Sunday, October 6, 2019
Probation Client Needs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Probation Client Needs - Assignment Example This programââ¬â¢s aims are to reduce the drug use and drug dependency of female inmates on parole and probation. It is a holistic program that also includes skills training as well as family and other types of counseling as well as recreational and social activities (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (b), 2013). Another similar program is also in use in California for the men and this one also aims at reducing the recidivism rates among the male inhabitants that have been paroled from Californian correctional facilities (Study evaluates substance abuse in probation, parole admissions (a), 2011). This has also had a positive influence in reducing the rates of return to custody of male inmates especially those on probation and released early on parole (Hinkle, 2008). Another program is the Dallas County Judicial Treatment Center implemented in Dallas Texas, a residential substance abuse program specifically aimed at those on probation. It aims to reduce the prison overcrowding in the Texas correctional system. It not only includes modern therapeutic substance abuse treatments utilizing the 12-step method but also includes life-skills training, drug education as well as counseling (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System, 2005). These programs have all in addition to reducing the costs of running prisons and alleviating the overcrowding problem in these facilities, also resulted in better results for the offenders, corrections system and the communities in which they are located. 2. These programs have all got as a major strength the fact they have taken a more holistic view of the problems of offenders with substance abuse histories. They also look at other... This essay discusses the parole and probation clients who go into substance abuse programs have shown improvement in more ways than those who do not go through those programs or those who only undergo custodial sentences. The major improvement has been in the area of personal rehabilitation. Criminal behavior brought on by substance abuse can only be reduced if the root cause of the behavior, the substance abuse, is dealt with as only punishing the offender results in him or her returning to the substance abuse on completion of the sentence. Furthermore, if the other usually connected causes of the behavior and substance abuse, such as lack of a job, lack of job skills, lack of housing and a community where drugs are easily available are not tackled at the same time, the offender actually ends up building tolerance and making the substance abuse problem even more serious. All over the US programs that are addressing these root cause of drug-related criminal behavior are producing bet ter results in the rehabilitation of inmates. In conclusion, a program that looks at the needs of the offenders in a more holistic and realistic way stands a better chance of success. Studies have also shown that offender rehabilitation programs that not only include the right kind of treatment for those with substance abuse issues, coupled with the most appropriate community based programs are the most successful when it comes to enabling the criminal justice system impart both punishment and rehabilitation to those convicted of crimes.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Education Problems ( The Risk ) Research Proposal
Education Problems ( The Risk ) - Research Proposal Example It was advocated as a way to insure that students were receiving the education they were entitled to, and not just pushing them through the motion of graduation. However, critics have contended that it is ineffectual, punitive, inflexible, and hurts minority students the most, the very one's the Act was purported to help. An evaluation of the important markers of achievement scores, drop out rate, and performance gap will show that the NCLB has left minority students farther behind, and in fact is fundamentally discriminatory in its implementation. The NCLB was enacted with good intentions and targeted the legitimate educational problems in the public school system, but the unintended consequences have prohibited the ACT from realizing its goals. The Act was passed with bipartisan support amid much fanfare with then President Bush stating, "These reforms express my deep belief in our public schools and their mission to build the mind and character of every child, from every background, in every part of America" (cited in US Department of Education, 2002, p.9). The fundamental principles of the NCLB came after decades of debate and stress that "schools and districts work best when they have greater control and flexibility, when scientifically proven teaching methods are employed, and when schools are held accountable for results" (US Department of Education, 2002, p.9). However, after 6 years of data it appears that schools and teachers have lost their autonomy and the results are being masked and hidden through unethical accou nting practices. Issues such as bilingual education are being used as a political hot button, with little regard for the students that the policies impact. Data is falsified, drop out rates soar, and the real problems go unnoticed in an air of false confidence. The situation has degenerated to the point that some states have considered abandoning the NCLB and forfeiting federal funding for education. It is of extreme importance to look at the latest data available and make an evaluation as to the future of the NCLB. It is the obligation of the citizens and legislature to assure we have an Act that works as designed and fulfills the lofty, and worthwhile, goals set by the NCLB. Literature Review One of the most focused upon characteristics of student data is what is called the 'Achievement Gap'. It is the performance gap that exists between the white students and the minority students. Traditionally, since the 1960s white students have outscored minorities at almost every level and subject due to socio-cultural and economic reasons, and the NCLB has a goal of closing this gap (Smith, 2005, p.513). However, this aspect of the NCLB is almost immeasurable. For the recent 4-year period beginning in 2004, the data required to evaluate the achievement gap only exists for 10 of the 50 states (Anderson, Medrich, & Fowler, 2007, p.549). To be measured as a minority sub-group, such as Hispanic, the school needs a minimum number of the minority students to be required to include them in the data. If the number of minority students is small, such as in a rural school, they are not required to disaggregate them in the data. Schools and districts can set this number arbitrarily and may be using it to hide minority results. According
HENRY CLAY AND THE PROTECTIVE TARIFF Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
HENRY CLAY AND THE PROTECTIVE TARIFF - Essay Example Its core principal is to protect the domestic economy rather than to raise revenue. An example of a protective tariff is seen in the importation of oranges. Orange fruit does not grow everywhere, and South American countries often produce massive quantities for export. If a country can produce oranges but can import them from South America cheaper than growing them domestically, a protective tariff might be applied. This tariff will inflate the price of the imported oranges so that they are equal to or higher than the price of domestic oranges. Tariffs for many years were primarily used to collect Federal revenue and protect start-up industries. The government largely restricted its activities to maintaining order and protecting property by imposing army, navy and courts tariffs in order to raise enough revenues to finance government programs. This made the government largely self supporting. During wars or in attempt to meet other needs, additional income was secured by raising the tariff and excercise tax rates. Short term and unanticipated capital needs (budget deficits) were usually covered by borrowing. Those favoring protective tariffs mostly engage in manufacturing sector that would be negatively impacted by foreign competition. Exporting areas that would be severely hurt by retaliatory trade measures imposed by their trading partners. The exporting countries also feel as though protective tariffs deal them a double blow since they export cash crops to trading partners affected by protective tariffs and have to purchase foodstuffs and manufactured goods that might be more costly due to the imposition of protective tariffs.Ã On the opposite end of the spectrum are two arguments in favor of protective tariffs. One is that it keeps money earned locally within the domestic economy. The idea being that if a man earns a paycheck from a local business, he should feed that money back into other local
Friday, October 4, 2019
Marketing Management exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Marketing Management exam - Essay Example Eight demand states in marketing of bifocal lenses are detailed below: Negative Demand: A product is said to face negative demand when a significant segment of the market dislikes it and even pays to avoid it (Kotler and Keller, 2006, p. 10). The fundamental task of marketing managers in this situation is to find out the reasons for this negative demand state to the product and take effective measures to counteract them (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 59). People in some countries have a negative demand for vaccination, but, it is very unlikely in the demand for bifocal lenses. No Demand (Nonexistent demand): When the target-market customers are unaware or are uninterested in a product, it is called no demand state (Kotler and Keller, 2006, p. 10). The main task of marketing managers in this state will be to connect potential product benefits to the needs and wants of the target-customers. This is also very unlikely in the case of demand for bifocal lenses, because, people are well aware of it. Latent Demand: It is when many prospective consumers share a strong need but that cannot be satisfied by the existing product (Kotler and Keller, 2006, p. 10). For example, demand for hair restoratives and painless diets (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 59). The marketing manager is, in this state, expected to measure the potential demand and develop products accordingly. Currently, sufficient quantities of bifocal lenses are available in the market to satisfy prospective demands for it. Latent demand is often described as a vague want (Baker, 1998, p. 80). Declining Demand: It is a state in which customers begin to buy a product less frequently or not at all (Kotler and Keller, 2006, p. 10). Even though demand for bifocal lenses is not declining, some factors can likely cause it in the future. In this case, the marketing management is responsible to analyze reasons and project better strategies to counteract the trend. Irregular Demand: This occurs when seasonal, monthly,
Relationship Between Shape and Diffusion Rate Essay Example for Free
Relationship Between Shape and Diffusion Rate Essay Aim To see whether there is a relationship between the surface area and the diffusion rate Hypothesis I predict that the smaller blocks of agar will turn clear, or diffuse first, as it has a smaller surface area. This is because there is less surface area and volume for the sulphuric acid to diffuse into. Apparatus * Three sizes of agar, 20x20x20mm, 20x20x10mm, 20x20x5mm * 240ml of sulphuric acid [80ml per beaker] * 3 100ml beakers * Tile used for placing the agar * Tissue to wipe off the sulphuric acid off the agar * 3 scalpels * Ruler, measurable in mm * Stop clock * Calculator Method 1. First, cut three pieces of sulphuric acid in the following sizes 20x20x20mm, 20x20x10mm, 20x20x5mm, as accurately as possible 2. Next, fill the three beakers with 80ml of sulphuric acid each 3. Then, prepare the stop clock, and make sure it is has been reset 4. After, place the three blocks of agar into the sulphuric all at the same time, as well as starting the stop clock once the agar is in the sulphuric acid. 5. Carefully stir the three beakers using the scalpels. 6. Watch until one of the blocks have gone completely clear. 7. Once one of the blocks have gone completely clear, stop the stop clock and take out the three blocks of agar and place on the tissue, and wipe off the excess sulphuric acid from the blocks of agar to prevent further diffusion with the two other blocks which have not been fully diffused to fully diffuse 8. Cut the blocks in diagonal, through the middle and using a ruler, measure how much of it has turned clear on each side. 9. Record the data for time taken, and the depth of the clear part on the table. Results Block number 1 2 3 Block dimensions/mm 20x20x20 20x20x10 20x20x5 Predicted order of clearing 3 2 1 Actual order of clearing 3 2 1 Time taken for clearing 8mn56.29s Depth of clear part on block/mm 3 4 5 Surface area/mmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ 2400 1600 1200 Volume/mmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ 8000 4000 2000 Surface are to volume ratio O:O.3 O:O.4 O:O.6 Conclusion My prediction as to which block will go clear first was correct, being the smaller block, as its surface area to volume ratio was the greatest out of all three, even though there was not much difference between the three values. This is because the third block has a greater surface area for the sulphuric acid to diffuse into the agar, causing the diffusion rate to be greater. The blocks have become clear through diffusion caused by neutralization between the sulphuric acid and the agar, which is an alkaline. Evaluation Quite a few things did not go as planned in this evaluation, but I have come up with ideas on how to improve them if we do an experiment like this again. Firstly, the jelly size may not be accurate from cutting it, and when it has been stirred, bits of it may have chipped off causing a change in its surface area. Next time, to avoid this, we could measure the block of agar more accurately when cutting it, and also be more careful when stirring the agar and stir softer so that no bits may get chipped off. Not only that, but the time we place the three blocks of agar into the sulphuric acid may be different, as well as the time we started the stop clock. Next time, we may possibly find a different method of putting in and taking out the agar so that it remains a fair test, and so that there are less mistakes in the test, which may be reduced by having one person per block of agar and beaker, as well as another person for the stop clock and placing it in and taking it out all at the same time as well as starting and stopping the stop clock. Another complication may have come from the amount of sulphuric acid in each beaker, which may not have been equal. This problem may be reduced by measuring the sulphuric more carefully, maybe with a measuring cylinder before then placing it into the beaker, instead of measuring it into the beaker straight away. Our measurements of the depth of the clear layer of the blocks of agar jelly may have been incorrect as well, and to prevent this, we could possibly use a microscope next time and use a graticule to measure the depth that the jelly has diffused to obtain a more accurate result. The last problem I noticed while doing the experiment was when we were blotting the sulphuric acid off the agar. I found that there may have been some sulphuric acid left on the agar after we have blotted it, which may have caused further diffusion and adjusting our result. This is caused from not blotting off enough sulphuric acid off the agar. Next time, we could carefully blot all the sulphuric acid, and use one piece of tissue for each block of agar so that there is no sulphuric acid on the tissue before blotting each block of agar.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Conclusion and if I could Essay Example for Free
Conclusion and if I could Essay The rate of reaction is the speed that a reaction takes place and how long it occurs for. Chemical reactions only occur when reacting particles collide with each other with sufficient energy to react. The minimum amount of energy required to cause this reaction is called the activation energy. There are different variables to consider when measuring the rates of reaction. These can include catalysts, surface area, temperature or concentration of the liquid. These being changed can either increase or decrease the rate at which the reaction takes place. Temperature: in a cold reaction mixture the particles are moving quite slowly-the particles will collide with each other less often, with less energy, and fewer collisions will succeed to occur. However if we heat the reaction mixture the particles create kinetic energy and will move more quickly-the particles will collide more often. It is hard to measure accurately the temperatures and will be hard to keep precise when obtaining evidence so I wont experiment with the temperature. Concentration: in a reaction where a reactant is low in concentration, the particles are spread out and will collide with each other less often resulting in a slower reaction. If the concentration of any reactant in a solution is increased, the rate of reaction is increased because the particles are more crowded together and will collide more often. Increasing the concentration, increases the probability of a collision between reactant particles because there are more of them in the same volume and so increases the chance of a collision forming products. (slower ifaster, illustrated below). Surface area: large particles have a small surface area in relation to their volume-fewer particles are exposed and available for collisions. This means that fewer collisions happen and therefore the reaction is slower. When we use a smaller solid reactant you are increasing the surface area and that makes the reaction occur faster. If one of the reactants is a solid, the surface area of the solid will affect how fast the reaction goes. This is because the two types of molecule can only bump into each other at the surface of the solid. So the larger the surface area of the solid, the faster the reaction will be. Smaller marble chips have a bigger surface area than larger chips for the same mass of solid. There is not enough variation available for this experiment so I wont do this. * Catalysts: a catalyst is a substance which increases the rate of a chemical reaction, without being used up in the process. It can be used more than once to increase the rate of conversion of reactants into products. A catalyst lowers the amount of energy needed for a successful collision- so more collisions will be successful and the reaction will be faster. Also it provides a surface for the molecules to attach to, thereby increasing their chances of bumping into each other. Catalysts are specialized so different reactions need different catalysts. Prediction: I shall be measuring how the change in the rates of reaction changes when the concentration of acid is changed. This change in concentration will affect the rate of reaction because when acid is diluted there is more space for the particles to move so fewer collisions take place. To make these experiments fair tests, I shall make sure that I measure all reactants and make sure the temperature of the liquid are the same. I shall take great care to make sure that no catalysts are added. I shall also make sure that I use hydrochloric acid taken from the same source to make sure it is as similar as possible but I will be changing the concentration of the liquid but diluting it with various amounts of water. I will be using calcium carbonate marble chips and hydrochloric acid to measure the rates of reaction and I will change the ratio of water: acid to change the concentration. I chose to do preliminary experiments to investigate the best amount of reactants to use in my experiments. I did 5 preliminary experiments and they all came out with various results. I came to the conclusion that 1g medium sized marble chips and 10 ml of liquid gave the best results. After doing the preliminary experiments I think the best result was the experiment that I did last. So I have chosen to use those variables in my final experiment. I think that when I perform my final experiment, I shall receive similar results to my preliminary experiment. To find the best possible outcome, I will repeat each test 3 times and will have 6 differently concentrated acid amounts. The amount of liquid will be the same at all times but the ratio of water and acid will change. I will record each reading at 20 second intervals to reduce an excess of results. Amount of acid(ml) Amount of water(ml) Concentration of liquid % Safety: To make sure the experiment is carried out safely, I will wear protective goggles, I shall tie my hair back, wear an overall. I shall also not sit down by the equipment while the experiment is in progress because if anything gets knocked over, I would have a delayed reaction and it would take me longer to get out of the way.
The Company Culture Of Enron Management Essay
The Company Culture Of Enron Management Essay Just as the destiny of individuals is determined by personal character, the destiny of an organization is determined by the character of its leadership. And when individuals are derailed because of a lack of character, the organization will also be harmed (Josephson, 1999). The merger of two Houston-based pipeline companies in 1985 led to the creation of Enron. It started as an energy delivery company, but the deregulation a few years later helped it change its focus and become an energy matchmaker or energy broker. The company started matching the buyers and sellers of energy and utilised creative trading methods to generate profits. So in a short span of time, Enron corporations fortunes changed from just a surviving company and it become a thriving company- a symbol of successful American corporation. 1.2 The Company Culture The deregulation in 1988 led to a dramatic change in the corporation. Enron had become the symbol of dynamism and aggression. The culture at Enron was to encourage creativity amongst the employees. It embraced a culture that rewarded cleverness. The employees were motivated to explore innovative approach to their work. The limits were pushed for performance on the individual employee level to sustain the astonishing growth levels that the corporation was experiencing. It was slowly moving towards a culture that admired unchecked ambition. In the pursuit, Enron led a culture which believed in stretching the performance until the limits of ethical conduct were overlooked. We will also see ahead how the leadership at Enron affected a change in the culture of the corporation. If corporate leaders encourage rule-breaking and foster an intimidating, aggressive environment, it is not surprising that the ethical boundaries at Enron eroded away to nothing. Schein (1985) has focused on leaders hip as the critical component of the organizations culture because leaders can create, reinforce, or change the organizations culture. This applies not the least to an organizations ethical climate (Sims, 2000; Trevinoet al., 2000; Sims and Brinkmann, 2002).According to Schein (1985) there are five primary mechanisms that a leader can use to influence an organizations culture: attention, reaction to crises, role modelling, allocation of rewards, and criteria for selection and dismissal. Scheins assumption is that these five criteria reinforce and encourage behavioural and cultural norms within an organization. So to summarise the culture at the company as depicted in the movie which was influenced by the following factors. Leadership Behaviour (reference?) Espoused values and visions Communicating the vision for the organisation through stated strategic long-term objectives in the vision statement/annual general meeting statement. Role modelling and attention There were multiple instances of Management-Employee seminars. There were also Enron Gas services solution days, where the management would use motivational speech to inspire employees. Reaction to crisis Initially in the nascent stages of the accounting misdemeanours the management devised way to avert crisis with efficient use of Public relation to make the event look insignificant. Programs , structures Criteria for rewards and personnel decision Enrons remuneration system rewarded individuals who adopted Enrons aggressive, individualistic culture and were based on short-term profits and financial measures. Symbols , rituals and stories The enron management way of celebrating success- organising weekend adventure trips. Jeff Skilling mantra- Do it right, do it now , and do it better 1.3 The External Environment Enron had become an energy trading giant in the US market and it was expanding in more sectors and international markets. The surprise with the companys growth was not its ingenuity of doing business but the speed at which it was expanding. But with a careful balance of public relation and good CSR skill, Enron had succeeded in developing a niche amongst the American corporate houses, the American media and the masses. It was a symbol of corporate excellence teamed with an ambitious zeal to succeed at all cost. Enrons spectacular success was receiving positive reviews from the press and the financial analyst community which was incremental in adding fuel to the companys competitive culture. So the movie very succinctly describes the leadership at Enron which encouraged a culture that was morally flexible leading to ethical degeneration in the name of ambition. Leadership at Enron The pillars of Enron were the top management team which always believed in exuberant performance. They were driven in their pursuit of delivering on the bottom-line numbers at all cost. This attitude was percolated to the complete organisational structure at Enron by dividing the company in either the high performing employees or the so- called low-performers. The employees who were a part of the upper-crust were handsomely remunerated. This led to a negatively infected passion amongst the employees to break the performance bench-mark in the organisation to happily afloat. The reflection of the leadership style in the movie is Indirect leadership It is evident from the movie that there was a heavy influence of the top management on the culture of the organisation which cascaded down to all the employees of the company, but indirectly. A form of indirect leadership involves leader influence over the organization culture, which is defined as the shared beliefs and values of members (Scheinn, 1992- trice Beyer, 1991). Leaders may attempt either to strengthen existing cultural beliefs and values or to change them. There are many ways to influence culture, and they may involve direct influences (communication, a compelling vision or leading by example) or other forms of indirect influence, such as changing the organization structure or reward system. Transactional leadership It refers to the leadership style wherein the leader exchanges rewards of economic or financial value with the follower. These rewards are based on the premise that the leader recognises the parameters and the levels of performance which justify reasonably the task and also clarifies the conditions under which the rewards are available for justification. The goal is to enter a mutually beneficial exchange, but not necessarily to develop a enduring relationship. Although a leadership act transpires, it is not one that binds the leader and follower together in a mutual and continuing pursuit of a higher purpose. But in the movie it is also seen that leaders were in a constant pursuit to convince their followers about their genuine interest of promoting the welfare of the stakeholders, which was not the case in reality. Yet they were successful in blinding the stakeholders (employees) with their leadership position and skills. So here we see an overlap of transactional as well as transformational leadership traits as the leaders at Enron were successful in their motive. Effective transformational leaders may exhibit transactional behaviors, but their leadership style also includes one or more of the following characteristics: idealized vision, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration (Bass, 1985; Bass Avolio, 1994). These characteristics are assumed to transform followers and motivate them to do more than initially expected. This transformation presumably occurs through raising the followers awareness of the signià ¬Ã cance of designated outcomes, getting followers to transcend their self-interests for the good of the organization, or augmenting followers needs on Maslows (1954) hierarchy of needs (Bass, 1985). Although leaders and followers purposes may begin as separate but related, they eventually become fused into a linkage of power bases that provide support for both members of the relationship. Leadership is about making choices (Kouzes and Posner, 2003). Choice is a binary action that divides options into two sets, the desired and the undesired ones, according to a higher principle or value (Rawls, 1999). Mostovicz (2008) posits that the way people choose is a reflection of their worldview. This discovery can be approached in 2 ways (1) By the need for achievement (the Lambda worldview); or (2) By the need for affiliation (the Theta worldview). Both the world views have a unique set of characteristics. The Lambda are self- motivated and highly driven to attain individaulistic goals whereas the Theta are more society welfare oriented. The Lamba have a narrow prespective towards the society as such whereas the Theta have a much broader view. The unique characteristics of both the worldviews along with leadership approach is as mentioned below. Theta Lambda Motivation/reason Socially oriented Personally oriented Goal Seeking unity and certainty Seeking challenge and creation Behaviour Communion Agency Benefit Building respect Looking for personal freedom Leadership principle Authenticity = truthfulness Authenticity =genuineness Inclination Toward choice Toward contrast Perception of truth As an objective As a set of rules Transformation of a leader A leader is born. Qualities are subconscious A leader is developed consciously So the reflection in the movie about the leadership at Enron is more on the Lambda worldview. The attitude induced by the top management through the company made the organisation develop a Lambda view which led to the massive breakdown of the ethical machinery. The Leader Jeff Skilling- the man with the ideas. He was the kind of a person who had big vision of things. One of his favourite books was the Selfish Gene, which was a description about the human nature being steered only by greed and competition in the service of passing on the genes. He wanted to alter the way in which Energy was being traded. He succeeded in initiating a market for natural gas wherein it started being traded as stocks. He converted energy into a financial instrument and this led to Enron becoming the largest energy trader in North America. Kenneth Lay was a visionary and he liked people who shared this attribute. Jeff Skilling fit in the picture perfectly. He was aggressive, intelligent and possessed exemplary leadership qualities which was incremental in creating a culture of aggression and incentivised competition in the organisation. Under his leadership the organisation transformed from a small energy market player to the biggest energy trading company in North America with a rapidly expanding global operations network. The company was being driven by the aggressive and individualistic attitude which was strongly ingrained in the system by Jeff Skilling and the policies of the management team for attaining short term profit. These were successful in achieving the results in hindsight but were seriously damaging the ethical balance in the system. According to the Big Five model (Hogan, Curphy Hogan, 1994, Page 61), Jeff Skilling exhibited the Surgency personality type which had specific traits of Extroversion, High Energy/activity level and a Need for power. Charisma was the most important aspect of his personality. He believed in gaining power and self glorification, caring very little for his followers, the ideals or values. This is usually seen in the case of negative charismatics. He used his charisma, to influence people in a way which made them awe-stricken, wanted his acceptance and hence they could not criticise him or his actions. This not just has an influence on the followers, but has an effect on the leader as well. The leader in such cases become not only over-confident but also delusional of their infallibility. To describe further we utilise the following table to understand the charismatic leadership and its effect on the organisation. The leader has total and absolute authority. Leaders build their eminence and maintain their grip on their followers throught a well-articulated ,emotive communication of their vision. The leader cultivates a compelling and captivating self image Immense faith invested in the leader Heavy emphasis on the charismatic attributes of leadership. The CEO had immense and unchallenged authority. Events such as the annual management conference, where leaders promoted themselves in a thearitical manner. Intense faith exhibited by emploess in Lay and Skilling and a declining confidence in the quality of their perceptions Charismatic Leadership A totalistic vision, leading to a higher sense of purpose and achievement. Employees assured they were transforming how business was conducted in the world. An intense transcendent ideology. A high degree of personal commitment by followers, to the goals of their leaders. The replacement of the followers existing belief system with a sense of being involved in a meaningful or revolutionary change. A compelling vision and intellectual stimulation Intense recruitement rituals, designed to engage employees in a process of affliation. The transformation of attitudes, behaviour. Constant messages that those hired were part of a special elite and were the brightest and the best in the world Indoctrination rituals that alternate between stressful and exhilarating. A process of conversion enacted Continuous indoctrination ,to reinforce initials sense of affiliation Individual consideration Perceived dissenters marginalised Financial data falsified Cultivation of obscure jargon, familiar only to people within the organisation Punitive internal regime. Promotion of a Common Culture Punitive internal environment: dissent demonised Unidirectional communication Negative information suppressed and positive information maximised. Total conformity from followers Power and Influence- Amongst the different types of powers Skilling had both at his disposal. He made use of his position power due to his position in Enron and also the personal power. In terms of position power it appears that applied the reward power which meant that his followers complied in order to obtain rewards and also legitimate powers where in the followers complied as they believed that he had the right to make the request due to his position. Also, we could see the use of his personal powers to a great extent where in his vast knowledge about the subject enabled his followers to comply. The followers also admired him and aspired to be like him due to his charismatic personality which also gave him the referent power which helped him gain loyalty and commitment. In order to influence his followers in supporting him he did use rational persuasion to show them the logical side of his argument based on factual evidence. The followers at some time did realise that Skilling was being unethical in his practices and in spite of this realisation still continued to support him. To explain the influence Skilling had on his followers we can make use of the 3 well known experiments-Milgrams experiment, Solomon Aschs conformity and Zimbardo prison experiment. Milgrams experiment tells us how people conform to an authority figure. The agentic state theory explains this further by stating that the person comes to view himself as an instrument in carrying out another persons wishes and therefore no longer sees himself responsible for his actions. Similarly the other 2 experiments highlight the human behaviour in terms of role conformity and social conformity where in people have a tendency to come under the pressure of social acceptability and conforming to everything they feel they need to in order to be a part of the group. Leader-Member Exchange Enron was a company of believers. In a survey in 1997, employees who were surveyed for a feedback faced tremendous faith in the leadership of Kenneth Lay and Jeff Skilling. It has been discussed in this analysis that the company had an indirect leadership style, whereby influence of the top management percolated to all the employees in the company through the use of multiple communication strategies (Enron Gas services day) when the top management discussed the future strategy of the company, the importance of employee contribution, commending excellent employee performance etc. So the employees became blind believers in the methodology adopted by the leadership at the organisation and started working with the win at all cost attitude which led to the slow erosion of the ethical fabric. Also the reward system that was created in the organisation, reflected the expectation of the management. The companies reward system only appraised employees who performed consistently with little re gard to ethical conduct. Overall, Enrons reward system rewarded individuals who embraced Enrons aggressive, individualistic culture and were based on short-term profits and financial measures. Leadership development at Enron Leadership calls for total commitment to the perpetual process of purpose seeking. While leaders are usually concerned with their legacies, their commitment to purpose has to go far deeper. This total commitment implies that, in reality, leaders seek either my way or nothing. However, this commitment is intrinsic; it calls for the leader to mobilise himself, body and soul, but in no way does it imply extrinsically that what is not my way is wrong. Ideal leaders do not exist in practice. Thus, we can relate to leadership as a progressive development only. Since humans cannot be fully conscious of our emotions, a posteriori, we cannot fully mobilise them in order to understand and attain our life goals and purpose. Because our purpose remains opaque at best, it follows that leaders will act unethically even when they do so unwillingly or unconsciously. The only way for leaders to improve their ethical position is to interact with others in society to help them reveal their hidden agenda over time. The particular worldview, in turn, shapes these agendas, either Theta or Lambda, that a person embodies in his search for greater self-awareness and contextualisation with his external environment. Appendix
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