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Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Key Principles of Management and Leadership
Unit 1 â⬠Key standards of the board and authority Activity 1 a) Though the two terms appear to be comparative on a superficial level, in all actuality they are very extraordinary. An incredible supervisor doesn't really make an extraordinary pioneer, and an extraordinary pioneer doesn't really make an extraordinary chief. The board controls or coordinates individuals/assets in a gathering as per standards or qualities that have just been set up. Initiative is setting another course or vision for a gathering that they follow, I. e. : a pioneer is the initiate for that new direction.The administrator utilizes a formal, sane technique while the pioneer utilizes enthusiasm and blends feelings. Individuals normally and eagerly follow pioneers because of their charm and character characteristics, though a director is complied with because of the proper power vested in him/her. Accordingly, individuals will in general be more steadfast towards pioneers as opposed to directors. Administr ators administer workers. They make arrangements, delegate obligations, and facilitate exercises. They will likely make something that is quantifiable and repeatable. Pioneers are centered around achieving development and change for the company.Their essential job is to move individuals and to rouse representatives. They are centered around change. They make a feeling of vision, expectation, and arrangement among representatives. An association can't flourish without a chief, and it can't flourish without a pioneer. Administration and the board must go connected at the hip to be fruitful â⬠both in corporate and easygoing settings. They are connected, and complimentary to each other. Administrators will:Leaders will: AdministrateInnovate MaintainDevelop Focus on frameworks or potentially structuresFocus on individuals Rely on their controlInspire trust in individuals Hold short range viewsHave a more drawn out range perspectiveAsk ââ¬Ëhowââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëwhenââ¬â¢Ask â⠬Ëwhatââ¬â¢ and ââ¬Ëwhyââ¬â¢ Keep an eye on the base lineKeep an eye not too far off ImitateOriginate Accept the status quoChallenge it Be an exemplary decent soldierBe his/her own individual Accept realityInvestigate it b) Management incorporates 5 capacities which are arranging, sorting out, staffing, coordinating and controlling. Arranging â⬠Planning enables the board to sensibly think of various methodologies to ensure that the venture finishes in progress. The expression for producing game plans can be for prompt, present moment, medium term and long haul periods.If the executives doesn't actualize an arrangement the main arrangement that he can ensure is a terrible showing. Arranging â⬠In request to ensure that the arrangement is a triumph the board need to ensure things inside the organization and the arrangement are appropriately sorted out. This is the place the board can partition, arrange and control the assignment and data inside the association. Appoi nting work and giving authority are 2 significant components of sorting out. Staffing â⬠Now that the structure is appropriately assembled, the board needs to have worker's to do the arrangement. This is otherwise called human asset management.In this idea the executives will be dedicated to appropriately gaining, preparing, evaluating, and repaying their employee's. Representatives are what give an organization a serious edge. The executives must guarantee that the correct number of and sort of representatives are set at the correct spots and at the ideal time when the association needs them. Coordinating â⬠This is the capacity to get worker's to accomplish the objectives of the organization in the best and ideal manner. Driving, propelling, correspondence and coordination are the components that go under directing.Directing is tied in with controlling and driving the individuals in an association. Controlling â⬠This is the procedure that guarantees whether the assets ar e acquired and utilized productively in accomplishing the hierarchical targets. This capacity will be the last undertaking that administration will do. This will permit the capacity to check the exhibition of the representative's to ensure it connects with the info (plan) and yield (execution). Consequently, that is the reason controlling capacity of the executives is firmly connected with the arranging capacity. ) It is the necessity of a group chief to accomplish destinations set by the executives for a group. Be that as it may, since the group chief can't meet these goals all alone, it will be required for the group head to lead or deal with a group to make progress utilizing the aptitudes of the group. The teamââ¬â¢s targets will be those of the group chief. The group will comprise of various people each attempting to accomplish their own targets, in view of each individualââ¬â¢s specific abilities, information and aptitude. This separating into explicit undertakings will add to the general accomplishment of the goals of the team.With this as a top priority a group chief must know their staff, however it is similarly significant that the staff know the group head. A pioneer must realize how to fabricate and support such a group. A decent pioneer realizes that when will generally be a pioneer and when to be a supporter. Great pioneers are acceptable supporters when that is what is required. Different abilities that the group chief should have are: Integrity. Having solid inward core values that one doesn't settle. It implies regarding others as you would wish to be dealt with. Respectability advances trust, and very little is cultivated without trust.Leading by model. Development and vision. Inviting new undertakings and better approaches for getting things done. Having an unmistakable thought where their association and additionally unit are going in the long haul. Correspondence. Pioneers need to figure out how to be capable in both the corresponden ce that advises and searches out data and the correspondence that associates relationally with others. Having the option to listen well, clarify things plainly, pose inquiries and know about what individuals truly think and feel (not what they may state). Relationships.A pioneer who preferences managing individuals issues, who can start and extend associations with others, has an incredible administration advantage. This is a pioneer who can assemble a group and accomplish noteworthy outcomes. This can help with the capacity to propel others. Getting individuals to do things since they need to and not on the grounds that they are advised to. Influence. The capacity to impact others and cause them to move a specific way is a profoundly significant aptitude in initiative. A pioneers capacity to be convincing is legitimately identified with how much individuals trust you and how great your correspondence and connections are.Adaptability. Versatility and adaptability in not being limite d by an arrangement are significant achievement factors. A pioneer must move effectively from one situation (the arrangement) to the following (the arrangement isn't going true to form) and accept them all, in any event, when the conditions are sudden. A decent pioneer needs to grasp change and consider it to be opportunity. Training and self-improvement. Creating others is a significant job for a pioneer. Urging others to grow their abilities and take on extra assignments is a piece of a leaderââ¬â¢s responsibility.Leaders who feel compromised by the capacities of others are for the most part tested around there. This corresponds with being keen on what individuals think and feel. Self-advancement and extending oneââ¬â¢s own abilities rouses trust and regard from the group which additionally goes inseparably in creating others. Dynamic. A pioneer must have the option to swim through data, appreciate whatââ¬â¢s important, settle on a very much thought about choice, and make a move dependent on that choice. Settling on choices too rapidly or too gradually will obstruct administration adequacy. Planning.Planning includes making certain presumptions about the future and taking activities in the present to decidedly impact that future. Arranging intends to concentrate all the more deliberately. Albeit significant for direction and center, plans are once in a while inflexible. d) My activity as a Senior Support Worker is to offer help to the Registered Manager and lead a little group of care staff in the everyday running of the unit in accordance with the companyââ¬â¢s destinations. I am answerable for guaranteeing all Service Users who live at the unit get top notch, individual focused help. I offer help, instructing and coaching to group members.I am answerable for getting ready, keeping up and supporting colleagues in the refreshing of care plans. I guarantee great working practices are set up and kept up. I need to watch a proactive way to deal with accomplishing a positive, drawing in, special and relationship building job with Local Authorities and every other partner. e) * I give support, teach and deal with the staff group on an everyday premise and through every other month management. * I am liable for the arrangement and control of arrangements on an everyday premise, in addition to the distribution of specific arrangements to explicit colleagues. I bolster the running of the home to accomplish genuine, individualized consideration bundles for the Service Users. * I advance powerful group working, to keep up great correspondences frameworks, including hand overââ¬â¢s, log books, management and workforce gatherings. * I help the chief in recognizing preparing and advancement requirements for the staff group and to help encourage these necessities. * I survey, screen and satisfy wellbeing and security obligations to guarantee a protected workplace for yourself, partners and the Service Users. I bolster and keep up comp elling working associations with all other staff and to advance great associations with neighborhood occupants and the general network. * I have a positive, persevering mentality and stay focused on the ethos of Reed Care Homes Ltd. * I give a constructive working good example for different partners and Service Users, with reference consistently to the companyââ¬â¢s equivalent open doors strategy and the acknowledgment of every individual one of a kind racial, social and strict needs. * I help the Registered Manager in the enlistment of new colleagues and complete acceptances. I give spread to th
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Is the U.S. seeking to contain China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1
Is the U.S. Looking to Contain China - Essay Example Such moves are viewed as a danger to the security and dependability of the area and a conscious endeavor by China to declare its control over its neighbors. This activity provoked the U.S to develop a seaward partnership with other military powers in the eastern and southern fringes of China, for example, Japan and South Korea. The U.S likewise framed the SEATO and ANZUS settlements which connected up nations, for example, Thailand, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand as its partners in the period somewhere in the range of 1949 and 1969. It kept up army installations in these districts and furthermore went to the degree of urging them to avoid going into discretionary ties with China. Be that as it may, throughout the years the Chinese have figured out how to make an alliance with a portion of its neighbors who are devoted to containing Chinese force. Quite, these alliance accomplices incorporate South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines every one of whom already were U.S partners. This is a few circles can be seen as a conscious move by the Chinese government to move into the domain recently involved by the Americans. Such moves are further fuelling pressures of the goals of such a journey for force and predominance by China. Besides, the Chinese consistent dangers to Japan over the island contest in the midst of the as of now increased pressures made by its military powers are not helping the circumstance. These islands called Diaoyo by the Chinese and Senkaku by the Japanese has introduced another ascent to likely hostilities and security unsteadiness particularly considering Chinas firm remain regarding the matter. These dangers to Japan additionally heightene d when the Chines focused on a Japanese boat with its weapons radar, a circumstance that didn't go unmentioned when Japans leader gave a harsh reaction naming that move as dangerous.â
Monday, August 10, 2020
Breakfast with a Genius
Breakfast with a Genius When I grow up, I want to be Suzan-Lori Parks. Only, you know, not. Suzan-Lori Parks is a playwright and novelist whose play Topdog/Underdog won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, making her the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize. She was also a recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant in 2001, hence the reused genius crack above. Shes my favorite author; I even met her a few years ago at a discussion/book signing in Miami when she released her first novel, Getting Mothers Body. Its always great to meet and talk with someone who is not only successful in life, but confident in his or herself and happy with what he/she has done. Anyway, she gave a talk on Thursday night here at MIT in 10-250, which is one of our biggest lecture halls. (Many of the larger freshman classes are held in 10-250 I have both my 5.112 and my 18.02 classes in there.) I couldnt attend it, since I had rehearsal for the Musical Theatre Guild. I was in fact planning on going to both, though, because Im special: I run around making plans and getting excited about a million events that all happen to be occuring at the same time, usually not noticing the problem until about two hours beforehand. Go, me. Go. About two weeks ago, though, I got an email about her having another, smaller discussion over breakfast on Friday morning. It was at 8:30(!), but it was absolutely amazing. I wish I could write about it in more detail, but everything I try to say sounds like it isnt adequate enough of a description. Read her books. Check out speeches shes made, talks shes given, all that. Meet her if you can. Everyone should. You may be thinking, But wait, why was a writer speaking at MIT? Dont you go to a science and engineering school? and? Here at MIT, the humanities have a huge presence. Each student has to take a certain number of HASS Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences classes in order to graduate (if I recall correctly, its eight), and there definitely isnt any shortage of options. Back in May, when incoming freshmen received a mailing that included (among other things) a brochure detailing the classes included in the HASS-D lottery, there were between 50-100 classes to choose from in Anthropology, Music and Theater Arts, Writing, Political Science, Foreign Languages, and more. Mind you, the HASS-D lottery only involves a small portion of the HASS classes here, and these were the classes that didnt have any prerequisites. (For the record, Im taking 21M.611: Foundations of Theater Practice. We do some acting, but the main focus of the class is on directing and design.) We have the arts here. We write here. We can even major in them. Shocker! By the way, I havent forgotten your questions. Theyll be addressed in my next post. The upcoming week is a little scary two tests, a quiz, two psets, and a paper are all between Wednesday and Friday but the post, it will be made. Its all because I looooove youuuuu.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Ma Foi French Expression Explained
Expression: Ma foiPronunciation: [ma fwa]Meaning: frankly, long story short, indeedLiteral translation: my faithRegister: informal, datedNotes: Ma foi is more of a filler or exclamation than an expression, which makes figuring out its meaning a little tricky. Its a bit old-fashioned so you dont necessarily want to use it yourself, but its still important to understand what it means. Uses for Ma Foi 1) Ma foi can mean frankly or in all honesty:Ma foi, je nen sais rien.Frankly, I dont know anything about that.Ma foi, à §a mest à ©gal.In all honesty / To tell you the truth, I dont care.Synonyms: crois-moi, en toute bonne foi, en toute franchise, franchement2) Ma foi can emphasize whatever you say it with:Ma foi, jespà ¨re que non.Well, I (certainly) hope not.Ma foi, oui.Indeed, yes.Cest ma foi vrai.Its certainly true.Synonyms: ben, en effet, enfin3) In the South of France, ma foi is commonly used to sum up a long, tedious, or obvious answer:a) Its a long, boring story, so Ill spare you the details:-Ãâ¡a va? -Ma foi, à §a va.-How are you? -Fine, for the most part.Meaning: Im actually suffering from several minor ailments, but you dont want to hear about that so Ill just say that Im fine.Synonyms: bref, dans lensemble, en quelque sorte, en rà ©sumà ©, plus ou moinsb) The answer to that is obvious:-Sais-tu que Michel va divorcer? -Ma foi.-Do you know that Michel is getting di vorced? -Obviously.Meaning: Hes my best friend, so of course I know. (Optional: what a stupid question!)Synonyms: bien sà »r, à ©videmmentMa foi in English?Some English dictionaries include the expression ma foi meaning indeed.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Oligopoly Versus Monopoly Competition Essay - 1475 Words
i. Module Code : FC006 ii. Group : D iii. Module Title : Economics in an International Context iv. Assessment Title : Essay v. Assignment Title : Differences between oligopoly and monopolistic competition market structures. vi. Tutor name : Hind Francesca vii. Student ID : 200893206 viii. Date of submission : 15/3/2012 ix. Word Count : 986 Differences Between Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition Market Structures Market structure refers to the interconnected characteristics of a market, which include the number of firms, level and forms of competition and extent of product differentiation (Business Dictionary, 2012). Based on these parameters, several market structures are defined and this essayâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦In short run, the firms can set the price high to obtain supernormal profit (represented by shaded region in Figure 2A). As the abnormal profit they make in short run attracts many potential rivals, the firms must then set the price low to stay competitive in long run (Figure 2B). For example, in Canada, the price of personal computers was very expensive when they were first introduced into the market, but as the number of computer manufacturers increased, the price of personal computers has been declining over the past decade (Figure 3; Statistics Canada, 2011). B B A A Cost Cost Price Price Figure 2. (A) Profit maximisation in short run in monopolistic competition. (B) Normal profit making in long run in monopolistic competition (Bized, 2001). Figure 3. Change of computer price by different purchasers. (Statistics Canada, 2011). Mode of competition is also different between the firms in oligopoly and monopolistic competition. Oligopoly is characterized by imperfect competition, mainly due to high barriers for entry to market (Economics Online, 2012). This is due to various reasons including exclusive resources ownership, extensive relevant knowledge, patent and copyright, other government restrictions, managerial challenge and high start-up cost (Economics Online, 2012; Amos Web, 2012). Airline industry is a typicalShow MoreRelatedThe Market Structures Of A Market Structure962 Words à |à 4 PagesTherefore, a comparison and contrast is necessary to distinguish each of these theories from one another. These market structures of the economy are perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly. These market structures will reveal the difference and similarities that each one has. Firstly, the perfection competition is a market structure that has four assumptions that define what it is to be in this market. The four assumptions include the following it has many sellersRead MoreOligopoly: Monopoly and Firms1535 Words à |à 7 Pagesï » ¿+ http://www.expertsmind.com/course-help/?p=oligopoly-emergence-causes-98734287402 Oligopoly Meaning:- Oligopolyà is a common economic system in todayââ¬â¢s society. The word ââ¬Å"oligopolyâ⬠comes from the Greek ââ¬Å"oligosâ⬠meaning little or smallâ⬠and ââ¬Å"poleinâ⬠meaning ââ¬Å"to sell.â⬠When ââ¬Å"oligosâ⬠is used in the plural, it means ââ¬Å"few.â⬠Oligopoly is a market structure in which there are a few sellers and they sell almost identical products. A situation in which a particular marketRead MoreA Monopoly Is A Single Seller951 Words à |à 4 PagesA monopoly (from Greek monos à ¼ÃÅ'à ½Ã ¿Ãâ (alone or single) + polein Ãâ¬Ãâ°Ã »Ã µÃ¡ ¿â"à ½ (to sell)) exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity (this contrasts with a monopsony which relates to a single entity s control of a market to purchase a good or service, and with oligopoly which consists of a few entities dominating an industry).[2] Monopolies are thus characterized by a lack of economic competition to produce the good or service, a lack of viable substitute goodsRead MoreDifferentiating Between Market Structures1924 Words à |à 8 Pagesare four market structures that define the economic structure within the worldââ¬â¢s economy; perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly. Team A will provide example of each market structure by completing a market structure table. 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Theory of Competition Competition in the economic sphere denotes the process of rivalry between firms for the patronage of customers. The European Commission defines competition as a situation in which firms or sellers ââ¬Å"independently strive for buyersââ¬â¢ patronage in order to achieve aparticular business objective, for example, profits, sales, or marketshareâ⬠7. Richard Whish refers to competition in the commercial world as ââ¬Å"a striving for the custom and business of people in the market placeâ⬠8.Read MoreAn Examination of Pricing Strategy: the Lego Group, Ltd3347 Words à |à 14 Pages | American Military University |We will examine the market structures of Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly, and Perfect Competition and there subsequent pricing | |strategies. Using this information we will examine in brief The LEGO Group as a Monopoly and now competing with Monopolistic Competition | |tendencies. Read MoreA Case Study Involving The Telecommunications Industry1933 Words à |à 8 Pagestelecommunications industry. Perfect Competition Perfect competition is the concept that for a given product or service, there are multiple providers that provide a similar product or service. No one company can truly control the market because there are multiple competitors creating the same product for the same price (Samuelson Marks, 2012). Price cannot be determined by a single company, the overall supply and demand for a product determines the price. In perfect competition perfectly elastic demandRead MoreMonopoly and Discussion Board Posts1554 Words à |à 7 PagesGuided Response: Review the discussion board posts of your classmates. Note their responses to the determinants of price elasticity of demand. Respond to at least two of your classmates. Discuss with your peers the characteristics of an inelastic versusà elastic good. 2. Externalities Explain the difference between a positive and negative externality. In your analysis, make sure to provide an example of each type of externality. Why does the government need to get involved with externalitiesRead MoreThe Theories Of Market Structure2791 Words à |à 12 Pagesof which influence the firmââ¬â¢s pricing and output decisions. There are four theories of market structure. These theories are: - Pure competition - Monopolistic competition - Oligopoly - Monopoly Each of these theories produces some type of consumer behavior if the firm raises the price or if it reduces the price. Perfect Competition The model of perfect competition gives a description of a market situation that is defined by: Many buyers and sellers to the extent that the supply of one firm makes
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christââ¬â¢s Childhood Pal Chapter 11 Free Essays
string(101) " he had it in hand, he dug inside and pulled out the dried newts heââ¬â¢d bought from the old hag\." Chapter 11 Since my escape attempt, I canââ¬â¢t get the angel to leave the room at all. Not even for his beloved Soap Opera Digest. (And yes, when he left to obtain the first one, it would have been a good time to make my escape, but I wasnââ¬â¢t thinking that way then, so back off. We will write a custom essay sample on Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christââ¬â¢s Childhood Pal Chapter 11 or any similar topic only for you Order Now ) Today I tried to get him to bring me a map. ââ¬Å"Because no one is going to know the places Iââ¬â¢m writing about, thatââ¬â¢s why,â⬠I told him. ââ¬Å"You want me to write in this idiom so people will understand what Iââ¬â¢m saying, then why use the names of places that have been gone for thousands of years? I need a map.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said the angel. ââ¬Å"When I say the journey was two months by camel, what will that mean to these people who can cross an ocean in hours? I need to know modern distances.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said the angel. (Did you know that in a hotel they bolt the bedside lamp to the table, thereby making it an ineffective instrument of persuasion when trying to bring an obdurate angel around to your way of thinking? Thought you should know that. Pity too, itââ¬â¢s such a substantial lamp.) ââ¬Å"But how will I recount the heroic acts of the archangel Raziel if I canââ¬â¢t tell the locations of his deeds? What, you want me to write, ââ¬ËOh, then somewhere generally to the left of the Great Wall that rat-bastard Raziel showed up looking like hell considering he may have traveled a long distance or not?ââ¬â¢ Is that what you want? Or should it read, ââ¬ËThen, only a mile out of the port of Ptolemais, we were once again graced with the shining magnificence of the archangel Raziel? Huh, which way do you want it?â⬠(I know what youââ¬â¢re thinking, that the angel saved my life when Titus threw me off the ship and that I should be more forgiving toward him, right? That I shouldnââ¬â¢t try to manipulate a poor creature who was given an ego but no free will or capacity for creative thought, right? Okay, good point. But do please remember that the angel only intervened on my behalf because Joshua was praying for my rescue. And do please remember that he could have saved us a lot of difficulty over the years if he had helped us out more often. And please donââ¬â¢t forget that ââ¬â despite the fact that he is perhaps the most handsome creature Iââ¬â¢ve ever laid eyes on ââ¬â Raziel is a stone doofus. Nevertheless, the ego stroke worked.) ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll get you a map.â⬠And he did. Unfortunately the concierge was only able to find a map of the world provided by an airline that partners with the hotel. So who knows how accurate it is. On this map the next leg of our journey is six inches long and would cost thirty thousand Friendly Flyer Miles. I hope that clears things up. The traderââ¬â¢s name was Ahmad Mahadd Ubaidullaganji, but he said we could call him Master. We called him Ahmad. He led us through the city to a hillside where his caravan was camped. He owned a hundred camels which he drove along the Silk Road, along with a dozen men, two goats, three horses, and an astonishingly homely woman named Kanuni. He took us to his tent, which was larger than both the houses Joshua and I had grown up in. We sat on rich carpets and Kanuni served us stuffed dates and wine from a pitcher shaped like a dragon. ââ¬Å"So, what does the Son of God want with my friend Balthasar?â⬠Ahmad asked. Before we could answer he snorted and laughed until his shoulders shook and he almost spilled his wine. He had a round face with high cheekbones and narrow black eyes that crinkled at the corners from too much laughter and desert wind. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry, my friends, but Iââ¬â¢ve never been in the presence of the son of a god before. Which god is your father, by the way?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, the God,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Yep,â⬠said Joshua. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s the one.â⬠ââ¬Å"And what is your Godââ¬â¢s name?â⬠ââ¬Å"Dad,â⬠said Josh. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re not supposed to say his name.â⬠ââ¬Å"Dad!â⬠said Ahmad. ââ¬Å"I love it.â⬠He started giggling again. ââ¬Å"I knew you were Hebrews and werenââ¬â¢t allowed to say your Godââ¬â¢s name, I just wanted to see if you would. Dad. Thatââ¬â¢s rich.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t mean to be rude,â⬠I said, ââ¬Å"and we are certainly enjoying the refreshments, but itââ¬â¢s getting late and you said you would take us to see Balthasar.â⬠ââ¬Å"And indeed I will. We leave in the morning.â⬠ââ¬Å"Leave for where?â⬠Josh asked. ââ¬Å"Kabul, the city where Balthasar lives now.â⬠I had never heard of Kabul, and I sensed that was not a good thing. ââ¬Å"And how far is Kabul?â⬠ââ¬Å"We should be there in less than two months by camel,â⬠Ahmad said. If I knew then what I know now, I might have stood and exclaimed, ââ¬Å"Tarnation, man, thatââ¬â¢s over six inches and thirty thousand Friendly Flyer Miles!â⬠But since I didnââ¬â¢t know that then, what I said was ââ¬Å"Shit.â⬠ââ¬Å"I will take you to Kabul,â⬠said Ahmad, ââ¬Å"but what can you do to help pay your way?â⬠ââ¬Å"I know carpentry,â⬠Joshua said. ââ¬Å"My stepfather taught me how to fix a camel saddle.â⬠ââ¬Å"And you?â⬠He looked at me. ââ¬Å"What can you do?â⬠I thought about my experience as a stonecutter, and immediately rejected it. And my training as a village idiot, which I thought I could always fall back on, wasnââ¬â¢t going to help either. I did have my newfound skill as a sex educator, but somehow I didnââ¬â¢t think thereââ¬â¢d be call for that on a two-month trip with fourteen men and one homely woman. So what could I do, what skill had I to gentle the road to Kabul? ââ¬Å"If someone in the caravan croaks Iââ¬â¢m a great mourner,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Want to hear a dirge?â⬠Ahmad laughed until he shook, then called for Kanuni to bring him his satchel. Once he had it in hand, he dug inside and pulled out the dried newts heââ¬â¢d bought from the old hag. You read "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christââ¬â¢s Childhood Pal Chapter 11" in category "Essay examples" ââ¬Å"Here, youââ¬â¢ll be needing these,â⬠he said. Camels bite. A camel will, for no reason, spit on you, stomp you, kick you, bellow, burp, and fart at you. They are stubborn at their best, and cranky beyond all belief at their worst. If you provoke them, they will bite. If you insert a dehydrated amphibian elbow-deep in a camelââ¬â¢s bum, he considers himself provoked, doubly so if the procedure was performed while he was sleeping. Camels are wise to stealth. They bite. ââ¬Å"I can heal that,â⬠Joshua said, looking at the huge tooth marks on my forehead. We were following Ahmadââ¬â¢s caravan along the Silk Road, which was neither a road nor made of silk. It was, in fact, a narrow path through the rocky inhospitable highland desert of what is now Syria into the low, inhospitable desert of what is now Iraq. ââ¬Å"He said sixty days by camel. Doesnââ¬â¢t that mean that we should be riding, not walking?â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re missing your camel pals, arenââ¬â¢t you?â⬠Josh grinned, that snotty, Son-oââ¬â¢-God grin of his. Maybe it was just a regular grin. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m just tired. I was up half the night sneaking up on these guys.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know,â⬠said Joshua. ââ¬Å"I had to get up at dawn to fix one of the saddles before we left. Ahmadââ¬â¢s tools leave something to be desired.â⬠ââ¬Å"You go ahead and be the martyr, Josh, just forget about what I was doing all night. Iââ¬â¢m just saying that we should get to ride instead of walking.â⬠ââ¬Å"We will,â⬠Josh said. ââ¬Å"Just not now.â⬠The men in the caravan were all riding, although several of them, as well as Kanuni, were on horses. The camels were loaded down with great packs of iron tools, powdered dyes, and sandalwood bound for the Orient. At the first highland oasis we crossed, Ahmad traded the horses for four more camels, and Joshua and I were allowed to ride. At night we ate with the rest of the men, sharing boiled grain or bread with sesame paste, the odd bit of cheese, mashed chickpeas and garlic, occasionally goat meat, and sometimes the dark hot drink we had discovered in Antioch (mixed with date sugar and topped with foaming goatââ¬â¢s milk and cinnamon at my suggestion). Ahmad dined alone in his tent, while the rest of us would dine under the open awning that we constructed to shelter us from the hottest part of the day. In the desert, the day gets warmer as it gets later, so the hottest part of the day will be in the late afternoon, just before sundown brings the hot winds to leach the last moistu re from your skin. None of Ahmadââ¬â¢s men spoke Aramaic or Hebrew, but they had enough functional Latin and Greek to tease Joshua and me about any number of subjects, their favorite, of course, being my job as chief camel deconstipator. The men hailed from a half-dozen different lands, many we had never heard of. Some were as black as Ethiopians, with high foreheads and long, graceful limbs, while others were squat and bowlegged, with powerful shoulders, high cheekbones, and long wispy mustaches like Ahmadââ¬â¢s. Not one of them was fat or weak or slow. Before we were a week out of Antioch we figured out that it only took a couple of men to care for and guide a caravan of camels, so we were perplexed at why someone as shrewd as Ahmad would bring along so many superfluous employees. ââ¬Å"Bandits,â⬠Ahmad said, adjusting his bulk to find a more comfortable position atop his camel. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢d need no more than a couple of dolts like you two if it was just the animals that needed tending. Theyââ¬â¢re guards. Why did you think they were all carrying bows and lances?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠I said, giving Joshua a dirty look, ââ¬Å"didnââ¬â¢t you see the lances? Theyââ¬â¢re guards. Uh, Ahmad, shouldnââ¬â¢t Josh and I have lances ââ¬â I mean, when we get to the bandit area?â⬠ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve been followed by bandits for five days now,â⬠Ahmad said. ââ¬Å"We donââ¬â¢t need lances,â⬠Joshua said. ââ¬Å"I will not make a man sin by committing an act of thievery. If a man would have something of mine, he need only ask and I will give it to him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Give me the rest of your money,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Forget it,â⬠said Joshua. ââ¬Å"But you just said ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Yeah, but not to you.â⬠Most nights Joshua and I slept in the open, outside Ahmadââ¬â¢s tent, or if the night was especially cold, among the camels, where we would endure their grunting and snorting to get out of the wind. The guards slept in two-man tents, except for two who stood guard all night. Many nights, long after the camp was quiet, Joshua and I would lie looking up at the stars and pondering the great questions of life. ââ¬Å"Josh, do you think the bandits will rob us and kill us, or just rob us?â⬠ââ¬Å"Rob us, then kill us, I would think,â⬠said Josh. ââ¬Å"Just in case they missed something that we had hidden, they could torture its whereabouts out of us.â⬠ââ¬Å"Good point,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Do you think Ahmad has sex with Kanuni?â⬠Joshua asked. ââ¬Å"I know he does. He told me he does.â⬠ââ¬Å"What do you think itââ¬â¢s like? With them I mean? Him so fat and her so, you know?â⬠ââ¬Å"Frankly, Joshua, Iââ¬â¢d rather not think about it. But thanks for putting that picture in my head.â⬠ââ¬Å"You mean you can imagine them together?â⬠ââ¬Å"Stop it, Joshua. I canââ¬â¢t tell you what sin is like. Youââ¬â¢re going to have to do it yourself. Whatââ¬â¢s next? Iââ¬â¢ll have to murder someone so I can explain what itââ¬â¢s like to kill?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, I donââ¬â¢t want to kill.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, that might be one you have to do, Josh. I donââ¬â¢t think the Romans are going to go away because you ask them to.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll find a way. I just donââ¬â¢t know it yet.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wouldnââ¬â¢t it be funny if you werenââ¬â¢t the Messiah? I mean if you abstained from knowing a woman your whole life, only to find out that you were just a minor prophet?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, that would be funny,â⬠said Josh. He wasnââ¬â¢t smiling. ââ¬Å"Kind of funny?â⬠The journey seemed to go surprisingly fast once we knew we were being followed by bandits. It gave us something to talk about and our backs stayed limber, as we were always twisting in our saddles and checking the horizon. I was almost sad when they finally, after ten days on our trail, decided to attack. Ahmad, who was usually at the front of the caravan, fell back and rode beside us. ââ¬Å"The bandits will ambush us inside that pass just ahead,â⬠he said. The road snaked into a canyon with steep slopes on either side topped by rows of huge boulders and wind-eroded towers. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re hiding in those boulders on top of either ridge,â⬠Ahmad said. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t stare, youââ¬â¢ll give us away.â⬠Joshua said, ââ¬Å"If you know that theyââ¬â¢re going to attack, why not pull up and defend ourselves?â⬠ââ¬Å"They will attack one way or another anyway. Better an ambush we know about than one we donââ¬â¢t. And they donââ¬â¢t know we know.â⬠I noticed the squat guards with the mustaches take short bows from pouches behind their saddles, and as subtly as a man might brush a cobweb from his eyelash, they strung the bows. If youââ¬â¢d been watching them from a distance youââ¬â¢d have hardly seen them move. ââ¬Å"What do you want us to do?â⬠I asked Ahmad. ââ¬Å"Try not to get killed. Especially you, Joshua. Balthasar will be very angry indeed if I show up with you dead.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wait,â⬠said Joshua, ââ¬Å"Balthasar knows we are coming?â⬠ââ¬Å"Why, yes,â⬠laughed Ahmad. ââ¬Å"He told me to look for you. What, you think I help every pair of runts that wander into the market at Antioch?â⬠ââ¬Å"Runts?â⬠I had momentarily forgotten about the ambush. ââ¬Å"How long ago did he tell you to look for us?â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know, right after he first left Antioch for Kabul, maybe ten years ago. It doesnââ¬â¢t matter now, I have to get back to Kanuni, bandits scare her.â⬠ââ¬Å"Let them get a good look at her,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ll see who scares who.â⬠ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t look at the ridges,â⬠Ahmad said as he rode away. The bandits came down the sides of the canyon like a synchronized avalanche, driving their camels to the edge of balance, pushing a river of rocks and sand before them. There were twenty-five, maybe thirty of them, all dressed in black, half of them on camels waving swords or clubs, the other half on foot with long spears for gutting a camel rider. When they were committed to the charge, all of them sliding down the hillsides, the guards broke our caravan in the middle, leaving an empty spot in the road where the banditsââ¬â¢ charge would culminate. Their momentum was so great that the bandits were unable to change direction. Three of their camels went down trying to pull back. Our guards moved into two groups, three in the front with the long lances, the bowmen just behind them. When the bowmen were set they let arrows fly into the bandits, and as each fell he took two or three of his cohorts down with him, until in seconds the charge had turned into an actual avalanche of rolling stones and men and camels. The camels bellowed and we could hear bones snapping and men screaming as they rolled into a bloody mass on the Silk Road. As each man rose and tried to charge our guards an arrow would drop him in his tracks. One bandit came up mounted on a camel and rode toward the back of the caravan, where the three lancers drove him from his mount in a spray of blood. Every movement in the canyon was met with an arrow. One bandit with a broken leg tried to crawl back up the canyon wall, and an arrow in the back of his skull cut him down. I heard a wailing behind me and before I could turn Joshua rode by me at full gallop, passing the bowmen and the lancers at our side of the caravan, bound for the mass of dead and dying bandits. He slung himself off his camelââ¬â¢s back and was running around the bodies like a madman, waving his arms and screaming until I could hear the rasp as his throat went raw. ââ¬Å"Stop this! Stop this!â⬠One bandit moved, trying to get to his feet, and our bowmen drew back to cut him down. Joshua threw his body on top of the bandit and pushed him back to the ground. I heard Ahmad give the command to hold. A cloud of dust floated out of the canyon on the gentle desert breeze. A camel with a broken leg bellowed and an arrow in the eye put the animal to rest. Ahmad snatched a lance out of one of the guardââ¬â¢s hands and rode to where Joshua was shielding the wounded bandit. ââ¬Å"Move, Joshua,â⬠Ahmad said, holding the lance at ready. ââ¬Å"This must be finished.â⬠Joshua looked around him. All of the bandits and all of their animals were dead. Blood ran in rivulets in the dust. Already flies were collecting to feast. Joshua walked through the field of dead bandits until his chest was pressed against the bronze point of Ahmadââ¬â¢s lance. Tears streamed down Joshuaââ¬â¢s face. ââ¬Å"This was wrong!â⬠he screeched. ââ¬Å"They were bandits. They would have killed us and stolen everything we had if we had not killed them. Does your own God, your father, not destroy those who sin? Now move aside, Joshua. Let this be finished.â⬠ââ¬Å"I am not my father, and neither are you. You will not kill this man.â⬠Ahmad lowered the lance and shook his head balefully. ââ¬Å"He will only die anyway, Joshua.â⬠I could sense the guards fidgeting, not knowing what to do. ââ¬Å"Give me your water skin,â⬠Joshua said. Ahmad threw the water skin down to Joshua, then turned his camel and rode back to where the guards waited for him. Joshua took the water to the wounded bandit and held his head as he drank. An arrow protruded from the banditââ¬â¢s stomach and his black tunic was shiny with blood. Joshua put his hand gently over the banditââ¬â¢s eyes, as if he were telling him to go to sleep, then he yanked out the arrow and tossed it aside. The bandit didnââ¬â¢t even flinch. Joshua put his hand over the wound. From the time that Ahmad had ordered them to hold fire, none of the guards had moved. They watched. After a few minutes the bandit sat up and Joshua stepped away from him and smiled. In that instant an arrow sprouted from the banditââ¬â¢s forehead and he fell back, dead. ââ¬Å"No!â⬠Joshua wheeled around to face Ahmadââ¬â¢s side of the caravan. The guard who had shot still held the bow, as if he might have to let fly another arrow to finish the job. Howling with rage, Joshua made a gesture as if he were striking the air with his open hand and the guard was lifted back off his camel and slammed into the ground. ââ¬Å"No more!â⬠Joshua screamed. When the guard sat up in the dirt his eyes were like silver moons in their sockets. He was blind. Later, when neither of us had spoken for two days, and Joshua and I were relegated to riding far behind the caravan because the guards were afraid of us, I took a drink from my water skin, then handed it to Joshua. He took a drink and handed it back. ââ¬Å"Thank you,â⬠Josh said. He smiled and I knew heââ¬â¢d be all right. ââ¬Å"Hey Joshua, do me a favor.â⬠ââ¬Å"What?â⬠ââ¬Å"Remind me not to piss you off, okay?â⬠The city of Kabul was built on five rugged hillsides, with the streets laid out in terraces and the buildings built partly into the hills. There was no evidence of Roman or Greek influence in the architecture, but instead the larger buildings had tile roofs that turned up at the corners, a style that Joshua and I would see all over Asia before our journey was finished. The people were mostly rugged, wiry people who looked like Arabs without the glow in their skin that came from a diet rich in olive oil. Instead their faces seemed leaner, drawn by the cold, dry wind of the high desert. In the market there were merchants and traders from China, and more men who looked like Ahmad and his bowmen guards, a race whom the Chinese referred to simply as barbarians. ââ¬Å"The Chinese are so afraid of my people that they have built a wall, as high as any palace, as wide as the widest boulevard in Rome, and stretching as far as the eye can see ten times over,â⬠Ahmad said. ââ¬Å"Uh-huh,â⬠I said, thinking, you lying bag-oââ¬â¢-guts. Joshua hadnââ¬â¢t spoken to Ahmad since the bandit attack, but he smirked at Ahmadââ¬â¢s story of the great wall. ââ¬Å"Just so,â⬠said Ahmad. ââ¬Å"We will stay at an inn tonight. Tomorrow I will take you to Balthasar. If we leave early we can be there by noon, then youââ¬â¢ll be the magicianââ¬â¢s problem, not mine. Meet me in front at dawn.â⬠That night the innkeeper and his wife served us a dinner of spiced lamb and rice, with some sort of beer made from rice, which washed two months of desert grit from our throats and put a pleasant haze over our minds. To save money, we paid for pallets under the wide curving eaves of the inn, and although it was some comfort to have a roof over my head for the first time in months, I found that I missed looking at the stars as I fell asleep. I lay awake, half drunk, for a long time. Joshua slept the sleep of the innocent. The next day Ahmad met us in front of the inn with two of his African guards and two extra camels in tow. ââ¬Å"Come on, now. This may be the end of your journey, but it is merely a detour for me,â⬠Ahmad said. He threw us each a crust of bread and a hunk of cheese, which I took to mean we were to eat our breakfast on the way. We rode out of Kabul and into the hills until we entered a labyrinth of canyons, which meandered through rugged mountains that looked as if they might have been shaped by God out of clay, then left to bake in the sun until the clay had turned to a deep golden color that reflected light in a spray that ate up shadows and destroyed shade. By noon I had no sense whatsoever of what direction we were traveling, nor could I have sworn that we werenââ¬â¢t retracing our path through the same canyons over and over, but Ahmadââ¬â¢s black guards seemed to know their way. Eventually they led us around a bend to a sheer canyon wall, two hundred feet tall, that stood out from the other canyon walls in that there were windows and balconies carved into it. It was a palace hewn out of solid rock. At the base stood an ironclad door that looked as if it would take twenty men to move. ââ¬Å"Balthasarââ¬â¢s house,â⬠Ahmad said, prodding his camel to kneel down so he might dismount. Joshua nudged me with his riding stick. ââ¬Å"Hey, is this what you expected?â⬠I shook my head. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know what I expected. Maybe something a little ââ¬â I donââ¬â¢t know ââ¬â smaller.â⬠ââ¬Å"Could you find your way back out of these canyons if you had to?â⬠Joshua asked. ââ¬Å"Nope. You?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not a chance.â⬠Ahmad waddled over to the great door and pulled a cord that hung down from a hole in the wall. Somewhere inside we heard the ringing of some great bell. (Only later would we learn that it was the sound of a gong.) A smaller door within the door opened and a girl stuck her head out. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠She had the round face and high cheekbones of an Oriental, and there were great blue wings painted on her face above her eyes. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s Ahmad. Ahmad Mahadd Ubaidullaganji. Iââ¬â¢ve brought Balthasar the boy he has been waiting for.â⬠Ahmad gestured in our direction. The girl looked skeptical. ââ¬Å"Scrawny. You sure thatââ¬â¢s the one?â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s the one. Tell Balthasar he owes me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Whoââ¬â¢s that with him?â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s his stupid friend. No extra charge for him.â⬠ââ¬Å"You bring the monkeyââ¬â¢s paws?â⬠the girl asked. ââ¬Å"Yes, and the other herbs and minerals Balthasar asked for.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay, wait here.â⬠She closed the door, was gone only a second, then returned. ââ¬Å"Send just the two of them in, alone. Balthasar must examine them, then he will deal with you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s no need to be mysterious, woman, Iââ¬â¢ve been in Balthasarââ¬â¢s house a hundred times. Now quit dilly-dallying and open the door.â⬠ââ¬Å"Silence!â⬠the girl shouted. ââ¬Å"The great Balthasar will not be mocked. Send in the boys, alone.â⬠Then she slammed the little door and we could hear her cackling echo out the windows above. Ahmad shook his head in disgust and waved us over to the door. ââ¬Å"Just go. I donââ¬â¢t know what heââ¬â¢s up to, but just go.â⬠Joshua and I dismounted, took our packs off the camels, and edged over to the huge door. Joshua looked at me as if wondering what to do, then reached for the cord to ring the bell, but as he did, the door creaked open just wide enough for one of us to enter if we turned sideways. It was pitch black inside except for a narrow stripe of light, which told us nothing. Joshua again looked at me and raised his eyebrows. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m just the stupid no-extra-charge friend,â⬠I said, bowing. ââ¬Å"After you.â⬠Joshua moved though the door and I followed. When we were inside only a few feet, the huge door slammed with a sound like thunder and we stood there in complete darkness. Iââ¬â¢m sure I could feel things scurrying around my feet in the dark. There was a bright flash and a great column of red smoke rose in front of us, illuminated by a light coming from the ceiling somewhere. It smelled of brimstone and stung my nose. Joshua coughed and we both backed against the door as a figure stepped out of the smoke. He ââ¬â it ââ¬â stood as tall as any two men, although he was thin. He wore a long purple robe, embroidered with strange symbols in gold and silver, hooded, so we saw no face, only glowing red eyes set back in a field of black. He held a bright lamp out as if to examine us by the light. ââ¬Å"Satan,â⬠I said under my breath to Joshua, pressing my back against the great iron door so hard that I could feel rust flakes imbedding in my skin through my tunic. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not Satan,â⬠Joshua said. ââ¬Å"Who would disturb the sanctity of my fortress?â⬠boomed the figure. I nearly wet myself at hearing his voice. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m Joshua of Nazareth,â⬠Joshua said, trying to be casual, but his voice broke on Nazareth. ââ¬Å"And this is Biff, also of Nazareth. Weââ¬â¢re looking for Balthasar. He came to Bethlehem, where I was born, many years ago looking for me. I have to ask him some questions.â⬠ââ¬Å"Balthasar is no more of this world.â⬠The dark figure reached into his robe and pulled out a glowing dagger, which he held high, then plunged into his own chest. There was an explosion, a flash, and an anguished roar, as if someone had killed a lion. Joshua and I turned and frantically scratched at the iron door, looking for a latch. We were both making an incoherent terrorized sound that I can only describe as the verbal version of running, sort of an extended rhythmic howl that paused only when the last of each lungful of air squeaked out of us. Then I heard the laughing and Joshua grabbed my arm. The laughing got louder. Joshua swung me around to face death in purple. As I turned the dark figure threw back his hood and I saw the grinning black face and shaved head of a man ââ¬â a very tall man, but a man nonetheless. He threw open the robe and I could see that it was, indeed, a man. A man who had been standing on the shoulders of two young Asian women who had been hiding beneath the very long robe. ââ¬Å"Just fuckinââ¬â¢ with you,â⬠he said. Then he giggled. He leapt off of the womenââ¬â¢s shoulders and took a deep breath before doubling over and hugging himself with laughter. Tears streamed out of his big chestnut eyes. ââ¬Å"You should have seen the look on your faces. Girls, did you see that?â⬠The women, who wore simple linen robes, didnââ¬â¢t seem as amused as the man. They looked embarrassed and a little impatient, as if theyââ¬â¢d rather be anywhere else, doing anything but this. ââ¬Å"Balthasar?â⬠Joshua asked. ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠said Balthasar, who stood up now and was only a little taller than I was. ââ¬Å"Sorry, I donââ¬â¢t get many visitors. So youââ¬â¢re Joshua?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠Joshua said, an edge in his voice. ââ¬Å"I didnââ¬â¢t recognize you without the swaddling clothes. And this is your servant?â⬠ââ¬Å"My friend, Biff.â⬠ââ¬Å"Same thing. Bring your friend. Come in. The girls will attend to Ahmad for the time being.â⬠He stalked off down a corridor into the mountain, his long purple robe trailing behind him like the tail of a dragon. We stood there by the door, not moving, until we realized that once Balthasar turned a corner with his lamp weââ¬â¢d be in darkness again, so we took off after him. As we ran down the corridor, I thought of how far we had traveled, and what we had left behind, and I felt as if I was going to be sick to my stomach any second. ââ¬Å"Wise man?â⬠I said to Joshua. ââ¬Å"My mother has never lied to me,â⬠said Josh. ââ¬Å"That you know of,â⬠I said. How to cite Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christââ¬â¢s Childhood Pal Chapter 11, Essay examples
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Performance Management Execution Assessment
Question: Discuss about thePerformance Managementfor Execution Assessment. Answer: The process of performance management happens to be continuous and flexible and the various components which are an integral part of performance management system in any setting include planning, execution assessment, overall review, renewal as well as reconstructing as one of the important prerequisites. Performance management is an important tool for the managers in order to ensure that the organization expands and succeeds in all the endeavors it takes. There are numerous tools and techniques through which performance of employees should be measured. (Mone, Eisinger and Guggenheim, 2011). The various methods of performance management and appraisal decide the amount of reward and recognition the employee will receive from the organization where he/she works. The rewards could be financial or non- financial, but irrespective of its type, it motivates and inspires the employees to try harder and achieve better results not only for him but also for the organization as whole. (Ates, Garengo, Cocca and Bitici, 2013).The ways of measurement are different for different organizations, but it is important to ensure that appropriate yardsticks and performance management tools are being used for performance measurement. If we refer to the case study of the library system in University of Ghana, there are many shortcomings with respect to proper evaluation of the components of performance management and its effective implementation. Out of the different components identified, according to me, the major shortcoming is regarding the behavioral attribute. One of the important aspects while doing performance management and appraisal is to make sure that the parameters kept for measuring any attribute should be measurable in nature. (Van Dooren, Bouckaert and Halligan, 2015). Here, the job description is not clear and the performance management is to be done on general behaviour. Various vague rating systems are prevalent at the Balme Library and the different employees belonging to different job descriptions and hierarchical level are all rated using the same ratings irrespective of any consideration. The choice of general behaviour as a measurable component without really clarifying the true meaning of general behaviour is definitely going to yield poor results. Whenever ratings are being done, it should be performed without slightest of ambiguity. There should not be any relative confusion with meaning or misconception in the meaning of any word or term. ( Walker, Damanpour and Devece, 2010).Just as every individual has specific fit and not every size fits everyone, it is definitely not a good idea to use a single form of rating for every employee as something suitable for one employee might not work for others. How to measure, or what are the characteristics to be looked for, who will do the appraisal regarding good behaviour is not mentioned. Another important aspect which has been left out is the criteria for deciding and discriminating between, good, bad and average behaviour and the attributes which should be indexed under general behaviour. In the absence of the same, it is extremely difficult to rate or provide appraisal for any person. The misalignment of components can have serious effects on the overall performance management system. In the present scenario, as the general behaviour as a yardstick is very ill defined with vague rating scales which do not have anything substantial, the morale, zeal and enthusiasm of the employees suffer to a significant extent thereby reducing the productivity. (Biron, Farndale and Pause, 2011).As the employees get an average score on their respective performances irrespective of their job role or description, there is no incentive to boost their morale and inspire them. The healthy competition and working in a time centric working environment cease to exist as employees just keep them occupied and do not really work hard to perform better. They dont have anything to look forward to, which will enhance their zeal to do a particular job in a way that it strengthens the organizational work ethics. In the absence of a proper performance management plan, the whole organization suffers as none of the employees are keen to improvise or work in an incentive based environment. They are fully aware that the rating of general behavior will always have some average values irrespective of how good or badly they behave, as this attribute completely lacks measurable yardsticks. So, in the long run the performance of the organization declines significantly and it might be difficult to sustain.(Pollitt, 2013) Discussions regarding what should be done in the organization for growth, what is expected out of him in terms of his attitudes, reactions and behaviour in the organization is very essential. As discussed above, if the general behaviour is not defined for a proper understanding, not only does it lead to the lack of zeal of the people but also results in the employees becoming complacent and laidback in the behavioural approach they have towards the organization. The organization would not be in a position to challenge them , if they behaved in an immoral way as they can very well claim it to be just according to their point of view and circumstances. Here the organization would not even be in the position to fall back on a general behaviour list that they unfortunately never made. It is seen that a lot of unwanted situations are to arise if the general behavior is not specified in an organization. (Fee, 2014). A major factor that plays a very important role in the motivation of the people working in an organization is proper communication; the communication is not only horizontal in nature i.e. with other colleagues but also vertical in nature thereby leading to the development of a fluid communication system between the line managers and the subordinates. Communication will help the managers in the Balme library to understand the employees better and help them to develop a cordial relation with them. Firstly, in order to improve the productivity of the individuals, the managers need to create a check list of good behavior. They need to specify a list of expectations that they have from the employees, specifying what the employees should do in the organization to fare well in the performance appraisal systems. (Gruman and Saks, 2011). Alongside the managers should also ensure that this is emphasized at and brought to everybodys notice. Having done this the organization can also publish the ratings, in terms of their behaviour, according to which the employees will be judged upon. If a list of dos and donts are created in the library, the employees will slowly start assessing their behaviour in terms of that list and will easily be able to judge themselves. Furthermore, in order to motivate the employees the managers should come up with some extra benefits that would be provided to them if they scored well in their general behaviour appraisal. For example. Those who did well could get a day off or some extra recreational time. (Bacal, 2011). On the other hand, those who could not score well could be asked to pay for everyones coffee or asked to leave last in the office. Such unconventional ideas could help in infusing a sense of healthy competition in the people to fare well in the appraisal. It is not only the employees that need to be motivated, but also the managers. The managers should be made aware about the importance of a good general behaviour form and its impact on the employees. In order to make it comprehensible the managers could be sent for a few training programs to increase their interest and enthusiasm. They should be taught the system of grading the categories of jobs depending on their responsibilities and specificities. The managers should be active in undertaking sudden rounds and scrutiny of the library as this would sharpen their ability of judgment. A good performance management is the key to motivated employees who convert the doable to deliverables leading in an organization. (Moynihan and Pandey, 2010).Thus the implementation of a good general behaviour form is necessary to build a healthy office environment and constantly motivate the employees towards the achievement of their set goals. References: Ates, A., Garengo, P., Cocca, P., Bititci, U. (2013). The development of SME managerial practice for effective performance management.Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development,20(1), 28-54. Bacal, R. (2011).Performance Management 2/E. McGraw Hill Professional. Biron, M., Farndale, E., Paauwe, J. (2011). Performance management effectiveness: lessons from world-leading firms.The International Journal of Human Resource Management,22(06), 1294-1311. Fee, M. C. (2014). Human resources management. Gruman, J. A., Saks, A. M. (2011). Performance management and employee engagement.Human Resource Management Review,21(2), 123-136. Mone, E., Eisinger, C., Guggenheim, K., Price, B., Stine, C. (2011). Performance management at the wheel: Driving employee engagement in organizations.Journal of Business and Psychology,26(2), 205-212. Moynihan, D. P., Pandey, S. K. (2010). The big question for performance management: Why do managers use performance information?.Journal of public administration research and theory,20(4), 849-866. Pollitt, C. (2013). The logics of performance management.Evaluation,19(4), 346-363. Van Dooren, W., Bouckaert, G., Halligan, J. (2015).Performance management in the public sector. Routledge. Walker, R. M., Damanpour, F., Devece, C. A. (2010). Management innovation and organizational performance: The mediating effect of performance management.Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, muq043.
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