The Nature and Importance of Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Nature and Importance of Leadership - Essay Example Ms. Rodgers served as an Assistant Manager of a local state bank for more than 10 years before assuming the position of a Unit Manager for the health institution. She had been the Unit Manager for five years now. Through her educational background, having graduated with a master’s degree in business administration from a reputable university; in conjunction with years of experience in a managerial position, makes her the perfect candidate for the current project. Leadership was deemed to be crucial in the organization Ms. Rodgers serve due to the relevance of according high quality in patient care. As such, she asserted that the subordinates who she governs should be regularly motivated, monitored, and evaluated to perform according to explicitly defined roles, responsibilities, and goals. Likewise, she believes that learning to lead is important for students like me so that we would imbibe the pertinent theories and discern how these should be applied in current and future se ttings. As a coach and motivator: She was asked to design strategies to motivate the followers into achieving identified goals; while taking into account the needs, drives, and professional growth of her followers. As a technical problem solver: As a manager, she has addressed various problems in the work-setting which required evaluating various alternative courses of action and selecting the option which maximized the benefits and minimized costs. As an entrepreneur: She makes decisions after taking the perspectives of senior management, or the real entrepreneurs; and assumes a proactive role in capturing opportunities, as well as addressing threats in the external environment. As a strategic planner: Ms. Rodgers noted that she is consistently a strategic planner through acknowledgment of goals as her standards and designing strategies that facilitate the attainment of these goals.

The Influence of International Training on Firefighters' Training Dissertation

The Influence of International Training on Firefighters' Training Performance Outcomes - Dissertation Example As an attempt to decrease the unfavorable outcomes among firefighters, majority of fire departments incorporate these fire training regimens, including physical training programs that will ensure the competence and physical fitness of firefighters when in duty. Firefighters obtain learning through a combination of classroom and practical training that enables these individuals to maintain or further enhance such competences. The importance of providing training and development opportunities for firefighters has been signified by the implementation of policies and considerable amount of resources invested for workers to acquire learning and knowledge. However, it has been asserted by Moats, Chermak, and Dooley (2008) that for training systems to yield positive outcomes, its effectiveness must be assessed as well. Many organisations have been known to lack the resources for providing training that is not measured with regards to its significance in the attainment of organisational goal s. According to Brinkerhoff (2005), training and development of workers must be in adherence to the accomplishment of long-term objectives. Effectiveness is a major aspect of worker training and development for any organisation due to the fact that this enables workers to attain and enhance the necessary skills and knowledge for successfully carrying out their duties. For these organisations to establish and maintain efficient programs, it is highly significant for these training systems to be evaluated to ascertain its consistencies with the overall strategy of the former. Exploring the related procedures and decisions that are carried to ensure training effectiveness is equally important as well (Mitroff, 2005). While organisations who require workers for increased security, including the use of fire departments, have allocated a significant amount of money for developing well-trained and competent workforce members, there remains a need to look into their efficiency in carrying o ut these services. Therefore, this study places an emphasis on the training programs provided to firefighters, particularly in the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), to evaluate these activities and programs and their outcomes on both the organisation and the firefighter themselves. Saudi Aramco is known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Company that is a state-owned oil company in Saudi Arabia and is expected to be the most valuable company that is privately-owned in the world. Aside from maintaining a large hospital and offer health insurance for workers, Saudi Aramco is also known for having a number of fire stations that provide both residential and industrial services. Its industrial security was established twenty years ago as a means of ensuring the safety of the industrial and residential vicinities within and surrounding the company. However, a major challenge for the company is to provide satisfactory fire protection with which both the hard and soft infrastructure should be emphasized (Shelley and Smith, 2008). While the hard infrastructure is comprised of the facilities, its soft counterpart focuses on the individuals who carry out the work. It has been a concern for the Saudi Aramco to enhance their fire protection services as well as the safety of their own firefighters by

Eating - Custard Essay Example for Free

Eating Custard Essay Melt in Your Mouth â€Å"Perhaps like falling in love, eating is passion wearing a semblance of decorousness, when delicacy is out of reach because the palate had just been ambushed into helplessness. † mentioned by Merlinda Bobis in her novel Banana Heart Summer. I heard this quote from my brother John, and ever since then I fell in love with it. My brother and I share the same passion when it comes to food. We can never get enough of it. Food for the two of us brings us joy that takes us in a journey together and it strengthens our bond as brother and sister. Just like food, love is one of the main ingredients in every human being to be able to live life melodiously. Food and love go hand in hand with one another; it produces pleasure and satisfaction for everyone. My brother and I are always in the hunt for the best dessert place in town. When I found out that he discovered this specific dessert place in Downtown, San Diego, I got very excited to go and try it out. That same day my brother took me out to this restaurant called Extraordinary Desserts. When we got there, there was a long line of people standing outside waiting to order to-go and or to be seated at a table. The hostess told us the wait is going to be an hour, so we waited, since we both wholeheartedly enjoy eating desserts. The hostess finally called my name and the wait was totally worth it. Then we set foot in the restaurant, I felt stunned since the decoration was striking, lavish and was the proper place to celebrate desserts. I walked in the restaurant and I felt like a kid in a candy store. There were so many varieties from cakes to ice cream. Now, I know why this place is so busy and packed with people waiting just to satisfy their cravings. There were so many choices to choose from that I became indecisive on what I wanted to order; however, one dessert rose up to the occasion. I felt like heaven sent me a sign to pick the perfect one just for me. The waiter approached us and asked what we would like to order. I ordered the creme brulee; my brother ordered it as well. He was very pleased that we ordered this specific dessert. It was evident that all the people around the town enjoyed this dessert. The waiter did not take that long to bring us our order. They were decorated with a nest of caramelized brown sugar on top. Inside contained a rich cream and flan like filling. Flan is usually a sweet or savory filling. It is similar to a custard tart. Creme brulee is also known as burnt cream. The dessert was so inextricably linked to French dessert, that I could smell and taste every ingredient and it was so gratifying. Taking a spoonful of the creme brulee in my mouth was the most pleasing cream I ever had. I had eaten so much that literally I could not take another bite. It was like a burst of rainbow after the rain. It completely takes away all the stress and sorrow that I might be feeling at that moment; and, turned it into a smile and contentment. Now, when I am asked about what is my favorite dessert ever, it is very enjoyable to recall. It is the creme brulee especially made from Extraordinary Desserts. This is a memorable dessert that I have ever eaten, but also one of the most pleasant memories of my life is experiencing it with my brother who shares the same love on exploring and trying new food. We always enjoy each others company where ever we go. We like to reminisce about our childhood and our trouble-maker years while enjoying the mouth-watering creme brulee. I can say that I am one of those people who love to eat and are in a state that is simply breathtaking being in love. Both food and love is the core of my heart right now. They both inspire me to be a better me. Food fulfills my physical body while Love replenishes my spirit. Love to me is like eating. Eating has different tastes, and so as love. We cannot live without food and love in life.

I Have a Dream

I Have a Dream Speech of Heart: a personal response to â€Å"I Have a Dream†. America was built by the people who were searching for freedom and equality; they met in a new land and started to build it as a land of freedom. Ironically, over 100 years after the Independence Day of America, freedom and equality were still unattainable luxury for many people, especially people from different races than white. Non-white Americans had to suffer through racial injustice and discrimination. One of the greatest activists who fought against those inequalities was Martin Luther King Jr. In his momentous speech, â€Å"I have a dream†, King called for racial equality and the end of discrimination. The speech consolidates my belief that people from different races have the right to be treated equally. It also reminds me how hard it was to gain freedom and justice, and encourages me to stand up and make dreams come true. With allusions invoked from widely respected sources as Bible, the United States Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the United States Constitution, King described how disappointed his fellow blacks were when the government broke their promises by giving his fellow a â€Å"bad check†. The blacks suffered numerous inequalities; they had to drink â€Å"from the cup of the bitterness and hatred†. The inequality was not even covered up; there were buildings with â€Å"For Whites Only† signs including the voting places. But King still believed in justice, believed in his â€Å"dream†: â€Å"we are free at last†. He was not dreaming for African American only, he dreamed for a world of equality, a world where people from different races are treated equally. The American government also contributed to disappoint their black citizens by breaking their promises, which also disappoints me. After the declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation, the blacks expected that the Government would do what they promised: providing the â€Å"unalienable Rights† of â€Å"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness†. But then, the Government exposed their unreliability giving to their black brothers a â€Å"bad check†, they left their citizens â€Å"lives on a lonely island of poverty†. In my opinion, Government is the organization that supposed to archive what it promised but in this situation, they lured African Americans to join their army with the promise of freedom and wealthy then leave them with poverty after the war. I could barely hold my anger when I know that the American government had treated non-white Americans as they were not official Americans. I feel so depressed when I listen to the first part of Kings speech about the unfairness that the blacks had to struggle with before they gained their civil rights. â€Å"Five score years† after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, the African-Americans still were segregated. Although they were considered American citizens on paper, they were not treated as such. Despite the fact that there was no longer slavery, blacks were still treated as inferior; they were not allowed to vote, they were not allowed to go to places specifically designated as â€Å"For White Only†, and they were even absurdly prohibited from sitting at the front rows on buses. I cannot accept the way that some Americans treated their black brothers and sisters back then, it was racism. It is so bad knowing that black people were treated as even lower than the lowest class in American society. I am impressed and encouraged by Kings strong belief in justice and his disregard for his situation. King said â€Å"we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt†, â€Å"we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal†. They did not just dream, they were ready to fight for what they believed, King described their willing by this say â€Å"to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day†. Those quotes emphasize that despite all the unfairness that they had to suffer through, the bad treatments from their white brothers and the lies from their government, they still believed in justice and wanted to â€Å"make justice a reality†. I admire the blacks; they kept their belief and fought for it no matter what obstacle they might encounter. The speech alarms me that believing and doing must go together in order to archive a goal. Another detail that makes me admire King is that he had led his fellows on a peaceful-war. He suggested that his followers should not use â€Å"physical violence† in their battle because he understood that he was fighting for peace and peace cannot be created by hurting the others. And he also said â€Å"we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force†. Although he was bursting to gain freedom and racial equality for his race, he tried his best to avoid any physical conflict. I am inspired by the dream of King, a world of equality, brotherhood and freedom. In that world, everyone can â€Å"be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood† no matter what color they are, no matter where they are from. People will erase all of the bad memory of slavery and injustice, they will not think about themselves as superior or inferior. In that world, people will be treated equally and â€Å"not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character†. There will be no barriers between religions and races â€Å"black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands†. The world in Kings dream inspires me with its beauty, there is no such thing more beautiful than an equal, happy and peaceful world. Through the speech, I was touched by the great love of King for his nation. That love was first showed in his care for his fellow blacks, an indispensable part of America. Besides that, he had implied his patriotism through his speech â€Å"this nation will rise up†, he wanted to â€Å"transform†¦ our nation in to a beautiful symphony of brotherhood†. He does not just love and care about his followers but also care about and love his white bothers â€Å"Their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom†. It is a great love of a patriot for his country and its citizens. In my opinion, King was willing to fight for his country, which is what makes him unforgettable in hearts of Americans. The speech was delivered from the heart of a man who was willing to exchange anything he had for freedom and civil right for his country. His persistence has inspired me; it makes me want to stand up for my dreams and my rights. It also makes me appreciate the freedom that I have because I know to create it; many people had sacrificed even their lives. Kings works have been continued by many activists, he would love it if he could see that.

Major Strides Against Poverty Essay -- Papers

Major Strides Against Poverty Throughout time people have been affected by the harshness of poverty and economic strain. It has always seemed to be difficult for the average American to prosper if in fact that person did not come from previous wealth. Our great country prides on the idea of capitalism and the rights to freedom and insists that anyone who puts forth the effort can and will succeed. This has and always will be a debatable issue. The other realism is the role of the federal government and the capacity they work to ensure each and every American the right to become successful. Two Presidents come to mind when I think about the ways in which the government wishes to help the unfortunate. They are Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson. These two administrations are the landmarks to the many programs and policies we see today that battle the likes of poverty and economic downfalls. The Great Depression Industrialization met its first and perhaps greatest obstacle in October 1929, when the stock market crashed that inevitably leads to the Great Depression. The Depression lasted over a decade and affected world affairs by questioning the validity of Capitalism, Democracy and industrialization. The underlying causes of the Depression were a direct result of overproduction. When the market crashed, investors and bankers cut consumer credit, which reduced consumer-buying power. Sales declined; therefore factories had to cut back on production. This led to a large reduction in the number of workers. With more people unemployed, purchasing power plummeted and goods did not move. Factories found themselves producing next to nothing because there was no one buying. This led to more layoffs and fa... ...al to the Reagan Revolution. The John Hopkins University Press. Ballantine Books. 11th ed. Canada, 1992 Bibliography: Bibliography New York Times Articles "Senate Votes a $75 Million Bill to Fight Starvation in Nation." New York Times 5 Mar. 1967. Associated Press. "Long Says Roosevelt Is 'a Liar and a Faker' And 'Just Getting as smart as I Was' at 14." New York Times 9 Jul. 1935. Mallon, Winifred. "New Deal's Pacts For Trade Praised." New York Times 7 Jul. 1935. Books Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, Williams, Roberts. America: Past and Present. Harper Collins College Publishers. 3rd ed. New York, 1994. Langston, Thomas S. Ideologies and Presidents: From the New Deal to the Reagan Revolution. The John Hopkins University Press. Ballantine Books. 11th ed. Canada, 1992

Sex as a Means of Agency Essay -- Aristophanes Female Women Essays

Sex as a Means of Agency â€Å"A woman’s harder to conquer than any beast, than fire, and no panther is quite so ferocious.† (Aristophanes 1058) Life for an Athenian woman was marked by her daily occupation to the household and its occupants. This was the sphere of life where she was able to exert the most power and maintain a certain degree of agency. Her domestic duties included attendance to her husband, and his sexual needs. In the comic portrayal of women in Lysistrata, Aristophanes exploits this domestic power to create a scenario where â€Å"the harsh and intractable realities of life, politics and international aggression are transformed so that wives manage to overcome husbands, love conquers war, insignificant citizens manage to discredit powerful ones† (Henderson 36). Aristophanes manipulates the Athenian reality by operating on common stereotypes of women, adding to the comic element but also highlighting the gaping gender division that existed in everyday life. In this comic utopian ideal, women are able to overcome their lack of agency in the public sphere by juxtaposing their domestic (primarily sex ual) power with the general polis. It is important to note that in ancient literary portrayals of women, men depict women according to their perceptions and the common social stereotypes. Although this may, in some cases, create a certain amount of discrepancy between the depiction of women and their actual life, it can still be a beneficial tool to understand their attitudes and struggles. As Henderson writes, â€Å"†¦even by itself the male view is interesting: it enables us to study the rules and roles that men created for women and to glimpse the desires and fears that prompted their enforcement† (20). In Atheni... ...ikely that one of women’s foremost complaints would be their invisibility in the public sphere. Therefore, although this comedic piece is clearly an exaggeration of reality, it is a useful tool in understanding the lives of women in the Athenian period. Aristophanes mirrors and manipulates Athenian reality as he portrays women and men through the comedic lens. In the case of Lysistrata, he incorporates common stereotypes and current institutions of power into a plot that not only puts women in a position of power, but also delineates them as the protagonists in forming a well-functioning polis. As this reflects the women’s role in maintaining a respectable household, he manifests their domestic agency on a higher level as a collective â€Å"mothering† of Athenian society where the entire polis is analogous to a household managed by competent and sensible women.

Literary Theory and Criticism, and Its Relevance Today Essay

Literary Theory and Criticism and Its Relevance Today Literary criticism is primarily the evaluation of the importance of a particular work or body of work on such grounds as: the personal and/or cultural importance of the themes and the uses of language of a text; the insights and impact of a text; and the aesthetic creation (or, performance) of the text; mainly as these areas are seen to be reciprocally dependent, supportive or inflective. The word ‘criticism’ has ordinary-use negative connotations, and to an extent that is right: for literary criticism is part of he disciplining of dialogue generally and of what is considered literature in particular. One patrols the confines of good writing, admitting or excluding, determining what should be thought about a text, and why, what personal and cultural value should be placed on it. Judgments of significance are not simple, however. They require that one consider what constitutes importance, what the personal and social importance of literature is what the significance of ‘the aesthetic’ is. And they require that one interpret the text. As texts Judged to be of high literary significance tend to be marked by complexity and even ambiguity, and to yield various interpretations, Judgment may eventually require a theory of interpretation, or at least careful consideration to the question of what constitutes, guides, and legitimates interpretation. Theory is the route of understanding what the character of literature is, what functions it has, what the relation of text is to author, to reader, to language, to society, to history. It is not Judgment but understanding of the frames of Judgment. Literary Theory is part of a prevalent movement in the culture which has affected a number of disciplines, occasioning similar disputes in some, a movement which has explored and elucidated the complexities of meaning, textuality and understanding. Literary Theory is not a single venture but a set of interrelated concepts and practices † most significantly deconstruction, post-Althusserian ideological or ‘political’ criticism, post-Lacanian psychoanalytic criticism, New Historicist or ‘cultural’ criticism, some reader-response criticism and much feminist criticism. The aim of this essay is to identify the issues that ground these contemporary literary theories. There have always been literary theories † about how literature works, what connotation is, what it is to be an author and so forth. The essential interpretive practices in force and in power in the academy which are being challenged by Theory were themselves ground-breaking, theory-based practices which became the norm. The two main crucial practices in the mid portion of the century have been the formalist tradition, or ‘New Criticism’, which sees a text as a omparatively self-enclosed meaning-production system which develops gigantic signifying power through its formal properties and through its conflicts, ambiguities and complexities, and the Arnoldian humanist tradition exemplified most clearly in the work of F. R. Leavis and his followers, which concentrates evaluatively on the capability of the author to represent moral experience concretely and engagingly. Many readers have in practice combined the principles and methodologies of these