Groups, Teams, Individual Differences and Diversity

Introduction Control is the principal subject in numerous organizational theories and remains possibly the main topic that shapes each and every individual’s experience in organizations (Baker, 1993, p. 409). Chester (1968, p. 17) highlights the significance of control. He states that the â€Å"key defining aspect of any organization is the workers subordination to a level that their own aspiration do not surpass collective will of the organization†.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Groups, Teams, Individual Differences and Diversity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He adds that for individuals to realize their dreams they must give up a portion of their autonomy in the organizational. Due to this tension, control is commonly challenging in many organizations. As a result, Organizations have been prompted to set up control systems. The organizational control systems have considerably evolved in res ponse to changes in managerial systems from the authoritarian bureaucratic control to consensual control in the shape of independent groups or self-managing teams. The latter is a decentralized and more participative egalitarian system that provides a better alternative to the hierarchical bureaucratic control. This system of control has also evolved from value-based consensus to a system that entails rationalized standard rules (Baker, 1993, p. 410). Edwards (1981) identified three strategies of control that have developed from the contemporary struggle to control individual activities in organizations. The first strategy is the direct, totalitarian and individual control mainly used by business owners or hired managers. This is common in family-owned businesses. The second strategy is the technological control. This strategy emanates from physical technology. The third and the most common strategy is the overbearing control. This strategy is derived from hierarchical relationships within the organization. It is also based on parallel sets of universal rules that reward those who comply and punishes those who do not comply. The concept of self-managing teams At the moment, the most famous organizational transformation to post-bureaucratic structures is the evolution of the conventional hierarchical-based organization to consensually controlled self-managing teams (Baker, 1993, p. 413). Even though this concept has become more popular over the recent past, it is not new. The supporters of this concept describe it as a fundamental change in the conventional managerial and hierarchical structure of an organization (Orsburn et al., 1990; Wellins, William Wilson, 1991). According to Baker (1993, p. 413), the concept of self-managing teams transforms the traditional and authoritarian structure to participatory structure. This means that employees in a self-managing team experiences life in an enormously different way than employees in the previous system.Advertisi ng Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Instead of being given orders by those in the chain of command, employees in the self-managing teams must assemble and analyse information, work on it and take joint responsibility for their deeds. Self-managing teams are usually organized in groups of 10 to 15 individuals. The management’s responsibility is to present value-based goals/vision for employees to work towards. As a result, self-managing team members are guided by these goals to direct their individual tasks and link with other departments within the organization (Baker, 1993, p. 413). Self-managing teams are in charge of well-articulated tasks in different forms of organizations. The members are well trained to carry out any job function and have considerable power to make key decisions required to execute a given task. In addition to carrying out their individual tasks, members can also set their work plan, make orders and link with other groups (Baker, 1993, p. 414). Besides minimizing bureaucracy and saving costs by eliminating low-level managers, self-managing teams also enhance workers motivation, productivity and devotion (Wellins, William Wilson, 1991, p. 22). The disparity between self-managing teams and other approaches According to Baker (1993, p. 413), employees in self-managing teams are not directly controlled by top management or supervisor, but only uses the value-based corporate vision provided by the top management to guide their daily operations. On the other hand, the other approaches are based on a system of rules and measures that restricts employees’ functions and decision-making. In other words, these approaches do not regard individuals involved. The structures in the other approaches are so rigid and require all decisions to be approved by the top hierarchy, thus impede employees’ ability to meet consumer’s de mands promptly. Baker (1993, p. 410) explains how employees are entrapped in an â€Å"iron cage† in bureaucratic control since control is less vivid or personal. This is because employees are more deep-rooted in the social relations. He adds that control in the bureaucratic system is less personal since power rests entirely with the system, leaving employees with what he describes as â€Å"experts without heart† or sensualist without spirit†. In the earlier bureaucratic systems, workers were openly controlled, ordered, directed and fired at will. However, the current bureaucratic control employs indirect rules. At the moment, workers are controlled by shaping their knowledge of what is right or wrong. They have to seek support for decisions they make from the top hierarchy. This is well articulated in the company rules. In other words, control is hidden in the company rules and hierarchy (Baker, 1993, p. 411). The impact of the new concept on employees As already been mentioned, the current democratic system of control provides a more workable alternative to other approaches. This new concept is more effective than the bureaucratic control. Self-managing teams delegates authority to the employees, which in turn enhances the effectiveness of the control systems.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Groups, Teams, Individual Differences and Diversity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, Baker (1993, p. 434) argues that this new concept cannot realise its full potential unless the diverse interests and functions of members are integrated in an organized manner. The system must be based on shared values that are enforced by members. Therefore, the self-managing teams are more manifested through interaction with members. Members are given authority to make decisions as long as they are in-line with the organization’s values and goals. This creates a favourable worki ng environment for employees, thus increases their commitment, loyalty and their willingness to put more effort on behalf of the organization. In addition, members stick to the values of the organization and have desire to remain in the organization (Baker, 1993, p. 435). The self-managing teams also eliminate the low-level managers by making employees their own bosses. Contrary to many people’s expectations, self-managing teams do not free members from the â€Å"iron cage† of control as it is more manifested in each and every member of the organization. Instead, it draws the â€Å"iron cage† tighter and restraints members more powerfully. In other words, employees do not have to malinger when the boss is not around since the whole team is keeping an eye on each other. Members of the whole team are responsible for each other. In summary, this is the best control system. However, it has a few challenges, for instance, organizing an effective team. In addition, me mbers usually find it difficult to embrace new responsibility. References Baker, J. R. 1993, ‘Tightening the Iron Cage: Concertive Control in Self-Managing Teams’, Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 38, pp. 408-437. Chester, B. 1968, The function of the Executive, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. Edwards, R. C. 1981, The social relations of production at the point of production, Foresman: Glenview, IL. Orsburn, J. D., Moran, L., Musselwhite, E., Zenger, J. H. 1990, Self-Directed Work Teams: The New American Challenge, Irwin: Homewood, IL.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Wellins, R. S., William, B., Wilson, J. M. 1991, Empowered Teams: Creating Self-Directed Work Groups that Improve Quality, Productivity, and Participation, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. This article on Groups, Teams, Individual Differences and Diversity was written and submitted by user Matilda Flores to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

46 Back-to-School Quotes to Help Get You Motivated

46 Back-to-School Quotes to Help Get You Motivated Vacations are over, and its time to head back to school. Tis the season of  teachers revising lessons and of students stocking up on school supplies and preparing for new classes. You can share some  motivational back-to-school quotes with your children to help encourage them to achieve, and you can share them with your favorite educators, too. Our education-themed list also contains quotes for people going to the school of hard knocks. Plus, we offer a few clever asides and quips from authors and comedians to a former president. Inspirational Quotes for Students Help students realize the importance of  education  with these quotes: Martin H. Fischer All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind. Ray LeBlond You learn something every day if you pay attention. E.C. McKenzie Sign on a high school bulletin board in Dallas: Free every Monday through Friday- knowledge. Bring your own containers. Ernest Renan The simplest schoolboy is now familiar with truths for which Archimedes would have sacrificed his life. Dana Stewart Scott Learn as much as you can while you are young, since life becomes too busy later. Alvin Toffler The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. Mark Twain Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education. Quotes About Teachers and Schools Need some quotes about educators and schools? Look no further: Susan B. Anthony If all the rich and all of the church people should send their children to the public schools they would feel bound to concentrate their money on improving these schools until they met the highest ideals. T.H. Huxley I care not what subject is taught, if only it be taught well. E.C. McKenzie Education helps you earn more. But not many schoolteachers can prove it.Schoolteachers are not fully appreciated by parents until it rains all day Saturday. Donald D. Quinn If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didnt want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teachers job. Lily Tomlin ï » ¿I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework. Inspirational Quotes for Educators Educators might also enjoy some inspirational quotes geared toward their chosen profession: Malcolm S. Forbes Educations purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. Sydney J. Harris The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. Margaret Laurence Holidays are enticing only for the first week or so. After that, it is no longer such a novelty to rise late and have little to do. Richard Livingstone If the school sends out children with a desire for knowledge and some idea of how to acquire and use it, it will have done its work. Ralph W. Sockman The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder. Ricky Williams I allowed myself to think if I could be doing anything in the world, what would I be doing? And what came to mind is Id be traveling a little bit, Id be going to classes, and Id be going back to school. Quotes on Life and Learning Here are some quotable lines about the value of education outside of school, the teacher being reality. Anonymous Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. Tom Bodett The difference between school and life? In school, youre taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, youre given a test that teaches you a lesson. Winston Churchill I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught. W. Edwards Deming Learning is not compulsory...but to survive, we must learn. Peter De Vries We all learn by experience but some of us have to go to summer school. Ralph Waldo Emerson You send your child to the schoolmaster, but tis the schoolboys who educate him. Martin H. Fischer Education aims to give you a boost up the ladder of knowledge. Too often, it just gives you a cramp on one of its rungs. Ivan Illich Together we have come to realize that for men the right to learn is curtailed by the obligation to attend school. George Bernard Shaw What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child. Ernest Shackleton I do not know what moss stands for in the proverb, but if it stood for useful knowledge...I gathered more moss by rolling than I ever did at school. Oscar Wilde Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing worth knowing can be taught. Henny Youngman In elementary school, many a true word is spoken in guess. Silly and Pithy Quotes According to some well-known names, education has its lighter moments: Gracie Allen Smartness runs in my family. When I went to school I was so smart my teacher was in my class for five years. Erma Bombeck Being a child at home alone in the summer is a high-risk occupation. If you call your mother at work 13 times an hour, she can hurt you. A. Whitney Brown Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student. At least they can find Kuwait. George Carlin When I got out of high school they retired my jersey, but it was for hygiene and sanitary reasons. Bill Dodds Labor Day is a glorious holiday because your child will be going back to school the next day. It would have been called Independence Day, but that name was already taken. Peter Drucker When a subject becomes totally obsolete, we make it a required course. Finley Peter Dunne It doesnt make much difference what you study, so long as you dont like it. Robert Gallagher Anyone who thinks the art of conversation is dead ought to tell a child to go to bed. Edgar W. Howe If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers. Elbert Hubbard You can lead a boy to college, but you cannot make him think. Doug Larson Home computers are being called upon to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog. Henry Louis Mencken Sunday school: A prison in which children do penance for the evil conscience of their parents. John Updike The Founding Fathers...provided jails called schools, equipped with tortures called an education. School is where you go between when your parents cant take you and industry cant take you. Ronald Reagan But there are advantages to being President. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified top secret. Joan Welsh The only educational aspect of television is that it puts the repairman’s kids through college.

Aluminum foam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aluminum foam - Essay Example The tortuous path and the controlled pressure drop across the foam ensure that the necessary micro-turbulent mixing required for proper mixing of gases is achieved. Thus aluminum foam is used as gas diffusers and mixers. In addition, these foams have found application as liquid/gas separator as a result of the three-dimensional continuous ligament, which facilitate the complete removal of entrained liquids. The continuously connected aluminum structure ensures that particles are not generated within the liquid/gas generator. As energy and impact absorbent (ERG; MIT) Aluminum foam can act as energy and impact absorbent when the density and alloy of the foam are varied, provided the foam’s isotropic properties gives identical response without regards to impact angle. Indeed, it has been found that a high strength-to-weight ratio performs better and provides greater shear strength than honeycomb of the same density. As compact heat exchangers (ERG) The excellent heat conducting p roperty of aluminum combined with the high surface area to volume ratio as well as the ligament structure of the foam makes aluminum foam good compact heat exchangers. Indeed, the high surface area to volume ratio makes for more compact designs, while thorough mixing and efficient scrubbing of the heat exchange surfaces is provided by the ligament structure. ... Other applications of aluminum foams (ERG) Their cellular nature mimics those of cancerous bone materials found in the body. Thus aluminum foam is used in bio-mimicking in orthopedic research and testing. In addition, the foams can be incorporated into systems as spark and flame arrestor as a result of their low-pressure drops properties. Furthermore, these foams are highly desirable for fuel cell applications due to their open structures. Indeed, the foams have being used in this regards by military, emergency, industrial and recreational personnel. As mentioned above, aluminum is reputed for its excellent heat as well as electricity conducting properties. These properties combined with the foam’s cellular nature has made it an excellent heat exchange media and chemical support matrix for atmospheric carbon (IV) oxide control system on the space shuttle and International Space Station. Unlike the amine powder granules that can also provide similar chemical support for atmosph eric carbon (IV) oxide, but require heat to initiate the process, the aluminum foam does not require any heat to kick off the reaction. Thus the foam is more efficient and has faster response rate. Works Cited ERG. ERG Materials and Aerospace Corp. 2011. 08 May 2011 . MIT. Technology Review. 11 July 2006. 08 May 2011