Thursday, October 31, 2019
Compare professional and non-professional correspondence Essay
Compare professional and non-professional correspondence - Essay Example One ought to speak slowly and clear in order for the listener to understand. Most importantly, one should use proper language and tone when addressing any person officially. One should e-mail a sergeant or sheriff in the formal way of writing a mail. This is because it is an official e-mail. Moreover, it should appear in the manner one writes a formal letter (Berlo, 2006). Therefore, there should be an address to the sergeant and the tone needs to be formal. Additionally, a sergeant or sheriff is a figure of authority and deserves the same level of communication as a sign of respect. Arguably, judicial communication is very formal. Therefore, when an individual meets a judge along the courthouse hallway, he or she is to take a bow. Additionally, one should address him or her as ââ¬Å"your honor.â⬠This is because it is the title given to the judge within the courtrooms. Moreover, judges differ and failure to bow could lead one to be in contempt of face. However, this depends on the judge. As a result, one needs to be on the safer
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
HR assignment for BP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1
HR assignment for BP - Essay Example They are a very core part of the human resource management of any big company. Still under line managers, there are front-line managers who act as teams leaders and supervisors and report to the line mangers they work under. Having line managers makes the overall management function of a company simple and well coordinated (Gomez-Mejia and Robert, 2008). IT training has become an indispensable part of managing a big business with ease. It involves imparting computing skills to employees who run the virtual functions of a business. Todayââ¬â¢s big businesses have immensely reduced paper-works and resorted to having very secure databases, and networked computer system which make global outreach not much of a hustle. In this front, BP conducts IT training on regular basis to ensure that the IT systems run effectively and are secure from hacking and other cyber-threats (Han et al, 2006). No business competes favorably today without integrating IT in their core operations. Training must be carried out from time to time in order to conform to the dynamicity of the computer world. At the end of such training, assessments need to be conducted to check if it was done in a manner that meets the prescribed standards (Proctor, 2011). Line managers and IT training are thus two different sections of a business, but that doesnââ¬â¢t rule out the fact they work harmoniously in order to achieve the goals of a company. They both are very important and must be run efficiently and
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Medicaid Funding Relationship with Nonprofit Organizations
Medicaid Funding Relationship with Nonprofit Organizations Introduction/Background Allard and Smith (2014) define legally incorporated, tax-exempt entities that provide specific services to be nonprofit social service organizations. They can help low-income families that might not qualify for federal assistance. Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) can range vastly in their size, scope, and form, but they are all reliant on donations and public funds to support their operations. This public funding is supported by grants, contracts, and tax credits (Smith et al. 2012). The way in which Medicaid works can be somewhat complex. From the agency standpoint, Medicaid has set values for services its clients might use. Documentation of the actual cost of a service provided is not needed, as clients need only to prove the service was provided. Once there is proof of the service being provided, Medicaid pays out a specific dollar amount for each service. This vendor rate, sometimes referred to as the fee-for-service model, requires the agencies to consistently serve enough Medicaid-eligible clients to break even amongst their revenues. The state will only offer a certain rate for outpatient mental health counseling services, for example, regardless of an individual agencys own internal cost structure (Smith et al. 2012). The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed in 2010, has drastically increased the number of insured Americans. The ACA, which is frequently nicknamed Obamacare, prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing health and vastly expanded the number of low-income families eligible for Medicaid. It also set a standard requirement for all United States citizens to have the minimum essential coverage of healthcare (MEC). Medicaid Funding for Nonprofits The practice of using Medicaid to supplement nonprofit organizations funds began in the 1980s. The social movement to provide services to the elderly and disabled led to increased government support for social services (US General Accounting Office, 1984). This has expanded greatly since then, with the main source of care belonging to substance abuse and mental health services. One blatant benefit Medicaid funding can have for nonprofits is its quick turnaround. Even though its services are aimed primarily at high-risk groups, Medicaid funding reimbursed at a much higher rate than other insurance options for such population groupings when compared in 2006. Medicaid has boomed in the past several years, having expanded its pool of clients to cover more and more people. Reimbursement rates allow nonprofit social service organizations to cross-subsidize their resources to other activities that might not otherwise receive sufficient funding (Smith, 2007). Unforeseen Consequences: Effects of Medicaid on NPO Funding Nonprofits exist as a federal safety net to supplement lacking government and community services. Two main problems that arise when deep dependency is placed on publicly funded nonprofit social services. State governments have been recently pressured to reduce spending on programs to make more room in the budget. Additionally, nonprofits must cope with the pressures associated with being the second order social welfare program of the government. Because all federal and state dollars are allocated at a local level for social service programs, the activity reflects the preferences and capability of the community (Allard Smith, 2014). Medicaid allocates funding to a significant portion of social service organizations in the nonprofit sector, even though such organizations may not primarily be health care providers. Over 50% of the nonprofits focused on mental health and substance abuse reported Medicaid funding in their surveys. Medicaid revenues were also provided to over 40% of those providers of mental health or substance abuse services who also engaged in assistances ranging from employment services to emergency response. It is important to note, however, that only 3.2% of these organizations providing employment or emergency services did not provide the additional substance abuse or mental health services (Allard Smith, 2014). This data indicates that while Medicaid provides funding to a wide range of nonprofits, it does place a significant emphasis on those dealing with health services in its diverse range. An Assessment of the Arguments As discussed earlier, nonprofits receive funding from Medicaid based on the services provided. To receive funding, an organization must show proof of a service provided to an individual. In this way, the funding is based on individual clients seeking services from nonprofit organizations. The mission of the organization, therefore, influences how much funding it will ultimately receive from Medicaid. In this way, Medicaid funding is said to follow clients rather than being given to a specific nonprofit organization. Nonprofits must factor in this design when creating their mission statement. They can more effectively secure their funding by having a service mission targeted towards populations that receive Medicaid coverage. Additionally, larger organizations are more likely to receive Medicaid funding because they have more resources and staff to provide these services. Conversely, smaller organizations often find themselves less likely to receive Medicaid funding regardless of their mission statement if they do not have the scale to provide as many services as their larger counterparts (Allard Smith, 2014). Conclusion Nonprofits largely reliant on Medicaid for their funding may often find themselves at the mercy of elements out of their hand. They depend on the flow of Medicaid-eligible clients using their services and resources. Thus, nonprofits are dependent on the eligibility of the clients they serve. State policies dictate Medicaid eligibility, so nonprofits are vulnerable to changes in state economics and legislation. Since it is a modest source of revenue for many nonprofits, greater instability and unpredictability may make Medicaid a less desirable source of revenue (Allard Smith, 2014). While Medicaid might not be able to be concretely predicted, it is still better than not being able to accept Medicaid at all. While it may seem precarious, organizations must adapt to changing sources of revenue regardless of if it is government-funded or not. References Allard, S. W., Smith, S. R. (2014). Unforeseen consequences: Medicaid and the funding of nonprofit service organizations. Journal of Health Politics, Policy Law, 39(6), 1135-1172. Smith, Steven Rathgeb. 2007. Medicaid funding of social services: implications for social and health policy. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, August 31. Smith, Vernon K., Kathleen Gifford, Eileen Ellis, Robin Rudowitz, and Laura Snyder. 2012. Medicaid today: preparing for tomorrow; a look at state Medicaid program spending, enrollment and policy trends. Washington, DC: Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. US General Accounting Office (GAO). 1984. States Use Several Strategies to Cope with Funding Reductions under Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).GAO/HRD-84-68. Washington, DC: GAO.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Personal Narrative: Reflections on 7th grade English Class Essay
Looking back to the beginning of 7th grade English class I now realized of all the great things I have accomplished this year for English class. I am proud of how hard I worked this year and how my English has gotten better. I am proud to have been part of Ms D's English class and she is a phenomenal teacher. I think that one day I will be able to work as a English teacher like Ms D or I will become a journalist. Although I must say that when I first entered English class I had so many different thoughts. The first thought was about the teacher. I didn?t know if I would have been able to get along with Ms. D because she had looked like a professional person in which doesn?t play around. I was nervous but I knew I would have to try my best to get along with her. When class began I saw how Ms D loved to make her students write essays and that is what I knew I was good at. I saw how she was organized and she wasn?t strict nor she wasn?t mean. Ms. D was actually pretty great and funny. When class had first began I felt strong about my reading because my father used to make me read the newspaper about the age of 5 years old and at home I would have to speak loudly and clearly in front of her or else the things in which I wanted wouldn?t be granted in front of me. I knew that I wasn?t perfect but I knew that I would have to work on my vocabulary because in my country we usually didn?t speak proper English and I knew that the way that you talk is the way you would normally read and it?s the way you would write. I knew that I would have to throw away my bad English and learned English the right way. I feel excellent about reading now and I am more confident than before. I fee... ...proud of. Two things in which I learned this year and I think will be important is to not repeat myself when writing and if your introduction paragraph is not engaging to any readers no one would want to read your essay and it introduces the part of your writing. I also learned that quotes go around something in which a person says and that when there is a new paragraph with quotes around it means that a new speaker is talking. S Symbolism is an object that stands for something or someone. Looking back to the beginning of the year I can see that I was a natural writer and reader. I am confident to move onto 8th grade. There were so many techniques that Ms D introduced us to and it can definitely help us to be a better reader and writer. I will definitely miss Ms. D next year. My reflections are shown in this essay. Personal Narrative: Reflections on 7th grade English Class Essay Looking back to the beginning of 7th grade English class I now realized of all the great things I have accomplished this year for English class. I am proud of how hard I worked this year and how my English has gotten better. I am proud to have been part of Ms D's English class and she is a phenomenal teacher. I think that one day I will be able to work as a English teacher like Ms D or I will become a journalist. Although I must say that when I first entered English class I had so many different thoughts. The first thought was about the teacher. I didn?t know if I would have been able to get along with Ms. D because she had looked like a professional person in which doesn?t play around. I was nervous but I knew I would have to try my best to get along with her. When class began I saw how Ms D loved to make her students write essays and that is what I knew I was good at. I saw how she was organized and she wasn?t strict nor she wasn?t mean. Ms. D was actually pretty great and funny. When class had first began I felt strong about my reading because my father used to make me read the newspaper about the age of 5 years old and at home I would have to speak loudly and clearly in front of her or else the things in which I wanted wouldn?t be granted in front of me. I knew that I wasn?t perfect but I knew that I would have to work on my vocabulary because in my country we usually didn?t speak proper English and I knew that the way that you talk is the way you would normally read and it?s the way you would write. I knew that I would have to throw away my bad English and learned English the right way. I feel excellent about reading now and I am more confident than before. I fee... ...proud of. Two things in which I learned this year and I think will be important is to not repeat myself when writing and if your introduction paragraph is not engaging to any readers no one would want to read your essay and it introduces the part of your writing. I also learned that quotes go around something in which a person says and that when there is a new paragraph with quotes around it means that a new speaker is talking. S Symbolism is an object that stands for something or someone. Looking back to the beginning of the year I can see that I was a natural writer and reader. I am confident to move onto 8th grade. There were so many techniques that Ms D introduced us to and it can definitely help us to be a better reader and writer. I will definitely miss Ms. D next year. My reflections are shown in this essay.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
History of Computers
Well, the English dictionary states that it is ââ¬Å"Also called [a] processor. An electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operationsâ⬠(dictionary, 201 1). But, computers are much more than that. Computers are not Just pieces of equipment, they are tools that make up our everyday lives and greatly help and facilitate them; they make our lives faster, easier, simpler, and more efficient.They have only been around for a small amount time. They are part of the modern eraâ⬠as some refer to it, and are the fastest growing technology in man's history (History of Computers, 2011). There are many debates going on about which computer was the first one to be invented. This question is very difficult to answer if it is not more specific. The reason being that it all depends on what you are looking for in a computer. There are many types of computers, and they can be arranged in categories.Some examples of categories include, analog computers, hybrid computers, portable computers, desktop computers, war computers, mainframe computers, mini computers, corrupters, and the list goes on and on (Types of Computers, 2011). The list could also Include things Like satellites, GAPS systems, and house security alarms. All these things can be called computers because they have characteristics of computers, and are processors. For this reason, there is no definite answer to the question ââ¬Å"Which was the first computer ever built? ââ¬Å". The question has not been left unanswered, though.The first programmable computer ââ¬ËTuring COLOSSUS' appeared in the year 1943, and by many has been named the first computer to exist. It was used to ââ¬Å"decipher World War II coded messages from Germanyâ⬠(The History of the Computer, 2011). This was the main task that computers had at that time. They were used as ââ¬Å"war computersâ⬠and were used to encode and decode messages from enemies. As stated above, it was the ââ¬Å"first programmable computer. This means that in that category, the programmable computer category, It was the first, but It does not mean that It was the first ââ¬Å"computerâ⬠ever to be Invented.Others attribute the title of ââ¬Å"first electronic computerâ⬠and ââ¬Å"first computerâ⬠to MANIAC. This was ââ¬Å"the brainâ⬠of Turing Colossus (The History of the Computer, 2011). MANIAC was developed by John W. Macaulay and J. Prosper Cocker at the university of Pennsylvania, and by many is considered the first computer. MANIAC set many records, including the cost, space, and material used to build it. It used an extraordinary number of 18,000 vacuum tubes and 1800 square Ft. Of space, to build. First Computers, 2011 MANIAC was a major step in the development of the computer, but two inventions that really spurred on the building of computers were the Silicon Chip and Transistor. Both made it possible for computers such as MANIAC, to be reduced to a much smaller size, which cost less and was also more efficient and safer. The Transistor was created by people working at Bell Labs, and the Silicon Chip was Invented by Jack SST. Claim Spiky of Texas Instruments. Colons Chips are still used In our modern portable computers, and they are the reason why we have portable computers since they greatly reduce the size needed for a processor. Amputees like MANIAC smaller, safer, and more affordable. This meant that instead of only government owning computers, now businesses could own computers. The computers were still too big, dangerous, and laborious for home use. The computers were not safe, because like the MANIAC, that had so many parts, it had to be maintained by professionals. These many parts also had to be replaced very often. Because of this, these tasks were extremely time consuming and meant that the computers were laboriously slow machines and were not yet efficient. The company that was responsible for many of the ââ¬Å"first computersâ⬠was MOM.This company was the ââ¬Å"unquestioned market leader in selling these large, expensive, error-prone, and very hard to use machinesâ⬠(Mainframes to PC's, 2011). After the Silicon Chip came to be, the change from big computers to portable everyday-use computers, was under way. The portable computers started coming out in the early asses (Mainframes to PC's, 2011). The first major company to design computers was IBM but then companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Dandy Radio Shack started producing their own portable computers, which IBM had not yet done.IBM at this time was still not involved in the ââ¬Å"portable computer businessâ⬠(The History of the Computer, 2011). IBM was still producing government and business owned computers. The two first people to create computer code were Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Their program was called a BASIC program and later Bill Gates created Microsoft which old computer software (Personal Computer History, 2011). IBM was the first, though, to create a PC computer which could add pieces to its architecture (Mainframes to PC's, 2011).Apple's Macintosh was the first computer to come out with a GUI (graphical user interface). This meant that it could be programmed by people at home, was easy to use with its interface, and it included a mouse, which meant it was a personal favorite at home for the people, while IBM was well liked by businesses and big corporations because of its programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, ND its spreadsheets (Mainframes to PC's, 2011). In 1977, Dandy Radio Shack and Apple had the only machines equipped with disk drives.This meant that their software could be sold on ââ¬Å"floppy disksâ⬠and this made it easier for them, and helped their companies become very successful (Knight Dan, 2001). The portable computer industry continued to evolve and change, but it took a couple decades before th ey started producing the kinds of computers we have now. Next, came the evolution of the new portable computers. Just like the big computers MANIAC and UNIVAC, the portable computers had a ââ¬Å"revolutionâ⬠of their win, where they improved as better programs and better devices were created. This ââ¬Å"revolutionâ⬠is fairly recent, less than a decade ago, up until now.One of the major milestones in technological and computer advancements was the touchstones. Computers called tablet PC's started being produced, and touchstones smart-phones, too. Tablet PC's are capable of being written on with a special pen. Now, computer companies are trying to build the smallest, fastest, most portable computers, and these computers are being called ââ¬Å"Notebooksâ⬠. Also, some of the newer computers re equipped with built-in internet, meaning that anywhere the user is, the computer receives an internet signal and it can connect to the World Wide Web (WWW).Apple ââ¬Å"app stor eâ⬠of its own, meaning users can download applications ranging from school to games and these pap's prices range from free to around $50. Some have even called this a cultural revolution in computer development (Elliptic Antonio, 2011). There are also other computers that can have third-party software downloaded onto them. This means that any person that can create computer software can then share it with a community of people. This is all made possible by the World Wide Web. Computers have drastically changed the way we work, both the efficiency and productivity has sky rocketed.Computers are now used for science, calculations, medicine, and also things like D building. Our whole stock exchange market is made up of computers who calculate and then communicate the news to the public. Computers are also frequently used to create plans for buildings, homes, and businesses. They can also help save lives in the medicine and search fields. They can help prevent illnesses and can al so help find outbreaks from others and even cover new ones (The Pros and Cons of Technology Today, 2011). Next comes the World Wide Web (WWW), and it makes computers even more useful.The World Wide Web connects the entire world together with an internet network, and many new purposes for computers have arisen thanks to it. First of all, computers are very important for communication. We can now communicate with people on the other side of the world, in only a matter of seconds. This is done through social networks, emails, and instant messaging programs. All our technology has greatly increased our productivity as we can share our findings with others in a horn amount of time. Also, smart-phones have evolved so much that now they are being called ââ¬Å"portable computersâ⬠themselves.We can almost do everything on our phones that we can do on our computers, now. This is the reason why many believe that in a few years, computers will have disappeared and smart-phones and tablet s will replace them. Some even say that in 2011, smart-phones and tablets will take over (Lour Steve, 2011). With all the positives stated above, there are also some ââ¬Å"side-effectsâ⬠created from computer usage. One example being that some people rely so much on technology hat when it fails them, they are unproductive. Also, computers now decrease the amount of exercise people get.Now, people tend to spend most of their day at work, on the computer ,and then at home in front of their TV's. This has greatly affected, for example, the obesity death rate in the United States. Around 600,000 adults each year die from physical inactivity and this number has been increasing each year (Obesity Levels in America, 2008). This is due to laziness among the people, created by use of technology, and has been an increasing factor in health issues. Many people are not getting enough exercise because they are on their computers too much, and this is one of the major negatives that compute rs have brought about.Also, it has been proven by many eye doctors that being in front of a computer screen for too long can damage the eye sight. Other health issues have arisen too concerning rays that could be emitted from computers and could be dangerous to our bodies (Hartmann Thomas, 2011). There have been many assumptions made about what will happen to the they will continue to evolve into ways that are at the moment unimaginable, and they ill make our lives more CEO-friendly. That is a major development right now in computers. Scientists are finding new ways to make houses CEO-friendly and more efficient in the way they work.This is all related to computers, since the houses are equipped with computer processors of their own. Some houses of the future will include automatic heating systems and automatic blinds. For example, they will receive data from a nearby weather station and then they will apply this to the house so that they can make the house cooler on a hot day and w armer on a cold day. They ill also have houses with refrigerators, for example, that display when they are about to run out of food and what they are running out of.There are lists that go on and on about the development of the future for computers and how they will change the way we think and live. Computers are huge parts of our daily lives and many experts believe that it will stay that way for a long time to come. They believe that the technology will improve and speed up our work and make it more efficient. There are others, though, that believe that computers are making our generations lazier and not as scholarly. This is major debate that is on going about computers and their pros and cons.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
The Ideas of Classical Theorists
The ideas of the classical theorists, particularly those of bureaucracy and scientific management, are generally considered as rather old fashioned and out of date, and of little relevance to work and organisation today. Is this really the case? Consider the above statement through a critical examination of practices which can be identified in work today. In your analysis, you should draw upon appropriate academic material, and also other sources which can help in identifying current practices.These can include your own experiences from work, those of family relatives and friends, weblogs, working life diaries, newspaper articles and other media reports. Jean-Luc Adamson 110105367 Word Count- 1879 It is a valid and reasonable claim that the ideas of the classical theorists are outdated. Many argue that ideas of Bureaucracy by Weber and Scientific Management by Taylor do not have any relevance in modern day working practices. However these ideas have evolved as the business world has developed, and it is clear that they form the basis of many new working practices that exist in modern day organisations.By looking at the reality of these modern practices, we can see that many businesses still favour a rational approach. This approach draws elements from the ideas of bureaucracy and scientific management, and shows there relevance in current working practices. The use of a Fordist approach, as well as the ââ¬Å"McDonaldizationâ⬠of companies further demonstrates the validity of the classical theories, as a basis for new approaches. It is also important to evaluate the claim that in more recent times there has been a shift to a Post-Fordist and Post-Bureaucratic society.This proposed shift demands that a different approach to management and organisation is required, yet we have to ask the question, will the removal of bureaucratic and scientific elements in business ever be beneficial? When examining organisations the reality is often very different to the rh etoric. The rhetoric takes a more theoretical approach and tries to explain what should happen. However, in order to evaluate the relevance of the classical approaches in modern day practices, we must look at what does happen. The orthodox rhetoric executes a modern approach, where employees are a major asset, and have been empowered.Management is more ââ¬Å"hands offâ⬠and a flexible environment suits employees. While certain businesses may adopt this theory, and it is clear that in modern business, even the more rational approaches are influenced by it, the reality is different. Since the introduction of the Fordist model, production has been dominated by this rational idea. It was designed to increase efficiency in productivity by using assembly lines and the division of labour into smaller parts increased control (Pugh D S & Hickson D J, 1989), thus dehumanizing the production process.McDonaldization is a metaphor used to describe the integral part of rational processes; s imilar to those explained by Weber and Taylor, in modern day organisations. McDonaldization is described by John Ritzer as ââ¬Å"the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world. â⬠(ââ¬ËThe Case of McDonaldsââ¬â¢ from Wilson F, 2004). It uses the example of the fast food restaurant to explain the reality of how businesses operate; in particular those concerned with mass production.The dimensions of Mcdonaldization encompass the efficiency, calculability and predictability that it produces. Close rules and regulations, dictated by a central command, look to improve efficiency and have very strong connotations with Weberââ¬â¢s theory of bureaucracy. The emphasis on quantative aspects of the product and the interest in quantity over quality again convey the de-humanisation of the workforce, which portrays the parallels with Taylorââ¬â¢s theory of Scientifi c management.The predictability is inevitable and what firms adopting Mcdonaldization metaphor strive for, which again demonstrates the similarities with the ââ¬Å"production lineâ⬠aspect of Taylorââ¬â¢s theory. It is clear that the classical theories still influence todays companies, however McDonaldization appears to use elements of the rhetoric ideals, which makes it different from Fordism. Subsequently in Ritzerââ¬â¢s critique of McDonaldization he explains how bored workers, bent the rules for amusement to make the dull routines more bearable. like catching a girl eye, as she walked inâ⬠(ââ¬ËThe Case of McDonaldsââ¬â¢ from Wilson F, 2004). Burawoy notes how these games are beneficial as they give some control back to the workforce and are thusâ⬠tolerated by management, because they enhance the efficiency of workâ⬠(BURAWOY. M, 1985). This supports the assumption that the ideas of the classical theorists are evident but have evolved and encomp assed ideas from more modern works, that insist on the idea of employee empowerment being beneficial to an organisation.Despite the more modern theorists approach, the orthodox rhetoric is essentially an ââ¬Å"idealâ⬠and tends to ignore the true reality of modern organisations. I have experienced firsthand, working in a fast food restaurant where it has also seen the benefits of ââ¬Å"McDonaldizingâ⬠. The restaurant served fried food of a reasonable quality. The job required little skill and we had to follow rules on how we served, cleaned and produced the food and drink. The managers were there to make sure we followed these rules, which were in place to provide efficiency and consistency, regarding the food and service.The management however deployed a slight autocratic approach, as the chefs were able to decide what the special for the day would be, as well as the employees deciding when to clean and arrange certain advertisements and displays. My experience is an ex ample that supports the view that the classical theories are still relevant. Yet the more modern influences on this particular organisation; by allowing the employees some control, explain that those classical theories are somewhat outdate, and that they have evolved as business has developed.Instrumental rationality is very important when looking at working practices. ââ¬Å"It helps a person decide how to do things, such as efficiently perform technical tasks, resolve conflicts and solve problems by regarding the factors involved in a situation as variable to be controlled. â⬠(BusinessDictionary. com 2012) Instrumental rationality looks at how to organize and not why. It often disregards morals and ethics, and firms that adopt the use of instrumental rationality in there organisation are often focused on gaining maximum profits. Weber saw bureaucracy as a paradigm for instrumental rationality.He believed that Bureaucracy as the most efficient structure; and the fact it disre garded morals and ethics made bureaucracy an instrumentally rational practice. Many modern working practices still use instrumental rationality in modern day working practices; such as businesses which follow a fordist approach or firms that have ââ¬Å"McDonaldizedâ⬠practices. Taylor devoted a lot of time to looking at how instrumental rationality could be used in industry. () His conclusion to his research showed that ââ¬Å"the means of improving worker efficiency and roductivity take precedence over the end of respect for human dignity. â⬠This rationality shares connotations with the idea of a Fordist approach, and thus demonstrates how instrumental rationality and Scientific Management go hand in hand. Subsequently we can see through the use of instrumental rationality, the classical theoristââ¬â¢s views are still relevant today. A working diary of a Customer Service worker demonstrates how instrumental rationality functions in the workplace. It also conveys elem ents of Bureaucracy and Scientific Management in modern day working practices.The writer of the diary explains various situations, which show the appearance of these ideas in current practices. The woman explains how they receive gold stars for increased sales. This is patronizing and highlights the simple and regulated work that these people are asked to do. The more sales they achieve the more they are recognised. This shows instrumental rationality in the way the management deals with its employees. They are trying to increase sales by offering incentives to the workers; in the form of gold stars. Yet they are doing this at the expense of the employeeââ¬â¢s motivation.This links in with the McDonaldization example that explains the ââ¬Å"Irrationality of Rationalityâ⬠. This concept with reference to the Working Diary shows that the firm is being rational by trying to improve efficiency within the organisation yet they are neglecting substantive rationality by ignoring th e needs of its employees. Furthermore the extent to which this worker is monitored, shows how little control the workers have over their jobs, and it is managements job to make sure they are following the rules precisely. ââ¬Å"okay. How about last Sunday? You clocked in 27 seconds late. This demonstrates how apparent instrumental rationality is in this organisation, as it is purely about how to organize their employees and disregarding the human side of management. Thus the reality of working situations show that elements of Bureaucracy and Scientific Management still exists, but subsequently suggests that these theories are somewhat outdated despite being a reality in modern working practices. (Workstiff Diaries, customer service. 2004) The shift to a Post-Bureaucratic state in working practices, suggests that Bureaucracy is dead.The alleged shift to a post industrial society implies that the classical theorists are outdated and that there is no relevance to them in modern day wo rking practices. However when looking at the reality of current day organisations, it is important to ask the question; has there been a shift to a Post-Bureaucratic state and if so to what extent? When comparing the Fordist approach, to more recent approaches used in Businesses today, I feel that to some extent there has been a shift. An example looks at Fordism and the metaphor of McDonaldization.McDonaldization is essentially Fordism, but it offers a more human, and autocratic approach. However when looking at example such as the Workers Diary this shows, that in reality the shift towards a post-bureaucratic state; where trust, empowerment and shared responsibility become a reality, has not happened, and the ideas of the classical theorists still have a basis in modern day working practices. It is possible to argue that the views of the classical theorists are outdated. We can see that from these approaches there lacks a human element in the way that organisations that adopt thes e theories act.Despite continuous evolution of these theories, it is clear that they do not encompass the needs of their employees in modern day working practices. However to answer the question we have to look at whether the ideas of Bureaucracy and Scientific management still have relevance in modern working practices. The answer to this is that the classical theories form the basis of many working practices throughout business. In reality, many firms still adopt the ideas of the classical theorists, in different measures. A very common cliche is that no organisation is the same.Despite the notion that every business requires its own way of operating; and that a contingency theory approach is often the way forward, the ideas of the classical theorists cannot be ignored. Modern working practices have developed since Weber and Taylors theories, and they will continue to do so. However it is hard to see a time where the classical theoristââ¬â¢s views will not be relevant. Word Cou nt- 1879 Bibliography * Anonomous. (2012) Customer Service, WorkingStiff Diaries, from the US in the late 1990s . Working Stiff Diaries, [blog] 12th Sept 2004, Available at: http://www. weblab. rg/workingstiff/ [Accessed: Wednesday 12th December 2012]. * BURAWOY, M. (1985). The politics of production: factory regimes under capitalism and socialism. London, Verso. * Businessdictionary. com (n. d. )à What is instrumental rationality? definition and meaning. [online] Available at: http://www. businessdictionary. com/definition/instrumental-rationality. html [Accessed: 14 Dec 2012]. * Pugh D S & Hickson D J (1989) Writers on Organizations, 4th Edition London; Penguin, pages 94-97 * ââ¬ËThe Case of McDonaldsââ¬â¢ from Wilson F (2004)à Organizational Behaviour and Work, pps 55-59
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