Research Articles Base: Reflection Paper

Essay and Reflection on “Community Analysis and Organization” by Saul D. Alinsky

Essay and Reflection on “Community Analysis and Organization” by Saul D. Alinsky   1. It has been reported that sociological practice can be defined as a sociological focus in which sociological theory, methods, and findings are made use of to lead to positive changes in the society, thus, involving practical skills and application in order to make a difference in the world (Stolley, 2005, p. 229). It involves two kinds of practice, namely, applied and clinical sociological practice. Clinical sociology involves the direct intervention activities of sociologists in operating from a sociological perspective that examines both normative and deviant   behaviors, as cultural expressions, and sees problems in the society as consequences of social arrangements (Rebach and Bruhn, 2001, p. 1), thus, its practice involves the similar work of psychologists, also being called clinicians and perceived as therapists and social workers. They have additional credentials as mediators, marriage and family therapists or counselors, organizational or management consultants, and policy experts that build on information through in-depth interviewing, focus group techniques, case histories, biographies and autobiographies (Rebach and Bruhn, 2001, p. 8). As clinical sociology involves identifying and quantifying interventions, applied sociology involves any use of a client-centered approach or sociological perspective and/or its tools in the understanding of, intervention in, and/or enhancement of social life (Price, 2004), thus, involving theories and concepts and applying it to situations. It has been emphasized that a probable way of escalating the practice of applied sociology is to educate students to document, investigate and assess the application process (DeMartini, 1984).       2. I believe that the article has been successful in emphasizing that all the members in the community, along with the organizations that they are affiliated with are responsible in providing solutions to all the problems in the community. It has also pointed out that the major social forces responsible for keeping all the members of the community in harmony and in coordination with another are also the primary determinants of how all the issues and problems faced by the whole community will be given attention, priority, and solution. Based on the article, I was able to realize that both the church (or any religious affiliations) of the members of the community and the community organizations, including the labor groups have been responsible for keeping the members of the community more organized and in cooperation with one another. The roles and responsibilities assumed by the leaders and persons in authority in both organizations, being influential to all the members play significant niches in the community, thus, making the whole community much more integrated and coordinated.   3. Alinsky’s work described what the people of the Stock Yards of Chicago had done in order to help organize and put in to order their whole community. He emphasized and described that for the community, two elemental social institutions are accountable for serving as a foundation of any successful community organization, namely, the Catholic Church and organized labor. These two social forces serve up to be the representatives of the people of the community, and possess the desirable strength to make significant changes in the lives of the members of the community observable and possible. The author indicated that the members of the community remain to be both the members of the church and all the other organized labor unions in the community, thus, uniting, organizing, coordinating, and affiliating one another to work together in their common aim to provide a healthy, happy, and secured life they all deserve. In this sense, the work of Alinsky helps the readers of the article to realize the importance of the coordination and cooperation of the members of, what we can say, opposing groups in the community. But with the article, it can be realized that working together is highly and significantly possible. Therefore, as an agent of social change and applied sociology, Alinsky was successful in imparting knowledge and information to all the readers regarding what can be done in order to improve the society in terms of providing the necessary solutions to its various problems.   4. The model of Alinsky provides realization to its readers that the highly possible integration and collaboration of the members of the Catholic Church and the organized labor unions of the Stock Yard community in Chicago may be applied to other communities. Based on this model, I believe that this can be used in order to organize groups that would help fight crimes in the community. Because both the members of the Catholic Church and organized labor unions will be responsible for implementing strategies, particularly, policies, I believe that their collaboration would be most successful in helping to solve the increasing crime rates in the society. This is because such organized labor unions can be the ones responsible for the arrest and punishment of the law offenders, while the members of the Catholic Church can be the ones in-charge of activities and initiatives that would help foster behavioral and personal changes in the offenders. As such, simultaneous change and modification of the society can be achieved, not only through general interventions, but also through individual and personal interventions as well.   References Alinsky, S.D. (1984). “Community Analysis and Organization”. Clinical Sociology Review, 2: 25-34.   DeMartini, J.R. (1984). “Applied Sociology as Knowledge Utilization: A Meeting Ground for Theory and Practice”. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (San Antonio, Texas, August 27-31, 1984), 1-13. Price, J. (2004). Applied Sociology – Topics, Terms, Tools and Tasks, 1st ed. Wadsworth. Rebach, H.M. and Bruhn, J.G. (2001). Handbook of Clinical Sociology, 2nd ed. New York: Plenum Publishers. Stolley, K.S. (2005). The Basics of Sociology. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Essay and Reflection on “Community Analysis and Organization” by Saul D. Alinsky

Essay and Reflection on “Community Analysis and Organization” by Saul D. Alinsky 1. It has been reported that sociological practice c...

A Reflection on Crowd Safety for Events

A Reflection on Crowd Safety for Events Theme: Discussing the perception of risk management for events Simple accidents do happen, and recently I fell from our stairs. It is natural for every individual to experience accidents and most of them, according to the news, are in critical situation like in a car accident. Based on the other public opinions that I heard before, there are people who are very well-known to be unlucky or should I say had an “unlucky fate” because they are more prone into accidents. Other people just make fun on the accidents that happened to them, while others are shouldering the burdens because of the associated consequences. Accidents may be natural but sometimes, it can be predicted. Big events such as in star-studded concert or watching an American Football Championship can make every spectator cheer. From watching such big events, accidents don’t only happen on stage or in the field but also among the massive crowds. It is expected that accidents coming from the fans is called stampede that sometimes turn into a riot. Before the event, or just planning for the event, there are many deployed officers who are present to relieve the tension in the crowd and carry outside the rival groups (if any). On the other side, events are also considered to be extreme, as if the lives of the people are in real danger. The extreme events as defined by Slovic and Weber (2002) to be harmful to people, property, and to the environment. The applied terminology here is the “games against nature” for the safety of the people are at stake in meeting the calamities like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and storms. Nowadays, there are governmental agencies that can predict the upcoming events or disasters which tends to continuously warn and teach the people to handle properly the anticipated events. The risk management comes in for the people are oriented regarding the predictable calamities and allowed them to be prepared at the same time. As part of the risk management assessment, the people should collect and store the basic necessities such as food and water to keep them alive even for a long time. If there is an expected typhoon, the houses should well-founded but if in case that the destruction of the properties appeared, the government or the local sector should also be prepared for the relocations of the victims. However, there are times that technological failure appeared in the control center and failed to deliver the exact point of calamity, like the velocity or movement of the hurricane, people should be warned or aware on the changes. Simple observation like the changes in the movement of the leaves or the unnatural cold is a hint that there is a great wind ahead. It is better to avoid the danger present in every event to ensure the safety. As for the officials, the crowd safety belong on their top priority and because of that, they are trained to save lives.  Consulted Work: Slovic, P., & Weber, E.U., (2002) “Perception of Risk Posed by Extreme Events”, Risk Management Strategies in an Uncertain World Conference in Palisades, New York (April 12-13, Accessed 21 May 2010, from http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/chrr/documents/meetings/roundtable/white_papers/slovic_wp.pdf Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

A Reflection on Crowd Safety for Events

A Reflection on Crowd Safety for Events Theme: Discussing the perception of risk management for events Simple accidents do happen, and...

Cognitive Distortions and Irrational Beliefs

Cognitive Distortions and Irrational Beliefs   Introduction             This reflective journal aims to assess and to gauge what I have learned so far about cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs. In this paper I will discuss the things that I have learned and the things that have tremendous impact on me as a student. I will also aim to apply the theories and principles that I have learned throughout the semester in my personal life and in observing people around me. This paper is a reflective journal that aims to help me learn and to effectively apply the things I learned in my everyday life.               First of all, let me discuss the works of two of the most notable proponents cognitive therapy and then I will give a brief information about cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs.   Theorists         In our class discussions we tackled the works of the theorists that have laid the foundations for the study of cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs. I have consulted other sources in order to gain more knowledge about these theorists.     Ellis             According to rational-emotive therapy (RET) proposed by Dryden and Ellis (1988), the cause of psychological disturbance can be attributed to the tendency of humans to make devout, absolutistic evaluation of the perceived events in their lives. These evaluations lead to rigid beliefs characterized by ‘I should’, ‘I must’, and ‘I have to”. These beliefs often obstruct individuals in the pursuit of their life goals. According to Ellis, individuals can generally accept shortcomings and weaknesses. This acceptance can be achieved if individuals resist viewing their shortcomings and weaknesses more awful than it really is.             For example, considering my self as having average intelligence and attractiveness is considered normal. While viewing one’s self as average in intelligence and attractiveness is considered normal, the problem will arise if an individual have a distorted and irrational belief that ‘being average in intelligence and attractiveness make me a complete disgrace’. Beck             According to Beck’s cognitive model of emotional disorders, maladaptive and inaccurate cognitions lead to the development and maintenance of upsetting emotions. The notion of schema is central to Beck’s cognitive model, as it constitutes the underlying cognitive structures that organize a person’s experience and that can form the basis for the individual instances of bias or distortion and can be called core beliefs (DeRubeis and Beck 1988). The maladaptive schemata gives rise to different cognitive distortions (Schwebel and Fine 1994).             As an example, there are people that I know who draw a general rule or conclusion based on one or more isolated incidents. When a non-depressed individual receives a single negative comment, he will take it constructively and will aim to improve. A depressed individual on the other hand, may overgeneralize, overlooking all the positive comment on his work. He will focus on the single negative comment and will think of it as the general fact.   Cognitive Distortions             Cognitive distortions are fallacious reasoning that plays a crucial role in the emergence of certain metal conditions. Traditionally, the cognitive distortions are represented as one of the twelve following irrational modes of reasoning: Emotional reasoning; Overgeneralization; Jumping to conclusions; Dichotomous reasoning; Should statements; Fortune telling or mind reading; Selective abstraction; Disqualifying the positive; Maximization and minimization; Catastrophism; Personalization and Labeling (Beck 1963, 1964; Ellis 1962).   Irrational Beliefs             According to Dr. Albert Ellis (1961), people have innate irrational beliefs that cause emotional disturbances. According to Ellis, emotion has three parts. These are: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">A real or imaginary future</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">An interpretations of the event, our beliefs about it</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">The resulting feeling or feelings.</li> </ul>             Morris and Kanitz (1975) classify the irrational beliefs proposed by Ellis into two categories. The first category is irrational beliefs that lead to panic, self-condemnation, and self-doubt. The other is the irrational beliefs that lead to anger, moralizing, and low frustration tolerance. Irrational Beliefs: First Category 1. The idea that it is of utmost importance for a person to be loved and approved by every significant person in his community 2. The idea that one should be thoroughly competent, adequate, and achieving in all possible respects if one is to consider his self worthwhile 3. The idea that human happiness is externally caused and that people have little or no ability to control their sorrows and disturbances 4. The idea that one’s past history is an important determinant of one’s present behavior 5. The idea that there is invariably a right, precise, and perfect solution to human problems and that it is catastrophic if this perfect solution is not found 6. The idea that if something is or may be dangerous or fearsome, one should be terribly concerned about it and should keep dwelling on the possibility of its occurrence (cited in Gateley 1999) Irrational Beliefs: Second Category 1. The idea that certain people are bad and must be punished 2. The idea that it is catastrophic if things do not go according to one’s expectations 3. The idea that certain life difficulties and responsibilities are better to be avoided 4. The idea that one should become quite upset over other people’s problems and disturbances (cited in Gateley 1999)               Perhaps one of the important thing that I learned about cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs is that these beliefs have negative effects. These distorted perceptions and beliefs have the capacity to make one’s life miserable and that distorted and irrational beliefs affect every aspect of one’s life. Cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs are often subtle. We can go on living without being aware of these, but they have tremendous impacts on our personality, behaviors, attitudes, the way we interact with other people and the way we view the world. Through this paper I would like to share the things that I have learned from class, from reading other materials, from personal reflections and from observing other people. I can say that this reflective journal does not only present the things I have learned in a written form, but also help readers to gain knowledge and information about cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs. With the knowledge I posses I aim to make personal changes and to encourage my readers to do the same.                         I would like to start my journal with Aaron Beck’s theory of depression and how this theory has laid the foundation for cognitive distortions. Beck’s cognitive model of depression suggested that depressed individuals systematically distort their thinking in a negative manner to conform to their negative views of themselves, the world, and the future. According to the model, negative thinking plays a crucial role in the various affective, motivational, and behavioral manifestations of depression.                         I learned from this topic that depression and cognitive distortions coincide. I believe that cognitive distortions contribute to the worsening of depression. Another important thing that I learned is the elements of the cognitive model. Being knowledgeable of these elements is important for me as it will help me in understanding the occurrence of cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs.   Cognitive Content             The cognitive model proposes the existence of structures called cognitive schemas. Within cognitive schemas reside various cognitions. These cognitions all relate to a central theme or meaning involving the self, the world or the future (Beck 1996). I learned that the there are different categories and levels of cognitions. The core belief is the deepest or most central category of cognition. It represents the theme or meaning of the cognitive schema. Residing within cognitive schemas are less central cognitions that are derivatives of core beliefs. These cognitions are referred to as intermediate beliefs (conditional assumptions, implicit rules, and central goals). The most situational specific and least central cognitions derived from core beliefs are automatic thoughts (Beck et al 1990).     Examples 1. Core Belief – “The world is a dangerous place” 2. Intermediate Beliefs <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Conditional Assumptions – “If I am brilliant, people might accept me”</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Implicit Rules – “I should never get angry”</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Central Goals – “Having a lot of money is extremely important”</li> </ul> 3. Automatic Thoughts – “She thinks she is too good for me”   Core Beliefs             According to the Cognitive Triad proposed by Beck and his colleagues (Beck et al 1979; Beck et al 1990) people’s core beliefs involve the cognitive triad which are identified as beliefs about self, the world, and the future. Some of the problematic core beliefs about the cognitive triads are presented below. 1. Examples of Core Beliefs about Self <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">I am helpless.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">I am incompetent.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">I cannot manage on my own.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">I deserve special treatment.</li> </ul> 2. Examples of Core Beliefs about the World <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Danger lurks around the corner.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">People are to be used.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">People will hurt me.</li> </ul> 3. Examples of Core Beliefs about the Future <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">My life is hopeless.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">I will always be miserable.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Things will never get better.</li> </ul>               This has been an eye opener for me. Now I understand that negative thinking can be attributed to a person’s core beliefs. Now I understand that core beliefs have impact on people’s lives. For example, I tend to view my self as helpless and dependent on the people around me. This core belief has tremendous negative impact on my self-esteem and self-confidence. Another core belief that I have is that people will use other people just to get what they like. This core belief has negative effect own how I socialize with others and how I treat other people. These core beliefs are sometimes hidden and sometimes I do not recognize them. However, because of the things that I have learned from the course, I was able to conduct a self analysis and to reflect on my behavior. Although, I consider these core beliefs as normal and I believe that there are other people who think the same as I do, I believe that these negative core beliefs have a large impact on me and the people around me. I believe that these negative core beliefs must be changed in order for me to be more able to build string relationship and for me to have a more positive view of myself. Now I understand that in order to correct cognitive distortions it is important to make positive and “realistic” core beliefs.   Intermediate Beliefs             Intermediate beliefs are beliefs that are intermediate between core beliefs and automatic thoughts in terms of their effects on information processing and emotions. The intermediate beliefs that reside in cognitive schemas are closely related to each other because they share common themes and meanings. As is the case for core beliefs, individuals are often not aware of their intermediate beliefs. Intermediate beliefs include conditional assumptions, central goals, and implicit rules (Needleman 1999). 1. Conditional Assumptions             Conditional assumptions take the form of if-then statements. When conditional assumptions exist, they emerge directly from a core belief. 2. Central Goals             Central goals are goals that people use to guide their behavior in order to accomplish what is most important to them. Although goals frequently are beneficial, when take to an extreme, central goals can result in problems for the person and others.               One example of problematic core goals is the case of my mother’s friend. According to my mother, she has a friend that considered tranquility and safety to be the most important goals of her life. As a result, she avoided all situations, behaviors, thoughts and feelings that she thought are upsetting. She led a very constricted life. I realized through the discussions in class and through the analysis of other people’s lives and behaviors that sometimes our life goals can potentially restrict us. Sometimes our life goals are distorted and they have negative impacts on us and the people around us. 3. Implicit Rules             Implicit rules are beliefs people have regarding how they and/or others ‘should’, ‘must’ and ‘ought to’ think, feel, or behave. People may benefit from implicit rules, if they consider rules as simply guidelines. However, when rules are rigid and unconditional, they appear to contribute to distress and problematic behavior (Ellis and Dryden 1987).               One example of a rigid and unconditional rule that I often observe in people is ‘I must always excel in everything I do’. It could be more beneficial if this rule is used as a guideline rather than a rigid rule. When this rule is applied rigidly, as I observed, people tend to be highly competitive and sometimes they are willing to do things that can harm other people.     Automatic Thoughts             Automatic thoughts represent the least durable and least central cognitions. Automatic thoughts are thoughts or images that may enter awareness. They influence how a person feels and behaves in a particular situation.     Cognitive Distortions and Depression         Now I will turn my attention to the relationship between cognitive distortions and depression. From the class, I have learned about Beck’s Cognitive Therapy of Depression (Beck et al 1979). According to my research on the subject, Beck observed in 1960s that clinically depressed patients have negative views of the self, the world and the future (Beck 1963, 1964). Beck observed that clinically depressed patients display cognitive distortions. According to Beck, cognitive distortions serve as a proximal cause for depression. Beck proposed that these beliefs and thought processes occur due to the activation of maladaptive schema. Schema are tacit beliefs and memory structures that serve to organize the processing of information. In his study, Beck compared the schema of non-depressed individuals with clinically depressed individuals. It has been found out that non-depressed individuals’ have schema that are flexible and provide the individual with a sense of personal worth, efficacy and control. The schema of depressed individuals, on the other hand, are rigid and are characterized by perceptions of personal inadequacy and loss, the belief that others are unreliable or uncaring, that the future is miserable, and that they lack control over important outcomes in their life (Reinecke and Davidson 2002).               According to Beck’s (1976) theory, depression occurs when life events involving loss occur and reactive negative cognitive schemas formed early in childhood because of early loss experiences. These negative schemas entail negative assumptions and when activated, such schemas underpin the occurrence of negative automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions. Negative schemas have their roots in loss experiences in early childhood including: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Loss of parents or family members through death, illness or separation</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Loss of positive parental care through parental rejection, criticism, severe punishment, overprotection, neglect or abuse</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Loss of personal health</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Loss or lack of positive peer relationships through bullying or exclusion from peer group</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Expectation of loss such as expecting a parent to die of chronic illness</li> </ul>               According to Beck, two negative schemas affect depression. These schemas contain negative attitudes about the self, the world and the future. The first negative schema relates to interpersonal relationships and is called by Beck ‘sociotropy’. The second negative schema relates to personal achievement and is called by Beck ‘autonomy’. Individuals who have negative self-schemas where sociotropy is the central organizing theme define themselves negatively if they perceive themselves to be failing in maintaining positive relationships. Thus their core assumption about the self may be If I am not liked by everybody, then I am worthless. Individuals who have negative self-schemas where autonomy is the central organizing theme define themselves negatively if they perceive themselves to be failing in achieving work-related goals. Thus their core assumption about the self may be If I am not a success and in control, then I am worthless. When faced with life stresses, individuals vulnerable to depression because of early loss experience and the related development of negative self-schemas become prone to interpreting ambiguous situations in negative mood-depressing ways. The various logical errors that they make are referred to by Beck as cognitive distortions and these include the following: 1. All or nothing thinking – thinking in extreme categorical terms <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">If I am not successful then I am a failure</li> </ul> 2. Selective abstraction – selectively focusing on a small aspect of a situation and drawing conclusions from this <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">The mistake that I did yesterday made all my efforts worthless. Everything is now wrong.</li> </ul> 3. Overgeneralization – generalizing from one instance to all possible instances <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">He did not say hello so he must hate me</li> </ul> 4. Magnification – exaggerating the significance of an event <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">My professor said that he did not like my work that must mean that he hates me</li> </ul> 5. Personalization – attributing negative feelings of others to the self <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">Our professor was upset when he entered our classroom, so I must have done something wrong</li> </ul> 6. Emotional reasoning – taking feelings as facts <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="square"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%">I feel like the future is black so the future will be miserable (Carr 2001)</li> </ul>   This is a reflective journal of the things that I have learned from class, from consulting other reading materials, from self-reflection and from observing others. Of significant interest to me is the connection of cognitive distortions and depression. All throughout the paper, I have put considerable emphasis on how cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs affect the behaviors and attitudes of individuals and how depressed people are affected by cognitive distortions in viewing self, the world and the future. The information that I have presented here are not the totality of all the things that I have learned. In this reflective journal I chose to discuss the topics that have tremendous impact on me rather than make a summary of the topics discussed in class. These topics that I found interesting and informative allowed me to view my self in a different light and allowed me to understand other people better. I believe that I still have so many things to learn and this reflective journal give me a clear perspective of what I need to know and what I must study on.   References Beck A. T. (1963). Thinking and Depression: Idiosyncratic Content and Cognitive Distortions. Archives of General Psychiatry 9, 324-333.   Beck A. T. (1964). Thinking and Depression: Theory and Therapy. Archives of General Psychiatry, 10, 561-571.   Beck A. T. (1996). Beyond belief: A Theory of Personality and Psychopathology Modes. In P. M. Salkovskis (Ed.), Frontiers of Cognitive Therapy (pp. 1-25). New York: Guilford.   Beck A. T., Rush A. J., Shaw B. F., and Emery G. (1979). Cognitive Therapy of Depression. New York: Guilford.   Beck A. T., Steer R. A., Epstein N., and Brown G. (1990). The Beck Self-Concept Test. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2, 191-197.   Carr, A. (2001). Abnormal Psychology. Philadelphia: Psychology Press.   DeRubeis R. J. and Beck A. T. (1988). Cognitive Therapy. In K. S. Dobson (Ed.), Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (pp. 273-306). New York: Guilford.   Dryden W. and Ellis A. (1988). Rational-emotive Therapy. In K. S. Dobson (Ed.), Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (pp. 214-272). New York: Guilford.   Ellis, A. (1961). A Guide to Rational Living in an Irrational WorM. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.   Ellis A. (1962). Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy. New York: Lyle Stuart.   Ellis A. and Dryden W. (1987). The Practice of Rational Emotive Therapy. New York: Springer.   Morris, K. T. and H. M. K. (1975). Rational-Emotive Therapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.   Needleman, L. D. (1999). Cognitive Case Conceptualization: A Guidebook for Practitioners. Mahwah NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum and Associates.   Reinecke, M. A. and Davison, M. R. (2002). Comparative Treatments of Depression: Entering the Zen Garden. In M. A. Reinecke and M. R. Davison (Eds.). Comparative Treatments of Depression (pp. 453-263). New York: Springer.   Schwebel, A. I. and Fine, M. A. (1994). nderstanding and Helping Families: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.         Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Cognitive Distortions and Irrational Beliefs

Cognitive Distortions and Irrational Beliefs Introduction This reflective journal aims to assess and to gauge what I have l...

Concepts

Concept 3: Effective Internet Communication Combines Technical and Communicative Competence   “Internet communication are not ‘invisible’: because they are new (to most of us) and change the rules about communication we can’t divorce (say) writing skill from knowing what an email program does when it store messages. Both aspects are essential. “Effective Internet communication combines technical and communicative competence.” (Allen, n.d.)                   The Internet developed as a parallel venue for freedom of expression. Its appeal lies in the ability of any individual to express ideas and emotions without fetter to a wide range of audience. Over the years, the modes of Internet communication evolved to accommodate personal and commercial purposes. Blogging emerged as a venue for personal journal of individuals while websites emerged as a venue for product distribution. Personal and commercial purposes also intersected via advertising and other proprietary arrangements in blog sites and emails.             The thing is there are more than 1.4 billion Internet users around the world, which is roughly 21 percent of the more than 6.6 billion total world population (Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2008). On one hand, this represents a significant percentage since the Internet is present in almost every country. On the other hand, the concentration of Internet users in Asia, Europe and Latin America means that the Internet has not fully penetrated world population.             This only represents the volume of Internet use and not the extent or quality of Internet communications or exchanges. Many Internet users are surfers but not everybody can communicate online by composing emails for work application, chatting not only with social circles but also with business partners, and maintaining a blog or updating a website. Although many people create blogs and websites not everybody can draw their intended audience or effectively communicate their intended ideas, which is especially important for work or business related purposes as well as proprietary benefits. This is also the reason why the Internet has become a source of useful and junk information that requires people to distinguish facts or truth from sham.             In addition, not everybody can optimize the various communication tools and uses of the Internet. This is because the Internet is not simply a venue of expression but a system that involves technical know-how. In the case of email, writing a message is as important as organizing emails into folders, attaching files, updating the address book, sending the message to selected addresses or to all the addresses saved in the email account. These are technical information that supports effective communication. In blogs and websites, postings and content are as important as the assignment of keywords to aid browser searches and organizing the site to improve navigability and readability to communicate its content better.             Internet communication involves communicating through a different kind of system that also involves different rules in both the content and presentation of content. An email intended for hundreds of people would be burdensome if sent to people individually, if large files cannot be sent online, or if one has to remember or manually type the email address when unable to use the address book. In blogs and websites, the impact of the content would change without a readable font, a pleasing background, or the necessary links.             While many people can communicate through the Internet, not all people can effectively communicate online. This is because effective communication involves knowledge of the workings of online communication tools as much as depth of knowledge on topics and issues. Competency in both technical and content expertise determines the success of Internet communications. Site 1: Botluk, D. (1998). Features – Internet communications tools. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://www.llrx.com/features/tools.htm               The site describes the different Internet communications tools such as email, chat and website. It describes the possible problems that users can encounter such as the selection of the best website offering email services such as Yahoo or Google. However, it was not able to explain in-depth the technical terms that Internet communication users are likely to experience. This is a useful site because it highlights the importance of technical knowledge of Internet communications to understand and use file transfer protocol (FTP) for websites and chat channels in chat sites. The website provides a guide to Internet communication tools in the legal profession.   Site 2: Bucher, H. (2002). Crisis communication and the internet: Risk and trust in a global media. First Monday, 7(4). Retrieved June 20, 2008, from URL: http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue7_4/bucher/index.html               The site discusses the risk and trust issues arising in Internet communications especially in the context of 9/11. The phenomenon has changed the uses of information communication and importance in influencing and linking people. The focus of the article is on accountability for the content posted on the Internet. This supports the importance of depth of knowledge as well as presentation of Internet communication content in order to drive down the intended point to readers to ensure accountability in the exercise of freedom of expression. Effective Internet communications happens by considering content and content presentation. The website features peer reviewed articles on various Internet-related topics.     Concept 4: Reflective Communicative Practice “The lack of formalised rules on the Internet (or rather, the wide array of rules applying with subtle differences in different contexts) requires that effective, advanced Internet users be more self-reflective about their communicative practice than is normally the case.” (Allen, n.d.)               Reflection is an important communicative practice in Internet communications for a number of reasons. One, there is a lot of information available on the Internet ranging from personal experiences to formal studies and official information. This means the need to consider various factors in selecting information to believe or use and data to discard. Another, the freedom to access the Internet means that people have varying intentions for posting information on the web that could range from personal expression, proprietary purposes, or advocacies varying in degree.             This enabled the advantage of providing people with access to a venue of expression that was largely non-existent without the Internet. This has in effect made the world a smaller place since information can be sent to any person living in any country in real time. The bounds of the Internet are yet to be seen as it continuous to evolve in utility. However, this also resulted to a number of problems. One is the moral issue of Internet content since adult content is viewable even by children surfing the net. This raised concerns towards its effect on society in general and in the long-term. The other is the security issue since some kinds of information has accumulated in value. Information can be used for different purposes regardless of the intention of the writer. Once, information is posted on the Internet its influence can no longer be controlled and dependent on its use and people’s reactions.             This implies the importance of understanding the context of the information with the same importance as the consideration of the content itself. There are two sides to Internet communication. One side is that of the reader and the other side is that of the writer. Both carry different perspectives on information available on the web because of differences in purpose and intended outcome. However, it often happens that the perspectives meet when the reader also becomes a source of information. When this happens, the user becomes conscious about considering not only the content found but also the author and the context of the information. This then leads to an online communicator that is conscious about the impact and use of information sent through the Internet.             The extent of freedom possible by the Internet has resulted to the prerogative for individuals to cough up any possible idea, object or occurrence. What distinguishes effective communicators from the rest of the flock is the consciousness of the source regarding the implication of sending the information through the web and the readers in recognizing the context of information found on the Internet. The virtual community is a parallel of our society, which means that Internet communication should reflect the norms valued by society. It is only in recognizing the importance of reflective Internet communication that we can make sense of the chaos that is the Internet, how we stand in relation to the Internet, and how we can make the Internet create change in individuals through well thought of information. Site 1: Edwards, S. L., & Bruce, C. (2002). Reflective Internet searching: An action research model. The Learning Organisation, 9(3/4), 80-188. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://eprints.qut.edu.au/archive/00000992/01/Reflective_Internet_Searching.pdf                 The journal article focuses on reflective searching of Internet communications by applying action research that draws on experiences with Internet searching and sifting through data and using the experience to derive ways of easing future Internet searches. This highlights the value of reflection on the part of Internet researchers in considering the identification of the data they need. Although the article focused on the content of online learning, reflective researching applies to any context of Internet communication. The site and journal is hosted by a university with a technology-based thrust that also offers online courses so that the data is based on its experiences.     Site 2: Borbely, P. (n.d.). How can our ‘Net skills and knowledge be enhanced by a conceptual understanding of the Internet?. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://study.gelatinpixel.com/files/Internet_conceptual_understanding_pub08.pdf               The article does not deal directly with reflective communications but it does explain the importance of conceptual understanding of the Internet in improving information communications skills. A conceptual understanding of the Internet provides us with an idea of what Internet communication means, its value to us and to other people, and what we can do with it. By gaining this insight, writers become conscious of how they communicate on the Internet to achieve their intentions or purpose. The site provides various articles on various topics including Internet communications to aid students in learning through the Internet or becoming an effective Internet communicator. Concept 5: The Mobility of Electronic Digital Data “Email and similar forms of asynchronous communication carry with them the possibility for rapid, efficient, almost invisible ‘multiplication’ of the addresses to which communication is being sent. Functions such as carbon copying, forwarding and so on enable the most rapid form of communication ‘expansion’ – bringing other people into communicative circuits – yet seen.” (Allen, n.d.)             The Internet is not only a tool for expression but also a tool for information sharing. This means that information although intended for a particular group of people can reach a wider audience. Electronic data carries the nature of easy sharing because data can be stored in files as well as sent to many people simultaneously. In the case of email, messages can be forwarded and send as bulk message to many people. With regard to websites, URL addresses can be copied and sent to different people for clicking to connect to the original website.             This involves not only benefits but also created problems. One benefit of electronic data mobility is the ability to communicate with people simultaneously. Unlike snail mail that takes time for the message to reach the recipient and for the reply to each the sender, email can be sent in a matter of seconds to any number of person around the world. Personally, this works when sending messages to family members or friends by selecting the addresses in the address book as recipients of the email. At the workplace, this also works in sending notices to various departments especially in cases on large or overseas companies. Another benefit is the ability of email mobility to support real time communication, although there may be seconds of delay for messages to pass through the Internet superhighway. This means that messages can be sent easily and responses can be made immediately.             However, data mobility also contributes problems. Spam email from companies or individuals seeking to advertise their products and services could invade our email inbox. Websites providing email services have implemented anti-spam email options to ease the inconvenience of sifting wanted from unwanted emails. The senders of spam mails obtained our email addresses through our communications with other people. In making online purchases, signing up for subscriptions, and engaging online customer service our email address becomes part of a virtual address book and through automated messaging programs sends us unwanted emails. In the case of the sharing of URL addresses, the viewers can include not only the recipient but also other people with access to the computer or have links to the recipient of the URL address, people that the sender may not intend to gain access to the website.             These benefits and problems form part of the nature of the Internet, which supports multi-dimensional networking. This means that through electronic data mobility, links emerge between the sender and the network of the recipient through data sharing. Online chain letters reflect the mobility of electronic data and the creation of links even among strangers since the message is passed from the sender to various recipients who forward the message to their respective networks. It can happen that the recipient can even receive his original message as a forwarded message. In the case of an email from an employee to another voicing out complaints about the manager, this has the possibility of reaching the manager via the mobility of electronic data that enables the transfer of messages from person to person with the sender not having any control over the range that the message can reach. Site 1: ZDNet. (2008). Optimizing efficiency with integrated information. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://whitepapers.zdnet.com/abstract.aspx?&docid=346128&promo=100607             The article focuses on the manner that information is collated and organized into a useful manner for various purposes. In the case of business firms, market data relies on information for advertising campaigns and market information is made by collecting information through online surveys or the collation of information received during online transactions made by consumers such as email and URL addresses. This supports the contention that the mobility of electronic data could lead to people unintentionally widening their networks. The site features various Internet and computer issues from computer purchasing options, to hardware and software options, and Internet connections. Site 2: Computer Networks. (2008). Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://www.dmccormick.org/network1.htm               The article discusses networking as a systems and communication issue. As a systems issue, networking involves considerations such as the creation of networking connections and the assignment of IP address as connectors. As a communication issue, networking involves the creation of links between and among individuals and business firms. Networking has evolved over the past years in terms of functionality and utility providing opportunities for appropriation or exploitation. This further explains networking as the result of the mobility of electronic information since information flows is largely uncontrollable. The site is authored by a private organization and the site solely focused on computer and information networking. Concept 7: Netiquette    “An overwhelming and many-faceted aspect of using email and similar asynchronous communication systems over the Internet is ‘Netiquette’. Netiquette describes ‘good’ and ‘bad’ conduct in online communication (amongst other forms of Internet use). But what is important about Netiquette is the concept that there are these ‘agreed’ rules of what is good and bad.” (Allen, n.d.)             Internet communications has become an alternative social process of self-expression and relationship building. As a new process, no formal rules have yet to be established. Informal rules are derived from norms in social interactions in the physical world. This means that people interacting through the Internet have to create rules of conduct through their experiences and influences on other people. Rules commonly recognized and practiced by various people are important in establishing a common ground within which to communicate and build different types of relationships.             However, this is a rather complex and long process giving rise to different problems. One problem that could arise in the determination of rules is value differences since some actions are acceptable to some people but not to other people. This means that conflict is likely to arise if not inevitable in Internet communications. Another problem is the degree of openness of people to differences or diversity since exclusivists tend to impose rules on other people, without regard for possible differences in opinion. Again, the outcome is conflict.             Conflict over the rules has implications on the effectiveness of Internet communications. Conflict can overshadow the meaning and value of the message communicated just because the manner of expressing this does not conform to the rules practiced by the recipient or reader. Conflict can also lead to serious consequences, such as the failure to agree on contracts negotiated online or misunderstanding of the intentions of parties especially in the electronic context.             In chatting, there are designated chat rooms focusing on different interests such as educational or social including adult sites. This implies the application of the rules on room designation. As such, adult sites are for adult topics and educational sites if including young people is for learning. However, occasionally there are people invading chat rooms and introducing topics or threads that are totally unrelated to the focus of the chat room. In addition, blog posts and discussion threads in websites opened for comments mean that any people reading the content can give their comments or opinions. However, it is not uncommon for comments to focus on other aspects such as the author or the website when the comment options pertain to the article. It also happens that in discussion threads, people suddenly interrupt by introducing an unrelated topic or making unrelated and unwanted comments instead of contributing valuable information in resolving the question or issue posted. There are more situations highlighting the importance of rules in Internet dealings that many have experienced.              Efforts have been made to establish rules on Internet dealing such as the provision of rules contained in terms and conditions in signing up for chat services and establishing blog sites. However, this will not be able to address completely the entirety of Internet communications. Nevertheless, these comprise a start in the effort to make the Internet experience pleasant and comfortable for all users. It also helps that there is a consensus over the importance of establishing rules in Internet socialization since the acceptance of this need alone results to people conscious about the propriety of their expressions shared online. Site 1: Netiquette (Internet Etiquette). (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ia_nq.htm               The site focuses on netiquette by providing a definition of the concept and discussing the specific norms involved in sending messages, replying to messages, and maintaining confidentiality to ensure that only the information intended to become public are shared as well as in handling sensitive information. The information provides detailed examples of specific situations that many people have also experienced. However, the information only relates to chatting and emails when there are other areas of Internet communications that also require rules, albeit some of the rules can apply in general. The website covers everything related to living in the virtual community. Site 2: The core rules of netiquette. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html               The page provides excerpts from the book on netiquette by Virginia Shea. The content provides insights into the general behavior of people in using the Internet and engaging in Internet communications to ensure peaceful and pleasurable virtual experience. Some of rules include respecting other people in the same manner as in the physical world as well as sharing expert knowledge when needed to help other people requiring the information. This elaborates on the contention that people need to exercise the same level of human relations in the virtual world as in the physical world to achieve a good experience and ensure that other people also have a pleasant virtual experience. The website is dedicated to explaining netiquette to guide people on how achieve a meaningful virtual experience.   Bibliography               Allen,M . (n.d) Internet communications, concepts document. Metaphors of use and communication differentiation. Retrieved May 7, 2008 from http://webct.curtin.edu.au/SCRIPT/305033_a/scripts/serve_hom   Borbely, P. (n.d.). How can our ‘Net skills and knowledge be enhanced by a conceptual understanding of the Internet?. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://study.gelatinpixel.com/files/Internet_conceptual_understanding_pub08.pdf   Botluk, D. (1998). Features – Internet communications tools. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://www.llrx.com/features/tools.htm   Bucher, H. (2002). Crisis communication and the internet: Risk and trust in a global media. First Monday, 7(4). Retrieved June 20, 2008, from URL: http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue7_4/bucher/index.html   Computer Networks. (2008). Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://www.dmccormick.org/network1.htm    Edwards, S. L., & Bruce, C. (2002). Reflective Internet searching: An action research model. The Learning Organisation, 9(3/4), 80-188. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://eprints.qut.edu.au/archive/00000992/01/Reflective_Internet_Searching.pdf     Miniwatts Marketing Group. (2008). Internet world stats. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm   Netiquette (Internet Etiquette). (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ia_nq.htm   The core rules of netiquette. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html   ZDNet. (2008). Optimizing efficiency with integrated information. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from http://whitepapers.zdnet.com/abstract.aspx?&docid=346128&promo=100607   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Concepts

Concept 3: Effective Internet Communication Combines Technical and Communicative Competence “ Internet communication are not ‘invisible’...

Indian Philosophy and Educational System

Indian Philosophy and Educational System   Introduction Indian philosophy has been noted to be one of the sources of the sublime knowledge as well as wisdom for mankind for ages. The systems of Indian philosophy have been able to enhance the life of man not only in India, but all over the world.  The philosophy of India has its roots in the Vedic period. The great Rishis, has been able to settle in a peaceful, invigorating environment of the forests, meditated over the basic questions of existence.  Accordingly, Indian philosophy uniquely exhibits a spiritual. It can be noted that some of the basics expressed in this philosiphy may be similar to that of the western philosophy. Nonetheless, Indian philosophy differs from the Western philosophy on several aspects. Whilst the Western philosophy deals with epistemology, metaphysics, psychology, ethics etc. separately, Indian philosophy takes a comprehensive view of all these subjects in one.  For an Indian philosopher, philosophy is regarded as a thing beyond an intellectual pursuit.  The Indian philosopher has been able to exemplify philosophy in his existence. His intelligence, knowledge as well as wisdom are reflected in his life. This is why his life positively influences the life of masses. This paper attempts to determine how indian philosphy impacts educatinal system.   Discussion The issue of education has been considered as a very important topic and different philosophies and concepts have been linked with it and one of this is the context of indian philosophy. Philosophies of Indian may include the indian philosophy theory and also the concept of post modernism.  It is said that modern indian philosophy philosophies are now confirming that having an educated population is important for indian philosophy practices to rise out of poverty. It has been perceived that historically speaking, education has played a crucial role relative to the Indian philosophy of agencies, organisations or the entire nation. However, education was constructed in various manners in line with the overall object Indian philosophy which include wisdom, knowledge and others. .  Research studies have revealed that most of the educational system in this generation works in a knowledge-based field; thus, it realizes the significant role indian philosophy plays in its operations. The measures selected by the model developer were also dependent on Indian philosophy concepts. Specifically, it has been cited that skills, knowledge, and capabilities of the students serve as the critical resource of Indian philosophy. In addition, as previous authors have cited, assessing the influence of Indian philosophy by  being able to having people  to conside individuals’ identifiable skills, education, and experience; this concept is also evident in the company’s intent for applying its enhanced educational system.  The context of Indian philosophy and educational system  focused on generating highly-skilled students, and emphasizes on continuous staff development. Equal relations between the institutions and the indian philosophy should be practiced to encourage productivity in the labour market. Enhancing good working relations among all the indian philosophy and preserving a good working environment and atmosphere ideally, will provide harmonious relationship inside the labour market. Maintaining such condition within the labour market will elicit productivity from the indian philosophy as they enjoy their duties of accomplishing their tasks. Realizing its importance have lead to the development of life long learning by different international institutions such as OECD, UNESCO, and European Union. Each of this institution has their own aim and purpose on considering educational investments to enhance skills in indian philosophy. Encouragement of wider work responsibility of basic skills such as development and learning courses by enrolling in different educational institutions should be given to indian philosophy on specified times of the year. This will restore fresh knowledge to old indian philosophy. Promoting individual competence and competitiveness among the indian philosophy and other members of the organization will be of benefit to the company since this will uphold and advance the initiative work attitude.   It is a common belief that acquiring knowledge and skills can empower an individual for the notion of facts and truths guides a person on how to proceed on things that must be attended to. In every decision an individual makes, comprehension and weighing of information play a vital role on what and how certain actions and attitudes will be conceptualized and performed. When the complexity of the nature, source and limit of a particular knowledge and skills (Ozga & Jones, 2006) is exposed in terms of the perspective used by a person, conflict on what point of view to follow along with the beliefs and values a person holds, most often than not determines the behavior, given that the person is a ware of the possible principles and truths he or she could consider (Davies, 2005). The role of Indian philosophy in making learning possible has long been acclaimed as the most efficient way of sharing and acquiring facts, knowledge, and skills. The relevance of being a knowledgeable and skilful individual has likewise been appreciated and credited as equally important in an individual.   Reference Davies, L (2005). Schools and war: urgent agendas for comparative and international education. . A journal of Comparative education, 35(4), pp 357-371. Ozga, J. and R. Jones (2006) ‘Traveling and embedded policy: the case of knowledge transfer’, Journal of Education Policy 21: 1-17.     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Indian Philosophy and Educational System

Indian Philosophy and Educational System Introduction Indian philosophy has been noted to be one of the sources of the sublime know...

Reading sociology: Dying for a cause – alone?

The article attempts to uncover the rationale of suicide attacks. Its argument indicates that suicide attacks come originate from the self-immolation. This is because these two activities share a common denominator: sacrifice. More specifically, both modes of protest appear to involve self-sacrifice. On the part of self-immolation, acts amounting to suicide are indispensable. This is the same with the recent waves of suicide attacks. The author used inductive reasoning by means of analogy to present how the acts of self-immolation and suicide attacks are related. The argument developed in the following pattern where the attributes of death and self-sacrifice is present in both scenarios. The problem in this argument is that suicide attacks and self-immolation has different ends, more specifically with the impact of preceding their acts. In self-immolation, there is a minimum chance of collateral damage. This is contrary to suicide attacks where inflicting collateral damage is one of the major ends of the act. The comparison between self-immolation and suicide attacks allowed readers to see the how these concepts may be related. However, a deeper analysis of the matter places self-immolation on a different class as that of suicide attacks. The former basically involves sympathy and social consciousness as an ends, all of which are righteous and utilitarian in every sense given that harm is limited to the one protesting. On the other hand, suicide attacks impel the one protesting not as a conduit of the general cause of a particular ends, but as a weapon which inevitably induces fear and reckless harm.   Biggs, M. (2008) “Dying for a cause, alone?” Contexts, 7(1) 22-27.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Reading sociology: Dying for a cause – alone?

The article attempts to uncover the rationale of suicide attacks. Its argument indicates that suicide attacks come originate from the sel...

Response Paper on Relative Resource Manager

The dynamics of contemporary corporate management is increasingly becoming more akin to crisis management than purposive stewardship. That is, CEO succession is now perceived to be more commoditized, and Kurana (2003) showed that such a process has its consequences and tradeoffs. Nonetheless, there is also a clear gap regarding the acceptability and efficacy of hiring external CEOs than employing internal candidates. Strategic alignment is evidently a blurring endeavour in the corporate setting as well as the process of mitigating transition risks which will directly and indirectly affect not just employees and relevant stakeholders but also the society in general in which the business operates. In reality, however, CEO succession planning is turning out to be an isolated and stand-alone exercise without realizing the consequences it may impose. For modern corporate governance, external CEO succession compels as a solution despite the fact that ownership of the internal processes and conspicuous support could not materialized in their expected manner. What is hard to digest in all of the things happening today about CEO succession is the reverberation of the process itself and at the expense of the senior management. For instance, the case of Jamie Dimon who placed John McCoy. The question now is if Dimon’s performance would not proved to be sufficient, what will happen next? Naturally, Bank One would again resort to pooling and choosing external talents rather than to cultivate internal potential, equal candidates. For senior managers, it is like undergoing the process of being measured up to others, with the respect to the capacity to salvage the struggling company. How will CEO succession planning will affect people? Virtually all of the people inside any company are responsible in the direction of their organisation. External succession planning is not the only which is being questioned today, but also the logicality behind it and the accountability of the people who employed CEOs, which is the board. CEO succession is a shared responsibility, and the future or the likelihood of salvation of the company lies not in a single hand. With that said, the priority of having a sound and effective CEO succession scheme could not be underestimated because the criticality of the role of the CEO and the fact that it cuts across several groups of stakeholders is vital in the success of the organisation (Gupta, 2006).   Reference:   Gupta, Vinita. 2006. Complexities of CEO Succession Planning.     Kurana, Rakesh. 2003. Searching for a Corporate Savior – The Irrational Quest for Charismatic CEOs. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press.     Word Count: 331         Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Response Paper on Relative Resource Manager

The dynamics of contemporary corporate management is increasingly becoming more akin to crisis management than purposive stewardship. Tha...

Riley : Infusion of the social structures and the life course approach

The study tells us about the infusion of the social structures and the life course approach. Initially, the literature on life course basically uses the stages in life to determine the causes and implications of aging. There are existing studies that uses biological terms that seek to explain the existence of phases and stages in the life of the individual. In the account of Riley, she attempted to explain the social structures through the life-course approach. This means the bulk of the study is mashed up in periods resembling the life span of the individual. In the course of the discussion, Riley realized the complexity of analyzing the existing research. She tried to explain this by pointing out the asynchrony of the life course. This means that with the consequent manifestation of aging in the person, the existing social structures similarly move towards the “axis of historical time.” On the whole, the article appears superficially as an account of the relationship of social structures and the subject of aging. In a deeper level, the article is an attempt to provide a discussion on the development of the paradigm throughout the years. The account of Riley using the life course approach seems to provide a narrative similar to popular fiction. To illustrate, the Harry Potter series is an account of the central character’s life which concurrently pointed out the specific changes in society. From his initial encounter with Lord Voldemort, re-entry to the wizarding world, and eventual road to vanquishing evil, these phases of the central character’s life course marks how the structures in society change as he age. It is in this pattern that Riley highlighted the inescapable connection between the social structures and the concept of aging.   Riley, M.W. (1998) “A Life Course Approach: Autobiographical notes.” In Janet Z. Giele and Glen H. Elder, Jr. (eds.), Methods of Life Course Research (pp. 28-51). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Riley : Infusion of the social structures and the life course approach

The study tells us about the infusion of the social structures and the life course approach. Initially, the literature on life course bas...