Organisational Culture Analysis of BP

Organisational Culture Analysis of BP Title: What is the role of Organisational Culture in British Petroleum at Lancashire County? Contents: Literature Review Research Aims, Objectives and Limitations Research Methodology Research Methods Analysis Results Recommendations and Conclusions Introduction Organizational culture is the set of shared values, beliefs, and norms that influence the way employees think, feel, and behave in the workplace (Schein, 2011). The purpose of this dissertation is to explicate the impact of organizational culture in British Petroleum towards achieving the business objectives and capabilities of employees roles and subsequent role behaviours. I propose that four types of cultures (clan, entrepreneurial, market and hierarchy) exert different and at times competing pressures, thus, creating distinct role schemas regarding the range of expected employee behaviours, which in turn, guide distinct forms of employee role behaviour (e.g. helping, innovation, achievement and compliance). Literature Review Organizational culture has the potential to enhance organizational performance, employee job satisfaction, and the sense of certainty about problem solving (Kotter, 2012). Organizational culture has received ample attention both in the popular and scholarly press as an important factor predicting organizational effectiveness by inducing employees to behave effectively (Cooke Rousseau, 1988; Schein, 1985, 1990). Knowing the culture of an organization allows employees to understand both the organizations history and current methods of operation. Organizations can achieve effectiveness only when employees share values. For instance,Eliot Jaques provides the following description of the culture of a factory: The culture of the factory is its customary and traditional way of thinking and of doing things, which is shared to a greater or lesser extent by all its members, and which new members must learn, and at least partially acceptà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Culture is part of the second nature of those who have been with the firm for a long time. (1951: 251). Organizational culture, through its norms, serves as a control mechanism to channel behaviours toward desired behaviors and away from undesired behaviours. This can also be accomplished by recruiting, selecting, and retaining employees whose values best fit the values of the organization. Aim The aim of the study was to present and discuss the preliminary culture model to indicate the culture performance within the British Petroleum and proposing a model for assessing organisational culture towards achieving business objectives. Objectives Approach of organisational culture allows access to the dynamics of the social system in all its complexity, and then it leads to the concept of corporate identity (Strategor, 1995. The main objectives of organisational cultural and capabilities to achieve the aim are, Analysing the present and future Business plan Staff employment and their internal relationship Knowledge sharing and Decision making Plans for business process and implementation Rational of the research An Organisations culture determines the organisations ability to complete projects successfully that can encourage a culture in their business that aligns with their objectives and makes employees more likely to succeed in reaching their objectives. Even though two businesses have similar structures, the impact of effectiveness can be different because of differences in their cultures. So the research about comparing the present model of organisational culture of the selected organisation with the competitors provides ample of knowledge and new understanding about employing staff, kind of work assignment, communication plans and their in-house relationship provides understanding which enhances the knowledge for assessing organisational culture towards achieving business objectives. Scope The scope of the study will contribute to the extant research on organizational learning, culture, and identification, the literature on these constructs remains mostly prepositional. There is a wide scope for continued quantitative and qualitative research on each one of the latent variables included in this study individually and  collectively. This research studies could be applied for the findings of research to multiple organisation at various geographic locations, in order to determine commonalities and differences across various business sectors and localities. Different combinations of culture and learning variables influence organizational identification at different levels like low, medium and high. Limitations Money and Time Costs: When the basic data are subjected to frequent changes, incorporating them into the Organisational research models is a costly affair. Moreover, a fairly good solution at present may be more desirable than a perfect solution available after sometime. Implementation: Implementation of decisions is a delicate task. It must take into account the complexities of human relations and behaviour internally. Research Methodology Data collection and analysis methodology is to be carried out throughout this research which should be chosen to match the particular evaluation in terms of its key evaluation questions (KEQs) and the resources available. Impact evaluations should make maximum use of existing data and then fill gaps with new data. Some common data collection methods include observations, interviews, focus groups, surveys, and the use of secondary data such as test scores. I have choose to carry out Qualitative data methods and analysis which is allows to find out the reasons. This may be beneficial to an organization in bringing out the required changes to create a culture that can facilitate better learning opportunities. The research will be both deductive and inductive in nature and will be anchored in grounded theory. Methodological problems predicted which may arise while carrying out this research are Voluntary participation, because in most cases, permission is needed from people before involving them in any primary research. Confidentiality and anonymity as participants may reveal embarrassing or potentially damaging information such as racist comments, unconventional behaviour and Researcher bias. I will be using both primary and secondary sources for this research such as primary sources like questionnaire, personal and group interviews and observations and secondary sources like internet, journals, articles, magazines and books. The validity of the proposed model will be tested by a few case studies. In order to measure current and expected organisational culture capabilities, it will adopt the maturity-level techniques which is being able to measure the organisational readiness (Galliers Sutherland, 2003; Salleh Alshawi, 2006). The gap between the current and expected levels could be identified which also is known as the Readiness Gap(Salleh Alshawi, 2006). TASK 1 part 2: Plan and procedures for the agreed research specification (AC1.5); Research objective By when Resources to be used (2.1) Milestones (when do you know this objective is achieved) Review dates (which is after the by when to ensure that you have actually achieve the objective ) How will you monitor this objective is being achieved? method of monitoring Analysing the present and future Business plan 21/12/16 Gathering information on good make better sense of your market research. 5/1/17 8/1/17 By constant evaluation after gathering the required resources Staff employment and their internal relationship 25/12/16 Online survey, questionnaires, Journals, 28/12/16 31/12/16 By gathering data in regular basis about the employee culture in the organisation Knowledge sharing and Decision making 5/1/17 Articles about franchise buyers, books and related web link 11/1/17 14/1/17 By getting answer to the questions How much knowledge does the average employee has in terms of decision making Plans for business process and implementation 7/1/17 The proper and effectively business plan and implementation 11/1/17 13/1/17 Employee works in a happy atmosphere and the productivity will more and growth of the company 2.1 Match resources efficiently to the research question or hypothesis I focused on the effects and implications of the conceptualisation and operationalization of organization culture and formulation of the research problem of a grounded theory study. The research formulation implications discussed above are the research design considerations that I reflect on analysing the present and future Business plan, internal relationship of staff, decision making, business process plan and implementation. I used methodology of direct survey questionnaire as a main instrument, observation ad interviews. Each of these methods were unique and useful in their own way. By the end of the research, the results from one method were more useful than from the other, and some of these methods did not even work 2.2 Undertake the proposed research investigation in accordance with the agreed specification and procedures Data Collection and Analysis I use observation, documentation review, surveying and questionnaire method of data collection which I believed effective and the research was conducted by means of a direct survey. Questionnaire was the instrument of data collection which consists of 20 to 25 questions with a mixture of Likert-scale and closed-ended questions with one answer was developed. A five-point Likert scale was employed to gather responses, 5 indicating maximum agreement and 1 no agreement. The survey was sample-based. Non-random sampling was applied and advantages and disadvantages specific to this method of sampling were considered. A small group of those surveyed does not authorize to make generalizations, but allows the identification of the specific mechanisms and formulation of questions and conclusions. Tested on a larger sample, they will make it possible to formulate more documented and certain, useful theses on a larger scale. Analysis method I used here is predictive analytics and machine learning to anticipate important events and continuous tuning of analytic platform using feedback. Advantages I could see see directly what people is relying on rather than what they say they do. With Questionnaire method covered large geographical area. Capable of collecting data from a large number of respondents I found to ask numerous questions about a subject, giving extensive flexibility in data analysis With survey software, advanced statistical techniques can be utilized to analyze survey data to determine validity, reliability, and statistical significance, including the ability to analyze multiple variables A broad range of data was collected (e.g., attitudes, opinions, beliefs, values, behavior, factual). Disadvantages The challenges I faced in data collection methods are, its much time consuming, information is often incomplete, couldnt get a proper and careful feedback as the wordings biasing the responses. Also I felt couldnt get the full story and surveys are in need of sampling expert. 2.3 Record and collate relevant data where appropriate. I used questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interview schedules, gathering of observational data and analysis of documentary data method because of the limited number of senior staff, it may not be possible to conduct pilot semi-structured interviews with them, as this will preclude them from the final data collection. According to the model based on the basic underlying assumptions the description of the current culture was made. The questionnaire was used because of its advantages (little time required and low costs) and because the team wanted to get a general impression of the mood in the company as quickly as possible. The questionnaires were distributed personally by the heads of the departments, and a very good return ratio from approximately 40% was reached. In 2011 BP a 10-point plan had been put forward that outlined what could be expected from BP over the next three years. During 2012 work had been done towards the milestones that had set out for 2014. Their plans are refined and communicated further information on our longer-term strategic objectives beyond 2014(BP.com, 2012). Bp has been identified as an organization that adopts differentiation strategy over the years due to the proper utilization of the companys competences or capabilities. It has different brands such as BP, Ampm, Arco, Castrol, Aral and Wild bean cafe (www.bp.com), and also diversification into development and production of alternative sources of energy(BP.com, 2011). With the collected relevant data I found if BP wants a safety culture, it must implement massive changes throughout every aspect in their organization that are guided by that safety focus. More than re-structuring or changing incentives and rewards it must do more because, so many problems are due to a focus on profits over safety? Repeatedly, a focus on growth at the expense of safety or quality leads companies on a dangerous path that affects human lives. The causes are described as systemic issues. Examples include: Flaws in BPs management and design procedures Failures to appreciate risks Lack of communication and training about lessons learned from prior problems Government regulators lacking the authority, necessary resources and technical expertise Using time-saving and cost-saving measures When major quality or safety issues are exposed to the public, by either a disaster or a recall, the changes in the culture are often systemic-its not an isolated error but a change in values. The changes must start at the heart of the culture at its core, where employees stop for a moment to reflect on the values that are important and together create a shared view. If safety is whats valued over profits, then employees should not be over-worked, and faulty equipment and poor maintenance should not be allowed. Employees should be hired not only for competency but also because they personally value safety. It should be the role of each employee to enhance the safety culture. Administration of the questionnaire and analysis of questionnaire data are done to provide material for the interviews and interviews are conducted concurrently. Numerical data were analyzed, which was also enabled the responses from sub-groups of the organization which was separated for analysis. Qualitative data was analyzed using protocols of content analysis. TASK 3: Be able to evaluate the research outcomes 3.1 Use appropriate research evaluation techniques For the study conducted, there was a requirement of the resources which would assist to identify key constituents that have been undertaken for the purpose. In order to achieve this target, the focus of the study was on the various types of strategies of management that undertaken by British Petroleum. The British Petroleum operates worldwide and in diverse population. For example, the European market, people can be divided into various sub-cultures and consumer behavior is also different (Ford Jeffrey, 2009, 105). The outcome of the research shows the true analysis of BPs organisational plan, leadership, staff relationships and organizational decision making of sources of internal information collection and organising the duration of data project and sources of usage of collected data for business process implementation and development. The research finding has a valid and reliable data to achieve the aim and objectives of the research. Depending on factors like the goals of the data collection project, the organizations size, resources and time, data may be gathered about many sub-sets within a broader group of interest (e.g. youth service users who cannot read and who speak English as a second language). According to Dr. Mustafa Ozkan Karatay (2013) the benefits of the research conducted includes data collection about a group of interest that shares characteristics and the Leadership enhancements that are essential to avert comparable occurrences in BP which consist of: A solo overall project leader. Clear communications to every individual functioning on the project. Greater safety trainings linking past experiences and crisis analysis. 4.Hiring employees with the essential skills to complete tasks competently and securely It is also important to recognize that based on their unique combination of identities, people exposed to particular forms of discrimination. Bp has under gone major restructuring under the new management of the new CEO Robert Dudley, Dudley said that BP was to re-structure its upstream segment from a single business into three separate functional divisions; exploration, development and production, which would carryout a detailed review of how the group managed third-party contractors in order to reinforce accountability for risk management. The company is doing this because of the findings of an internal report; it stated that the breakdown in communication was one of the contributing factors to the BP disaster. 3.2 Interpret and analyse the results in terms of the original research specification. The following chart represents the BPs Organisational structure from the top level management from where different business models are distributed throughout the different geographical area in the globe. Organization Structure The political influences made a notable difference in BPs strategy which has been changed in general possible to observe two main tendencies. First, BP attempts to hedge political risks in the oil producing countries by means of partnership and deals with the governments. For instance, BP signed a contract with the Russian state-run oil company. It is reported that the company started producing solar panels after the acquisitions of Lucas Energy Systems (1980) and Amoco (1998)(Saud M. Al-Fattah, 2013). Furthermore, it is reported that BP invested more than $6 billion in wind and bio-fuel energy projects during the period from 2005 to 2010 (BP.com, 2011) BP also runs a series of development programmes notably known as Managing Essentials to help managers apply the leadership framework in their own teams. I t also runs three specialist development programmes designed to build excellence in the 3 important functional areas of operations, finance and human resources. The Operations Academy, set up in partnership with MIT, provides BPs senior managers with a systematic and rigorous approach to managing safe and efficient operations. The overall statistics of British Petroleums business and turnover is found below. Countries of operation :Over 80 Number of employees :85,900 Sales and other operating revenues :$375,765 million Cash flow :$20.5 billion Replacement cost profit :$11.4 billion Proved reserves :17,000 million barrels of oil equivalent Retail sites :20,700 Refineries (wholly or partly owned) :15 Refining throughputs :2,354 thousand barrels per day Detailed and structured questionnaire was designed where the survey was undergone with a sample of 50 employees in BP. The methodology developed was Primary and Secondary research. The questionnaire was designed to get information from staffs about their satisfaction and overall opinion about organizations and its structure. Some sample of the questionnaire is showcased below. Here most of them gave multi answers for questions. In what way are individual positions, units and so on clustered within your organization unit? a) By Function c) By product e) By place b) By target group d) By service f) By project The graph shows the way how individuals position is clustered within the organization. It shows like it depends mostly on the project individual involved with and the service given by them along with the target group. 2. Is the content of job changed for the employees during last two years? a) Work autonomy c) Co-operation with management b) Specialization d) Multi-tasking e)Weight upon technical qualifications According to the answers of staffs the above graph shows that the content of the job has been changed in past two years with the cooperation with management and also for the individuals who do multi tasking. 3. Does your company use any of the following ways of organizing work? a) Quality circles / groups   b) Delegation of responsibility c)Planned job rotation d) As per resource availability e) Integration of functions f)Specialization g) Incentives based upon quality of results It shows that the company is preferably using the quality circles as more than 50% answered such for organizing the work and 40% said that the incentives are based upon the quality of results they obtain. 4. How the Knowledge management has been benefiting your company Contemporary technologies processes b) Efficient management of information c) Increasing customer satisfaction d) Fosters innovation e) Increasing productivity It clearly shows with the above graph that the most of them answered(80%) as the company use knowledge management which increases the customer satisfaction and 60% answered as efficient management of information. Upto 40% answered that contemporary technologies and processes and increase in productivity. 5. How much freedom of action has, in your opinion, an executive within the organization to vary his leadership with regard to directing and collaboration? a)None c)Complete e)Much b)Little d)Not much For the question arised about the freedom of action for an executive within organization to vary his leadership most(80%)of them answered as complete freedom has been given and very less percentage(5%) said as no. So it shows a positive sign for employees to execute their ideas and work in a hassle free environment. 6. People here try to make friends and to keep their relationships strong. Low Medium High LOW MEDIUM HIGH 2 3 45 4% 6% 90% The above graph shows that 90% of the people say, they make friends and to keep their relationships strong. 7. People here do favours for others because they like one anther Low Medium High Low Medium High 4 4 42 8% 8% 84% The above graph shows that 84% of the people say, they do favours for others because they like one anther. 8. People in our group often socialize outside the office Low Medium High Low Medium High 8 3 39 16% 6% 78% The above graph shows that 78% of the people say, they often socialize outside the office 9. When people leave your group, stay in touch one another Low Medium High Low Medium High 7 6 37 14% 12% 74% The above graph shows that 74% of the people say, they stay in touch one another when they leave their group. 10. People here often confide in one another about personal matters Low Medium High Low Medium High 1 3 46 2% 6% 92% 3.3 Make recommendations and justify areas for further consideration. BP Companys project, is a significant step toward the growth of the company, but the Chief Executive officer should ensure that the established Centralized Developments organization enhance the integrity in the project implementation process. While considering their present, future business plan and implementations they should establish a body of expertise in greenhouse gases in order to reduce emissions that may hinder the attainment of the project goal. The other recommendation I am keen to insist is that BP should invest much on renewable energy sources like wind power, solar panel and bio-fuels which is because they present little or fewer risks on people health and environment. There is also a need for the BP Company to consider reorganize its 4 Ps of marketing viz. product, price, promotion and placement so as to secure a competitive advantage over the other six competitors in the industry. BPs weaknesses led it to engage in excessive cost-cutting and to take disproportionate risks with respect to the environment, worker safety, national security and its own profitability. I analysed also about BPs problematic ethics which despite being hailed by the financial media for its corporate citizenship, its rhetoric and deeds about social and environmental responsibility were diametrically opposed. Furthermore I recommend that the company should increase expenditures on infrastructure maintenance and employee safety. It should also conduct employee training. It is recommended that BP should use the diversification strategy as a future strategic option in order to continue responding to the environmental challenges. The company should diversify its product range associated with the production of solar and wind energy for individual and corporate customers. It is expected that these products will be popular in the emerging markets such as India and China where incomes are not high, but

Submarines :: essays research papers

The Evolution of the Sumarine Due to War The submarine is an extreamly useful tactical tool. Bred through war, the submarine is one of the most advanced covert weapons technologies today. The submarine is a ship designed and built to travel under water. A "true" submarine spends the majority of time under water and is capable of staying under water indefinaltely(Rush 140). The only "true" submarine today is the nuclear sub. The first "true" submarine is the U.S.S nautilus(Rush 141). There are two main types of war affiliated submarines, attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines. The attack submarine is designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships. The much larger ballistic missile submarine is designed to carry multiple warheads to attack enemy cities and military facilities ashore(Polmar 748). The submarine origionated over 2,000 years ago when Alexander the great went below the Mediteranian Sea in a glass barrel(Wyckoff 13). Submarines were toyed with by scientists through the years but not many uses were found for the concept of a submersable until the revolutionary war. The first attack submarine was the Turtle, designed by a student at Yale university by the name of David Bushnell, it's purpose was to sink a British war ship in New York Harbor(Polmar 750). It's mission was a failure but none the less was the first attempt to sink a ship with a submersable(Polmar 750). The first success was made durring the Civil War(Polmar 750). The Confederate sub Hunley rammed the Union ship Housatonic in Charleston Harbor, and both the Hunley and the Housatonic sank(Polmar 750). The Hunley's weapon consisted of an explosive at the end of a long pole wich was to be set off when in close enough proximity to the ship it was to attack(Polmar 750). The submarine has advanced dramaticly due to war. The first major advancement in submarine technology is the invention of a gasoline and batery powered submarine by John P. Holland(Polmar 750). This ship was bought by the US Navy in 1900 and named the U.S.S Holland(Polmar 750). The U.S.S Holland was capable of speeds of 6 knots submerged(Polmar 750). The gasoline and battery powered combination allowed for submarines to run on gasoline while surfaced, and by battery power when submerged and combustion was no longer possable without wasting valuable oxogen within the submarine. The next leap in the technological development of the submarine was the periscope developed by Simon Lake in 1902(Polmar 750).

Drama & horror Essay

Dickens gives more drama/horror to what the convict is saying by telling Pip he can ‘attempt to hide’ from the young man. He tells Pip he can ‘lock the door’, ‘be warm in bed’, ‘think himself comfortable and safe’, but the young man will find him and ‘tear him open’. Dickens uses words such as ‘safe’ and ‘warm’ to create a comforting mood to the reader and to Pip, which accentuates the drama and violence of the end ‘tear him open. ‘ This terrifies Pip as the convict makes it seem that the small boy cannot even be safe in his own home/familiar surroundings. The phrase â€Å"I am keeping that man from harming you at the present moment, with great difficulty,† makes the atmosphere even more erie as it sounds as if the man is so vicious it is hard to hold him back. In the next part of the story Dickens describes Pip watching the convict leaving the churchyard. Again we see a description of this horrible bleak place (i. e. ‘Among the nettles’ – ugly, harmful plants and ‘among the brambles’ – thorns, sharp, portraying the landscape). However this time we see how the surrounding’s depression have had an effect on the convict. For the first time we see a more hurt and vulnerable side of the convict. Pip describes him as hugging his ‘shuddering body’, ‘as if to hold himself together’, making the convict seem dishevelled and is if he is falling apart. He is also obviously feeling pain and loneliness, along with Pip and their environment. Next, dickens creates an extreme atmosphere of Pip being in a terrifying and hostile place with the description of ‘he looked in my young eyes as if he were eluding the hands of dead people, stretching up cautiously out of their graves, to get a twist upon his ankle and pull him in†. This graphic and scary description coming from a young boy suggests Pip also has been affected by his hostile surroundings. It also gives a sense that the convict is close to death (being dragged into graves). In the last section of the chapter, dickens creates a very dramatic visual image of Pip looking out at his surroundings. Dickens creates a striking vision of hell by describing Pip seeing the marshes as ‘a long black horizontal line’, then the rivers as another, ‘yet not nearly so broad, yet not so black’ and then the sky as ‘just a row of long angry red lines and dense black lines intermixed. ‘ The descriptions of the colours red and black portray the vision of hell as the black represents death and the red blood/danger, these are colours often associated with pain, death and hell. Dickens describes the lines as ‘angry’, also suggesting the atmosphere is uneasy and volatile (like hell). Dickens adds to the drama of the description by adding the image of the gibbet (associated with death). We can see how Pip must be frightened as we can relate to the horror of this well-decorated/descripted image. We also see Pip having a childlike imagination, when he pictures the convict being a dead pirate to which the chains on the gibbet ‘had once held’. The chapter ends on an uneasy note, with Pip announcing his fear (‘Now I was frightened again’), bringing a sense of reality to the chapter, then him ‘running home without stopping’. This leaves the chapter full of mystery and encourages readers to find out what happens to Pip.

Patrick Henry Fight Against The Constitution Essay Essays

Patrick Henry Fight Against The Constitution Essay Essays Patrick Henry Fight Against The Constitution Essay Essay Patrick Henry Fight Against The Constitution Essay Essay Patrick Henry: Fight Against The Constitution Essay, Research Paper Although Henry refused to function on the Constitutional Convention, Madison needed Henry # 8217 ; s persuasive ways. Henry had a manner to do people hold with his thoughts. Even though Henry didn # 8217 ; t serve on the Constitutional Convention, he was still present to set in his word. Equally shortly as the meetings opened, Henry began to reason against the Constitution. This statement went on for three hebdomads. Henry was cognizant that the new authorities had to be strong, but felt that the Constitution made the cardinal authorities excessively powerful. He thought that the power should put in the custodies of the provinces. # 8220 ; What right had they [ the group that wrote the Constitution ] to state # 8216 ; We the people, # 8217 ; alternatively We, the States? # 8221 ; he demanded. Not merely was Henry in fright of the cardinal authorities deriving power, but was besides worried about protecting the South. He felt that the fast growing North would hold more impute in to how the authorities was to be ran. Henry feared that the South would be out voted in Congress. Patrick Henry was quoted before by stating, # 8220 ; I am non a Virginian. I am American. # 8221 ; Henry meant that all the provinces, North or South, should acquire equal say in what happens in the authorities. After all it is the same state and will consequence both sides.Also, Henry refused to back up the Fundamental law because it was missing a measure of rights. He called it, # 8220 ; the most fatal program that could perchance be conceived to enslave a fre e people.† In other words he thought that without a bill of rights, we (the people) would be enslaving ourselves. Henry thought that the Constitution didn’t protect the basic freedom of the people. Henry believed that people wouldn’t be safe from a powerful government without the bill of rights. The Constitution took away the power from the states, ignored the South, and didn’t protect the people it represented. To Patrick Henry, these were big mistakes and couldn’t put his support behind them. When the power is taken away from the states, it makes the federal government very strong. He knew that there had to be a strong central government, but felt that the Constitution went too far. Henry wanted to protect the South. After all, at that time the South was more than half the country. If the country at that time was compared to a human body, the South was the heart of the country. How can a person live and survive without their heart. The bill of ri ghts gave some of the power back to the people. Not only that, but gave them their liberty and freedom that they had fought so hard for early in the Revolution. In conclusion I believe that the fight against the constitution was a homerun. Even though the constitution was passed, Henry got his bill of rights. This affected the country big time because thanks to Henry, we the people got our freedom returned. If Henry didn’t stick up for what he believed and stayed with it, who knows where the U. S. would be now.

How to handle work when youre depressed

How to handle work when youre depressed Work can be challenging in even the best of circumstances- but when you’re depressed and not feeling your absolute best, getting through each workday can be a real struggle. Many folks grapple with depression in both their personal and professional lives, and it can make getting through each day and handling daily responsibilities difficult. According to a recent study by The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), â€Å"an estimated 16.1 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. This number represented 6.7% of all U.S. adults.† The NIMH defines a major depressive episode as â€Å"a period of two weeks or longer during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, and self-image.†Depression in the workplace is a significant issue- both f or employees and employers. Mental Health America recently reported that â€Å"Clinical depression has become one of America’s most costly illnesses. Left untreated, depression is as costly as heart disease or AIDS to the U.S. economy, costing over $51 billion in absenteeism from work and lost productivity and $26 billion in direct treatment costs. Depression tends to affect people in their prime working years and may last a lifetime if untreated.†Furthermore, a significantly higher percentage of adults suffer from minor or moderate depressive episodes. Although they typically include less pervasive symptoms, it can nonetheless make it hard to handle work and a spiraling effect can result- you feel depressed, which effects your ability to work, which makes you more depressed, and so on.Are you among the millions of Americans who suffer from depression? If so, then you’re not alone and there is a way forward- use the following strategies to help you learn to hand le work when you’re depressed.Don’t ignore the signs.If you’re struggling at work, try your best to recognize the signs that it might be due to depression.Are you feeling tired and lethargic throughout the day for no reason?Are everyday tasks- things that you used to do before with ease- becoming increasingly more difficult for you to handle and complete, or have become completely overwhelming for you?Is interacting with others at your workplace, or working collaboratively on team-based projects, becoming so uncomfortable or unappealing to you that you avoid contact or social interactions with colleagues at all costs?Do you find that your self-care routine is falling by the wayside?Are you noticing negative changes in your overall mood and attitude throughout the day?Has your productivity at work dipped?Do you find yourself missing work, coming in late, or leaving early more often?The truth is, any one or combination of these signs could be an indication that yo u’re suffering from depression. If you answered yes to any of these questions, the first step is to acknowledge that depression might currently be an issue for you.Assess your needs.As previously mentioned, there are varying degrees of depression that an individual can experience, and every person has their own unique symptoms, coping mechanisms, and needs. If you’ve made the determination that you’re suffering from depression- whether its mild or more profound- a good idea is to try and take an honest self-assessment and mental inventory regarding how it’s affecting your life. The last thing you want to have happen is to have your depression take complete control of your life and adversely affect your job situation- which can make your condition worse.Once you’ve determined how your depression is affecting you at work, try to assess your needs. Do you need to simply recalibrate, get organized, and wrap your head around your work responsibilities i n a new and fresh way? Do you need to make some behavioral and lifestyle changes in an effort to enact positive change? Or do you need additional outside help? Once you’re able to make a determination about what you need in order to effect change in your life and make the struggle a bit easier, you’ll be in a better position to choose the right steps for you.Seek help if needed.Do you think that you may need some guidance from others- perhaps friends or family, trusted colleagues, or professional help? The first thing to realize is that this isn’t a personal failure on your part. Many competent and functional adults suffer from depression, and there’s no shame or stigma in reaching out for help. Depression is a heavy weight to carry around on your own- seeking help from others can help ease the burden and allow you to focus on working towards an effective life solution.Explore workplace options.Many progressive workplaces offer benefits packages that incl ude mental health services- from finding the right professional help to meet your needs to financial coverage for associated costs. You may also be eligible to take paid time off from work to focus on getting help and getting better. Contact your HR representative to learn all of your options, which will help you formulate the best strategy for dealing with your depression.You are under no obligation to disclose a private health concern like depression to your colleagues and coworkers. That said, many people chose to be honest and up front about their depression and are met with sensitivity, guidance, and understanding, which can be an incredibly supportive and encouraging thing to have at a time when you need it most. The choice on how to handle disclosure is completely yours.Don’t just ignore your depression.How many problems in your life get better by simply ignoring them? If you feel that you’re experiencing depression at work and it’s affecting your ability to do your job, your best bet is to not ignore it and to use the steps outlined above to try and make some positive changes. Don’t forget- you’re not alone and your situation is not insurmountable. With a little proactive effort and the courage to effect positive changes in your life, you can go beyond learning how to handle depression at work. Instead, you can truly thrive.

Human Resource Management take home exam (various topics) Essay

Human Resource Management take home exam (various topics) - Essay Example In IT industry, the human element plays a major part in the overall success of the industry. "There must be effective management of human resources - there must be an effective personnel function" (Ulrich, Lake, 1990). HRM systems can be the source of organizational capabilities that allow firms to learn and capitalize on new opportunities especially in IT industry which operates in rapidly changing environment. While innovations in high technology often receive the greatest publicity, advances have been made in many fields and at many levels of Information Technology. Some theorists argue that HRM is used to exploit workers in order to achieve strategic goals. It is possible to agree and disagree with this view because much depends upon the conception employed by the researchers. Speaking about IT industry it is possible to say that HRM can be identified as an element or support concept of the industry. In many organizations, including IT sector, human resources is very much part of the productive process and will be a task function. For example, in the IT industry many members of the workforce are seen as being involved in achieving the objectives of the organization creating a new product or service. In this case, people are part of the finished product for which the customer is paying. Customer satisfaction is likely to be affected as much by the courtesy, helpfulness and personal qualities of the staff as by the standard of services provided. This places particular importance on the managerial function which manipulates workforce to achieve o rganizational tasks (Tyson, 1997). Training, as investment in people, is also a form of manipulation. Training requires the co-operation of managers, adequate finance and resources, time, skilled staff and a supporting appraisal system: from top management and throughout all levels of the organization. Most programs of IT development are designed in accordance with the culture and specific requirements of the particular segment of IT industry or department, and the demands of particular managerial jobs. There should be a clear development policy together with regular reviews of individual performance and a program of career progression. All the forms mentioned above explain manipulation of HR through HRM systems as the inevitable part of management. The overall purpose of HRM can be seen as manipulation as well as it aims to ensure that the organization is able to achieve success through people. "HRM systems can be the source of organizational capabilities that allow firms to learn and capitalize on new opportunities" (Campbell, 1997). On the other hand, it is possible to say that training of IT personnel for its own sake achieves little. Training must be real and rewarding. The rationale for strategic HRM within IT industry is also built on the idea of manipulation which means that people and organizations engage in basically consistent, value-maximizing calculations or adaptations within certain constraints and competitive advantage. The rational model works as follows: an employee has goals or objectives and has a payoff, utility, or preference function that permits that person to rank all possible alternative actions by the action's contribution to the desired goals. The IT organization is presented with and understands alternative courses of action. Each

Strategists Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Strategists - Essay Example (7-8) Machiavelli, meanwhile, introduced the concept of the â€Å"just war† in his exhortation on Italians to recapture their own land: â€Å"You have justice on your side; for war is just which is necessary and it is piety to fight where no hope is left in anything else.† (cited in McAlpine 2000, 6) For these two philosophers war or preparedness to engage in it is fundamental for the survival of a state. In regard to military strategy, Sun Tzu captures something of the sense of Machiavelli’s last words in the Prince when he stressed the importance of a positive attitude and the goodness of opportunity – seizing the occasion to put something right, to make a person, place or thing better. According to Sun Tzu, one who foresees victory before a battle will most probably win and that, one who predicts not much of a chance of winning before the fight, will most probably not win. This principle of unashamed act of winning is supported by this text of The Art of War: â€Å"If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbids it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.† (158) Machiavelli’s assertion that men have evil in them as well as good is an important factor when considering his perspectives on leadership. This is highlighted in his discourse of what characterize the ideal prince. Machiavelli believed that a prince as a leader needed above all to pursue virtue, but not the one in the traditional sense. Machiavelli often told the reader that qualities traditionally called virtuous in the Christian or feudal senses were not virtuous at all in a prince. For Machiavelli, a prince who truly understand virtue – in the sense of the qualities needed to perpetuate his state and his own power – would prefer ‘vice’ of meanness, say to the virtue of