What should be the future of 'diversity-management' Essay

What should be the future of 'diversity-management' - Essay Example The importance of diversity management is an integrative part of modern management. Global tendencies in the world lead to overall balancing of various people. Successful cooperation of people with diverse cultural and religious background, from different societies should be mediated by managers. Unfortunately, there is an efficient gap between theoretical and practical approaches to diverse management. Propagation of human freedom and equality of human rights and processes of democratization is not always followed by managers. There is a lack of professional knowledge about diverse management. Therefore it is relevant to develop theoretical and practical bases of diverse management in the future. â€Å"Culture is the totality of values, beliefs, and behaviors common to a large group of people. A culture may include shared language and folklore, communication styles, and ideas and thinking patterns—the â€Å"truths† accepted by members of the group. Members of a cultur e have similar expectations of life† (Cross, p. 48). People are different and they tend to interpret any behavior through the prism of their own values. Literature review Currently, the influence of diverse management on relations inside the organizations is vividly discussed. Thus, in the article by Dameron and Joffre â€Å"The good and the bad: the impact of diversity management on co-operative relationships† (2007) practical aspect of diversity management is discussed. There is given a dualistic approach to the discussion about cultural diversity at the workplace. There are two kinds of co-operation: â€Å"community based co-operation†, caused by human necessity to belong, and â€Å"complementary co-operation† (Dameron and Joffre, 2007). Strategic development of human resources is created in terms of diverse management. The authors of the articles claim that individual’s development happens in terms of diverse management. It is important to discu ss the influence of diverse management on the development of an individual employee and then on the human resources of the company. Thus, diverse management is a perfect background for interaction of employees in the business world among them and with their employers (Burke and Cooper, 2005). A separation of diversity management from the issue of diversity in the world is a modern tendency. What is the reason for this separation and what is the perspective of further development of this field? Every organization pays a great attention to the development of diversity management and it can be said that every organization follows national tendencies of culture development. In case of future development of diversity management, organizations and companies will benefit from cooperation with foreign partners in the international arena. Currently, there is even a greater progress in the field of diversity management. Diversity management is a motive force of modern businesses. In case an o rganization is successful, it operates in the international arena. Moreover, it is a common tendency in many organizations to hire employees and managers from different nations. From the article considered above, cultural diversity is titled as â€Å"a zone of uncertainty from which one can profit† (Dameron and Joffre). This concept was borrowed from Crozier and Friedberg (1977). These authors considered cultural diversity to be a ‘goal-oriented collective action’ (Crozier and Friedberg, 1977). Thus, Crozier and Friedberg (1977) considered cultural diversity in relation to a certain organization, but currently this concept is considered from a broader perspective. Other authors who discuss diversity management, are Ronald J. Burke and Cary L. Cooper in the book â€Å"Reinventing Human Resources Management: Challenges and New Directions† (2005). These authors underline the importance of a shift of consideration about diversity management from an organizatio nal context to a more global context. Dameron and Joffre underline that diverse management

Hsbc Strategy Essay Example for Free

Hsbc Strategy Essay Proposal on HSBC’s strategic shift with the organization based growth model (410 words, 2011). Research topic: How HSBC’s changed its strategic direction using organization-driven growth model to achieve long-term economic and strategic success. Rationale and literature review The long-term economic success of an organization is dynamically associated with the organization’s ability to create new modes of production (Chandler 1990). A number of factors influence an organization’s ability to grow and achieve strategic success in today’s era of globalization. These are: * The dynamic processes that govern an organization’s operations are not uniform but diverse across different parts of the world (Martin Verdier 2008). * Organization’s changes and the dynamic process that influence do not necessarily have a consistently progressive development phase. i. e they go through a phase of high-development and low-development (Martin Verdier 2008). Organizations, like HSBC, who have recognized this, have invested resources to evolve their economic development over time. HSBC developed their organizational-driven growth model to successfully create a model for long-term sustainability, growth and profitability. The model is shown below: Figure: The HSBC organizational-growth model (Image source: Deans Kroeger 2004) HSBC was founded by Thomas Sutherland in 1865 in Hong Kong and for many years was a small-sized bank that operated in Asia (Ahlstrom Bruton 2009). In the 1980’s, the management developed the organizational growth-model to address the need for HSBC to become global and diversify in the long-term. This model led to the development of the ‘HSBC character’, which is the cornerstone of HSBC’s growth strategy today (Deans Kroeger 2004). By implementing this model effectively across all areas of HSBC holdings, HSBC was able add scale to its business such as insurance, leasing and fund management and be cautious and thrifty while using their international experience to acquire or merge with a myriad of businesses (Syrett 2007). Using the model, training systems for employees were put in place that encouraged a growth culture within the organization (Syrett 2007).

Overview of Bristol, Rhode Island

Overview of Bristol, Rhode Island Silva 1 Thousands upon thousands of cities and towns blanket this beautiful planet. Many different cities and towns are indeed interesting subjects for study and analysis. One particular town in general possesses many characteristics that help to build what this planet is. Bristol, Rhode Island definitely is a magnificent town to visit, live, or study. Why Bristol? Bristol, Rhode Island and its unique history, culture and other geographic characteristics make it a wonderful place to live. To understand the Bristol of today, one must critically analyze the history of the area. Bristol has a long, rich history—a history that dates back over 1000 years. Around the year 1000, Vikings from Iceland are believed to have landed on the shores of what is today Mount Hope Bay (Almy 8). This is the first recorded contact from the outside perimeter of the world to Bristol. Many believe that the name â€Å"Mount Hope† has been passed down from these Vikings to the indigenous Amerindians of the region. The Amerindians ultimately passed the name onto the first English settlers (Almy 8). The first European settler to make his home in the Mount Hope Lands was John Gorham. Gorham was granted 100 acres of land by the Plymouth colony, and has been given credit to be the official founder of Bristol. Much of the surrounding time saw little English settlement. However, much of the time was devoted to a series of conflicts between Amerindians and English settlers. The most notab le conflict was the King Phillips War (1675-1676). The Amerindians were subsequently crushed by the English settlers and Amerindian control over the lands was lost forever. The Mount Hope Lands were now under full control of the Plymouth Colony and not the Amerindians (Funk Wagnall’s 358). The colonial administrators took little time in making attempts to develop the area, and in 1680 the process of settlement took a momentous step. Four proprietors bought a tract of land (what is now Bristol). At this time the relative location of Bristol was as follows: The Mount Hope Lands lied between present day Taunton and the Mount Hope Bay on the East and the Narragansett Bay on the west; the land also extended from Bristol Ferry some 6 miles from the north (Almy 8). The Proprietors took their land and broke it up, selling portions to other English settlers. The following year, 1681, the first town meeting was held and a decision was reached about the future name of the Mount Hope La nds. The settlers saw the opportunities that were before them and they chose to name the Mount Hope Lands after the seaport city of Bristol, England in the hopes that one day, Bristol of the New World would emulate the success of Bristol, England (Funk Wagnall’s 358). Bristol finally had a name and a mass a settlers that would plant the seed and develop the area to what it is today. It is important to understand at this particular point in history the town of Bristol was under the auspice of the Plymouth Colony, which today is present day Massachusetts. The surrounding areas, most notably Taunton, made attempts to diminish the role of Bristol within the colony; therefore, Bristol attempted to remove itself from the Plymouth Colony and chose to be annexed by the colony of Rhode Island. At a town meeting in 1747, Bristol decided to officially break away from Plymouth Colony, and Rhode Island was there to take the potential seaport. Bristol was now part of Rhode Island (Almy 9). Bristol, as it is known today, came into existence. To better understand the Bristol of today, two important aspects of Bristol’s history must be understood. The history of industry and the history of immigration helped to shape Bristol immensely. From 1680 until about 1830 the town of Bristol was engaged in commerce and agriculture. Everything from onions to slaves was exported from this busy seaport all around the world (Almy 9). A new industry sprang up in 1832 as ships were sent out in search of whales on the Pacific Coast—whaling was successfully profitable for nearly 10 years. At about the same time the Industrial Revolution took hold in Bristol. Distilleries, gristmills, tanneries, and shipbuilding sprung up all over Bristol to support the commerce she engaged in (DiGati 15). The industrial age dominated Bristol for the remainder of the 19th century and most of the 20th century, but today Bristol is not engaged as heavily in manufacturing as it once was. A general shift, nationwide, has been to service industries. Another important historical aspect that has shaped Bristol is immigration. Several ethnic groups have come to Bristol throughout the years. The history of immigration in Bristol is necessary to understand the demographic composition of present day Bristol. In 1846 a massive potato famine struck Ireland, which led many Irish to flee their homeland and immigrate to the United States. Some of these immigrants ended up in Bristol, and by 1852 there were hundreds of Irish residing in Bristol. The Irish brought with them many new cultural traits; among those was their religion—Roman Catholicism. In response to the Irish presence in Bristol, the first Roman Catholic Church was built in Bristol in 1855. However, industry in Bristol was growing faster than the workforce, and a massive campaign was launched to recruit cheap foreign labor, or more specifically the Italians. The Italians were the second major wave of immigrants to reach Bristol; a high concentration immigrated around the 1880s (DiGati 16). The third major migration to reach Bristol is the most important, and the reason why today half the total population is from Portuguese ancestry and 20% of the homes still speak the Portuguese language (Census 1990). The Portuguese influx into Bristol has been steady and constant throughout most of the 20th century, and exploded immensely during the late 1970s as volcanic eruptions created havoc among the Azorean Islands (DiGati 16). The Portuguese, like other ethnic groups, brought a culture that is clearly evident today in Bristol. Unfortunately, there is a dark side to Bristol’s history that must be mentioned. Bristol actively, and openly engaged in the trading of slaves. Between the years of 1804 and 1807, 8,238 slaves were delivered to be sold by Rhode Island ships (DiGati 15). How could Bristol engage in this enterprise? The answer is money. Today Bristol is a prominent town in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and serves as the seat of Bristol County in Rhode Island. Located on a peninsula between Narragansett and Mount Hope Bays, Bristol is about 12 miles southeast of Providence and 12 miles north of Newport. With a population of 22, 000, Bristol is easily accessible from Route 114 or Route 136 via Route 195, and from the Mount Hope Bridge via Route 24 (http://www.town.bristol.ri.us/about1.htm). To the west of Bristol’s border is the Narragansett Bay, which gives Bristol excellent access to the Atlantic Ocean. The demographics of Bristol help to create a diverse town. Census data reveals many changes and patterns of certain demographics within Bristol. Population demographics revealed by the 1960 census give keen insight into the town of Bristol during the 1960s. The total population of Bristol in 1960 was 14,570; of this total a mere 26 were nonwhite who inhabited Bristol (1960 Census). The African American population in Bristol at that time was virtually nonexistent. In terms of the minority presence in Bristol, nothing has changed over the years. From 1960 to 1990 the population of Bristol has grown to 21,624 persons; of this number a mere 60 are from African decent (1990 Census). A great disparity exists between the population of whites and blacks in Bristol. Statements made by minorities in Bristol gives insight into the reasons why this disparity exists. There is a feeling that opportunities are available, but, perhaps, the property is too expensive for minorities to afford to buy. D onald Isom, a concerned resident of Bristol, stated, â€Å"Property is expensive in Bristol, and minorities just can’t afford it.† Hopefully as wages for minorities increase, property will become more affordable for minorities in Bristol. Another interesting demographic characteristic that has remained intact over the years is the relative stability of the ethnic composition in the town of Bristol. In 1960 the total number of foreign born residing in Bristol was 2,367; of this total 1,476 were Portuguese; a distant second were the Italians, which had 474 foreign born residents in Bristol (1960 Census). At the present time, little has changed in the ethnic composition of Bristol. According to the 1960 Census, 9,146 declared Portuguese ancestry—nearly half of the total population of Bristol; again the Italians were a distant second with 4,768 declaring Italian ancestry. These statistics leave little doubt that the Portuguese are a dominant factor in the population of Bristol. The impact of the Portuguese on Bristol can also be seen by the language grouping in the area. A whopping 4,554 persons speak Portuguese at home, which constitutes 20% of the total population. The Portuguese have been able to preserve their culture in Bristol; the language data clearly explains this. Bristol is getting old these days. The population of Bristol has been growing gradually older throughout the years. In 1960, 10% of the total population was ages 65 or older. As of 1990 the proportion has doubled to nearly 20% (1960 1990 Census). The aging of Bristol can be attributed to improved medical treatments since 1960. The proportion of men to women in Bristol has remained the same since 1960, equally divided between men and women (1960 1990 Census). Income statistics in Bristol raise questions about equality in the town. A great disparity exists between men and women and their average yearly income. However, the gap in income has closed somewhat since 1960. In 1960, the average male, working full time, earned approximately $3,846 per year, while the average woman earned less than half that total—a mere $1,828 dollars (1960 Census). By 1990 the gap had closed significantly, but not enough to merit full equality. The median income of a female working full time was $18,402, while the median income of a male working full time was $27,422 (1990 Census). Although the situation has improved, there is a long way to go, not only for Bristol but also for the rest of the country. The disparity between wages is not a problem just for Bristol, but it’s a problem that faces the nation as a whole. Sandra Pereira, an employee of Coastal Medical in Bristol, stated her concerns on this matter, â€Å"Men are the ones who own most of the businesses [in Bristol] and they hire other males and pay them the big money. More women have to get better educated and take an active role in business, and hopefully [women] will make more money than men.† Housing statistics reveal interesting traits in Bristol. In 1960 there were 4,284 homes in Bristol, and 3832 of them were occupied. The owner occupied 3,326 homes or 86.8%, while the remaining 506 homes were rented (Census 1960). Obviously, as of 1960, a great number of Bristolians owned a home, compared to those who rented. Things have changed in the modern Bristol. By 1990 the homes in Bristol grew from 4,284 in 1960 to a staggering 7,959. The owner occupied 4,863 housing units, while 2,592 units were rented (1990 Census). Although the proportion of renters has changed since 1960, there is still a greater majority of those who own homes compared to those who rent. What is life like today in Bristol? The answer to the question depends upon the person who is answering the question. The question: â€Å"What do you like/dislike about Bristol and Why?† met different answers from different people. A young teen living in Bristol, answered the question with a resounding â€Å"No!† â€Å"There isn’t anything exciting to do in this town.† His answer is perhaps a little harsh, but it does have some validity. There is Colt State Park, but the beach there is not a major tourist attraction. It is a park where families can have cookouts, but nothing overly exciting. There are museums and historical houses that can be visited, but again nothing compares to an amusement park or a mall, which Bristol has neither. Most of the younger people yearned for something of that magnitude in Bristol. When the question was posed to older people different answers were acquired. Sandra Pereira a town resident in her mid forties proclaimed,  "I really love Bristol because it is a quiet, close community.† An African American in his early 20s answered, â€Å"Bristol would be a better place if more opportunities are made available to all races.† One major complaint that seemed to plague most residents was the horrible traffic that engulfs Bristol. Congestion is most common among routes 114 and 136. These are the two main roads that go through Bristol, and these are the two roads that are most congested with traffic. One possible solution to this problem would be converting route 136 into a four-lane road to ease traffic congestion. However, local government cannot solve this particular issue. Route 136 is a state road; therefore it must be augmented by the state. As of today the traffic problem is in a state of gridlock between Bristolians and the State of Rhode Island. Another issue that faces Bristol is the after effects of Bristol/Warren regionalization. For the past 6 years the Bristol and Warren school departments have been merged in the hopes of saving money. Students from Bristol are bussed to certain schools in Warren, while students from Warren are bussed to certain schools in Bristol. This new system has been in effect for over 6 years, and complaints are rising from Bristol. The Bristol/Warren School Committee was promised funds from the state, but the new governor reneged on that proposal. Now Bristol has swallowed much of the debt inherited from the Warren School Department. Property taxes have also increased when they were supposed to decrease. Anger and frustration are themes of school committee meetings. â€Å"Residents of Bristol and Warren must work together to do what is best for the education of our young people. We must cooperate or we will suffer,† stated Thomas Scuba, member of the Bristol/Warren School Committee. The i ssue is a hot one and definitely needs cooperation for it to succeed. Regionalization is too far along to reverse, so it must be dealt with. Bristol, indeed, is a great place to live, work, and recreate. Violent crime is virtually nonexistent in Bristol, and the community seems more like a family than anything else. This is best seen by the massive 4th of July Parade that engulfs Bristol each year. The oldest continuous independence parade in the country attracted 250,000 people to Bristol last year (http://www.town.bristol.ri.us/hmepge.htm). Colt State Park and many museums make Bristol a fun and cultural place to live in and visit. Jobs are widely available in Bristol. Manufacturing of machines, the fishing industry, and the service industry make Bristol an easy place to find a job. There is, undoubtedly, room for improvement in the town of Bristol. Opportunities must be available for minorities and women must earn a wage equal to that of men. In an interview with a longtime resident of Bristol, many emotions were uncovered. Maria Menezes, an immigrant into Bristol in 1944, has seen Bristol go through many changes. She has first hand knowledge of Bristol’s changing from a manufacturing powerhouse—dominated by mills, and factories—to the service economy of today. â€Å"It’s bad that plants closed, but I still love my home—Bristol.† Throughout her life she has loved Bristol, and it is understandable why. I have great faith in the future of Bristol. Bristol has a rich history, and dynamic ambiance. Certain problems within Bristol need to be addressed. More funds should be made available to decrease traffic and make roads more efficient. The state of animosity between Warren and Bristol over regionalization must also be dealt with. The two sides ought to come together, put aside their differences and do what is best for the both of them. If that means separation—so be it. There is no doubt that Bristol will work through these problems and continue to progress. All in all, I look forward to the future and success of the town of Bristol.

The Role of Genetic Engineering in our Society Essay -- Technology Sci

The Role of Genetic Engineering in our Society With today's technology in genetic engineering, it seems we can almost play God. Scientifically speaking, are we enabling our bodies to survive all the traumas of a hostile environment, or are we endangering future generations to a limiting gene pool? Spiritually speaking, are we improving our bodies to save more of God's people, or are we attempting to "perfect" God's creation, and damning ourselves? The technology of genetic engineering is advancing at a dizzying pace, but is the morality at which we guide our use of this technology evolving quickly enough? The potentials of modifying our genes seem irresistible. Everything from cystic fibrosis to AIDS seems to be preventable, and we could possibly design our children to be healthier in the future. But nature always finds a way to elude our defense mechanisms. As polio seemed to fade from our world, AIDS became the new terror. We are one step from protecting ourselves from this immune system destroyer, but then, who knows what nature will strike us down with next? We must also confront the question of our faith. It is easy to justify improving our genes to save the lives of fellow human beings. How can we let a person grow up knowing s/he is going to suffer from epileptic seizures when we could have prevented it at birth? Wouldn't God want us to help these people? On the other hand, would we know when to stop? It is only logical that with our ability to prevent the harmful effects of debilitating genes, we will be able to improve on already satisfactory genes. Why should one settle for an average body, when one could have a strong, toned physique? Is that what God would want? Are we prepared to say what is okay to change ... ...n, Jack Albrecht, Rebecca Lawrence, and Brian Guerra. "Hooray for Genetic Engineering." Http://www.cwrl.utexas./genetics/benefits.html. December 18, 1996. O'Brien, Stephen J., and Michael Dean. "In Search of AIDS-Resistance Genes." Scientific American. September 1997: 44-51. Pool, Robert. "Portrait of a Gene Guy." Discover. October 1997: 50-55. Varmus, Harold. "Genetics: The Ethical Problem With Knowledge." Vital Speeches of Our Time. February 5, 1996: 334-337. Wright, Richard T. Biology: Through the Eyes of Faith. San Francisco: Harper Collins Publishers, 1989. Other Helpful Sources Marshal, Elliot. "Whose Genome is it Anyway?" Science. Vol. 273. September 27, 1996: 1788, 1789. Marshal, Elliot. "The Genome Program's Conscience." Science. Vol. 274. October 4, 1996: 488, 489. Niccol, Andrew, Director/Screenplay. GATTACA. Columbia Pictures: 1997.

Book Analysis: The Science of Muddling Through

A Summary of: The Science of â€Å"Muddling Through† By Charles E. Lindblom Public Administration Review, Vol. XIX, No. 2 (Spring, 1959), 79-88 I. Introduction This article discusses two different strategies for comparing policies. The first strategy, Lindblom entitles Root, or Rational-Comprehensive Lindblom refers to the second strategy as Branch, or Successive Limited Comparisons. After a brief explanation of the two systems, he goes on to argue the superiority of the Branch system over the more commonly discussed Root system II. RootThe Root approach, or Rational-Comprehensive, is best utilized for more simple problems, according to Lindblom, due to the necessitation of massive intellectual capacities and sources of information. He states that this approach is generally not correct for policy analysis, as time and money are restrictions in these scenarios. He also states that public agencies are effectively instructed not to practice the root method, due to political or le gal constraints Ironically, the common literature tends to preach formalization of this method. This leads to many practitioners acting against the philosophy commonly published.Lindblom lists the characteristics of the Root approach as the following:Clarification of values or objectives distinct from and usually prerequisite to empirical analysis of alternative policies.Policy-formulation is therefore approached through means-end analysis: First, the ends are isolated, then the means to achieve them are sought.The test of a â€Å"good† policy is that it can be shown to be the most appropriate means to desired ends.Analysis is comprehensive; every important relevant factor is taken into account.Theory is often heavily relied upon.As this theory is often discussed, Lindblom assumes it is familiar to the reader and shifts his focus to explaining and clarifying the alternative. Most of the article revolves around the Branch approach, or Successive Limited Comparisons. III. Branc h The Branch Approach, or Successive Limited Comparisons is the approach Lindblom claims most administrators use for their approach to understanding complex problems. Lindblom assigns the following characteristics to the Branch approach:Selection of value goals and empirical analysis of the needed action are not distinct from one another but are closely intertwined. Since means and ends are not distinct, means-end analysis is often inappropriate or limited.The test of a â€Å"good† policy is typically that various analysts find themselves directly agreeing on a policy (without their agreeing that it is the most appropriate means to an agreed objective).Analysis is drastically limited:Important possible outcomes are neglected.Important alternative potential policies are neglected.Important affected values are neglected.A succession of comparisons greatly reduces or eliminates reliance on theory.The Branch approach could be illustrated as continually building out from the curre nt situation, slowly, by small degrees, one step at a time. Lindblom then elaborates on the Branch approach throughout the remainder of the article. a. Intertwining Evaluation and Empirical Analysis In this section, Lindblom explains how the Root method breaks down its handling of objectives and values. He states that clarifying values prior to investigating alternative policies produces several problems. The first problem is that citizens, congressmen, and public administrators frequently disagree on many critical values.Second, even when an administrator opts to choose his own value set for guidance, he often will not know how to rank conflicting criterion. A third problem arises concurrent to the previous two â€Å"Social objectives do not always have the same relative values. † These common problems often lead administrators to ask a question like the following: â€Å"Given the degree to which we are or are not already achieving the values of good public relations, is it worth sacrificing a little speed for a happier clientele, or is it better to risk offending the clientele so hat we can get on with our work? †The answer, of course, varies according to the situation. The particular difficulty with values is the issue with attempting to state marginal objectives in forms other than particular policies. This leaves administrators attempting to choose between policies that offer different marginal combinations of values. Lindblom closes this argument with two summarizing points. First, for complex problems, the Root system is impossible and irrelevant, while the Branch method is possible and relevant.The Branch method is possible because the administrator does not need to attempt to analyze any values except those where the alternative policies differ, and this differentiation is only notable marginally. This drastically reduces the need for collecting information on values or objectives, which keeps the capacity for comparing values within rea son. b. Relations Between Means and Ends Generally, and according to the Root method, decision-making is considered to be a means-ends relationship.The means are to be evaluated and selected depending upon the ends which is selected independently and before choosing the means. But this is difficult unless the values have been agreed upon and are stable at the margin. This relationship between the means and the ends does not exist with the branch method, as both are chosen simultaneously. c. The Test of â€Å"Good† Policy Under the Root method, a decision can be considered correct if it can be shown to attain some specified objective. This objective must be defined beyond just describing the actual decision.If administrators cannot agree on the objectives, the Root method offers no test For the Branch method, the test is agreement on the actual policy, which may be possible even when agreement on values has proven impossible. Different ideologies can agree on different policie s, even if the agreement is based on different reasoning. Lindblom states that â€Å"agreement on policy thus becomes the only practicable test of the policy’s correctness. † The Branch method relies upon agreement whenever possible. d. Non-Comprehensive Analysis It is impossible to take every important aspect of a problem into onsideration unless the problem is very narrowly defined, therefore limiting analysis. Simplification of complex problems is imperative.Lindblom illustrates that under the Root method, simplification is achieved systematically through limitation of policy comparisons to those policies that differ in relatively small degree from policies presently in effect. It is only necessary to study the aspects in which the alternatives and their consequences differ from the current norm. This limitation reduces the alternatives under consideration and simplifies the investigation of each of these alternatives.It only becomes necessary to study the respects in which the proposed alternative and its consequences differ from that norm. i. Relevance as Well as Realism In the west, policy analysts tend to limit their analysis to marginal differences in policies that are chosen to differ incrementally. Democracies tend to change policies incrementally. By simplifying the policy by limiting the focus to slight deviations, the most value is made of available information. â€Å"Non-incremental policy proposals are therefore typically not only politically irrelevant, but also unpredictable. †Another way to simplify analysis is by ignoring important potential consequences of the possible policies, and also ignoring the values associated with those neglected consequences. Even if the exclusions are made at random, the policies may be formulated more intelligently than by attempting to achieve a comprehensiveness which is too extensive. ii. Achieving a Degree of Comprehensiveness The potential for losing important values is present in any o rganization. The benefit of a hypothetical division of labor is that every important value has its own watchdog; these watchdogs can guard their respective interests in two ways.First, they may redress damages done by other agencies. Second, they may anticipate and avoid injury before it happens. In the United States, no part of government attempts comprehensive policy overviews on things such as income distribution, yet a policy evolves. This incremental policy-making pattern fits with the multiple pressure pattern. When this particular type of policy-making model is followed, it is easier for one group to anticipate the moves of another group. It is also easier for these groups to make adjustments for injuries already accomplished.Administrative coordination occurs as each of these agencies adjusts its policies according to the concerns of the other agencies in a fragmented form of decision-making. Branch method exclusions are deliberate and systematic, yet it does not necessarily disregard long-run considerations. Sometimes the only way long-run objectives can be given enough attention is through neglecting the short-term considerations. e. Succession of Comparisons The last element concerns the comparisons. These comparisons proceed in a chronological order. When the policy maker uses a succession of incremental changes, serious lasting mistakes can be avoided.First, he learns from past sequences of policy steps, and gains knowledge of the probable consequences of similar steps. Second, he can avoid big jumps that may require predictions he does not possess the knowledge to adequately make. This is because he never expects his policy to be the final resolution. Third, he is able to test his previous predictions as he slowly moves on to the proceeding steps. Fourth, past errors can be fixed relatively quickly. For policy-making purposes, the analyst need only know the consequences of each of the policy aspects as they differ from the others. iii. Theorists and PractitionersThe Branch system explains why administrators often feel that outside experts are not helpful and would rather work off of gut instinct than following the advice proposed by theorists. Lindblom gives two reasons why theory can have limited applicability in policy-making. First, it is greedy for facts and can be construed only through a great collection of observations. Second, it is generally insufficiently precise for application to a policy process that moves through small changes. Only in restricted areas is economic theory precise enough to become particularly helpful when resolving policy questions. v. Successive Comparison as a System Lindblom concludes that the Branch system is indeed a legitimate system, despite its imperfections.He reminds the reader that the Branch method lacks a built-in safeguard for all relevant values, and it may lead the decision-maker to overlook potential policies simply because they are not suggested. One of the benefits of clarify ing this method is â€Å"the light it throws on the suspicion an administrator sometimes entertains that a consultant or adviser is not speaking relevantly and responsibly when in fact by all ordinary objective evidence he is. While much of organization theory argues the virtues of common values and agreed organizational objectives, for complex problems in which the root method is inapplicable, agencies will want among their own personnel two types of diversification: administrators whose thinking is organized by reference to policy chains other than those familiar to most members of the organization and, even more commonly, administrators whose professional or personal values or interests create diversity of view†¦ so that, even without a single agency, decision-making can be fragmented and parts of the agency can serve as watchdogs for other parts.IV. Conclusion Lindblom’s argument basically attempts to legitimize the decision-making processes that are already frequen tly in use. He points out a gap between the theory advocated by policy academics and the real-world problems faced by decision-makers. He explains how and why the current work-around is legitimate and worthy of acceptance. The Branch method, as he calls it, simply needs to be recognized as having merit. By pointing this out and attempting to define the Branch method and its attributes, he is opening the door for academics to begin theorizing on this method, as well.

Developers Dont Do Docs How to Get Your Technical Documents Done Right - by Tammy Young, technical writing consultant for The Essay Expert

Developers Dont Do Docs How to Get Your Technical Documents Done Right - by Tammy Young, technical writing consultant for The Essay Expert Why not have developers write technical documentation? After all, they likely designed the software, or at least had a hand in the design. Don’t they know the software best? Yes, perhaps they do, but that does not make them the best candidates for writing manuals, or even Help files. The truth is that most developers do not like writing docs. They prefer writing code. When pressed into service for documentation, they will complete the task as quickly as possible in order to get back to their preferred job. The resulting documentation is likely to be too sophisticated for an end user. It will often assume too much technical savvy from current customers and a level of product knowledge that new users cannot possibly have. Although few and far between, there are software engineers who enjoy the break from design and code to write documentation. Some of these people even write well. But beware! If you are one of those lucky product development managers who can rely on an engineer for docs, be sure to schedule time for documentation QA from a technical writer or the QA team. Developers know the product so well, they can’t foresee the mistakes that end users make, and they don’t write instructions to prevent those errors. This oversight leads to increased Help Desk calls for problems that could have been avoided with clearer docs. In contrast, professional technical writers approach the product from the point of view of the end user. Like customers, they don’t know all the ins and outs of the product design. Therefore, they can anticipate where users will have trouble and write detailed, even elementary, steps to improve the user experience. Their own questions can be used to build a dynamic FAQ list for product Help files or a user Wiki community. Developers’ time spent on docs is reduced to one interview and occasional questions, usually via email, to clarify points as the tech writer completes the docs. The result is a set of manuals and Help files that provide solutions for users before they even have problems, preventing support calls and promising more satisfied customers. Contact The Essay Expert for professional writing assistance with your technical documentation. Our experienced technical writer will be a seamless addition to your development team, writing everything from Help files and manuals to last-minute ReadMe and release notes. The results? High quality product documentation and happy developers. Category:Professional WritingBy Brenda BernsteinSeptember 30, 2009