Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management BEM2004 Essay - 1

Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management BEM2004 - Essay Example It includes a discussion of concepts relating to the meaning of work, globalization and the enterprise culture, which are significant factors that influence the existence of paid employment. Paid employment refers to work whereby the serving holds clear or understood employment agreements that offer them fundamental remuneration that is independent of the income gained by the section or department that the person works. The employer may be a business organization, government, non-profit organization or a family unit. The method of payment differs depending on the agreement. It might be in form of wages that can be paid hourly, weekly or per unit of output. Salaries are equal amounts that are paid regularly to the worker upon expiry of the agreed period; while others such as salesmen are paid by commission depending on the amount they sell (Baruch, 2006). The industrial revolution brought major changes in people’s lifestyles at the turn of the 20th century. The global society that was used to the traditional work such as small scale farming, herding, hunting and gathering was transformed in to a modern society that worked in the emerging manufacturing industries and construction and mining companies. The new industries employed millions of people in the early 20th century. Even though employment opportunities were created in the new industries, the wages that the average workers were paid were insufficient. People worked for long hours and were exposed to injuries (Norberg, 2003). During this early period of industrialization, work was structured in a scientific way whereby people were considered as essential components of the machine. They were taught simple skills that helped them perform special functions in the process of production under close supervision by owners. Under such circumstances, workers were dehumanized by the scientific management that was mainly focused on the results rather than the process of production. Performance based pay made

Developing Leadership Skills Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Developing Leadership Skills - Assignment Example In 1970s Robert Greenleaf coined this term while describing a leader who wants to serve people. The leader of this mold would be noble and help people around him without any desire for returns. He is highly democratic, selfless and achieves power on the basis of ethical values and right approach; but would never demand it. These leaders would not resent if leadership and power are above their reach. They are just, honest and sincere in their work and do not expect returns. They do not compete for leadership; mostly leadership comes to them unsolicited. They are neither power-grabbers nor power-snatchers. Servant leader would serve first and may or may not be a formal leader. It is about collaboration, trust, listening, foresight, honesty, sincerity, and ethical use of power and empowerment. Greenleaf said "It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. He or she is sharply different from the person who is the leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions" http://www.greenleaf.org/leadership/servant-leadership/What-is-Servant-Leadership.html He thought that in the late 20th century, traditionally autocratic and hierarchical leaderships are vanishing and Servant leadership with ethically caring involvement is emerging. It is succeeding through trust, bravery, and forgiveness. Greenleaf Centre for Servant leadership lays down the mission statement with 10 principles: "Listening, empathy, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people and building community". "Servant-leaders are aware that the shift from local communities to large institutions as the primary shaper of human lives has changed our perceptions and caused a send of loss. Servant-leaders seek to identify a means for building community among those who work within a given institution" http://www.butler.edu/studentlife/hampton/principles.htm I am of the opinion that all these principles suit my temperament and the ultimate goals I have and they would shape my career in life. In this context, I am impressed by Peter Shelden, whom I met in Pakistan during my last visit thereafter earthquakes. Peter Shelden is an American, in charge of a non-government organization that is working in the earthquake hit areas of Kashmir. It is difficult to see a worse example of a disaster compared to what happened 'when the mountains moved'. In October 2005, an earthquake left three million people homeless and 200,000 people injured in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and North-West Frontier Province. Peter's team was providing health services, psycho-social service, and training and rehabilitation. Understandably, it was not an easy job. They were braving the Himalayan winter in temporary sheds and tents and the country was not theirs and the suffering people were not their countrymen. They owed nothing to this suffering lot. Still, throughou t my stay there, trying to help the people in distress, I had seen an amazing commitment in him, with a focussed desire to serve humanity, irrespective of race, region, and color. Â