Workplace Motivation

Motivation in the workplace is the single most influential factor in achievement of higher productivity and profitability by an organization. Over the years, psychologists have concurred with social analysts and workplace managers that employees indeed act as the main springboard to effectively promote objectivity of their organizations management plans (Weiner, 1985). It is from this notion that motivation in most of the organizations has been assimilated not just at the top management levels only, but at the lower sections to derive genuine intrinsic returns. Owing to this consideration, this paper seeks to explore workplace motivation strategies, their related theories and affects in organizations' workplace settings. Deriving this interlink, the paper outlines various recommendations that could be employed to effect the necessary changes and therefore assimilate holistic productivity and progress. 2. Affects of motivational strategies on work productivity a) Introduction In my organization where I work [XYZ] workplace motivation has been the defining factor for its current success. As an airline company, the management underscores the need to strongly motivate the employees as they are entirely independent in their operations by nature of their jobs. Though the concept of giving the highest possible quality to the consumers through motivating the staff was initially not effectively understood, entry of the current Chief Executive officer made the notion easy to grasp and apply with ease. b) Organizational efforts to promote performance Due to the high level competition in the airline industry, measures that have the capacity to promote returns are always welcome. As a result, workers motivation has been assimilated as a major facet for enhancing greater returns. Therefore, the management has facilitated the formation and operation of teams and groups at the lower levels of employees. Use of teamwork and team leadership has therefore brought the staff and employees at the decision making level as they are entrusted with all the major activities that take place during flights. Indeed, this model been hailed and emulated by other airlines in that the staff is entrusted to address all the emergent issues to generate the highest possible satisfaction to the consumers. Besides, unlike other airline companies that keep on hiring and firing their staff, XYZ observes a high retention system with internal promotions serving as a major motivational consideration. After the terrorist attack at world trade center in US, XYZ maintained its entire staff as others strongly downsized to cater for the crisis period as more people drifted away from air flights. Top leadership and management officials are identified and promoted from the teams’ operations efficiency. Such emergent leadership has been a strong motivating facet to the level lower employees as they seek to follow the same trend to get at the top. Bridging the gap between the top management and the lower level employees has perhaps been the best motivating notion that the company employs to boost the morale of the workers in their duties. Since the onset of the current economic crisis the management has sought to break the previous hierarchical mode of management and bring together all the staff to work together at all times. By bringing them closer to the management, it became much easier to understand their overall needs and sentiments therefore pro-actively solving them. Indeed, discussions and problem analysis between the management and staff in search for solutions and alternatives has become part of the XYZ culture. This brings out the sense of ownership and identity which drives the employees to work in their organizations with great efforts as they would have done for their personal jobs. It is from the above efforts that XYZ maintained its profitability after the terrorist attack in the year at the world trade center and the current economic downturn as the employees seek to gather more efforts from the continuous motivation they generate. c) Employees resistance to increasing productivity It is worth noting that though the management has over the years been strongly committed to enhance greater motivation, strong resistance has also been increasing with time. Some of the employees view the current initiatives as a facet to divide them in that some cannot be able to get the different team leaders positions or being promoted. Though the management has been considering this to be part of the anti development group that generally views any form of development from a negative point of view, the company leadership has often been cautioned to ensure that it does not spread to the rest of the staff. This has prompted the management to establish a general criterion to be used for promotions and awards therefore preventing any sense of sabotage among them. To add to that, bulk of the major changes have seen introduction of modernistic highly computerized and automated systems to not only reduce the time of service to the consumers, but promote the general quality and utility equivalence of the payment. However, this has been interpreted to indicate possible threats to their jobs even with the management confirmation of total retention for all the staff. This has further been linked with the overall resistant nature of the human beings in their work places emanating from their complexity analysis of the present events but overshadowed by the future uncertainty. ) Management philosophy of motivation and practices Application of motivation systems by the company has been deeply based on the understanding of interplay between the different needs of the employees and their efforts to see higher productivity. As a result, the management overview has been in a twin fold model where the general returns to the staff acts as the main driving force to their general efforts. Though this has been cited to be the major factor in the company behind its success, a general shift was recorded when the employees suggested their allowances reduction to anchor the general company's cost reduction strategy. As Hatch underscores in his model of cultural dynamic, the ability of the staff to effectively support the management decisions depends on how the leadership will harmonize their views and needs of the workers to reduce the overall resistance to infer the necessary motivation for work and innovation (2000). In this respect XYZ brought sought to bring the management closer to the staff by invoking the necessary autonomy in their work, reducing the hierarchical management system, and incorporating the employees in the decision making process. 3. Implications of applying other motivational theories a) Vroom's expectancy theory Though XYZ application of motivational theories has been highly integrative of the different theories due to its nature, some have not been effectively applied. To begin with, Vroom's expectancy theory indicates that motivation to the staff and employees is based not only on the material well being, but to attain the necessary anticipated outcome as the general achievement and assimilate the belief that the exerted effort has been helpful in promoting the status of the company. Application of this theory would be of great essence to the company management by being self driven from the onset, carefully self evaluated, and highly cautious to raise productivity and profitability of the company. However, its application would perhaps be highly controversial due to lack of the necessary guidance as exemplified by the present management of XYZ. However, it would be a great relevance in reducing the overall expenses and therefore put greater emphasis on productivity and profitability of the company. To the employees, this theory would infer mixed reactions on their perceptions in that the general assimilated attitude towards the company could be essential in enhancing their efforts towards higher production. However, it also has the capacity to be misinterpreted to indicate oppression by the management towards the employees and therefore become a major stabling block for productivity and progress in the company. It is therefore essential that its application be effected instantaneously to give the correct message to the employees. b) Aldefer's ERC theory. Then Aldefer's ERC theory indicates that for all the expected returns to be assimilated, the staff would be required to attain different set standards to get the necessary benefits attached to them (Bollesm, 1975). Though this would infer further need of grater returns to the company, the management may indeed get the direct opposite. Motivation as indicated in the earlier sections in this paper should be self driving without a sense of coercion. Possible standards should always be established in consultation with the staff to affect the general acceptability of the system by all. For the employees in the company, this would be viewed as part of the general initiative to render them unworkable. Indeed, it has the capacity to spark unrest from the general sense of inferiority to attain the different set standards. It is imperative that such level marks are set at the possible levels that the staff would be able to attain and more importantly in teams. 4. Conclusion It is from the above discussion that this paper concludes by supporting thesis statement that motivation in the workplace is the single most influential factor in achievement of higher productivity and profitability by an organization. It is important that staff is carefully handled by the management to generate the necessary perception from them for higher productivity. Motivation should be integrated to the general culture of the company in a manner that all the major operations project to profitability. To add to that, the management should give the employees the necessary room to contribute creatively and promote innovation for higher returns.

International Business (international trade) the title of the research Dissertation

International Business (international trade) the title of the research is the impact of Free trade agreement on New Zealand Econ - Dissertation Example 24 4 Findings & Conclusion 26 5 References 29 6 List of Tables and Graphs 32 Abstract Many past empirical evidences had found that FTA (Free Trade Agreements) is likely to boost bilateral trade flows, to assist to attain economic growth and to create new employment openings driven by export directed development in the economy of partner nations. In most of the FTAs, the advantages derived due to FTAs are likely to overshadow the cost involved especially in the long run. FTAs will likely to result in tariff minimisation in the majority of the products traded between the nations. This research paper will endeavour to examine whether FTAs entered by New Zealand (NZ) with Australia , China , and ASEAN has helped the NZ economy to grow further or not and whether NZ derived much benefits from such FTAs like employment creation , technology transfer , increased standard of living , simplification of customs procedures , trade expansion and overall economic growth by investigating into the e arlier empirical evidence available on the subject and statistics offered by the respective governments. (â€Å"Ali, 2011, p.1†). ... und a buyer for his product in Australia, and the Australian importer has to pay a tariff of 20% meaning for $100 product imported from NZ , an Australian has to pay $120 ( cost of material + tariff) . However, under NZ and Australia FTA agreement, these products can enter into Australia without tariff and vice-versa. The preferential tariff rates under FTA make NZ products cheaper for Australians. The elimination of tariff offers the NZ, a competitive benefit over other nations that do not have FTA with Australia. Thus, FTAs make NZ producers and exporters more competitive both in abroad and domestically. (â€Å"Renda, 2013, p.1†). A FTA has the following advantages: Safeguards NZ investments in the partner’s nation Offer new market access for NZ manufacturers and consumers Offer market access to remanufactured products Trade-in-services will get a fillip Offers advantages to medium and small exporters of both the nation Enhances custom facilitation (Garnaut, 2002, p.1 25). If we analyse the economic growth rates of nations that have FTAs with the developing nations, as indicated by GDP, we can find that in many cases, it has surpassed those of advanced economies. NZ companies exporting to Australia enjoy double benefits with ever growing consumer bases and low tariff rates. In spite of recent global economic crisis, FTA has facilitated many small nations to sustain the growth and to maintain the same in the coming years also whereas advanced economies are in turmoil. (Barry, 2012, p1). 1-2 History of Free Trade Agreements As per Dent (2007), the regionalised and imperial trade arrangements that existed between Middle East, China, Europe and India have given birth to the international trade systems. The first ever world trade system had the origin from the gradual

Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 17

Report - Essay Example The time in our possession was limited since we had to research on the various aspects of the course. It is from these discussions that my knowledge of the essentials of time management and the vital role team work plays in solving problems was enhanced. Together with my colleagues, we assigned ourselves various roles and laid down a specific time interval for completion of various individual tasks at hand. The first task was to identifying the various professional careers available for computer science graduates. My group came up with the following careers (Burns, 2002, p23), and it was my responsibility to identify them. My contribution regarding this issue was good, and this opened my eyes to know the level of confidence in my possession. My next presentation will be by use of power-point to emphasize strongly my points and it involved addressing issues and skills that employers look for in graduates of computer science. We identified the following skills, My contribution in this task was awesome since my main role was supervisory. Under my leadership, my group came up with various skills employers look for. This was a more significant contribution as compared to my previous contribution. From this task, skills under my possession were identified and thereafter, giving them a score from 1 to 5. I met the requirements of the session and acquired skills in time management and communication. There was an improvement on my team work skills since working with my colleagues was beneficial to me. The discussions with my group enabled me to identify indicators of poor communication skills and thereafter learn on ways of improving on them. Indicators of poor communication skills are numerous (Samova et al, 2010, p28), and the following were identified, Later on, we came up with ways on how to market ourselves to prospective employers and develop Curriculum Vitae that effectively sells our stronger points. We learned that most employers, while reviewing their

The Kennedy Doctrine 1961-1963 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Kennedy Doctrine 1961-1963 - Research Paper Example If Kennedy would not have inherited the legacy of the Recession of 1960-61, and also if ‘the Bay of Pigs’ invasion would not have failed, the Kennedy Doctrine had been, possibly, read as an anecdote or sequel to his predecessor Eisenhower’s foreign policy which rigidly was permeated with the president’s confidence in the country’s military strength to suppress any threat in international politics. Though within the first six months of his presidency in the Oval Office, Kennedy recovered from the recession, the increased military expenditure in the following years was the reflection of Kennedy’s policy to deter any possible offensive role of the Soviet Union. In this regard Gaddis (2005) opined that also the failed CIA-backed military coup in Cuba, in spite of Kennedy’s promise to refrain from Cuban Affairs, provoked the president to be bold to pronounce the United States’ defensive stance regarding the Berlin issue and the diplom atic acknowledgement of the Soviet Union’s concern in Germany. (Gaddis, 2005, pp. 112-115). Outlines of the Kennedy Doctrine and Historical Background Though the Kennedy Doctrine is often misinterpreted as the elaborations of Eisenhower and Truman’s foreign policy prerogatives to contain Communist expansion around the world at any cost, even by involving into another war, the skeletal difference of JFK’s policy with his predecessor’s was determined by the country’s experience of fighting the recession during its earliest months, of failure of the â€Å"Bay of Pigs† and the â€Å"Cuban Missile Crisis†. Kennedy promised to pay â€Å"any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty† (The Avalon Project, 2008). In his augural speech; nevertheless he was aware of the pressure of a tumultuous economy that was suffering from the fourth great r ecession in the US history. In one of his Union addresses, Kennedy admitted it: â€Å"The present state of our economy is disturbing. We take office in the wake of seven months of recession. Insured unemployment is at the highest peak in our history. In short, the American economy is in trouble† (Sorensen, 2009, p. 98). Unlike his predecessor, Eisenhower, Kennedy took the reign of America at a time when â€Å"business bankruptcies had reached the highest level since the 1930s, farm incomes had decreased 25 percent since 1951, and 5.5 million Americans were looking for work† (Miller Center, n.d.). Failure of the â€Å"Bay of Pigs† Invasion: A New Turn in Kennedy’s Foreign Policy Indeed Kennedy’s perception of the country’s economy along with the failures of his overly enthusiastic but covert military enterprises in Cuba in April 17, 1961 seemed to provoke him to be more diplomatic in confronting Communism around the World. Researchers often t end to characterize the Bay of Pig Invasion as Kennedy Administration’s initial trend to tread down the predecessors’ path to respond to Nikita Khrushchev’s â€Å"support for the wars of national liberation† in January, 1961 and the Soviet role in Congo crisis in February, 1961. According to Gaddis (2005), such experience in the â€Å"Bay of Pigs† might bring a new twist in Kennedy Foreign Policy (p. 89). This event provoked the president to voice the US positions clearly, less depending on the covert role, in the Berlin

Evolution of Health Care Information Systems Essay - 1

Evolution of Health Care Information Systems - Essay Example This paper outlines that the use of health care information systems in United States has changed considerably during last twenty years. U.S. health organizations have modernized most of their health facilities in order to improve service delivery. A great deal of investments has been made in implementation of the information systems that are applied in clinical operations. In an effort to improve service delivery and decrease costs, health organizations have adopted computerized systems such as Electronic Medical Record systems. In the past, before the development of the EMR, health organizations used paper based record systems. At the time, half of the patient’s information was computerized and stored as computer printouts. From this study it is clear that the automated systems were used as primary source for analyzing patients’ information by the physicians or the clinicians. This contrasts sharply with the modern Electronic Medical Recording systems which are used as passive storage devices in many health organizations. Using this system enables physicians to access knowledge resources, reminders and alerts. Health professionals can use the system in decision making due to the fact that it enables them to access the decision support capabilities. Most of the health facilities present in the health centers could not be used to manage the patient health effectively. With the introduction of the electronic system, clinicians and physician have used the system to manage health of patients. The health facilities in the past could not provide the physician with comprehensive view of the patient’s health. Even though there is sharp contrast between health care facilities in the past and at the present, there exist some similarities. Medical records kept whichever the system is used, is very useful for documenting patient care.  

The Prince of the Marshes by Rory Stewart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Prince of the Marshes by Rory Stewart - Essay Example These cases are just a cause for great concern as they have claimed the greater number of casualties in the ongoing war in Iraqi. The most worrying part of the suicide bombings is that they can occur anywhere, even in protected areas. Just two days ago, a suicide bomber killed five people at the main reception area of the hotel where we are based. Fortunately, we had just retired to our respective rooms after a press conference and cocktail party with delegates from different regions representing various groups as a way of trying to find a workable solution to the war in Iraqi which has so far claimed close to a million people since it started a few years ago. Bombing of hotels, embassies as well as other official buildings is a regular occurrence here. These are targeted as they are in most cases suspected of accommodating enemies who are sponsoring war in that country. This has so far resulted in most foreign embassies being closed down as hundreds of people have been killed in these suicide bomb attacks. It is said that some areas outside Baghdad have been rendered impassable as a result of the high degree of destruction of infrastructure that was caused by the war. Most roads were destroyed and many areas are said to be full of landmines. In fact some areas are branded no go areas. Anyway, I am attending a one month workshop which seeks to establish feasibility studies of resuscitating the telecommunications infrastructure which was also not spared by the war. The main aim of the workshop is to try and see if the new information and communication technology can be improved as away of attracting investors in the war-torn country which is expected to be peaceful once again in the near future. I hope to gain a lot of experience from this workshop as we aim to design measures that would take a long way in attempting to put investment on the agenda in this troubled country. More importantly, I will also present my paper during the

Biofuel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Biofuel - Essay Example Biofuels have existed since the 1970s. Before 2010, every international commercial biofuels plant was either a biodiesel or a first generation ethanol. The United States of America has been termed to be the world’s largest producer of ethanol. Back in 2009, the USA produced approximately 10.5 billion gallons of ethanol using corn. Brazil comes in second producing eight billion gallons of ethanol using sugarcane. It is strange to see that in a world where there is scarcity of food, there is a massive use of water resources and land in growing crops for the production biofuels. According to the United Nations, the up-and-coming biofuels industry may risk the rising of food prices. In line with the UN-Energy report: Sustainable Energy: a Frame Work for Decision Makers, it states that biofuels production has already driven up maize prices between the year 2006 and 2007. The report also states that biofuels possibly would have a dual consequence on food supplies. Alternatively, suc h crops could avert water, land as well as other resources away from the production of food. The report quotes that unless policies are formed and endorsed to guard threatened lands, push bioenergy development in sustainable direction in general and secure communally acceptable land use, the social and environmental damage could in some cases overshadow the benefits. A key argument exists on the scope to which policies of biofuels have contributed to high volatility and agricultural prices levels. A current study meant for the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development illustrates that market driven growth of ethanol in United States’ increased corn prices by 21% in 2009,compared to the prices that would prevailing if the production of ethanol had been frozen in 2004. Lester R. Brown stated that by converting the whole grain harvest of the Americans would only generate 16% of its auto fuel wants, energy markets are efficiently positioned in opposition with foo d markets for limited arable land, consequential in a higher food price. A large number of R&D efforts are at present being positioned to the production of 2nd generation biofuels from waste, crop residues and non food crops. Second generation biofuels may possibly merge farming for fuel and food and in addition electricity could be produced simultaneously, this could be beneficial to third world countries as well as the rural areas in the developing countries (Desilva, 4). Strengths Renewability: Biofuels are easy to renew compared to fossil fuels which take relatively long time. This is because new crops are planted and their waste material is gathered. Cost: Biofuels are significantly less expensive compared to gasoline. This is true since increased worldwide demand for oil dwindles oil supplies hence biofuels becoming the only option. Security: Since biofuels