in his talks in front of the people in various locations. As a young boy, he already observed how politicians worked together. Men like Humphrey, Baker, Church, Javitz and McGovern were perceived to be serious thinkers, fully dedicated to serve the country with their positions in Congress. Aside from regularly huddling together to discuss solutions to the country’s problems, they collaborated on doing real action instead of ruling from their â€Å"ivory towers†.

Health and Safety Regulations for Elderly Care

Health and Safety Regulations for Elderly Care Chapter II – Literature Review Literature Review Like any other places of work, residential homes for the elderly must have everything in line with the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) regulations. It is the duty of the Management (employer) to ensure the health and safety of the residents, employees and visitors. Therefore, the Management is responsible for budgets, facilities and the purchasing of OHS equipment in order to conform to the OHSA. Moreover, the Management needs to understand its role in order to improve the health and safety performance of such homes for the elderly. Commitment and consultation is recommended in order to identify, prioritizing and act on key issues to make real improvements in OHS in this context (L.N. 36 of 2003 section 13.). The OHSA states that the Management (employer) has a responsibility to model healthy and safe workplaces for their residents, especially when these residents present medical conditions, mental health issues or a disability. It must provide information, training, instruction and supervision to enable workers to work safely and without risks to their health (L.N. 36 of 2003 section 4). On the other hand, according to section 15 of the same legislation, employees must cooperate, have the knowledge and to care for their own safety as possible and of others in accordance to the training and instructions given by the employer. This also includes reporting of incidents or hazards and also be able to conduct an evacuation in case of fires, earthquakes or bomb threats. In such environment, employers are obliged to designate persons having the necessary aptitude, capabilities, competence and training to assist in the undertaking of measures with regards to occupational health and safety and the prevention and control of occupational risks as per L.N. 36 of 2003 section 9. The employer shall designate workers who shall be responsible for the implementation of the measures required for fire-fighting and for the evacuation of workers. The names of the persons thus designated shall be entered into a register to be kept at the workplace, and the register shall be maintained and amended as necessary by the employer (L.N. 437 of 2012 section 9.4). Therefore, when organizing an evacuation that includes people with mobility impairments, effective fire safety management should ensure that sufficient people with relevant training are available to take control of the situation (Crowder Charters, 2013). However, having residents with mental health conditions or mobility impairments, residential homes for the elderly must set a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) for every resident. The PEEP explains the method of evacuation to be used by a disabled person in each area of a building (Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 2011). Elderly people are likely to have some kind of disabling condition ranging from a mobility impairment, hearing impairment, visual impairment (blinded or partially sighted)to a cognitive impairment or mental health issues. Therefore, people with such disabling conditions have individual needs and each person should be responded to accordingly (Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 2011). However, some might have more than one-impairment and their needs may be quite specific. For example a person with dual sensory impairment (deaf blind) may have needs which are quite distinct from a person who is either just Deaf or b lind. Therefore, in order to ensure that the emergency evacuation plans run smoothly training should include practice on how to evacuate safely each person with all the specific required needs. Regular staff is likely to know the history of each resident and it is assumed that care staff would know what kind of conditions each individual resident lives with. Therefore, they are likely to be the most physically involved if an emergency evacuation occurs. Crowder and Charters (2013) argued that these carers will be the most familiar with evacuees’ requirements and how much time and help will be needed. They therefore they will be most likely the most adequate to evacuate the elderly residents from the building. It was also pointed out that staff that interacts on a regular basis with elderly people with regards to mental health issues will have the knowledge on how to achieve an evacuation without causing undue distress to individuals. Another important role of front line staff is to have knowledge about health equipment used by some of the residents in case of acute health care treatment. Crowder and Charters (2013) stressed out that patients in acute health care premises may be attached to one or several pieces of equipment as part of their treatment or life support and that the front-line staff should be consulted on whether a person can be disconnected from any of this equipment and for how long. First Aiders Having people trained as first aiders can be instrumental since in an emergency there might be the need of immediate medical assistance before professional medical care is available. The law requisite states that an employer must have a considerable number of employees trained in basic first aid procedures; not only in case of fire emergency but for whatever emergency may arise. An employer shall ensure the presence at all times of such a number of first aiders as is adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for rendering first aid to his employees if they are injured or become ill at work (L.N. 348 of 2011 section 5.1). Evacuation In their study, Crowder and Charters (2013) argued that the time that passes between the ignition of a fire and the onset of life threatening conditions is the maximum time the occupants have to move to a place of safety. They refer to it as the Available Safe Egress Time (ASET) and the total time needed for evacuation is termed the Required Safe Egress Time (RSET). Therefore, fire detection and the alert (alarm) play an important role to have the most amount of time at hand for a safe evacuation or refuge before the scenario turns into an unacceptable hazard. Evacuation training beforehand is critically important. It has to be frequent enough in order to assure no decrease in efficiency. Crowder and Charters (2013) maintained that lack of familiarity with the task at hand would lead to incorrect handling and lifting procedures, excessive number of people being required to assist and a considerable time loss because people are unsure about their next action. McMahon (2013) argued tha t there are several steps involved in an emergency evacuation and that the primary step is the recognition of a potential threat and how to take a rapid decision about whether or not to order or request an evacuation. Therefore, fire drills and training is a formal learning experience for all those involved. The University College London (2013) illustrate that the purpose and objective of a fire drill is to: Identify any weakness in the fire evacuation plan strategy. Test the procedure following any recent alteration or changes to working practices. Familiarize new staff and occupants with procedures. Test the arrangements for disabled people. Identify weaknesses in emergency communications procedures and systems. Identify positive and negative reaction of staff with designated responsibilities such as Fire evacuation Marshals. Safe Egress All the directions of travel towards the egress must be visible and immediately apparent. Therefore, maps and signs must be posted indicating the current location and the direction of travel to the nearest exit and that each exit must be clearly marked as an exit. Permanent signboards must be used for signs relating to prohibitions, warnings and mandatory requirements and the location and identification of emergency escape routes and first-aid facilities (L.N. 45 of 2002 section 2.1.1). OSHA state that these floor maps with arrows that designate the exit route assignments should be attached in areas prominently to be seen by all employees and should include locations of exits, assembly points, and equipment (such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, spill kits) that may be needed in an emergency. It is maintained that the employer shall take all the necessary steps to provide and maintain suitable and sufficient emergency routes and exits so that in the event of danger, workers and all persons therein can evacuate all the workplace and all parts thereof quickly and as safely as possible (L.N. 437 of 2012 section 7.1). There must also be an emergency Action Plan and this has to be kept at the work place, it has to be in writing and it has to be available to all members of the residential home for review. Therefore, it is important that training for such an emergency is performed frequently enough to be knowledgeable on how to perform a safe evacuation. All exit routes have to be continuous and unobstructed. L.N. 437 of 2012 section 7.2a states that exit routes must be kept clear at all times, and lead as directly as possible to a safe, open air, specifically designated area outside the premises, which shall be on the ground floor. Therefore, the exit access itself has to be clear at all times and not blocked or obstructed and that each opening has to be protected by a self closing fire door that will remain closed or automatically closes in an emergency according to section (8d) of the same legislation. Provided that no lift shall be used as an emergency route unless such lift has been certified by a mechanical engineer as being safe to be used in emergencies (L.N. 437 of 2012 section 2a). Such context must have lifts which can be used even in a fire evacuation alert. When you have residents with physical impairments, the most practicable way to evacuate in less time possible is to travel beds or wheelchairs to the nearest safe elevator and take them safe down to ground floor. Evacuation lifts will not only improve evacuation time’s brackets for high-rise buildings, but also provide equitable egress for persons with disabling conditions (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2013). Firefighting System and Appliances Fire fighting systems and appliances are the first aid emergency unit that can be used to domesticate the initial stages of fire. Fire ­ detection systems are of vital importance and a necessity at the place of work. For such environment, an addressable fire detection and alarm interface system is the ideal installation over the conventional fire system. This system is able to monitor and control the capabilities of each individual alarm-initiating and signal device (Alberta Group, 2014). This is an automated system having fire/smoke detectors, water sprinklers, air-conditioning system dampers, fire doors/stoppers and the fire alarm system all interfaced while alert signal is sent to the control panel at the main desk where it is constantly monitored 24/7. Having this system installed fire incidents are identified at their early stage and will prevent or minimize premises damages or harm to the people inside the building. Besides having an ‘intelligent’ automatic system, there must me also manual devices to put out the fire detected at first stage such as proper fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and fire hose pipes among others, depending upon the nature of the context environment as there are a wide range of devices that can be implemented. The employer shall ensure that workers are adequately instructed and trained as appropriate in the proper use of firefighting equipment as may be required for that work place by the Civil Protection Directorate (L.N. 437 of 2012 section 9.13). By means of ongoing training, drills and simulations, personnel are more likely to respond effectively to fire emergencies since they will increase their confidence. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (2011) argue that in order to ensure that the plans run smoothly training should include practice evacuations of the premises. Therefore, training is the rehearsal of the residential home’s fire evacuation plan strategy. Provision of a fully integrated PEEP system will improve safety for everyone using the building whilst identifying any weaknesses in any existing evacuation plans (DHSSPS, 2011). In the event of a real fire emergency, such training will lead everyone to know what to do and how to act in a calm and o rderly manner. Good communication and appropriate training for staff and management regarding the fire or emergency evacuation process are vital to ensure success (DHSSPS, 2011).

History of Computers :: essays research papers

History of the Computer   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was the first large-scale, computer. The ENIAC was built for the military to calculate the paths of artillery shells. Later on it was used to make calculation for nuclear weapons research, weather predictions, and wind tunnel design. â€Å"The ENIAC was brought in to use inn February of 1946 and was used unit October 1955† (Encarta). The creators of the ENIAC were American physicist John W. Mauchly and American Electrical engineer John Persper Eckert, Jr. at Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Eckert and Mauchly demonstrated the ENIAC less than three years after the Army commissioned its construction. In 1947 the ENIAC moved from the University of Pennsylvania to its permanent home at the Aberdeen Proving ground in Maryland. â€Å"Only one system of its type was ever built, but operated continuously until October 1955† (Encarta). The ENIAC was very different than modern day computers, which use microprocessors composed of thousands or millions of transistors; the ENIAC used vacuum tubes to process data. It had approximately 18,000 vacuum tubes, which were about the size of a small light bulb. The ENIAC was composed of 30 separate units with power supplies and cooling units; all together the whole unit weighed more than 30 tons, and took up 1800 sq. ft. and consumed 175Kw of power. 2 The ENIAC could perform about 5000 calculations per second, more than 10,000 times slower that most modern day computers. The ENIAC took about 20 seconds to calculate problems that took humans two to three days to do manually. Initially, scientists programmed and entered data into ENIAC by manually setting switches and rewiring the machine. Later a more efficient IBM punch-card reading machine was used to input data, while another IBM punch card machine was used to store data. When the ENIAC completed a calculation, it would notify operators by turning on a sequence of lights or punching certain sequences of cards. The ENIAC was designed to calculate continuously all day and all night. However its circuitry and vast number of vacuum tubes tended to burn out, the ENIAC was continuously down to be serviced, which caused the ENIAC to be down one third of the that is could be working. As soon as Eckert and Mauchly completed the ENIAC’s design, the signed a contract to build a successor, which was called the EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer), this more efficient design reduced the number of vacuum tubes down to only 4000.

Impacts of Media Technology on Teenagers Essay

Today we are living in a revolutionary world and within seconds, several bombardments of new inventions are happening around the globe, media technology being one of them. Media technology has changed our lives giving us the freedom to perform activities from the comfort of our homes. For example, it has made communication easier and quicker, a document now takes a few seconds to reach anywhere in the world compared to regular mail which takes several days with the involvement of several individuals to reach its destination. If we look at our daily life, we can see a reflection of technology everywhere in our lives, such as TV, telephones, computers, cell phones, PDA, text messages, email, internet, online banking, booking a vacation, GPS, online shopping, online education, online liberalities, online books, online gaming and much more. By the end of 20th century we can observe that media technology and its effects are as powerful as it were never before. The invention of the cell phone, appearance of computers, laptops, and internet communication has become a vital link in communicating with others. It has become inseparable part of our life and it is everywhere and it is impossible to escape them. Teenagers all over the world are growing up in a world, where the Internet, cell phones, text messaging and other technology dominates the communication and it is an integral part of everyday life. Technology has changed rapidly; it is hard to predict what will happen in the next six months. If we ask a question whether media technology is good or bad, I believe there is no answer to this question. Technology is a double edge sword; it can be used for good purposes or for bad purposes. The evolving technology has a strong impact on individual’s life and especially teenagers as they are vulnerable to change. â€Å"Research shows that teens tend to be more impulsive than adults, and they may not think as clearly as adults about the consequences of what they do,† (-Jessica Rich, Federal Trade Commission). (Read more) The story of media in young people’s lives today is primarily a story of technology facilitating increased consumption. We created this blog to promote awareness to most common media technologies that have influenced teenagers’ lives today i.e. Internet, TV, Cell Phones, Gaming, Music and Print Media. Posted by Danielle, Fanny and Khalid. 1 comment: Links to this post Labels: Impacts of Media Technology on Teenagers Internet and Teenagers The Internet is a part of today’s culture that many teenagers cannot even imagine what the world was like before the Internet existed. The Internet is fun, informative and a great source of communication with others. It’s an educational tool and users can learn about almost anything. Sharing information through Internet is easy, cheap and fast. Teenagers have access to billions of websites containing information in the form of text, pictures and videos. The internet like other technology has positives and negatives effects on teenagers. Teenagers have access to pornography, obscenities, and ways to make drugs, bombs or even participate in online sexual practices. Teenagers can also become heavily addicted to the internet, which can often lead them into depression, with little or no face-to face time with others. There are also issues with teenagers hacking into school databases, banks, government websites, friends or strangers computers. If your teenagers are spending too much time on the internet, they are at risk of getting involved with one of these activities. Our blog will discuss pros and cons of internet usage among teenagers. Online Education Online education does have an impact on the lives of students; online learning can contribute to a gain in self-discipline. Educational goals can be reached by getting an online education. Student’s become more computer savvy from continuously using technology to do research, type assignments, and use specific software to complete projects. Some online programs even offer fast-track programs that allow prospective graduates to complete degree programs faster. (Read more) Currently, most high school students in North America have access to the internet in their classroom setting. Student can get extra helps through online learning environments (OLE) provided by schools. OLE provides students quick and easy access to course resources and material. Most OLE environments are virtually available from any location that has a computer and internet. The OLE resources usually include: online books, lectures, instructor help, peer-to-peer support, technology support, multimedia activities, instant updates, self-testing applications, comprehensive reviews and much more! Students that have fallen behind can take extra help online to achieve their required credits. Internet a Job Search Tool The internet is an excellent online job search tool for teenagers to find a job. Teenagers can search different types of jobs through various job search engines i.e. Craigslist, Monster, Workopolis and Job Bank. These search engines can teach you to fill out an application, create a resume and prepare for an interview. You can apply for the required job through Internet, which is more direct and easy. Jobs can help teenagers feel more confident and independent which can help teenagers explore potential career paths.

Educational Purpose Essay

Since childhood, I have always wanted to be an educator. This is because I have always considered education as an essential need. It is certainly because education makes one civilized. It is also through education that the potential of one person is maximized. Significantly, it is the way by which one gains knowledge which is very useful in everyday life. Education is also the means which will make it possible for individuals to achieve his or her dreams. In addition, education is necessary in order to mould one to discern what is right from wrong. Hence, education is one of the most important factors for people to exist in a peaceful and civilized society. Additionally, as widely recognized, being a teacher is the noblest profession. It is not only because teachers educate but also because they are considered as the second parent of the students. Hence, it is not only the intellectual aspect that teacher develops but also the emotional and psychological aspect of the student. Teachers are necessary in forming better persons in the society. Notably, in all these endeavors, the teacher does not merely exert effort and time but also extends care, concern, and love to his or her students. It is for these zealous purposes that I longed to be an educator. In the educational system today, many problems can be observed. The most common and old probably is diversity or socio-cultural differences. Even in the older times, diversity has always been a barrier for most of students. I had my own share of difficulty when it comes to the issue of socio-cultural differences. I have experienced being avoided in debates whenever I attempted to join. Being a person having a different skin color and language makes it difficult to be accepted by the majority. However, being different among the majority has challenged me to break the barriers that impede me from achieving my goals. I know that there are thousands who had experienced and is experiencing what I have been through. As such, I am inspired to make ways on eliminating diversity that hinders other students from pursuing their dreams. Meanwhile, school is considered as the second home of students. Hence, schools should be made as a place for freedom regardless of race, culture, gender, age, and socio-economic status. Another problem that is plaguing the education system is commercialization. Education has been said to be a right of every individual. However, as educational fees continue to increase, the burden to the poor is becoming heavier because the value is making it difficult for the poor to afford. Hence, education is becoming a privilege for the rich. Furthermore, the continued commercialization of education is affecting the quality of education because of competition among schools. At the same time, commercialization deviate the labor market and creates labor shifting. This happens especially when schools offer short courses when the employment demands for graduate courses. Education, as such, is one of the necessities for us to be able to achieve our dreams. A student goes to school to be educated so that someday he will have the employment he has desired for. However, the real situation would merely disappoint the student. It is of no doubt that the technological innovation has affected the drastic change in labor demand. In addition, the nation is also highly industrialized. Hence, the labor offered are those related to technology and industry. This fact puts the students of social sciences in a disadvantaged position because they have a narrower chance of employment in a highly technical and industrialized society. It has been said that education is the window to a student’s dream. Thus, the curriculum should correspond to the need of the society and at the same time aid in the fulfillment of the student’s dream.