Case Study on Organisational Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case Study on Organisational Change - Essay Example Case issues While analysing the given case scenario, it is clear that the takeover of the ‘Star’ by the ‘Iron Cage’ caused the Star to move from a highly profitable company to an underperforming company. The major identified issue is that the business acquisition raised severe challenges to the Star’s innovativeness as the resulted organisational change prevented the company from effectively dealing with experimentation. Undoubtedly, this adverse situation negatively affected the Star’s market competitiveness since thoughtful experimentation and frequent innovations are essential for the sustainability of a chemical company operating in a progressive niche-market. Declining employee loyalty was one of the main reasons for the Star’s failure. According to the author, the business takeover led to the formation of a coercive worksite environment and hence this excessive bureaucracy by Iron Cage top management persuaded Star employees to cha nge their view from â€Å"it is my company† to â€Å"it is just the company I work for† (Grieves, 2004, p.233). In addition, Star employees did not get extensive exposures to demonstrate their creativity due to the parent company’s over-involvement. ... Such a situation adversely affected the formed organisation’s managerial activities and ultimately operational efficiency. The most potential reason for Iron Cage’s break up is that the organisation failed to ensure the active involvement of Star employees. In short, it can be asserted that over-dominance of Iron Cage management over Star employees ended up in the Iron Cage’s break up and sell off. Case study analysis The company’s failure could have been avoided if the Iron Cage had efficiently dealt with the change management subsequent to the Star acquisition. The case study clearly indicates that the Ice Cage management was not thoughtful in integrating two entirely different organisational cultures. The Iron Cage tried to coordinate quality assurance systems and achieve cultural integration by installing a managing director from its own ranks. The organisation did not consider any of the Star’s top executives for this change management process. In addition, the parent company had done nothing proactive in preparing Star employees to adapt to a new organisational environment. The Ice Cage’s business integration strategy was against the business ethics of change. According to Audi (2012, pp.46-50), the idea of business ethics is of greater significance in ensuring an organisation’s sustainability as this concept is a key to tool to achieve employee loyalty and reputation. Similarly, the Iron Cage management did not give any importance to Star employees’ problems and opinions. In contrast, the parent company tried to suppress the ideas and suggestions of Star employees. The case study clearly indicates that Star’s managers were not satisfied with the language of the

Legal Implicaiotn of human resource management Essay Example for Free

Legal Implicaiotn of human resource management Essay A union is an organization of workers, acting collectively, seeking to promote and protect its mutual interests through collective bargaining. However, before we can examine the activities surrounding the collective bargaining process, it is important to understand the laws that govern the labor-management process, what unions are and how employees unionize. Although the current percentage of the workforce that is unionized has declined steadily, there are still many employees who feel that the workforce is primed for a positive response by employees to a new effort in organizing. The main reasons for union organizing are: higher wages and benefits, greater job security, influence over work rules, compulsory membership and being upset with management. Among various reasons why employees join a union, we see one common factor: management, specially the first-line supervisor. If employees are upset with the way their supervisor handles problems, upset over how a coworker has been disciplines, and so on, they are likely to seek help from a union. In fact, it is reasonable to believe that when employees vote to unionize, it’s often a vote against their immediate supervisor rather than a vote in support of particular union. CASE: In the provided case, the employees are upset with company since employer rolled out its plan to organize employees into teams, change job titles, work assignments and the pay structure. Beside that employees were told â€Å"this is how it will be. † I am working as the top HR Manager and have to deal with this situation. First of all I would learn some basic legal implications of union organizing. The legal framework for labor-management relationships has played a crucial role in its development. There are two important laws that have shaped much of the labor relations process. Wagner Act: Also knows as the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, this act gave employees that right to form and join unions and to engage in collective bargaining. The Wagner Act is cited a shifting the pendulum of power to favor unions for the first time in U. S labor history. This was achieved, in part, through the establishment of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The Wager Act provided the legal recognition of unions as legitimate interest groups in American society, but many employers opposed its purposes. Some employers, too, failed to live up to the requirements of its provisions. Thus, the belief that the balance of power had swung too far to labor’s side, and the public outcry stemming from post-World War II strikes, led to passage of the Taft-Hartley Act (Labor- Management Relations Act) in 1947. The Taft-Hartley Act: Amended the Wagner Act by addressing employers’ concerns in terms of specifying unfair union labor practices. Realizing that unions and employers might not reach agreement and that work stoppages might occur, Taft-Hartley also created the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) as an independent agency separate from the Department of Labor. FMCS is a government agency that assists Labor and management in settling disputes. The Wagner and Taft-Hartley Acts were the most important laws influencing labor-management relationships in the United States, but there are other laws that influence the labor organizing. Specifically, these are the Railway Labor Act; the Land rum Griffin Act; Executive Orders 10988 and 11491; the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970; and the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (discussed in previous module) is as relevant to labor organizations as it is to management. Title VII of the act is focused on this subject. In the provided case, it seems like there is already union getting into shape. The labor laws do permit us as HR Manager to defend ourselves against the union campaign, but we must do it properly. I would follow the following guidelines of what to do and what not to do during the organizing drive. * If your employees ask for your opinion on unionization (as my supervisor is asking me this question), should respond in a natural manner. For example, â€Å"I really have no position on the issue. Do what you think is best. * You can prohibit union-organizing activates in your workplace during work hours only if they interfere with work operation. This may apply to the organization’s e-mail, too. * You can prohibit outside union organizers from distributing union information in the workplace. * Employees have the right to distribute union information to other employees during breaks and lunch periods. * Don’t question employees publicly or privately about union-organizing activities- for example, â€Å"Are you planning to go to that union rally this weekend? but if an employee freely tells you about the activities, you may listen. * Don’t spy on employees’ union activities, for example, by standing in the cafeteria to see who is distributing pro-union literature. * Don’t make any threats or promises related to the possibility of unionization. For example, â€Å"If this union effort succeeds, upper management is seriously thinking about closing down this plant, but if it’s defeated, they may push through an immediate wage increase. * Don’t discriminate against any employee who is involved in the unionization effort. Be on eh lookout for efforts by the union to coerce employees to join its ranks. This activity by unions is an unfair labor practice. If you see this occurring, report to your boss or to HR. Company might slow want to consider filing a complaint against the union with NLRB. Keeping all the above points checked, I will also keep in mind that union organizing drives may or may not be successful, but when they do achieve their goal to become the exclusive bargaining age, the next step is to negotiate the contract or demands. Now, I’ll get myself ready along with my first line supervisors, for the next expected step: collective bargaining. This typically refers to the negotiation, administration, and interpretation of a written agreement between two parties that covers a specific period of time. This agreement, or contract, lays out in specific terms the conditions of employment that is, what is expected of employees and any limits to management’s authority. Although collective bargaining is mostly used in public sectors, however it is also common in private sector. My employees are upset because of three months old change; based on my supervisor’s comments I assume that union has been certified; I might come up with a new set of interpretation of this change between my management and employees. I will make sure that my management and the union must negotiate in good faith over these issues. I would follow the following collective bargaining process outline in order to resolve these issues: Preparing to Negotiate: Once a union has been certified as the bargaining unit, both union and management begin the ongoing activity of preparing for negotiations. We can consider the preparation for negotiation as composed of three activities: fact gathering, goal setting, and strategy development. Information is acquired from both internal and external sources. With all the collection of this background information in hand, and tentative goals established both union and management must put together the most difficult part of the bargaining preparation activities, a strategy for negotiations. This includes assessing the other side’s power and specific tactics. Negotiating at the Bargaining Table: Negotiation customarily begins with the union delivering to management a list of â€Å"demands. † By presenting many demands, the union creates significant room for trading in later stages of the negotiation; it also disguises the union’s real position, leaving management to determine which demands are adamantly sought, which are moderately sought, and which the union is prepared to quickly abandon. Real negotiations typically go on behind closed doors, each party tries to assess the relative priorities of the other’s demands, and each begins to combine proposals into viable packages. Next comes the attempt to make management’s highest offer approximate the lowest demands that the union is willing to accept. Contract Administration: Once a contract is agreed upon and ratified, it must be administered. Contract administration involves four stages: (1) dissemination the agreements to all union members and mangers; (2) implementing the contract: (3) interpreting the contract and grievance resolution: and (4) monitoring activities during the contract period. Providing information to all concerned requires both parties to ensure that changes in contract language are spelled out. The stage of contract administration is ensuring that the agreement is implemented. All communicated changes now take effect, and both sides are expected to comply with the contract terms. The most important element of contract administration relates to spelling out a procedure for handling contractual disputes. These contracts have provisions for resolving specific, formally initiated grievances by employees concerning dissatisfaction with job-related issues. As an HR Manager for a company with 1500 employees, who are quite upset with our management and are unionizing, I have tried to come up with a plan to resolve this issue. First of all, I gathered the legal data in this respect, I proposed some guidelines to avoid unionizing and last, I have discussed the plan in detail to resolve the issue in provided case. I would like to comment that although historically, the relationship between labor and management was built on conflict and the nterests of labor and management were seen as basically at odds-each treating the other as the opposition. But times have somewhat changes. Management has become increasingly aware that successful efforts to increase productivity, improve quality, and lower costs require employee involvement and commitment. Similarly, some labor unions have recognized that they can help their members more by cooperating with management rather than fighting them which is quite positive for both management and employees.

City of Angels :: essays papers

City of Angels The film City of Angels depicts the existence of an angel watching over a doctor who is deeply shaken by the loss of one of her patients, thus making the reality of angels on earth a possibility for me. Not only does this film make me seriously consider the existence of celestial beings, but I now believe in the possibility that a guardian angel is looking after me. The belief in such beings can be comforting during times of need and in matters of life and death. City of Angels portrays the grace of Heaven meeting the beauty of Earth. Two souls, one mortal and one celestial, must struggle with their willingness and their need to sacrifice everything familiar for the sake of love. Seth is the guardian angel who watches over Dr. Maggie Rice. After learning that it is possible for an angel to become mortal if his love for a woman is deep enough, he realizes the strength of his love for Maggie and agrees to fall from heaven to be with her. Until I watched City of Angels, the thought of invisible beings guiding and protecting me was not a major interest of mine. At the age of eight my uncle, whom I was very close to, passed away, and his death was tragic. Being young and not understanding the concept of death, I had endless questions. â€Å"Where do people go when they die?† â€Å"Is there really a heaven or hell?† â€Å"Are their souls still on earth, just not visible to humans?† Providing some explanation to my uncertainties, the scene in the film involving a library book with a mysterious origin suggests one method in which angels could convey subliminal messages. Seth leaves the book with a section marked for Maggie to consider the existence of angels around her. This scene gives me the sense of spiritual beings roaming earth after death. So where is my late uncle now? In contrast with the belief that a person’s soul travels to Heaven or Hell after death, I feel that my uncle’s soul is still nearby. It is clear that my uncle is my guardian angel. Similarly to the scene in City of Angels where Seth leaves the book on the nightstand to send a message, I have felt as though my uncle was present in a time of concern. City of Angels :: essays papers City of Angels The film City of Angels depicts the existence of an angel watching over a doctor who is deeply shaken by the loss of one of her patients, thus making the reality of angels on earth a possibility for me. Not only does this film make me seriously consider the existence of celestial beings, but I now believe in the possibility that a guardian angel is looking after me. The belief in such beings can be comforting during times of need and in matters of life and death. City of Angels portrays the grace of Heaven meeting the beauty of Earth. Two souls, one mortal and one celestial, must struggle with their willingness and their need to sacrifice everything familiar for the sake of love. Seth is the guardian angel who watches over Dr. Maggie Rice. After learning that it is possible for an angel to become mortal if his love for a woman is deep enough, he realizes the strength of his love for Maggie and agrees to fall from heaven to be with her. Until I watched City of Angels, the thought of invisible beings guiding and protecting me was not a major interest of mine. At the age of eight my uncle, whom I was very close to, passed away, and his death was tragic. Being young and not understanding the concept of death, I had endless questions. â€Å"Where do people go when they die?† â€Å"Is there really a heaven or hell?† â€Å"Are their souls still on earth, just not visible to humans?† Providing some explanation to my uncertainties, the scene in the film involving a library book with a mysterious origin suggests one method in which angels could convey subliminal messages. Seth leaves the book with a section marked for Maggie to consider the existence of angels around her. This scene gives me the sense of spiritual beings roaming earth after death. So where is my late uncle now? In contrast with the belief that a person’s soul travels to Heaven or Hell after death, I feel that my uncle’s soul is still nearby. It is clear that my uncle is my guardian angel. Similarly to the scene in City of Angels where Seth leaves the book on the nightstand to send a message, I have felt as though my uncle was present in a time of concern.

Original Writing : Do kids have ambitions or do they

Ambitions. An egger desire to achieve something in life. Now a days if you ask kids what are your ambitions forty two percent reply ‘I don't have any I just go with the flow and see what life has in store for me'. Is this the answer we really want to hear from our future leaders this doesn't sound very promising. Having ambitions to be or do something is encouraging to achieve your goals. If you have an ambition you have something to work towards however kids today just want to play computer games and set no targets in life for them self. Is this really what we want kids to be doing, our future. People work hard to achieve there ambitions and to make them a reality instead of just an ambition any more. Anna Cleaver from London had an ambition to be a leading plastic surgeon in the heart of New York. She was determined to fulfil her ambition to succeed and now if we look at Anna she is one of the top leading surgeons in the heart New York and recognised by people all over the world. She was once a normal person with a ambition working hard got her this far and now she is where she wanted to be in life at the top of her game. From ordinary people like Anna to famous people Britney Spears have ambitions her ambition was to become a singer from a young age she has been working hard to succeed in becoming a singer. She didn't just wake up one day and just become what she is today she worked hard for it. It was her ambition since she was a young girl and today look at her she has fulfilled her ambition. I also have ambitions. My ambition is to go to university when I finish College to fulfil this ambition I need to work hard in school studies and I am determined to succeed it will be a tough ride but you just have to believe in your self. One very ambitious man said, â€Å"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today†, Malcolm X. This is something that has been proven right so people of today should use this to make a better life for themselves. Education is something that can help achieve a lot of peoples ambitions and should be taken very seriously. But not every one is a academic but this still applies because if your ambition is sport you still have to educate yourself with the knowledge to platy the game. Every one should have ambitions and believe they can succeed children and adults, people of all ages. One thing this world lacks is people believing in them selves' all you need is some belief and determination to fulfil your ambitions. Have a goal in life and you will achieve anything.

Disadvantage of Bilingualism Essay

I have to admit that bilingualism has several advantages. Nonetheless, tackling this issue, the lingual conditions in which children are raised to be able to speak two languages equally well should be also taken into consideration. Many linguists underline that while introducing the second language to learner, his/her exposure to a given linguistic system is crucial. Thusly, parents striving for teaching their children a secod language/a non-native language often rely on commercial language materials such as books, videos, television programs, etc. Nevertheless, researchers (Kendall King and Lyn Fogle, Georgetown University) have found that live, human interaction such as reading or talking to a child is more effective than presentation of recored sounds (e.g., in television) and, therefore, the best method for fostering both first and second language development. What is more, Other studies have found that, for older children, being read aloud to in the second language increases second language vocabulary much more than watching television in that language (patterson, 2002). I would like to concentrate now on this parent-child communication and its effect on language abilities of minors. There is some evidence that infants can hear even in the womb. After their birth, as they are growing, they try to imitate the ‘noises’ they hear. According to Deborah D.K. Ruuskanen, Professor of English Linguistics at the University of Vaasa in Finland, and mother of three bilingual children, it is significant to expose babies to native-speaker sounds, in order to facilitate them acquisition, and eventually execution, of native-speaker/that sounds. Generally, there is no problem when children are raised bilingual in families where the parents are completely bilingual themselves, that is to say, they use two native languages (each parent speaks separate mother-tongue) or they speak the non-native language exceptionally well. In other cases/Otherwise, introducing a second language to children since their infancy is not advisable. It is not only because babies might learn parents’ mispronunciation or faulty accent, but also because it might confuse them unnecessarily. The parents who are not comfortable or fluent in second language should be dissuaded from doing that so as not to affect harmfully their children’s linguistic abilities.

The History of Feminism

The History of Feminism Free Online Research Papers The feminist movement in the United States began in 1948 in upstate New York. The first women’s rights convention was in July 19th of that year. The women involved with the feminist movement were ridiculed for fighting for women’s rights but it did not stop them from standing up for their beliefs. One example of a woman willing to do whatever it took to gain women’s rights was Susan B. Anthony. She was arrested for attempting to vote in the presidential election in 1872. These first women who advocated women’s rights became known as the â€Å"first wave of feminists.† Their greatest success was the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution granting women the right to vote beginning in 1920. Although they succeeded in gaining the right to vote, they did not succeed in reforming women’s social and economic positions. The early and middle 20th century women’s movement eventually became much less powerful force for social change. The second wave of feminism emerged in the 1960’s and went into full force in the 1970’s. The political activism involving the war and the fight for the rights of black people of the 1960’s led women to reexamine their powerlessness. Women were becoming more aware that they had accepted the sexist attitudes and practices in traditional gender roles. Because of their realization, they began challenging male dominance and were no longer happy in subordinate and submissive roles. Feminism in today’s society has a slightly different meaning with people than it has in the past. Surveys show that although women are endorsing feminist positions, they do not necessarily accept the label of a feminist. In 1987, 57% of women considered themselves feminists and by 2001, the proportion dropped to only 25%. Feminism as a unified political cause has fallen out of favor because when complex issues are discussed men and women would rather take sides individually. There continues to be a growing rate of acceptance of women in non-traditional roles such as working rather than staying home and taking care of the house and family. Since the fight for women’s rights began, feminists have endorsed the passage of the equal rights amendment, affirmative action for women and minorities, federal legislation outlawing sex discrimination in education, greater representation of women in government and the right of a legal abortion. Intersection of Social Inequality The Matrix of Domination is used to show the various intersections of social inequality including gender, social class, race and ethnicity. It shows how several social factors can converge to create a cumulative impact on a person’s social standing. Gender roles among African Americans have always provoked controversy. Advocates of Black Nationalism argue that feminism distracts women from fully participating in the African American struggle and believe feminist groups among them divide the black community. Black feminists oppose this view and argue there is nothing to be gained by accepting gender-role divisions of the dominant society. Native Americans stand out as an exception to the patriarchal tradition and consequently, most Native American women have resisted gender stereotypes. Latina’s are usually considered either part of the Hispanic or feminist movements, hardly ever both. They have been excluded from decision making in the two social institutions that affec t their daily lives: the church and the family. Abortion from a Global Perspective In 1973, the Supreme Court granted women the right to terminate pregnancies in the United States. The court ruling known as Roe v. Wade was based on a woman’s right to privacy and the decision was applauded by pro-choice groups and greatly condemned by pro-life groups. The legalization of abortion caused much controversy within the pro-life groups because of their belief that life begins at conception and they viewed abortion as an act of murder. The debates following Roe v. Wade have continuously revolved around prohibiting or at least limiting abortions. A large debate began in 1971 when the state of Missouri began requiring parental consent for minors wishing to have an abortion. Other debates include the technological advances in the medical field like the â€Å"morning after pill† and abortion inducing pills. Also, ultrasounds are now used by doctors to end pregnancy as early as eight days after conception. Sociologists see gender and social class as the defining issues surrounding abortion and say they are caused by the differences over women’s position in society. Feminists who defend abortion rights typically believe men and women are similar and oppose all forms of sexual discrimination allowing women to be active in the work force outside the home. Opposing this view is the pro life advocates who mostly believe men and women are fundamentally different and view women who work outside the home as destructive to society and their families. Like the United States, many European nations have liberalized abortion laws beginning in the 1970’s. Anti-abortion activists in Great Britain, France, Spain, Italy and Germany were inspired by the strong anti-abortion movement in the United States and have become more outspoken. Even though many countries have legalized abortion, a quarter of all the women in the world live in countries where abortion is illegal or only when her life is in jeopardy and consequently, 40% of all abortions worldwide (about 20 million a year) are performed illegally. Research Papers on The History of Feminism19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Fifth HorsemanInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesQuebec and CanadaTrailblazing by Eric AndersonAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeHip-Hop is Art

Application of Sociological Theory in Current Issue Essay Example

Application of Sociological Theory in Current Issue Essay Example Application of Sociological Theory in Current Issue Essay Application of Sociological Theory in Current Issue Essay In New York City, United States, a case of the known â€Å"Preppy Killer† and his girlfriend named Shawn Kovell is still ongoing. This is inline with the accusation of selling cocaine within the apartment of the girl Kovell. Still, as of the last trial, they have pleaded of not being guilty in the case. This is according to the October 25, 2007 published news online of the Reuters. Aside from the current filed case against the â€Å"Preppy Killer† man named Robert Chambers, 41, he was already sent to prison during 1988 when he was found guilty of killing an 18 year old girl at the Central Park in New York City. Aside from that, Chamber, himself, described that what he had done to the girl was â€Å"an episode of rough sex† (Reuters, 2007).   He was imprisoned within 15 years and only got out of the jail last 2003. When convicted of drug use, Chamber would face a 150 year sentence in jail while his girlfriend Kovell would suffer maximum of 20 years imprisonment. This social issue of manslaughter and drug trafficking could be found anywhere else in the world. We could highly observe such cases mostly in the third world countries where poverty is still in rapid rate. We could relate this issue in the Strain Theory of Robert K. Merton, one the American Sociologists. Merton borrows the concept of the anomie from Durkheim. However, the difference between the two is that Merton stresses that the societal problem is not created by the abrupt social changes rather it comes from the social structure. This social structure is defined by the social strata which all aiming for one goal despite the fact that the society has no equal means of achieving such goals. That is why, there are members of the society who resort to different kinds of adaptation like conformity, innovation, rebellion, ritualism, and retreatism. These modes of adaptation are the ones that people opt to do since they do not have enough capability to attain the main goal of the society. In the case of the â€Å"Preppy Killer,† assuming that he was not able to attain his goals or he was not able to own what the society had, he was being trapped in learned helplessness, thus, he resorted to a an act of deviance. Killing of that 18 year old girl was kind of deviant behavior in which the killer adapted the retreatism by which the present lifestyle of the ex-convict Chamber could also be included. Since retreatism concept shows that an individual is already giving up the goals and objectives that he wanted to attain before. In the worst case scenario, a man who chose this kind of adaptation also give up the ways and lifestyle of achieving the goal that he just gave up before. In a logical manner, since he already give up his goals and the goal of the society that he wanted to meet before, he would also give up his means of living considering that he only lives for his goals in life. The tendency of this kind of adaptation could be manifested in the case of the â€Å"Preppy Killer.† He resorted to many illegal transactions and activities knowing that these types of actions could gain him power and money at a very efficient manner. However, this would not last long since there is no authority of the legal society, thus, we could say that this is a very non-healthy and non-productive means of living. This could also be a form of escapism into the harsh reality of the society. Looking at the higher social strata wherein people have much power and much ability to manipulate and reach their goals, the inequality might be instilled to the mind of those people who are in the lower stratum. And these people who belong to the lower stratum has no choice but to find themselves of their own way to be as rich as other people in the higher level of society. In Merton’s Strain Theory, basically, it shows how the crimes and any deviant act rooted in the society by merely showing the social structure instead of other societal aspects. Like in the case of Chamber who resorted to retreatism, that man has been allegedly drowned with drug abusing and possibly killing of another life again.