Public Policy for Animal Welfare in India

Public Policy for ANIMAL WELFARE in INDIA. Issues, Challenges and Recommendations Submitted by – DR. PUNIT G. (PGP-2), IIMA. ARTICLE 51 of INDIAN CONSTITUTION Article 51 of Indian constitution provides protection to animals in India by ensuring â€Å"Compassion to all living creatures†. For ensuring the same, PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS act was enacted in 1960 under which the Government of India instituted the ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD of INDIA for carrying out the activities mentioned in the above mentioned act. Following are some of the important points to be discussed in this backdrop: 1.Saving of DOG population from mass killing by local municipal corporations. a. Enforcing the ANIMAL BIRTH CONTROL PROGRAMME throughout India, i. e. replacing mass killing of stray dogs with vaccination & sterilization programmes. 2. Creating SPCA’s (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), monitoring their activities, and derecognizing those which are non-working or misu sing their mandate. 3. Work towards licensing and taxation of all dog and cat sellers. The report that follows will discuss each issue in the backdrop of the necessity for creating such an article in the act, the relevance in today? time, critical analysis of the policy, any suggestions/recommendations to improve the efficacy for the purpose for which it was put in the first place. ABC program: â€Å"SAVING of DOG POPULATION from MASS KILLING† OVERVIEW: Mass killing of stray dogs was started in India in the 19th century during the times of Britishruled India. Almost 50,000 dogs were killed every year even after Independence by the local municipal authorities with an objective to eradicate RABIES and also reduce the stray dog population in India. But in 1993, finally the government admitted that this policy had een a complete failure as human deaths due to rabies had actually increased, and also the dog population was on a rise. This meant that the application of the technique (mass-killing) which was followed in developed countries, did not work in India (a developing nation) as the two environments and scenarios are hugely different from each other. Hence in 1994, the killing programme was replaced by ABC (Animal Birth Control) which meant masssterilization (with mass-vaccination against rabies) instead of mass-killing. In either case, the final objective of the programme is straight-forward – â€Å"Controlling the population of stray dogs. OBJECTIVE of POPULATION CONTROL program: Rather than understanding the pros and cons of any method, let us first begin by laying out the objectives for any such system to be in place. Here are a few of the possible objectives: 1. Protecting the public health at large (as dogs are carriers/vectors for many diseases, including Rabies) 2. Maintaining community hygiene, especially in the urban context. The reasons for doing so are based on some of the facts and statistics highlighted below: i. ii. India has the highest population of stray dogs in the world, an estimated 19 million. 0% of all rabies deaths world-wide occur in India, about 30,000 deaths reported each year. iii. iv. 42% of dog-bite victims are children Noise pollution caused by night fights between dog-packs is a severe problem for senior citizens. v. Stray dogs on runways have forced pilots to take evasive action, causing near-accidents to aircraft and necessitating orders from the Mumbai High Court to IAAI to take all necessary measures to clear airport areas of stray dogs. UNDERSTANDING THE â€Å"STRAY DOG† ISSUE: â€Å"Stray dogs† are the ownerless, abandoned, un-muzzled, wandering dogs on the urban road, i. . Free-ranging urban dogs (wikipedia). This means either they are ownerless right from their birth, or become ownerless at some point in their lifetime. These may be pure-bred, true mixed-breed, or un-bred (e. g. Indian pariah). Overpopulation of these stray dogs can cause public health problems for the societies in which they wander freely. The important point to be understood here is that – the societies at risk are majorly the URBAN societies. A lot of literature regarding the stray dogs talks in the context of urban landscape only.Hence it is imperative to understand the reason behind strays becoming a nuisance/menace/problem for the urban landscape, but not majorly for the rural landscape. Is it an URBAN MENACE? Stray dogs or the Indian pariahs are considered scavengers. Principally, this means that they live on the scraps or leftovers from the human households. This is not shocking as history tells us that dogs are those descendants from the wolves which got domesticated due to the humans using them in their hunting expeditions, and rewarding them by passing over chunks of meat or leftovers from the kill.This also implies that this particular evolution of the wolf species has been artificially induced by the humankind. This backdrop is essential in the light of the dis cussion ahead, as the SCAVENGER nature or utility feature is a part of the domestication feature during the evolution of the dogs. Since ancient times, dogs domesticated around villages serving two primary functions. These being: A. Sanitation B. Security As dogs used to live off on the scraps and the edible waste from the house-holds, they became scavengers in addition to the other natural scavenger animals (including birds).This also meant that they served as an important step in the maintenance of hygiene of the villages by performing effective waste management. In the urban scenario, such a natural waste management system is of no use as there are better waste management systems at disposal. This led to scarcity in the natural food (leftovers) for dogs, leading to the usual survival phenomena of forming packs and searching for food. Hence, this puts the urban society at risk. But given the open access to garbage (a result of improper waste management) in urban areas of developin g countries, dogs have found a way to live and breed freely.Hence, the resultant has been that the stray dog-population has been on a rise even when mass-killing was in place. So the technique of control is not a problem in first place, but the lack of proper waste management in the urban scenario. This also brings out an important hypothesis – â€Å"Population control measure of any kind is bound to fail in absence of proper urban waste management systems which lead to free-access of these stray animals to waste which acts as their source of food. † Dogs are territorial animals – that means they guard their territory, not just from other dogs but from anyone they perceive as intruders.This is a feature which has been exploited / put to use by the humans for decades of their symbiosis together. But in the urban setting, this utility feature is not put to use at all, except the use of certain breeds of dogs (mainly nonIndian origin) for security/guarding purpose. The innate guarding nature of dogs lead to these strays barking on beggars entering into new territories, attacking speeding vehicles ONLY DURING NIGHT TIMES, etc. An interesting example to prove this case is the instance of a few stray dogs barking on the 26-11 attackers when they landed by a ferry in Mumbai.These strays were continuously barking at those people trying to make the locals aware that they are sensing some deviation from the normal – perhaps sensing a major threat. But the locals chose to ignore this, and the rest is a fateful history. This also brings out an important hypothesis – â€Å"Stray dogs are nuisance in urban settings not because they are not a fit in the urban environment, but because we haven’t been able to tap into their innate abilities and utilize them for maintain the centuriesold symbiosis between the two species. †ANALYSIS/EVALUATION/CRITIQUE OF THE FACTS: i. India has the highest population of stray dogs in the world, a n estimated 19 million. A simple look at this fact makes us think that it is time to control this population. But a deeper understanding of dynamics of dog population will clear a lot of air. Dog populations follow a specific growth curve – the initial being an EXPONENTIAL growth curve, followed by decrease in birth rate and increase in death rate reaching equilibrium depending on the carrying capacity of the environment to keep this balance.The carrying capacity of environment means the availability, distribution and quality of resources (shelter, food and water) which aid the natural growth of dog population. (Jimenez-Coello) This also implies that dog population control measure cannot be seen independent of the factors which impact it. Hence, control on the carrying factors is a pre-requisite for the direct control measures like â€Å"sterilization† to actually succeed. ii. 80% of all rabies deaths world-wide occur in India, about 30,000 deaths reported each year. R abies is a preventable viral disease transmitted through the saliva of INFECTED animals.Dogs are the most common source of transmission to humans. The control measures adopted currently are the â€Å"Vaccination programs† against rabies. Now the efficacy of such a program depends on a lot of factors which involve maintaining the cold storage or cold supply chain of the vaccine, administering the vaccine when the dog is normal health, administering in puppy stage, regular annual vaccination, etc. The question which arises here is how a stray dog, living in open conditions, can be made to confirm to all the above criteria. Hence, the efficacy of this system will always be questionable.Also, a major loophole exists in actual implementation of this measure – the number of dogs vaccinated by any animal welfare organization is simply taken at the face-value by the AWB. Shouldn? t there be a correlation between the population of dogs in a given area, number of dogs vaccinated and number of rabies incidents reported/found? This should be an evaluation criterion to confirm if the organization is efficient in performing the objective of rabies control. iii. Noise pollution caused by night fights between dog-packs is a severe problem for senior citizens.Do dogs bark only when they fight? If yes, do they occur only during the night? Many such questions can be raised to actually test the truth behind this fact. Yes, barking leads to noise pollution, disturbance during night etc. but dogs bark when they feel threatened OR perceive someone to be a threat to their territory. We also need to prepare a report on number of petty thefts (stealing car audio, burglary etc. ) being prevented due to stray dogs barking at night. That would be a valid critique for the above fact. THE SOLUTION (Combination of CONTROL and UTILITY)A unique model which suits a developing nation like INDIA needs to be created for ensuring that the dog population doesn? t actually become a mena ce to the society. A species which has long been living in harmony and symbiosis with the human race since ages, doesn? t mutate into a pest for humans – just because we haven? t found a utility of this domesticated species. Along with ANIMAL BIRTH CONTROL PROGRAM and VACCINATION PROGRAM, a „COLLECTIVE PETTING? methodology is proposed which is as follows: POLICE SYSTEM Aid to curb urban crime (theft, burglary, etc) Search & Rescue assistance during DISASTERS.EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Involving students in proper care of strays. Development of a broader understanding of urban environmental balance in students. Development of caring attitude for animals in students. – NGO’s Driving force of this entire project VETERINARY HEALTHCARE Preventive Health care system. Market research. Outsourcing of food & medicines for the project. Efficient implementation of the project. – – Main co-ordinator between all the key players. Think-Tank for this entire p roject. – HOUSING SOCIETIES Collective Adoption of Stray dogs. Better security solution. Reduction in menace to the society.

Nordstrom Case Study

Customer Service at Nordstrom and Potential Conflicts Case Study Vanessa E. Rivera Saint Leo University Customer Service at Nordstrom and Potential Conflicts Case Study With 50,000 employees and 170 stores throughout the United States Nordstrom is a major player in the luxury goods department. Founded originally as a shoe store by John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin, Nordstrom became the largest independent shoe chain in the United States. By 1960, Nordstrom decided to enter the clothing arena by purchasing Best Apparel, and continued to expand it markets through the acquisition of other luxury goods. Nordstrom’s continued growth and success stem from their business philosophy based on â€Å"exceptional service, selection, quality and value† (About Nordstrom, 2011). Today Nordstrom â€Å"has grown from one downtown Seattle shoe store into a nationwide fashion specialty chain with renowned services, generous size ranges and a selection of the finest apparel, shoes, and accessories for the entire family† (About Nordstrom, 2011). For over 100 years, the focus continues to be the same; catering to customer needs, individually. Nordstrom’s business philosophy could not be achieved without its exceptional employees. Nordstrom has an excellent record in the advancement of women and minorities. In their commitment to diversity they â€Å"cultivate an environment where the contributions of every employee, customer and vendor  are respected† (Nordstrom Cares, 2011). Their focus on caring for their people even goes to creating a wellness program. The wellness program designed to help employees focus on better eating, better living, and a better sense of balance. Their wellness program provides support through on-site health screening, coaching, and online resources. Nordstrom employees  are treated  as a part of a family. It is no wonder why Nordstrom continues to be voted Forbes 100 Best Companies to work for. Their empowering of the employees is what stimulates the excellent customer service they provide. Their reverted pyramid is a representation of their philosophy and structure. At the top, of the pyramid are their customers, followed by sales and support people. In the middle are the department managers followed by the merchandising group, store managers, and regional managers. At the bottom, of the pyramid is where you will find the executive team and board of directors (Nordstrom Our Structure, 2011). Nordstrom’s  outstanding  efforts have helped steer this luxury retailer from the economic problems in 2008 and 2009. The 2010 annual report card shows an increase in net sales, earnings before income and taxes, net earnings, earning per basic share, earning per diluted share, and cash dividend paid per share. To be specific, net sales for 2010 have increased by 12. 7% from last year and net earnings have increased by 39%. Nordstrom came out of the Great Depression and will continue to come out of the many financial crises they encounter because of their approach to dealing with customers. The implications of their philosophies can be seen in their annual report. In times of recession were customers choose to spend their money wisely, they choose to spend it in a place were their experience  is maximized. â€Å"Nordstrom knows  it’s  not the price but the customer service that gains and retains loyal customers that generate strong profits† (Nelson & Quick, 2011). Conflict is â€Å"any situation in which incompatible goals, attitudes, emotions, or behaviors lead to disagreement op opposition for two or more parties† (Nelson & Quick, 2011). Dealing with dissatisfied customers can be a great source of conflict for retailers. Conflict can be considered as â€Å" a breakdown in the standard mechanism of decision making, so that an individual or group experiences difficulty in selecting an alternative† (Rahim, 2000). Given Nordstrom’s approach to customer service and customer relationships the â€Å"breakdown† causing difficulties does not occur. They diffuse conflict situations by choosing to take the blame or burden of proof away from the customer. Their ability to deliver happy customers has led them to continue for over 100 years through the various ups and downs of the economy. One of the major problems affecting Retailers with their success is customer satisfaction. Retailers know that satisfied customers are loyal customers† (Ahmad, 2009). Nordstrom’s approach to customer service and customer relationship management  is intended  to build relationships that result in customers returning to make more purchases. Nordstrom seeks to enhance customer relationships by carrying the right products that satisfy client needs, their presentation of goods generate interest in their clients, and their ability to provide extraordinary customer service been proven to be appropriate with the release of their 2010 annual report. Customers are the most important assets of a company, therefore, the â€Å"competitive leadership goes to those companies that are customer-oriented. Customers are increasingly demanding unique, individualized buying experiences that enhance existing relationships as well as provide fresh, exciting sources of value† (Ross, 2008). Customers today perceive value arising from their experience they receive to be greater than the actual goods they acquire. Nordstrom’s approach to customer service and customer relationship management allows Nordstrom to continue to be a competitive giant in the retailer industry. One way of classifying styles of conflict management styles is to examine the styles’ assertiveness (the extent to which you want your goals met) and the cooperativeness (the extent to which you want to see the other party’s concern met)† (Nelson & Quick, 2011). Nordstrom’s management culture states, â€Å" healthy competition is good† (Nordstrom Cares, 2011). Competing is a style that is assertive in nature and usually uncooperative. This is not the case with Nordstrom. Management encourages winning through a team environment. Competition in small doses is stimulating; competition encourages people to go above and beyond to meet their goals. The key to Nordstrom competing style is that they do not achieve their goals at the expense of others. They recognize outstanding performance but value kindness above all. â€Å"We still believe the golden rule has a lot of merit: Treat others as  you’d  like to be treated. We work hard to offer great service to each and every customer and we believe great service begins with courtesy to everyone, customers and coworkers alike† (Nordstrom Cares, 2011). Their style also reflects collaboration. Nordstrom works towards collaboration arriving at a solution that is satisfactory to both their customers and employees. Their focus is providing customers with the best possible service. They meet client needs and while doing so accomplish their desire of excellent customer service. It is a win-win style for the organization and the client. Nordstrom also approaches customer relationship management through compromising. In a compromising style, both parties are equally powerful. A compromising style  is used  Ã¢â‚¬Å" for avoiding protracted conflict† (Rahim, 2000).

What is meant by effective career management and planning and who is Essay - 2

What is meant by effective career management and planning and who is responsible for this Illustrate your answer by referring to relevant literature, theory and experience - Essay Example In building up a career several important aspects have to considered. In other words the career has to be effectively managed by an individual himself. He has to look for opportunities which would lead him to the top position. In business terms it is also the organization for which the individual is working for. Nowadays as the businesses have reached their top position it can analyzed that careers revolve around the work related activities. In order to manage a career it is important that several aspects are considered (Rosemary 2005; Arnold 1997). Effective career management is when the person handles his career well to reach the top position. The realms of career management revolve around the work that they are into. Previously the employees looked for opportunities where they could progress their career and secure their job. However in the recent years it is seen that this concept has shifted towards a new category of expectance. The transactional contract has taken up the position of the old view as the employees now look forward to a better quality of life from their employer along with progression to better positions. In other words the new concept has begin to move more towards career management. Individuals nowadays are striving to achieve top positions and not making themselves loyal to a single organization. Herriot & Pemberton (1995) give an excellent review of this current situation by terming it an economic exchange between the employer and the employee. Both the employer and employee are working for their persona l benefits and the integration has now become horizontal along with the previous approach of vertical. It depends on both the employees and employers to achieve a sustainable contract so that the individual can achieve success in his career. In order to manage career effectively the employees nowadays are looking forwards to the concept of Herriot & Pemberton (1995). They are moving towards a revolutionary era of ‘careerism’. By

Linkage Map Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Linkage Map - Assignment Example Competency based management ensures adequate support for the liaising of staff planning with organizational planning. This is through enabling businesses analyze the present manpower capacity according to competencies according to the capacity required in the achievement of vision, mission and organizational goals (McLaughlin & Jordan, 1999). The human resource approaches needed in ensuring achievement of business goals are; staffing, career development, succession planning and trading. The approaches are formulated and implemented to minimize the existing gaps between the human resource competencies, and the desired level of realizing organizational goals. The strategies and human resource programs are continuously monitored and also evaluated based on regular aspects, to realize movement along the organizational appropriate direction. This also involves the identification of the employee gaps in terms of competency, and illustrating the required corrective measures. The strategic human resources cycle in the areas of planning and evaluation are illustrated in accordance to the linkage map illustrated below. Human resource planning ensures the systematic process of planning required in realization of the most valuable organizational asset, which are the staffs. The key objective of human resource strategy entails the determination of the best fit of staffs and their jobs. This is through minimizing employee shortage and enhancing the competency and development of the organizational employees. HR is increasingly being considered a strategic partner in the development of organizational competitive advantage in a sustainable manner. The human resource professionals illustrate the high value of HR in the areas of increasing revenue and ensuring financial efficiency. The high financial or revenue value is illustrated through

Classroom Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Classroom Management - Essay Example These elements are what a good teacher must keep in mind in order to achieve a well-managed classroom. Deviating from the behaviorist theory of education, a teacher who wants to handle a class successfully must remember to make the student the center of everything. In organizing a classroom, the student should be the utmost consideration. From the placement of materials to the arrangement of each chair and tables, the student should be of primary importance. Materials must be arranged in a way the students can easily find them. Also, they must be well-kept so as not to bring any harm to the students. Chairs and tables must be set in a way that brings not only comfort to the student but also puts him in the mindset to study. At times, chairs and tables need to be re-arranged in a certain way so as to pique the curiosity of the students and engage them in the lesson. The teacher should always keep in mind that the arrangement of materials, desks and chairs should facilitate the learning of the class. Motivation comes in many methods. Contrary to the behaviorist theory, it is not only through memorization, drills and practices that a teacher can make a student learn. Motivation is an important aspect of classroom management as this can spell a productive or a boring class. In the assigned video clip (Classroom Management, 1995-2010) , motivation was shown in a pre-lesson activity the teacher had given even before the students entered the classroom. I think this was a very good idea. Teachers should remember that not all students may want to come to class. Some may be sleepy, not interested or just not in the mood that particular day. If the teacher allows these students to come to class, chances are their demeanor would affect the productivity of the class and the effectiveness of the teacher. Motivation should go beyond a list of words to remember or numerous

International Relations Theorist With Their Theories And Provided Essay

International Relations Theorist With Their Theories And Provided Reading - Essay Example The theory adds that poor countries cannot achieve riches due to inadequate natural resources. A nation’s economic growth is limited in the case it runs out of financial resources such as fertile land. All the resources are termed as incapable of increasing productive capacities of an economy. Developing nations have excessive populations. The serious shortage of capital and land is common, and it leads to damaging implications. With lesser lands, cultivation encounters a significant fall in activities that are the major sources of income for poor countries. Farmers are not able to reap benefits of their inputs as lands are fragmented through government enforcement or inheritance to ensure social fairness in society. The other issue is acute levels of food shortage. These elements, as highlighted in Lewis Theory of Development model, hinder economic growth while leading to economic problems such as starvation. The second theory is Chenery’s Patterns of Development. The ideology illustrates those empirical analysts in structural change identify patterns of historical under-development against non-Western nations. The approach contrasts with Rostow’s application as they do not take the assumption that savings and investments increases are sufficient in producing economic growth. Even as savings and investment are perceived as necessary conditions for enhancing growth, alternative changes within the structures of any country are necessary for transitioning from traditional economies to modern ones.2 From this, lack of skilled human capital is a hindrance. Poor nations have minimal budgetary allocations to sectors of education and health.

Theories of the origin of religion by Durkheim and Freud Essay

Theories of the origin of religion by Durkheim and Freud - Essay Example Since faith has always been a subject of grave concern for a large majority of the people belonging to diverse ethno-racial and social backgrounds since ever, the topic maintains great sociological significance in its scope. Religion is rightly stated to be an essential part of the public and private life of the individuals belonging to various cultures and civilisations since the known history of the globe (R Lowe, 1963:532-3). It is partly because of man’s developing strong belief in the metaphysical objects and supernatural powers existing in the universe, with which man maintains emotional and sentimental association (C Ember & M Ember, 2007:393). These supernatural powers are considered to be strongly influencing the destiny of the people by dint of their control over the universal phenomena. Not only this that these powers are in a position of providing the humans with emotional and financial support, but also they serve as the forces that play decisive role in protectin g them from all internal setbacks and external threats (A Kroeber, 1963:82-3). Additionionally, these forces are thought to be having the power to inflict woes and pains upon the humans; as well as liberating them from these calamities at the moment when the humans seek their support on finding themselves absolutely vulnerable. (Ember & Ember, 2007:395). In other terms, supernatural forces have been thought to be maintaining absolute control over the destiny of humans in all respects. Consequently, primitive man had established his belief in these powers in order to escape pains and sufferings of different kinds, and for obtaining all comforts and joys life offered to him, along with attaining pelf, power and possession that could earn dominant place for him over fellow-humans and other creatures. Almost similar views have been articulated by distinguished French sociologist-theorist Emile Durkheim in his Elementary Forms of the Religious Life (1912). Durkheim’s Perspective: While discussing the origin of religion, Durkheim seeks supports from the relics of ancient era clans observing distinctive spiritual norms and practices. â€Å"A religion is†, Durkheim asserts, â€Å"a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, including set apart and forbidden beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them† (J Breaux, 2008:1). The theorist is of the opinion that the nature of bonding among the humans in primitive era was limiteed in the sense that every individual was bound to fulfil the needs attributed to him, his family and clan, without seeking help from the other groups outside the tribe altogether. As a result, everyone had to get involved into the hunting and food-gathering activities. Hence, the concept of in-group and out-group used to prevail in such a strong manner that the people did not bother to render any assistance to the members of the external g roups (J Macionis, 2008:481). It was partially because of the fear of assault and attack from the external tribes, which created rivalry among the ancient time clans against one another. Such a state of absolute isolation not only kept the primitive era humans away from the fellow-beings, but also developed his strong relationship with their specific clans on the one side, and the supernatural powers on the other. Since supernatural powers could turn out to be supportive one with regards to the accomplishments of the basic human needs and desires (H Ross,

Measure and Light Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Measure and Light - Essay Example This can be enjoyed at the simplest level by anyone, even birds are mentioned, but there are also those who understand the science of music – how it works , how it constructs links , how it can be composed. He quotes St Augustine of Hippo from the fourth century C.E. in ‘De musica’1 as saying that this is the science of music, a mathematical science. Music is described as an expression of relationships, a mathematical relationship. Augustine’s claim was that number was needed to prevent chaos within the universe. Because these are mathematical concepts the same principles can be applied in the field of the visual arts. In the mediaeval period it was believed that contemplation of geometry would lead on to thoughts of the divine, pointing to what lies outside our normal fields of vision. Augustine realised that both music and architecture have this aesthetic value. Augustine was aware that architecture uses this science of number, but was aware that not ever y architect was necessarily aware of the rules, even though he could apply them. He considered though that there could be no building of beauty unless the rules were both applied and could be seen to have done so. The whole creative process has to be placed within a framework of mathematical rules, of harmony and proportion. The contemplation of such things were believed to lead to a revelation of God. Mention is made of wave after wave of iconoclasm which aimed to limit this aim of medieval art, but which was never able to fully suppress it. Instead as time passed new styles emerged , ever more fitted to produce the religious experience aimed for . The Wisdom of Solomon is quoted , saying of God ‘Thou hast ordered all things in measure in number and weight ,’ ( Wisdom 11 v 21),2 with the complete creation being seen a heavenly composition, but also an artistic or architectural one. As part of this the buildings were seen as being right in the will of God as they produc e feelings of both awe and reverence of the divine. This, according to Curtius, was the world view of the time. They take the place in western Christianity, of the icon among Orthodox Christians, where ideas about the ultimate take the form of visual beauty. Two important strands of thought are described – the unusual version of Platonism based in Chartres, and from Clairvaux a more spiritual aspect. There was an emphasis upon mathematics and the consequences of such thinking. The word architect is discussed with its two early meanings: that of the simple mason and also the cleric in charge of a building. Then later came the idea of the architect not as a craftsman but as a scientist, a ‘theoreticus’ of his art, who quite deliberately uses scientific principles to achieve what is required. The author points how we must not impose modern ideas of what an architect is upon these medieval builders. We know value great craftsmanship, but such workers were little valu ed in that period, as compared with the theoreticus. Note that link with the word ‘theory ‘. These men were clerics. They did not actually create physical things, climb ladders or use building tools. That was the task of skilled craftspeople. Boethius is mentioned, with his idea that mere carrying out rules to create a work of art if akin to slavery , whereas knowledge of the science from which a work is created is like being a

BSc Engineering Managment - Change Management Essay

BSc Engineering Managment - Change Management - Essay Example Efficient organizations are aware of the importance of change and when they have to bring about such a change within their organizations. More importantly these organizations are aware of how this change is going to be brought about. Bringing change to an organization is by no means an easy task there are various factors that need to be taken into consideration before change can be implemented. To efficiently implement change within their organization leaders tend to make use of an approach known as change management. Change management is defined as a process that helps management of an organization to guide its employees, teams and affiliated groups towards a desired direction (Kotter, 2011). The process of change management is usually helps organizations to implement change within their organizations as smoothly as possible. The process of change management affects almost all departments of an organization it is therefore important to inform employees within these departments and m entally prepare them regarding the implementation of change. The selection of change strategy depends upon an organization’s goals, objectives of implementing the change and process that are observed within the organization (Mayle, 2006). Underlying principles of organizations: 1. The most basic principle of an organization is its goals. ... Any contradiction between these goals would only lead to confusion and difficulty in the achievement of the overall goals of the organization (Child, 2005). 2. The second basic principle that is considered vital to an organization is communication and coordination. Communication is basically the manner in which information is efficiently transferred from one entity to another. Here the term entity refers to an organization, department or a person. Communication is the part of an organization that requires one party to listen, understand and inform others of an opinion or facts. Through proper communication an organization is able to efficiently coordinate activities amongst its employees and departments (Child, 2005). 3. Another principle that organizations have to adhere to is the principle of specialization. Here the term specialization is used in terms of the set of skills that employees of an organization possess. With the help of employees that have specialized in certain areas of business management. With the help of such employees an organization is able to obtain information regarding a particular field and using that information organizations are able to gain competitive advantage over their rivals. The competitive advantage in turn helps the organization in generating greater profits (Child, 2005). 4. Employees working at a lower level of the hierarchical structure must be handled with proper respect and care. At any given time these employees must receive their orders from a single authoritative figure and must report to that single figure only. By placing more than one authoritative figure in charge of subordinates the organization runs a risk of confusion, which in turn could delay the operations and hinder the daily activities of the