Dependency Ratio

Definition: The dependency ratio is the number of young and elderly people in a population divided by the total adult population. The larger the dependency ratio is, the greater the burden on the average adult because the needs of the dependents must be met by the rest of the adult population.

Metamorphosis Analysis - 1503 Words

John Maynard Keynes once said, â€Å"Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.† 20th century novelist, Franz Kafka would agree with such a statement as he strongly despised capitalism and its faults. In his celebrated short story, Metamorphosis, Kafka explores the cruelty and exploitations of capitalism through the eyes of Gregor Samsa. ironically, he also represents capitalism to further illustrate its barbarity. Kafka’s use of irony is significant for it leaves the readers confused and distraught, making them question the actuality of capitalism. Kafka (or Capitalism) is sympathetic to the proletariat. This includes Gregor and the charwoman†¦show more content†¦This means even the slightest of mishaps would leave us struggling to survive in the world. This cruelty is shown when the Chief Clerk pays a visit to Gregor’s apartment to accuse him of indolence. Mr. Samsa, what is wrong? You barricade yourself in your room, give us no more than yes or no for an answer, you are causing serious and unnecessary concern to your parents and you fail - and I mention this just by the way - you fail to carry out your business duties in a way that is quite unheard of. I m speaking here on behalf of your parents and of your employer, and really must request a clear and immediate explanation. I am astonished, quite astonished. (Kafka 1). This is the first time in fifteen years that Gregor has been late yet the clerk hyperbolizes the situation and goes on to say that Gregor could be fired. The capitalist world requires loyalty and is cruel because it doesn t empathize with anyone. The brutality of capitalism and its responsibility causes laborers to become more inhuman as they begin to isolate themselves whilst lacking compassion and mercy. Gregor’s transformation might be physically unpleasant but he is stripped from the burden of responsibi lity. Kafka is sympathetic to Gregor by turning him into a bug who is excused from working in the cruel world of capitalism. The charwoman who is introduced later in the story also exemplifies the savagery acquired from capitalism. The charwoman is hired to take care of the heavy work aroundShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Metamorphosis1501 Words   |  7 PagesBeveridge, A. (2009). Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Advances in psychiatric treatment, 15(6), 459-461. This brief article is written from the psychiatric perspective, pointing out that Kafka has always been of great interest to the psychoanalytic community; this is because his writings have so skillfully depicted alienation, unresolved oedipal issues, and the schizoid personality disorder and The Metamorphosis is no exception to this rule. While this writer tends to think that psychiatrists shouldRead MoreAnalysis Of The Metamorphosis 854 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of the Metamorphosis The Metamorphosis can be analyzed in many different ways. One way that could be looked into is why exactly Gregor is turned into an insect. There are many things that he could have changed into, like a monkey or a bird for example. But Kafka makes it obvious that Gregor is a bug although he never says what kind. Bugs can be, more or less, controlled, considered useless, and gross. To call a person a bug means they can bend easily to another’s will and are expendableRead MoreAnalysis Of Metamorphosis826 Words   |  4 Pages Metamorphosis, written by Franz Kafka, is a novelette detailing the life of a young man named Gregor and his family, which include his sister, Grete, and his parents. Gregor is a traveling salesman who has an overbearing manager and extremely long hours. He is unhappy with his job due to these circumstances and the fact that he is not able to make any friends. One morning Gregor wakes up and is suddenly a beetle instead of a normal human. The life of everyone in the household is flipped upsideRead MoreAnalysis Of The Metamorphosis Essay1390 Words   |  6 Pagesan attempt to distance oneself from an undesirable event or occurrence. It can also range from an overt set of actions as a person is changed, to willful ignorance, malicious or otherwise, of an individual’s dreams or goals. Franz Kafka’s â€Å"The Metamorphosis†, in which the main character, Gregor Samsa, awakens to find himself changed, contains several obvious examples of this dehumanization. He has become vermin of some kind, no longer even human. Deprived even of basic human form, and transfiguredRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of The Metamorphosis 1422 Words   |  6 PagesElaina Faerber, Hannah Lindsey, Jake Sims Mrs. De Oro Hon, English 12A Pd 3 19 October 2015 Literary Analysis Essay-Rejection When individuals are rejected by family and society, they tend to feel abandoned and unloved. In Franz Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis, Gregor’s transformation into a â€Å"monstrous vermin† (Kafka 1) results in him being psychologically and even physically abused by his family. Rejection from his mother, sister, and father leave Gregor feeling unwanted and feeling as if he is a terribleRead MoreMetamorphosis Analysis1761 Words   |  8 PagesFranz Kafkas The Metamorphosis is so strikingly absurd that it has engendered countless essays dissecting every possible rational and irrational aspect of the book. One such essay is entitled Kafkas Obscurity by Ralph Freedman in which he delves down into the pages of The Metamorphosis and ferrets out the esoteric aspects of Kafkas writing. Freedman postulates that Gregor Samsa progresses through several transformations: a transformation of spatial relations, a transformation of time, and aRead MoreThe Metamorphosis Character An alysis1193 Words   |  5 PagesSometimes the people that you love and care for the most are the ones who will send you to your breaking point. Betrayal could quite possibly be the most hurtful action you can take towards someone. Throughout the novella, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor goes through a traumatic transformation only to find his family turn their backs on him and send him to his demise. This story can be looked at in a few different ways.(Connect these sentences) One of which is that Gregor literally turnedRead Moreâ€Å"Analysis of Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka938 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Metamorphosis† is an absurd novella written by the careful and self-conscious writer, Franz Kafka and narrated in third person omniscient by an anonymous figure who tells the story of protagonist Gregor Samsa in a neutral tone. The story was published in 1915 and is primarily about the effects of Samsa’s transformation into a large and monstrous bug. Kafk a’s use of irony, symbolism and, major themes make a strong impact. The story takes place in a room of an apartment with no definite historicalRead MoreAnalysis Of Kafka s The Metamorphosis 1166 Words   |  5 Pagesresides in his ability to transform his private torment into universal fables. Much of Kafka s early writing is lost, but 1912 proved to be a breakthrough year for him as he wrote some of his most important stories, including The Judgment, the metamorphosis, and much of his novels. This was also the year when Kafka met Felice Bauer, to whom he was engaged (and disengaged) twice over the next five years in a storm of letters with extremely little physical interaction. His belief in the importanceRead MoreAnalysis Of Kafka s The Metamorphosis 989 Words   |  4 PagesRalph Freedman’s critical essay titled â€Å"Kafka’s Obscurity† on Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis delves into the idea that from changes in the protagonist’s physical limitations, familial bonds, and his being â€Å"[he] is finally reduced to a mere speck of self-awareness which is ultimately extinguished† (Freedman 131). General questions of â€Å"why† and â€Å"how† are almost immediately dismissed due to the calm and monotonous tone that Kafka implements throughout the novel. Instead, the reader is encouraged to

Drug Use and Child Stars free essay sample

How commercial drug use affected famous child stars and their careers? Jermell Woods University Of Phoenix Res/110 Elaine Raby June12, 2010 Since the 1940’s Americans have had a fascination with child stars. Television shows like The Little Rascal’s, Leave it to Beaver, The Andy Griffin Show and The Cosby Show have produced some timeless memorable performances by child actors and some have become stars in the process. Sadly commercial drug use has greatly affected the careers of some of the people we have watched on television every night. Former child stars like Michael Jackson, Lindsey Lohan, Todd Bridges and Corey Haim were on top of the world at one time now they are either deceased or shells of themselves living off their past. American megastar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958, and entertained audiences nearly his entire life. His father, Joe Jackson, a guitarist was forced to give up his musical ambitions following his marriage to Katherine . Together they stimulated their growing familys musical interests at home. By the early 1960s, their oldest sons Jackie, Tito and Jermaine had begun performing around the city; by 1964, Michael and Marlon had joined in forming The Jackson 5. A musical genius, Michaels singing and dancing talents were amazingly advanced, and he soon became the lead singer and focus of The Jackson 5. An opening act for such soul groups as the O-Jays and James Brown by 1969, the boys were producing back-to-back chart-busting hits as Motown artists (I Want You Back, ABC, Never Can Say Goodbye, Got to Be There, etc. ). By the 1970s, the boys emerged as one of the most accomplished black pop/soul vocal groups in music history, successfully evolving to a disco phenomenon. Solo success for Michael was unavoidable, and by the 1980s, he had become infinitely more popular than his brotherly group. Record sales consistently orbited, culminating in the biggest-selling album of all time, Thriller in 1982. A TV natural, he ventured rather uneasily into films, such as playing the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978), but had much better luck with elaborate music videos. In the 1990s, the downside as an 1980s pop phenomenon began to rear itself. Michael grew terribly child-like and introverted by his peerless celebrity. A rather strange figure, to begin with, his physical appearance began to change drastically, and his behavior grew alarmingly bizarre, making him a consistent target for scandal-making, despite his numerous charitable acts. Two brief marriages one to Elvis Presleys daughter Lisa Marie Presley were forged and two children produced by his second wife during that time, but the purposes behind them appeared image-oriented. Despite it all, Michael Jacksons passion and artistry as a singer, dancer, writer and businessman are unparalleled, and it is these prodigious talents that will ultimately prevail over the extremely negative aspects of his seriously troubled adult life. For it all to end on June 25, 2009, with his sudden death at age 50 of a drug-induced cardiac arrest, just as he was coming out of a four-year reclusive period and rehearsing for a sold-out London concert This is it in July, seems uncommonly cruel and tragic. Millions upon millions of dedicated fans will remember where they were the day Michael died. My heart is overcome with sadness for the devastating loss of my true friend (Shields 2009)†. As the star of the long-running television series Diffrent Strokes, Todd Bridges became a household name as a child actor. Millions of fans watched him in the role of Willis Drummond in the series, which aired from 1978 to 1986, and enjoyed him in guest-starring roles on other popular telev ision shows in the 1970s and 1980s. Once Diffrent Strokes left the air, however, Bridges experienced a difficult transition as he struggled to move ahead as an adult actor. Arrested several times for drug and weapons offenses, Bridges later admitted that cocaine addiction had sent his life out of control. It took over a decade to get his life back on track with his new-found sobriety, marriage, and a series of bit parts on television shows and in films. In 2002 Bridges landed a comeback role on the popular daytime television drama The Young and the Restless and participated in the sensationalistic Fox network broadcast of Celebrity Boxing against former rap star Vanilla Ice. I have much more to overcome because its a matter of people believing in me and trusting in me, the actor told Jet in October of 1999. He added, No one is beyond problems. Its just that mine were public and theirs werent. Im not looking for a handout, just an opportunity. Canadian-born Cory Haim broke into the Film industry in 1984 as a young child caught up in a family war in the hit movie Firstborn (1984). The following year he starred in the TV movie A Time to Live (1985) (TV), for which he received an award, and S (1985). Lucas (1986), in which he starred alongside Charlie Sheen showed his ability, but was not a big hit. In 1987 he had a breakthrough when he played one of the major roles in Joel Schumachers The Lost Boys (1987), but his output during the nineties onwards was disappointing. Haim ranked #26 on VH1s 100 Greatest Kid Stars. He died suddenly, of a suspected accidental drug overdose, on March 10, 2010. Haim was buried at Thorn hill memorial chapel in Toronto on March 16th, 2010. Because Haim was broke at the time of his death, a celebrity memorabilia site that he sometimes sold items to, Startifacts, had donated $20,000 to cover the cost of the transportation and headstone. Lindsay Dee Lohan (born July 2, 1986) is an American actress, model, and pop singer. Lohan started in show business as a child fashion model. At age 11, she made her motion picture debut in Disneys 1998 remake of The Parent Trap. Lohan rose to fame between 2003 and 2005 with leading roles in the films Freaky Friday, Mean Girls and Herbie: Fully Loaded. She appeared in independent movies like Robert Altmans A Prairie Home Companion and Bobby. Her career was interrupted in 2007 as two DUI incidents and three visits to rehabilitation facilities led to several lost movie deals. She guest starred in the TV series Ugly Betty in 2008 and filmed Robert Rodriguezs Machete in 2009. With the pressures of money and fame many actors, actresses and entertainers who start their career early have a hard time staying of top. Questionable off camera incidents like child molestation accusations and commercial drug use has greatly affected the careers of music icons and some of Hollywood’s most promising stars. Many of the people whose music you listened or shows you watched are out of the limelight and are not around anymore. Sadly if you see them on television most of the time it is in a negative way. Some of the entertainers who have had challenges to their careers have been able to overcome their shortcomings. Tragically most of them are not here anymore due to premature deaths. References (2009). Michael Jacksons Death Quotes. Retrieved from http://www. mahalo. com/michael-jacksons-death-quotes (2010). Death Of Gary Coleman. Retrieved from http://www. essence. com/entertainment/star_gazing/todd_bridges_on_gary_coleman. php (2009). Todd Bridges Biography. Retrieved from http://www. tvguide. com/celebrities/todd-bridges/bio/177031 (1998). Celebrity Child Stars. Retrieved from http://www. childstarlets. com/ 2010). Child Stars Then and Now. Retrieved from http://photos. tmz. com/galleries/child_stars_then_and_now#tab=most_recent (2010). Black Celebrity Kids. Retrieved from http://www. blackcelebkids. com/ F. , C. (April 19, 2009). Top 10 child stars gone bad. Retrieved from http://listverse. com/2009/04/19/top-10-child-stars-gone-bad/ (April 28, 2010 ). Todd Bridges Darkes t Days. Retrieved from http://www. accesshollywood. com/former-child-stars? __source=rss%7Clim/latest_news (March 18, 2007). Top 10 Self-Destructive Child Actors. Retrieved from http://www. toptenz. net/top-10-self-destructive-child-actors. php

League Of Nations Essays - Cabot Family, Treaty Of Versailles

League Of Nations The Versaille Treaty, an agreement for peaceful terms among the warring nations of World War I, was extinguished by the insatiable desires of all parties involved. Woodrow Wilson, an inflexible, idealistic, righteous President was up against the vengeful Allies. Each with their own imperialistic views, conflicted as peace negotiations began. Wilson wanting to "make the world safe for Democracy" swooped into Paris to negotiate his Fourteen Points, leaving the Republicans impotent state back in the United States. Thus, Wilson's ideas faced great opposition by the Big Business Republican Party fearful he was going to run for reelection and by the Allies whom were looking to occupy German territory. It became apparent that the Allies were far more concerned with imperialism than the idealism Wilson pushed for in the League of Nations. This League leads to the basic understanding to the failure of the Versaille Treaty. The League of Nations faced great resistance first by the Allies and later the Republicans, which led to the Wilson -Lodge feud, the ultimate cause of destruction. Woodrow Wilson was thought to have a Messiah complex due to his desire to dictate peace and his unwillingness to compromise. At the end of World War I he compiled Fourteen Points, ultimately as propaganda. His main goal was to "make the world safe for Democracy," in other words, extend America's power and ideals through foreign nations. Of these Fourteen Points the most important was the League of Nations, an attempt to reorder the world. However, a great opponent of this "Wilsonian League" was Henry Cabot Lodge, a Republican opponent. Ultimately, many of the obstacles Wilson faced could have been over come had he publicly admitted he was not running for reelection once his prominence grew if the League was authorized. He also would have avoided defeat if he had been more willing to compromise with the republicans and added on a few revisions. Once the treaty was fabricated it met Republican opposition. In 1918 Wilson had appealed for a Democratic Congress to support his policy, however, due to issues at home the voters did the opposite. With Republicans in Control of both houses opposition was immense. Once the Senate denied the League, Wilson returned to Paris for modifications, but once again he faced resistance. France was looking to obtain the German Rhineland; likewise France and Japan were looking to gain territory. The outcome was the sacrifice of many of Wilson's Fourteen Points to establish a stronghold for the League of Nation. However, the modified treaty was undermined by the return of soldiers when it was apparent that "wartime idealism" had plummeted and the war for democracy had failed seeing that the Allies "greedy Imperialists." The illibreals, foreign groups and anti-British all had different views of the treaty, but ultimately it didn't matter because it only brought more attention to an immerging "problem." Republicans felt they had the right to revise the treaty when it returned from Paris because they had had no representative in at Peace Conference in France due to Wilson and also because their soldiers had fought in the war. This sort of division was what defeated the Treaty, American soldiers had not fought, Republican and Democrat soldiers had. Thus Lodge delayed the treaty by holding hearings in which foreign representatives sighted their objections to the pact. Lodge then began to tact reservations on the treaty. However not all approved, many mild reservationists felt that Lodge's reservation were too strong. They could have been persuaded by the Wilson to join the Democratic side, but he didn't defer to them. In an attempt to fight Lodge's reservations, Wilson toured across the country, however this is what brought the ultimate demise of the Versaille Treaty. After a powerful speech on the behalf of the League of Nations, Wilson suffered a stroke. With no Leader in the Senate to replace him, Lodge had control. Once Wilson was even capable of making decisions, he refused to compromise his beliefs to Lodge. However, public opinion still favored the treaty (with some reservations) and when the Senate voted it down, they were forced to revote by the public. Lodge then entered into secret negotiations with the Democrats, which landed him in an accusation of treachery, and Lodge eventually dropped these negotiations. Wilson then directed his democratic following to reject the treaty, but they felt the pact could no longer be ratified, thus many vote in favor of it. The public never being able to directly express their views of the treaty gained the opportunity when Harding ran for president, whom

Euthanasia Essays (980 words) - Euthanasia, Medical Ethics

Euthanasia Essays (980 words) - Euthanasia, Medical Ethics Euthanasia The term Euthanasia has become well known throughout the country. The word is derived from ancient Greek eu thantos, meaning easy death. Today, euthanasia is referred to as mercy killing. There is much controversy over whether or not the practice is just. Euthanasia raises many religious, medical, and ethical issues. Euthanasia can either be active or passive. Active euthanasia occurs when a physician or other medical personnel induces death. An overdose is administered to the patients in the form of insulin, barbiturates, or morphine, and then followed by an injection of curare. Passive euthanasia, on the other hand, is allowing the patient to die due to lack of treatment. This includes taking the patient off their support system, or respirator. Passive euthanasia also includes stopping the food supply intravenously to comatose patients (Comptons, 1). Debate has flourished against those who accept passive euthanasia, but reject active. Questions are asked why one form is accepted and not the other. The distinction that is made between the two of them is that active is murder, while passive is merciful. Turning off support systems is a positive act of death (Singer, 76). In the Encyclopedia of Bio-ethics, some religious views of euthanasia were given. Hebraic and Jewish denominations strongly oppose the practice. They believe life is a precious and divine gift, and that it must be sustained if possible. Death must never be hastened by intention. Physicians who kill patients in order to spare them pain are considered murderers (554-555). Judaism also rejects euthanasia. They do, however, accept two forms of eu thantos: caring for dying patients, and letting terminally ill persons die. Early Christians opposed self-induced death out of suffering and despair. They also condemn such practices such as infanticide and abortion (556). Roman Catholics permit terminally ill patients to die by forgoing life-sustaining measures. Catholics also allow the refusing forms of treatment that would secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life (557). Personal views regarding euthanasia are often influenced by their religious beliefs. With a controversial topic, such as euthanasia, there are strong opinions accentuated. Euthanasia is strongly affiliated to medical and ethical debate. Opponents and advocates of euthanasia have several significant points regarding their view of the practice. Humans have a natural inclination to continue life (Baird, 98). Opponents believe that euthanasia acts against nature. Like animals, humans fight for survival. It is our goal to protect ourselves from harm and do whatever possible to stay alive. When euthanasia is implicated, it goes against our concept for survival (98-99). Those against the practice also believe that some might abuse euthanasia and use it for self-interest. The cost to keep a person alive through means of modern technology can be very costly. Families might, despite their love for the patient, consider the money being spent for what may be a hopeless cause (Baird, 97). Opponents argue the possibility of s pontaneous remission. In many cases a patient recovers with no explanation. With euthanasia, these miraculous recoveries would not exist because there would be no expectation of them happening. If the patient is put to death then they have lost their right to recovery and life (100). Another argument regarding abuse is the professional aspect of euthanasia. In the medical profession, doctors are committed to saving lives (Baird, 100). With euthanasia, death is no longer natural; it is a result of a medical decision. Several questions are asked regarding when, why, and under what circumstances medical personnel should implement the practice. Each patients case has different factors that make the decision to put him or her to rest difficult (Thomasma, 247-248). Proponents feel that euthanasia is an admirable concept; however, the request for death from a patient should be evaluated seriously before administered. Advocates feel that it is a patients right to choose whether or not to remain living. The concern about following a patients request lies on their psychological state. It must be considered whether the patient is feeling depressed and that is why they want to die, or if it is to relieve the pain. Before euthanasia is implemented the question must be asked if it is in the patients best interest (Battin,120). The use of living wills has become popular in

Transformation Leadership and Team Leadership

Transformation Leadership and Team Leadership Introduction Leadership in an organisation determines the success that the organisation realises in any activity that it undertakes. A leader provides direction to any group in an organisational setting. He or she leads the group towards the achievement of the set organisational goals.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Transformation Leadership and Team Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The frameworks used in leadership are dependent on the organisational environment and the individuals who are in a leadership position. It is important for these individuals to adopt a framework that suits the organisations in which they currently work. Another concept that is demonstrated to have significant results for any organisation is the presence of teams that are focused towards the achievement of the organisational goals. The teams should have an effective leadership. Transformational leadership is one of the maj or frameworks of leadership in organisations. According to Bass (1996, p. 11), transformational leadership is manifested when leaders in various positions use their influence on individuals to move them to a certain goal that is beyond the leader’s self-interest. This report focuses on transformational leadership and team leadership using an appropriate case study. The purpose is to evaluate the use of the two frameworks in organisations and their weaknesses and strengths in practice. Leadership Case Study The leadership challenge that was chosen is a personal experience as a manager in a project undertaken by the current organisation. In this case, the project manager was the leader, with the group being led consisting of over twenty members. The group had different responsibilities in the project. The organisation required an upgrade of the IT systems that were currently in use, including the rebranding of one of the organisation’s products. The requirements included a website that was to be developed by some of the members in the group, development of new marketing tactics, and ways to increase the sales for the company. The group was to hold meetings regularly to discuss the project developments and the necessary changes. The leader chaired these meetings. Members were required to contribute positively by suggesting the appropriate measures to be taken in bringing about change. The team leader was also charged with the responsibility of reporting the development of the project to the organisational managers. The employees had a duty to undertake the key tasks that were required under the project, including the actual upgrade process. Some of the strategies that the leader used to inspire this team included the provision of adequate working conditions where they did not interfere with the activities of the project. The leader also ensured that the team members were role models to the junior employees, including their conduct during the meeting s and other interaction areas. The leader also had the role of emphasising some aspects of the project such as the intended changes and the vision that is to be achieved in the project.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Some of the challenges that occurred in the course of the project in relation to leadership include the disagreement between employees on the best methods of performing certain activities. The employees constantly engaged each other on whose project was better suited to oversee the transformation of the organisation. The other important role of the leader was to solve differences between employees. There were different races in the workforce, with diversity existing in the project. The other challenge is the implementation of some of the agreed terms in the contract, which required that the project areas be completed on time. This requirement nee ded the cooperation between the leader and the other employee since working as a team was the only way to beat the deadlines. The leader ensured that the personal visions were shared among employees while also encouraging them to have these values in their daily operations. The project risks were also important to the leadership, which ensured that these risks were shared with the employees and other collaborating individuals. Despite the leader being open and close to the employees, there was also a display of power to indicate to them that he was in control. Another value practiced by the leadership is inspirational leadership whereby the leader was involved in motivating employees by recognising and rewarding their hard work. Leadership Activities The leader in this context had a number of responsibilities and activities that he was supposed to undertake. One of the major responsibilities was to lead the project and offer direction that the project was to take. The leader was als o the head of every meeting that was carried out. He developed the objectives of the meeting. The other activities that he was to undertake include monitoring the workers and the progress of the project. He was supposed to be a motivator for these individuals by offering guidance on some of the issues that affected them during the project (Grant Berry 2011). The resolution of disputes was also his responsibility as a way of allowing the coexistence of the employees in a mutually fulfilling environment. The team, which consisted of the leader and other employees, would regularly meet to discuss the project progress and any changes that were to be instituted. The team also discussed the areas that each of the individuals was supposed to be operating in and the progress of this section as a component of the total project.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Transformation Leadership and Team Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another activity that the project team was allowed to undertake was to offer recommendations to the leader on the areas that were necessary to change. The different members of the team had different responsibilities in the project. Each of these members was required to have fulfilled the responsibilities required of him or her. The leader had the responsibility of motivating the employees working under him. To achieve this goal, some of the methods that were necessary include employee appraisal and recommendation for rewarding (Grant Berry 2011). The leader was also accountable for the team. He was charged with reporting the project progress to the organisation, requesting for resources, and providing a statement of commitment to the organisation leadership on behalf of the team. The team being analysed had the responsibility of influencing the leader and ensuring that he was directing the activities to be undertaken. The team, which consisted of the leader and t he workers beneath him, was required to deliver an upgraded information technology system to the organisation. Some of the necessary activities in this process included website development and hosting, marketing of the website and the organisational products, and increasing the organisational efficiency. Important activities also included providing feedback on the performance of the new installed systems and the expected changes in terms of consumer preference. Leadership Dimensions Analysis The type of leadership displayed in any organisation can be analysed in a number of ways using the different dimensions of leadership (Ertureten, Cemalcilar Aycan 2013). In the above case study, the two important leadership dimensions that can be applied include transformational leadership and team leadership. Transformational leadership In this leadership dimension, leaders achieve the desired organisational strategies and targets through influencing employees positively (Ertureten, Cemalcilar Aycan 2013). Transformational leadership achieves new changes in an organisation through the available resources in the organisation in terms of human resource. According to Ishikawa (2012), this form of leadership is beneficial to the organisation because it leads to the introduction of better practices and organisational culture. Transformational leadership also influences the output of employees in the organisation by increasingly motivating them in the direction of the organisational objectives.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the organisation covered in this case study, the leader displayed several characteristics of a transformational leader. The five behaviours that a leader should exhibit in transformational leadership may be analysed using Kouzes and Posner’s (2010) model of leadership behaviours. In this model, Kouzes and Posner (2010) listed five groups of behaviours that a leader should express, including modelling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the processes in place, enabling others to act, and encouraging them. These elements comprise some component areas that leaders should satisfy before they can be branded as being transformational. The project leader demonstrated this leadership by being an example for the employees working under him. As Kouzes and Posner (2010) confirm, a leader is only effective at the workplace if he or she can influence employees to work towards the organisational goals. The leader is the main example for the employees in the activities that t hey (employees) are to undertake. In the project that was being undertaken, the initial strategies involved the creation of rules, just like in any other organisation. The team was also expected to adhere to the basic rules in the organisation. The leader was charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the employees kept these rules. A transformative leader ensures that the rules in the organisation are respected, like any other leader in any capacity (Choudhary, Akhtar Zaheer 2013). The initial meetings held by the team also involved making commitments to the project, with the leader making promises to the group. Transformational leadership ensures that the promises and commitments are fulfilled, with the leader being a role model in this area (Ertureten, Cemalcilar Aycan 2013). A major activity in transformational leadership that the project leader engaged in is seeking feedback from key employees and project stakeholders. Feedback allows the management to institute any cha nge that is necessary for the organisation, especially a change that can lead to better project results (Ertureten, Cemalcilar Aycan 2013). A transformational leader is one that builds consensus when it comes to organisational values (Kouzes Posner (2010). In this case, the leader was expected to fulfil the values set for the project by the organisational management. These values were communicated to the group in some of the meetings held with the leader to build consensus around the same. The philosophy of leadership is important to understand in the position of leadership. Leaders should be focused on this philosophy. In the above project, the leader was required to exercise the leadership qualities that are expected of him. Kouzes and Posner (2010) stated that a leader should inspire a vision that is shared with the employees. The IT upgrade project had a focused vision that could be achieved by the time of completion. The leader had the responsibility to inspire this vision as stated by Kouzes and Posner (2010). This deliverable was partly done in the project, with the leadership requiring change to achieve the optimum change results. Some of the characteristics that indicated that the leader was actively inspiring the project vision include the frequent talks on the trend of the project and the future expectations. The leader constantly reminded the employees of the future image of the project while engaging them to share this vision. According to Kouzes and Posner (2010), a transformational leader is one that demonstrates to the other employees and those beneath him in the hierarchy that the vision can be realised. He also paints the bigger picture for the team on the aspirations that it should have (Kouzes Posner 2010).This form of leadership was displayed in the project where the values were emphasised in the meetings held for the project employees. A leader should also challenge the existing processes to ensure that the employees increase their eff iciency (Kouzes Posner 2010). The project leadership in the case study had different ways of challenging the existing processes in the project. One of the utilised ways was the provision of opportunities that are considered challenging to the employees. According to Kouzes and Posner (2010), the establishment of such opportunities makes the employees more skilful at their workplace and in carrying out the designated activities. The leader kept challenging the employees to try new methods of achieving better results in the project. Some of the ways that were suggested to the employees and other project stakeholders were sought from different organisations. According to Kouzes and Posner (2010), this method of changing processes is an effective one, which leads to the development of positive results in any organisation that adopts it. Sarwar (2013) also states that transformational leaders can use processes that are already in use in other organisations to bring about change in their respective organisations. According to Oozes and Posner (2010), another way to bring about change to processes in an organisation is to set goals and strategic plans on how the objectives are to be achieved. This strategy was widely practiced in the leadership manifested in the above case study. A transformational leader should be able to influence employees while posting better results by facilitating the activities of other employees. Oozes and Posner (2010) suggested ways to achieve this goal such as the fostering of cooperation between the leader and employees under him. Listening to the views of each of the employees or supporting their decisions is another important part of transformational leadership (Sarwar 2013). The leader in the case study used these methods to ensure that the employees working under him were working towards the achievement of the goals set in the organisation. Apart from instituting changes in the organisation, a transformational leader also brings abou t change to the employees (Sarwar 2013). One way that the leader can institute this change is by encouraging employees to pursue self-improvement strategies such as engaging in training activities (Sarwar 2013). The leader also needs to encourage employees to accomplish tasks (Sarwar 2013). This plan was applied in the leadership capacity in the above organisation. The leader also celebrated the accomplishments of the employees working in the project by rewarding them for an extra effort that they put towards this project. Team Leadership Team leadership is another key concept that was applied in the project discussed in the case study. The team comprised engineers working on the project, IT specialists, and the supporting staff. The employees were also diverse, with all sexes and most of the races being represented. The other characteristic of this team that was important in its working as a group was the leadership applied in the organisation, specifically in the project. Accordin g to Quigley (2013), the leadership of a team requires a leader to consider the differences in the team and promote the positive coexistence of the members of the team. In the case of the above project, the project leader was also the team leader who was required to have the needs of all members of this team considered and all their needs met. According to Park and Kwon (2013), a team leader should have adequate knowledge on how to direct the staff. He or she should adopt a policy development process that is favourable to the objectives of the organisation. In this case, the leader was required to have the right ideas on the project. He needed to have adequate knowledge of the processes to be undertaken. The leadership in the project was well informed on the project details. The leader made decisions regarding the necessary changes. The team leader should also have strong interpersonal skills to ensure that he gets the most out of the team (Quigley 2013). This strategy involves inte racting openly and widely with each member of the team and knowing the members’ preferences and requirements in the processes. The team leader in the above project knew most of the members. He had interacted with them on a large scale. However, the leader could have done better to ensure that the employees worked as a team. A team leader in any project such as the one above should know the amount of resources needed to achieve the project goals (Quigley 2013). The leader displayed this expertise in the project. The project required the team to carry out activities within strict deadlines that had been agreed between the leader and the team as a whole. This observation was a positive reflection of the team leadership skills of the above leader since Quigley (2013) states that good team leaders have strong organisational skills. A team leader encourages the team to meet deadlines while maintaining the quality of work in the process of meeting these deadlines. Another favourable characteristic of a good team leader is that he or she is able to promote the organisation’s image to the team and stakeholders including clients. Leaders should use all available means to achieve the above results including innovation and new policies. Areas of Improvement Although the leadership skills demonstrated in the above project are adequate, some areas need improvement. The improvement should be tailored to improve the leadership skills in the area of transformational leadership and team leadership. One area that needs improvement is the interaction between employees and the leader together with how the leader engages employees to achieve the goals set in the project. Grant and Berry (2011) confirm that a leader should be able to achieve collaboration with the employees and individuals beneath him in the hierarchy. In the project described above, the leader needs to ensure that he is aware of the challenges affecting the employees and the diversity issues in existe nce. Another area of improvement is the process of providing feedback to the employees in their performance. The employees in the project were not adequately provided with feedback on the activities that they were undertaking in the project. The leader needs to ensure that he uses this feedback to institute the necessary changes to the project processes (Quigley 2013). There is also need to institute changes in the planning ability for this leader. A leader should set goals for the team while ensuring that the goals are realised within a favourable period (Quigley 2013). These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, and time bound (Christ, Emett, Summers Wood 2012). The leader needs to make changes on the way he or she directs employees. There is a need for effective communication between the project leader and the employees working under him (Christ, Emett, Summers Wood 2012). Communication methods constitute the most effective measures to undertake change in any organi sational framework or activity. The other area that the project leader should improve on his team leadership capabilities is motivation for the team members. Motivation has been associated with improved performance of employees at the workplace (Christ, Emett, Summers Wood 2012). Team leaders should adopt it as a means of ensuring increased efficiency and improved performance. In general, the leadership qualities displayed in line with the leadership dimensions were adequate. If the proposed changes are effected, the leader can manage a larger project more efficiently. Summary Some leadership lessons can be obtained from this case based on their applicability in the future leadership positions with reference to the two dimensions of leadership. A transformational leader should target to influence employees to achieve new methods of doing things in the organisation. These methods should lead to the positive performance of the organisation as a whole. Some of the suggested features o f transformational leadership that are applicable in leadership of projects include setting examples in the organisation, providing feedback to the team, fulfilling the promises and commitments, and demonstrating high standards of leadership. A leader should also develop strategies that aid in the achievement of goals. These strategies include development of an organisation’s objectives. Leaders should also create an environment where employees can share their dreams (Christ, Emett, Summers Wood 2012). The leader in a project or any organisation should create opportunities to challenge the employees on special areas so that they can contribute to their own self-improvement. An effective transformational leader also seeks better practices that can be implemented to improve the organisation. Team leaders encourage their team. They ensure that members are working towards achieving the goals of this team. They also provide the necessary resources for the team. Team leaders treat their members with dignity and respect. Besides, they value the contribution of each of the members. The choices that the members make are respected, including encouraging them to improve on the job. Rewarding is a useful way of motivating employees and teams towards achieving positive results. Conclusion Leadership is an important part of organisation. It is different from management in several ways. The two dimensions of leadership that were focused on in this report are the transformational leadership and team leadership. In the case study, the leader directs the functions of a group that is tasked with the upgrade of the information technology system in an organisation. Some of the characteristics of transformational leadership and team leadership that are evident in this leadership have been discussed in the report. The report also offers recommendations on the areas of improvement. References Bass, B 1996, A New Paradigm of Leadership: An Inquiry Into Transformational Leaders hip, Army Research Institute for the Behavioural and Social Sciences, Alexandria, VA. Choudhary, A, Akhtar, S Zaheer, A 2013, Impact of Transformational and Servant Leadership on Organisational Performance: A Comparative Analysis, Journal Of Business Ethics, vol. 116 no. 2, pp. 433-440. Christ, M, Emett, S, Summers, S Wood, D 2012, The Effects of Preventive and Detective Controls on Employee Performance and Motivation, Contemporary Accounting Research, vol. 29 no. 2, pp. 432-452. Ertureten, A, Cemalcilar, Z Aycan, Z 2013, The Relationship of Downward Mobbing with Leadership Style and Organisational Attitudes, Journal Of Business Ethics, vol. 116 no. 1, pp. 205-216. Grant, A Berry, J 2011, The Necessity of Others is the Mother of Invention: Intrinsic and Prosocial Motivations, Perspective Taking, and Creativity, Academy Of Management Journal, vol. 54 no. 1, pp. 73-96. Ishikawa, J 2012, Transformational leadership and gate keeping leadership: The roles of norm for maintaining cons ensus and shared leadership in team performance, Asia Pacific Journal Of Management, vol. 29 no. 2, pp. 265-283. Kouzes, J Pozner, B 2010, The Leadership Challenge, Jossey-Bass Inc., San Francisco, CA. Park, J Kwon, B 2013, Literature Review on Shared Leadership in Teams, Journal Of Leadership, Accountability Ethics, vol. 10 no. 3, pp. 28-36. Quigley, R 2013, A Longitudinal, Multilevel Study of Leadership Efficacy Development in MBA Teams, Academy Of Management Learning Education, vol. 12 no. 4, pp. 579-602. Sarwar, C 2013, Future of Ethically Effective Leadership, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 113 no. 1, pp. 81-89.

Kentucky staate funding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Kentucky staate funding - Essay Example Additionally, funding has also been supported by district leaders who feel there is a need to support low-income students while emphasizing on the need for equity and fairness among all citizens of the state clarifies (Ellis, 2011). Some of the past and the current funding policies for Kentucky include Free or reduced-price school lunch benefits: Having lagged behind in educational initiatives by around 1990, Kentucky State under commonwealth initiative introduced an economic reform system. The system could see funding of students from low-income districts receiving financial support from the government based on fairness and equity throughout the whole state (Ellis, 2011). Allocation of less funding for higher education: In the past, Kentucky instituted a policy that was aimed at allocating minimal funding to higher education. The state decided to reduce spending in higher education between the periods 1992 to 1993 (Ellis, 2011). Despite the fact that the policy was being visualized by some of the state economist as idea to inflict recession at the national level, it became so important in generation of more revenue to the state. Distribution policy: The council of the state government also came up with education distribution act. The distribution act was based on a formula that mainly targeted funding needs of higher education for Governors and General Assembly. The benchmark for the above model constituted a statistical procedure that only contained 20 nationally reported institutions (Ellis, 2011). Currently, it is impressive to note that the government has put in place new policies targeting to enhance performance at Kentucky schools, which have over the years attribute to high performance at both K-12 and high educational programs states (Welner & Chi, 2008). Tuition and Fees Revenue Standard Deduction: The tuition fee revenue policy was set up later by the end of the year 2001 and again reversed in 2008 clarifies (Welner & Chi, 2008). Having