Developing Strategic Management and Leadership Skills

Developing Strategic Management and Leadership Skills TASK 1.1 Apart from its other management strategies, Virgin Atlantic has used Porters basic strategies to dwelling itself in the marketplace.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Accordingly, a corporation positions itself by consuming its strengths.  Today, more and more people and collections are struggling to be known in the business arena.   With this objective, these supervisions had been able to adeptly and effectively adjust to the situation in the market place by using general strategies that enhanced their enthusiasm.   There are five different common strategies that a company can choose.   These include leadership, diversity, focused management and integrated cost leadership/differentiation.   Each standard strategy helps the company to establish and exploit a modest advantage within a particular competitive scope. By applying these assets, three generic strategies are resulted: leadership, strategic differentiation and focus (Johnson..Scholes.1997).   One of the strategies operated by Virgin Atlantic is its ability to professionally promote its brand names all over the marketplace. This strategic promotion has made the airline companies to continuously be known locally and internationally when it comes to travel fulfilment and convenience. Alternative strategy that can be recognised to Virgin Atlantic as a whole is its skill to value their customers.   Here, the company has been able to shadow other airline industry to cut their service cost while providing outstanding service to their target marketplace. Lastly, the ability to strategically line up modern technology and it business strategy is the most important strategy that can be involved to Virgin Atlantic. In contrast, the Virgin Atlantic has considered their neighbour airlines as its competitors. Due to the deregulation of the European Airline, many airlines have been talented to cope with the changes and make a tactical move of entering in this travel business. One of the industries that open its marketplace to the airline industry is the Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic is regarded as one of the UKs largest planned airline. It is known for being such because of the strategies executed by the management of the airline industry (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisson 2003). TASK 1.2 A companys strategy helps as the game plan management and is use to rod out a market position, manner its operations, attract and please consumers, compete successfully, and achieve structural objectives.   Thus, Total Quality Management (TQM) as a strategy is certainly appropriate for such situation.        Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Total Quality Management is a viewpoint of management that is driven by the constant achievement of customer satisfaction though the nonstop improvement of all organizational procedures (Robbins, 1998).   It is a management viewpoint that seeks to integrate all organizational purposes such as finance, design, marketing, engineering, customer service production, customer service, and others to focus on achiving customer needs and organizational objectives (Hashmi.2000). It is known that every organizations main purpose is to stay in business, so that it can promote the steadiness of the community, generate products and facilities that are useful to customers, and provide condition for the satisfaction and growth of organization associates.   From this perception, it can be said that TQM strategy for accomplishing its normative outcomes is embedded in different management and leadership styles.      Total Quality Management is a strategic procedure  for satisfying internal and external customers and dealers by integrating the business surroundings, continuous improvement, and come through with growth, progress, and safeguarding the cycles while changing organisational philosophy. Furthermore,  TQM is an array of management scheme throughout the organisation, geared to ensure that the organisation to continuously attain or exceed customer requirements. TQM places strong focus on process measurement and controls as means of continuous improvement (McNamara.1999).  Furthermore, Total Quality Management is extremely variable and adaptable. Although originally applied to manufacturing operations, and over the years only utilized in that area, TQM is now being recognised as a standard management appliance, just as applicable in service and public sector groups like the Virgin Atlantic airline industrie (Hashmi, -2004). The Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy of management is customer-oriented. Hence, the Virgin Atlantic operations must be developed in order to gradually deal with the improvement of their operation through the on-going contribution of all employees in problem solving determinations across functional and hierarchical borders. TQM incorporates the concepts of service class, process management, quality declaration, and quality perfection. Therefore, they must be able to control all alteration processes with regards to their operations and services to better satisfy customer requirements in the most economical way. In applying total quality management to this particular airline procedure, they must be able to chain it with the core strategy of the industries. This does not mean that such airline companies must have entire variations. It is important that in application of the Total Quality Management to the Virgin Atlantic operations and services they must also consider that an suitable strategy should be used in order to employ a total quality operations and facilities that would satisfy all clients and customers. TASK 1.3 CHALLENGE 1 Cost Reduction Strategy To achieve its goal of having a reasonable position in the airline market, Virgin Atlantic uses a cost reduction strategy. Such cost reduction strategy trusts on five main aspects like contracting out services, fleet commonality, airport charges and route guidelines, managed staff costs and productivity and managed marketing charges. With their purchase of aircraft Boeing 787- 9, Virgin Atlantic has been able to gain capacity and decreases the average age of fleet which means savings on maintenance costs and evading the fit of European Union-conform equipment on old feet. The next factor under the cost reduction strategy of Virgin Atlantic is narrowing out services.   In this manner, aircraft handling, handling, ticketing, and other functions are contracted out by Virgin Atlantic to third parties. In addition, in order to limit their expenses engine and weighty maintenance are also contracted out whereas the staff of Virgin Atlantic carries out routine maintenance.   Another issue for the cost reduction strategy of the company is in terms of airport charges and route policies. Herein, Virgin Atlantic has made sensible choice of dealing with secondary and regional airports, where the traffic is not blocked and fees incomparably lower. Since Virgin Atlantic, is a true bonus for such airports, the airline company has a bargaining power which enables it getting  favourable  access fees. In addition, Virgin Atlantic provides only a point-to-point provision, thus, it has no cost concerning connecting passengers.   Furthermore, the company pays special focus to on-time departures because it means maximising aircraft use. Managing staff budgets and productivity is another factor used for reducing the cost for Virgin Atlantic. In this manner, the company pays its staff on modest salary but has set up a performance related pay structure which impulses employees to maximize the number of sectors flown daily. This way, Virgin Atlantic both controls productivty and keeps staff costs down. CHALLENGE 2 Critical Success Factors      Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚     Although the company had encountered different difficulties, precisely in line with its cost structures, the company had been able to survive and grow in the market.   Virgin Atlantic implement different marketing strategy to make the company last in the competition and to be able to gain competitive position in the airline market.   It is said that the company was regarded recently as the most prompt airline between Dublin andLondon. And because of the strategy of the industry, Virgin Atlantic is now known as the second largest airline in United Kingdom having a network of over 57 routes in 11 countries and served by a number of fleet. In order to position itself in the marketplace the company continuously concentrates on driving own its costs to offer the lowest fares possible and remain profitable.   In addition, Virgin Atlantic offer minimum standards of service and very low prices for point-to-point, short haul flights.   The goal of Virgin Atlantic is to meet the needs of  travelling  at the lowest possible price.   The Critical Success Factors (CSFs) are as follows in airline industry: the strategic focus of having the lowest prices, being reliable within the marketplace, comfort and service and frequency.   It is noted that low-cost companies concentrate on this first critical success factor by trying to offer the lowest prices.   Although Virgin Atlantic has eliminated extras such as in-flight meals, advanced seat assignment, free drinks and other services, it still prioritizes features which remain important to its target market. Such features include frequent departures, advance reservations, baggage handling and consistent on-time services. TASK: 2 TASK 2.1 SWOT Analysis First is the Virgin Atlantic Strengths, there is no doubt that influence, values and legacy of Mr Bronson is one of their major strengths. Other advantage is that the business is privately owned which means they can manage the business well without the aid of following the governments restrictions. The business also set the good image and good marketing strategy which reflects in promoting each others business as part of the alliance. Since it is the first company that offers low prices, they also get a chance to lease the aircrafts. Another factor is the strong leadership team of the seniors who are qualified enough in leading the entire organization toward the competency. Second are the Weaknesses behind the Virgin Atlantic. Because of the different business try-outs of MR. Branson, he is also part of his businesss weakness. All of his proposed projects or business strategies affect his other business although it is successful and stable. Another weakness is the low return of cash flow because they offer low prices for the passengers and there is a high expenditure for maintenance of the aircraft and sustaining the quality of their service.     Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Third are the Opportunities for the Virgin Atlantic. There are more cities open for another hospitality service and based on the smooth record of the airline, it is another success for them. Some of the large airline companies had experienced bankruptcy and it is a great opportunity and in addition, the European Union is on their side to support. Threats are the fourth analysis on the airlines. The rapid growth and change in the world economy is a factor of threat because of the New Airline Restrictions. Another is the competition and high prices on the cost of fuels, threats on the terrorism, over flight restrictions, and the new airline companies are the other existing threats. Other Strategy The possible strategies of the airline can be through the expansion of partnerships to broaden the service of the Virgin Alliance and start providing the quality of service in smaller markets. They can also try to invest in U.S. for there is a great possibility to capture the markets. Since the airline id popular because of their service offered, they can answer the needs of the customers in the cities where there is a large group of jetsetters and business class which is another advantage to increase the rate of return of the customers (2000). Although the advertising is effective, the company should make it more intense to stay well in the market competition. This will keep the airline be above the standard of their service. In addition, they can even try other marketing strategies. The existing credit cards can be valued and it is more applicable if the advertisement they will create is in the language the potential customers can understand. TASK 2.2 CLASSIC AIRLINE STRATEGIES Issue and Opportunity Identification Classic Airlines COULD commands a fleet of more 375 jets that serve 240 cities with more than 2300 daily flights. In the 25 years since it inception, Classic Airlines has grown to an organization of 32000 employees, and it earned $10 million on $8.7 billion in sales (Simulation, 2009). Classic in no stranger to the challenges that plague todays airlines. Increased uncertainty about flying has affected industry stock prices across the board, and Classic has seen a 10% decrease in share prices. The airline has been operating under a microscope watch, subject to scrutiny from all sectors. In addition, the raising cost, particularly of fuel and labor has limited Classics ability to compete for the valued frequent flier. To alleviate this problem, Classics Board of Directors recently mandated a 15 percent across-the-board cast reduction (Simulation, 2009). Although Classic has charge the company to implement a cost reduction, they must still find a way to increase its frequent flier program with methods that will demonstrate a measurable return on any investment. Stakeholder Perspectives/Ethical Dilemmas Classic stakeholder perspectives are to increase profitability and market share. It must also strengthen its programs and competitive position, while reducing their costs. The ethical dilemma that Classic Airline is facing is the morality of the company. The union representative has steered Classic relatively clear of major obstacles in an increasingly volatile union climate. However, they are concerned that Classic will be unable to meet its current and future obligations to its employees on their importance to the organization (Simulation-2009). This can become an ethical dilemma since must union work with contracts and not meeting their obligation can cause a legal problem as well. Frame the Right Problem This Airline aspires to remain a competitor in the industry. Their goals are to reduce cost and increase customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the company needs to increase sales and target customers that left to other airlines. Scorecards measurements will give results of marketing strategies in order to see if results are favourable. Describe the End-State Vision Airlines will implement marketing strategies to entice existing customers and new ones by delivering quality service and introducing better Classic Rewards programs. Utilizing more the CRM system will help monitor area that require improvement and deliver products that customer wants. To implement the changes a timeline will be put in place. The first half of the year improvement to the CRM system will take effect. This produce statistics needed to see results when the second half of the year new products, programs, and savings are implemented. TASK 3.1 Identify and Assess Risks Virgin Atlantic identified the need to improve their Classic Rewards program. The step that companies recently take in the new-product process to provide a needed focus for ideas and concepts developed in later stages. This statement help one understand that there a several steps to a new product that a company needs to take. Within those steps, many risk are taken that can affect stakeholders and different areas of the company, such as the budget of the company, Changes require new budgeting that a company might not have. Identify the Alternatives and Benchmarking Validation They need to identify alternatives for marketing strategies to help increase customer satisfaction, retain their loyal customers, acquire new cliental, decrease cost, raise morale, and establish new programs or enhance existing ones. To accomplish this, they need to perform benchmarking validation, with other companies, such as British Airways (BA). Some of BAs experiences can help set Classic Airlines in the right direction. To accomplish the changes Virgin Atlantic needed, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer should announce the expanded role of BAs marketing department with the establishment of an Innovation and Strategy group comprised of the following functions: Research and Development, Strategic Insights and Innovation, and Operations Innovation (Restaurant new resource, 2006). They also need to indicate that they have completely retooled and reinvigorated their development process, and their product pipeline is filled with a wide array of exciting options, this was accomplished by creating a single team responsible for driving and enhancing innovation at all levels. Evaluate the Alternatives Airlines marketing strategies were to increase customer satisfaction. As a result, this will increase profit, retain customers, and acquire new ones. Comparing to BAs, they were decreasing revenues, customer satisfaction, and certainly not acquiring new customers. In fact, the ones that stayed with Classic were flying less. Another alternative solution suggests is that they may want to get better CRM system that will help then products reports that tell them where they stand. These reports can segment for different elements such as customer evaluations, customer trends, and customer flying habits. Identify and Assess Risks They identified the need to improve their Classic Rewards program. The step that companies recently take in the new-product process to provide a needed focus for ideas and concepts developed in later stages (Kerin, R A, 2006). This statement help one understand that there a several steps to a new product that a company needs to take. Within those steps, many risk are taken that can affect stakeholders and different areas of the company, such as the budget of the company, Changes require new budgeting that a company might not have. TASK 4.1 Analysis on the future existence The airport dominance has grown competitive in the hospitality industry of every country. Accommodating this competitive growth is the role it plays in the helping the economy to survive. There is always a different philosophy in every business venture in the heads of the entrepreneurs and airlines are a huge investment that still on the case-to-case basis for survival. In addition, there is a regulation that is strictly implemented in the market which makes the competitive advantage hard to catch. The specific strategy that can be applied is out of interest in finding dominant position. This is the evolving issues for the changes that might happen inside an organization. The similarities, differences and crossing out of the unlikely process and procedures are the continuous methods applied in the intermediate term of the companys existence. Sustainable Competitive Advantage The Virgin Airlines outrageous connection to media gave the business a huge market competency advantage. The accessibility to the media such as television, radio, and even newspapers gave the business and the other business under the Virgin Group give the opportunity to promote each other. The leadership of Mr Richard Branson gave an incredible impact on this matter. TASK 4.2 MrBranson incorporated the business under the certain criteria or conditions.it should be in high quality; the business should promote innovation; provide a good value for the money; it should introduce a kind of challenge to existing alternatives; and it must be also with the sense of fun. Virgin Atlantic started back in 1984 with a single 747-200 and flying in route of London to New York. Aside from the gasoline, the business was fuelled with two ideas to offer low price and have a better service. Passengers are the treated as visitors and the business thought of the things to serve better meals, offer more entertainment, create fun, and acquire smiling and enthusiastic flight crews. For over the years, the airlines shook the industry with the project for innovation to provide the quality of service and entertainment. The airline is the first to offer two choices of meals, even in economy class, and spa-services. Thus, they became the industry most favourite in airlines and second largest long-haul carrier on the route of London to New York. The leadership of Mr Branson is felt by all of his flight crews and supports them in every step they create. The ingredients to success that Mr Branson formulated is first, he is unafraid to failures and instead of sticking with one you know, he proposes the idea of making great things if an entrepreneur knows one business, then he will know any business. Another is to focus on his employee and staying the course as if in placing the control over the business. The different entered businesses of Mr Branson are not all successful and there are many problems which are different on the leaders idealistic mind. Even if the Virgin Group failed at the other invested business, they still keep the values which is unique than the other organizations. Conclusion The Bransonism, taken from the name of Mr. Branson, believes in the idea that if the company grows larger and larger, the leader should treat the people working under him as human beings and as essential players of the organization. Moreover, he believes that a business will fail if he doesnt give it try for failures are the start of great things. And a leader should find the people who are good at motivating the others and getting the best out of people.  Virgin Airlines has expanded and reached the United States, Asia, and South Africa. Only Mr Branson set sights in building the domain in United States if he can tear down the barriers blocking foreign-owned airlines from offering routes the United States. Developing strategic management and leadership skills Developing strategic management and leadership skills The field of management deals with organizations. Our society could not exist or improve its present status without managers to guide it organizations. Thirty years ago, Peter Drucker, a noted management authority, proclaimed that effective management was becoming the main resource of developed nations, and that it was the most needed resource of developing nations. Functions of Strategic Management 1. Planning 2. Organizing 3. Leading 4. Controlling Planning is considered to be the central function of management because it sets the pattern for the other activities to follow. Planning means defining goals for future organizational performance and deciding on the tasks and use of resources needed to attain them (Richard Daft). Planning encompasses four elements:  · Evaluating environmental forces and organizational resources  · establishing a set of organizational goals  · Developing strategies and plans to achieve the stated goals  · formulating a decision-making process Organizing is the managerial function of making sure there are available the resources to carry out a plan. Organizing involves the assignment of tasks, the grouping of tasks into departments, and the allocation of resources to departments (Richard Daft) Managers must bring together individuals and tasks to make effective use of people and resources. Three elements are essential to organizing:  · developing the structure of the organization  · Acquiring and training human resources  · Establishing communication patterns and networks Leading is another of the basic function within the management process Leading is the use of influence to motivate employees to achieve organizational goals (Richard Daft). Three components make up the leading function:  · Motivating employees  · Influencing employees  · forming effective groups The final phase of the management process is controlling. Controlling means monitoring employees activities, determining whether the organization is on target toward its goals, and making correction as necessary (Richard Daft ). Three basic components constitute the control function:  · Elements of a control system  · Evaluating and rewarding employee performance  · controlling financial, informational, and physical resources Improving Organizational Performance The performance is a global concept the represents the results of human activities. Organizational performance is the way in which an organization tries to be effective (Ricky W. Griffin). An organizations performance can be measured in many different ways. The most common ways are in terms of efficiency or effectiveness. If organizations are using their resources to attain their goals, the managers are effective. Finally, productivity is the level of output of goods and services achieved by the resources of an organization (Ricky W. Griffin) Effectiveness, efficiency, performance, and productivity are all important concepts for managers and organizations. Communicating and Implementing Change This work advances a stronger conceptual and empirical understanding of two broad, conceptual communicative treatments for implementing change: programmatic and participatory. These theoretical approaches are elucidated respectively through established communication models, activities, and strategies advanced by previous scholarship within the communication and business disciplines. This article concludes with potential strategies for advancing for research in this arena. Developing and Leading High Performance Team High performing teams at all levels are essential for achieving outstanding organizational performance. This is especially so in situations of rapid or major change and during crises. Each team should have: 1. Common vision, objective and direction. 2. High standards. 3. Mutual respect, trust and accountability. 4. Individual sense of responsibility. 5. A sense of team identity. 6. High motivation and team energy. Definitions of Leadership Mintzbergs observations and research indicate that diverse manager activities can be organized into ten roles. For an important starting point, all ten rules are vested with formal authority over an organizational unit. From formal authority comes status, which leads to various interpersonal relations, and from these comes access to information, which, in turn, enables the manager to make decisions and strategies. The figurehead role: Every manager must perform some duties of a ceremonial nature. These activities are important to the smooth functioning of an organization. The leader role: This role involves leadership. The leader role encompasses relationships with subordinates, including motivation, communication, and influence. The liaison role: in which the manager makes contacts inside and outside the organization with a wide range of people: subordinates, clients, business associates, government, trade organization officials, and so on. The monitor role: This role involves seeking current information from many sources. The disseminator role: In their disseminator role, managers pass information to other, both inside and outside the organization. The spokesperson role: In their spokesman role, managers send some of their information to people outside the organization about company policies, needs, actions, or plans. The entrepreneur role: In his entrepreneur role, managers search for improvement his unit to adopt it to changing conditions in the environment. The disturbance handler role: This role involves responding to high-pressure disturbances. The resource allocator role: In their resource allocator role, managers make decisions about how to allocate people, budget, equipment, time and other resources to attain desired outcomes. The negotiator role: The negotiations are duties of the managers job. These activities involve formal negotiations and bargaining to attain outcomes for the managers unit responsibility. Followership The Courageous Follower is a contemporary classic that redefines the power and responsibility of followership, the role of many who must support, confront, engage, foster, and leverage the talents and wisdom of their leaders. Direct versus Indirect Leadership The direct leadership is about giving dictations to your people and maybe enforcing yourself as a leader while the Indirect type of leadership has to do with like having thousands of followers without even possessing the role of leadership. The indirect leadership has to do with influencing others and making them your followers indirectly by inspiring them through the character, charisma etc. Leadership is not about ruling people like subjects and taking it for granted; its about presenting you as someone who people think should be followed for guidance. Its about winning the minds and hearts of people. 1.2 Management and Leadership Style Autocratic Autocratic leadership can be said to be synonymous to dictatorship where only one person has the authority over the followers or workers. Their decision has to be taken as the golden rule and should never be questioned. They plan out everything and order their subordinates to work according to their rules. For instance, if a company has an autocratic leader as the Managing Director, the employees in the company would have to work as per the rules set down by him. Bureaucratic This style of leadership follows a close set of standards. Everything is done in an exact, specific way to ensure safety and/or accuracy. You will often find this leadership role in a situation where the work environment is dangerous and specific sets of procedures are necessary to ensure safety. Charismatic Charismatic Leaders, who are building a group, whether it is a political party, a cult or a business team, will often focus strongly on making the group very clear and distinct, separating it from other groups. They will then build the image of the group, in particular in the minds of their followers, as being far superior to all others. The Charismatic Leader will typically attach themselves firmly to the identify of the group, such that to join the group is to become one with the leader. In doing so, they create an unchallengeable position for themselves. Laissez-Faire Laissez faire style simply means a delegate approach to leadership. Many researchers have found out that those children, who grow under laissez-faire leadership establishments, happen to be the less productive in any group. This was also reinforced by these children making more demands upon their leader, as researchers have come to ascertain, amidst showing little in terms of cooperation as well as the inability to work more independently. Persuasive Persuasion is an essential proficiency for all leaders, requiring you to move people toward a position they dont currently hold. You must not only make a rational argument, but also frame your ideas, approaches and solutions in ways that appeal to diverse groups of people with basic human emotions. Any direct attempt to persuade may provoke colleagues to oppose and polarize. Because persuasion is learning and negotiating process, it must include three phases: discovery, preparation and dialogue. Participative The participative leadership style, also known as the participative democratic leadership style, is a very essential factor in todays business sector, which does the job of creating and maintaining healthy relationships between the employees and their leaders. This is probably the best type of corporate leadership style that necessarily allows employees to give suggestions and take some of the crucial decisions, along with their manager. However, the final decision rests on the manager himself. Culture of Organization Organizational culture is an idea in the field of organizational studies and management which describes the psychology, attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values (personal and cultural values) of an organization. It has been defined as the specific collection of values and norms that are shared by people and groups in an organization and that control the way they interact with each other and with stakeholders outside the organization. Characteristics of Manager A good manager is the one who can manage his organization successfully and profitably. The characteristics of a best manager is he should be able to understand every team members strengths and weaknesses and utilize every members abilities at his/her best in the interest of the organization and motivate the staff, understand and acknowledge every staff members efficiency and reward them accordingly. A good manager is like the good leader who doesnt say do it but says lets do it. Adapting Management and Leadership Styles Leading is something we cant learn in the abstract. Weve got to do it. Theres not always a choice as to who well lead, and you have to be willing to change the how. The steady slugger who wants to be alone; the creative fireball whos frequently missing; the expert with personal problems; all has contributions to make. They need different approaches to bring out their best, and we have to adapt the way you lead. Chapter-2 Support Organizational Direction 2.1 Theories Transformation Leadership Theory Transformational leadership is defined as a leadership approach that causes change in individuals and social systems. In its ideal form, it creates valuable and positive change in the followers with the end goal of developing followers into leaders. Enacted in its authentic form, transformational leadership enhances the motivation, morale and performance of his followers through a variety of mechanisms. Transactional Leadership (Bennis, Bass) Transactional leadership is a term used to classify a formally known group leadership theories that inquire the interactions between leaders and followers. A transactional leader focuses more on a series of transactions. This person is interested in looking out for oneself, having exchange benefits with their subordinates and clarifies a sense of duty with rewards and punishments to reach goals. Charismatic Leadership (Weber, Corger, and kanungo) Max Webers conceptualization of charismatic authority as a force for change has had a profound influence on the ideas and research of social scientists for several decades. The article explores the impact of Webers conceptualization upon one particular group of researchers-the organizational behaviorists. Starting in the 1970s, they began to formulate theoretical models of charismatic leadership in organizational settings and undertook empirical investigations. Similarly to Weber, they saw charismatic leadership as a force for change in organizations. This article examines Webers conceptualization of charisma as a force for transformation; explores the extent of his impact on organizational research of the 1980s and 1990s; and draws attention to neglected areas of his theory that have important implications for future research. Contingency Theory (Feidler) The contingency model emphasizes the importance of both the leaders personality and the situation in which that leader operates. A leader is the individual who is given the task of directing and coordinating task-relevant activities, or the one who carries the responsibility for performing these functions when there is no appointed leader. Situational Theories Paul Hersey and Kenneth H. Blanchard5 (a co-author of the One Minute Manager) identified a three-dimensional approach for assessing leadership effectiveness: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Leaders exhibit task behavior (the extent to which leaders are likely to organize and define the roles of followers and direct the work) and relationship behavior. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The effectiveness of the leader depends on how his or her leadership style interrelates with the situation. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The willingness and ability (readiness) of an employee to do a particular task is an important situational factor. 2.2 Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence is the ability, capacity, skill or, in the case of the trait EI model, a self-perceived ability to identify, assesses, and controls the emotions of oneself, of others, and of groups. Different models have been proposed for the definition of EI and there is disagreement about how the term should be used. Despite these disagreements, which are often highly technical, the ability-EI and trait-EI models enjoy support in the literature and have successful applications in various domains. Constrainer and Enablers Some of the constraints that may affect the process improvement and change efforts are Cultural and Behavioral Factors, Organizational Structure, and Technology.    These factors influence incremental and fundamental improvement efforts.    The initiatives weaken because of a companys failure to consider these constraints, which in turn, limits success of the plan. The organizations, which are more inept to change, thrive on change.    Smaller organizations may have the same constraints if the environment is designed Studies on Emotional Quotient Golemans model outlines four main EI constructs: Self-awareness the ability to read ones emotions and recognize their impact while using gut feelings to guide decisions. Self-management involves controlling ones emotions and impulses and adapting to changing circumstances. Social awareness the ability to sense, understand, and react to others emotions while comprehending social networks Relationship management the ability to inspire, influence, and develop others while managing conflict 2.3 Applicability to Support Organization Direction Efficiency Efficiency in general describes the extent to which time or effort is well used for the intended task or purpose. It is often used with the specific gloss of relaying the capability of a specific application of effort to produce a specific outcome effectively with a minimum amount or quantity of waste, expense, or unnecessary effort. Efficiency has widely varying meanings in different disciplines. Reliability In general, reliability (systemic def.) is the ability of a person or system to perform and maintain its functions in routine circumstances, as well as hostile or unexpected circumstances. Innovation Innovation can therefore be seen as the process that renews something that exists and not, as is commonly assumed, the introduction of something new. Furthermore this makes clear innovation is not an economic term by origin, but dates back to the middle Ages at least and possibly even earlier. Adaption Adaptation is the evolutionary process whereby a population becomes better suited to its habitat. This process takes place over many generations, and is one of the basic phenomena of biology. The term adaptation may also refer to a feature which is especially important for an organisms survival. Human Resource Human resource is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations. Human resources is also the name of the function within an organization charged with the overall responsibility for implementing strategies and policies relating to the management of individuals. This function title is often abbreviated to the initials HR. Organizations and Subunits An organization is a social arrangement which pursues collective goals, controls its own performance, and has a boundary separating it from its environment. There are a variety of legal types of organizations, including: corporations, governments, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, armed forces, charities, not-for-profit corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, and universities. A subunit is a subdivision of an official unit. Unit codes of subunits end in a non-zero number between -001 and -999. While official units represent official academic or administrative university entities, subunits are established to allow for more granular control over funds or workflow within the official unit. Subunits are typically associated with individuals, programs, or projects. Business start up versus Established Despite their similarities, start-up companies and established small businesses can be dramatically different when it comes to funding. Established small businesses usually have modest profits and rarely become huge money makers. Start-ups, on the other hand, often have lofty ambitions and the possibility of becoming huge businesses in the future. Turnaround Leadership 1. Leadership during a turnaround is very different from business as usual leadership, find out how if differs 2. If you are not comfortable with this best practices leadership style, then you must find someone who is 3. This leadership style works but can lead to confusion and resentment, find out why Chapter-3 Assess Leadership Requirement 3.1 Assess Leadership Requirements The first and most basic prerequisite for leadership is the desire to lead. After all, becoming an effective leader takes hard work. If were not prepared to work hard at developing your leadership skills or if, deep down, were really not sure whether you want to lead or not, we will struggle to become an effective leader. Virtual Organization A virtual organization is not business as usual. It requires a new management approach and an incredible awareness of the issues and challenges that could cause its demise. In a recent focus group represented by twenty members of a single virtual organization, but located at numerous site locations, the following challenges were recorded: 1. Communication 2. Leadership/management 3. Knowledge transfer 4. Processes 5. Infrastructure Diversity The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences.   These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.   Globalization Globalization describes the process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of political ideas through communication, transportation, and trade. The term is most closely associated with the term economic globalization: the integration of national economies into the international economy through trade, foreign direct investment, capital flows, migration, the spread of technology, and military presence. Economic Climate General economic environment comprising of the attitude of the government and lending institutions toward businesses and business activity, attitude of labor unions toward employers, current taxation regimen, inflation rate, and such. E-Leadership E-leadership is no different from any other form of effective leadership except that in e-leadership you have no option but to be very good at it. It requires a high level of transformational leadership because of the highly participative nature of the e-world between E-organizations and e-customers and the interconnectedness between leader and follower with the ever-increasing reality of the blurred lines between the two. Mergers and Takeovers In  a general sense,  mergers and  takeovers are very similar corporate actions they combine two previously separate firms into a single legal entity. Significant operational advantages can be obtained when two firms are combined and, in fact,  the goal of most  mergers and acquisitions is to improve company performance and shareholder value  over the long-term. Restructuring Restructuring is the corporate management term for the act of reorganizing the legal, ownership, operational, or other structures of a company for the purpose of making it more profitable, or better organized for its present needs. Alternate reasons for restructuring include a change of ownership or ownership structure, demerger, or a response to a crisis or major change in the business such as bankruptcy, repositioning, or buyout. Restructuring may also be described as corporate restructuring, debt restructuring and financial restructuring. Integrity Leadership There is a connection between trust and integrity, but trust is a broader concept. People need to be competent to earn our trust, not just honest. To be a credible candidate for any job, a person needs the skills and personal qualities to be effective in the role. Integrity is also broader than honesty. In addition to being honest, leaders with integrity must behave ethically. A criminal could be honest while breaking the law. Partnership and Alliances The Managing Partnerships and Strategic Alliances programmed focuses on deepening your understanding of the strategic foundation, the governance structure and the dynamics of the collaborative process. The programmed discusses the problems and stumbling blocks in selecting, negotiating and managing alliances. Throughout this intensive programmed, both practical and theory are carefully balanced so that you learn not only the frameworks, but also the key behaviors and cross-cultural competencies that lead to collaborative success. Regulatory Compliance In general, compliance means conforming to a rule, such as a specification, policy, standard or law. Regulatory compliance describes the goal that corporations or public agencies aspire to in their efforts to ensure that personnel are aware of and take steps to comply with relevant laws and regulations. Interim Leadership Recognizing that management teams may lack experience in turning around a business, we introduce experienced turnaround professionals who can step into executive or advisory roles in the business, such as chairmen, CEOs, CFOs, chief restructuring officers, operations, marketing, human resources, non-executive directors and advisers/mentors to boards. Chapter-4 Plans of Leadership Skills 4.1 Development of Leadership Skills The leadership skill set in the book comprehensively covers the subject of managing people, from A to Z. It includes how to effectively deal with stress and 22 problematic workplace conditions and behaviors such as bosses, bureaucracy, negative attitudes and personality clashes. Whether we manage one person or thousands, these clearly defined leadership skills are your script for achieving excellence. Different Methods of developing leaders Great content delivered well is not enough to help individuals change their behaviors. Assuming good content and capable personnel, the structure of a learning initiative and the methods used to convey knowledge will either ensure success or guarantee failure. Self help and developmental activities Training Courses People need a reason to change. Establish new programs that reward the individuals that are ready to step up. When employees see the advantage of leadership they are going to change their behavior. These do not have to only have to be financial incentives. There are a variety of ways to reward employees. People love to be recognized. It is a good idea to show gratitude through having an employee of the month or posting success stories in the company news letter. Job Rotation Job rotation is an approach to management development where an individual is moved through a schedule of assignments designed to give him or her breadth of exposure to the entire operation. Job rotation is also practiced to allow qualified employees to gain more insights into the processes of a company, and to reduce boredom and increase job satisfaction through job variation. Seminars Sometimes the traditional approach has its place delivering learning to large or small groups. Some company uses this method as part of a wider blended learning initiative. By itself a group seminar is, in our view, an ineffective method of conveying learning. Executive Coaching High impact and participant focused; get one to one coaching right and you can transform individual performance great goals, great techniques, and great results. Mentoring Mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximize their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be. Action Learning Physical activity can be a powerful medium for promoting learning. A team exercise, indoors or outdoors, can bring insights that hours of discussion would fail to reveal. The secret is in debrief and in designing activities to fit with the messages and objectives of an overall initiative. Self Directed Learning Self directed learning is a way of creating a situation where learning is owned by the individual and aligned with organizational needs. Individuals take responsibility for decisions about their learning and work with others to achieve it. Figure: The PRO Model of self-directed learning Reading Articles Reading is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas. Like all language, it is a complex interaction between the text and the reader which is shaped by the readers prior knowledge, experiences, attitude, and language community which is culturally and socially situated. The reading process requires continuous practices, development, and refinement. Changing Methodology in Leadership This model around change leadership came to be when a man named Aaron Antonowsky was doing a health study. He study women and menopause in Israel and part of his study group were women who had been confined to concentration camps during the Second World War. Learning from Mistakes Simple: Mistakes that are avoidable but your sequence of decisions made inevitable. Having the power go out in the middle of your party because you forgot to pay the rent, or running out of beer at said party because you didnt anticipate the number of guests. Involved: Mistakes are that are understood but require effort to prevent. Regularly is arriving late to work/friends, eating fast food for lunch every day, or going bankrupt at your start-up company because of your complete ignorance of basic accounting. Complex: Mistakes that have complicated causes and no obvious way to avoid next time. Examples include making tough decisions that have bad results, relationships that fail, or other unpleasant or unsatisfying outcomes to important things. Developing Leadership versus Recruiting as Needed The concept of leadership competency development is discussed with an emphasis on the historical approaches versus contemporary requirements. Issues surrounding the notion of inherent leadership talent as compared with developing leadership capabilities are contrasted with the need for some systematic framework from which to address the leadership question. Council for Excelling in Leadership The Leadership Council is a group of business people who set aside a portion of their time to provide training and exchange ideas with both leaders and emerging leaders.   The faculty is distinct, as they are business leaders themselves.   They remain active in their respective industries and pursuits.   As such, they deliver real-world, essential leadership skills to excelling individuals and organizations. Management Diagnostic Tools A commercially available tool widely used internationally which covers an extensive range of management competences. Strengths: A genuine self-diagnostic and management and leadership tool, giving clear recommendations for future development. Significant experience from elsewhere can be drawn on. Weaknesses: Although various versions are available, the main MAP product can take up to 2 days to complete fully, involving in-depth discussions and reviews with trained facilitators. Costs are variable, depending on the numbers purchased and additional financial inducements some support agencies have provided. Leadership Competencies There are five leadership competencies: 1. Creates a compelling future 2. Inspires others to achieve 3. Learns and shares knowledge 4. Demonstrates a passion for customers 5. Delivers great performance Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened, while other claim it is an inborn characteristic. Social Intelligence

Sultry Days by Shobha de

SULTRY DAYS : A Tale of Struggle and Freedom Sultry Days is the fifth novel written by Shobha De published in the year 1994. With Sultry Days Shobha De has explored a different approach in her characters which had not been seen in her previous novels. Shobha writes in the front page of this novel; ‘For my children†¦ finally a book by me that they can read. ‘ L. Sonia Ningthoujam writes; ‘Sultry Days, takes us into the world of power, sex and guns, the shady side of Mumbai upper class society. [1] In this novel Shobha has realistically presented the lives of youth, their aspirations their attitudes, she mentions in her autobiography; ‘ The novel is littered with types from that mixed-up decade-the self-styled bohemians out to change the world but not their smelly underwear; the dirty old men of Mumbai, all gas and small turds; the corporate ladies with their ‘good life' hangs-ups; the intellectuals, pariahs and parasites who feed off the rich while s pitting on their ‘capitalist values'. It was a fun book to do.And for those of us who grew up in that era in Mumbai, there were a lot of familiar echoes and reference points that provided loads of amusement during the recounting. I consider ‘God' one of my better-etched characters†¦ I can only regret he wasn't for real. ‘ [2] Shobha De dazzles the reader with her frank and candid tales of the lives of males and females who are trying to carve a successful career in the field of literature and journalism in the city of Mumbai. Because of her own journalistic stint in Mumbai Shobha's Sultry Days emerges as a very realistic novel.Shobha says, ‘I rather liked doing this book with its simple tale of doomed love, simply because it took me back to my college days and to the edges of the pseudo-arty intellectual world I flirted with briefly before beating a hasty retreat. ‘ [3] The protagonist in this novel is also a female like other novels of Shobha De, but unlike her other novels Sultry Days also revolves around a male character. Nisha, the protagonist of the novel is a strong headed and career oriented female although the novel also deals very realistically with a male character who also becomes the central character as the novel unfolds.God or Deb is the central male character and Nisha is the narrator. It is through Deb that Nisha discovers herself. Nisha is a young college student who is sharp and focused towards studies, she comes from an upper middle class family. Nisha's parents do not have a very loving relationship. She always feels tense that father has no time for her mother and neglects his daughter. Nisha is a shy girl and she always hated the frown birthmark on her forehead which made her look tensed all the time. ‘ Was it my expression? Did I look troubled? In pain? Depressed? Maybe it was that birthmark of mine.It had to be that. I was born with worry lines between my brows. ‘ [4]——  page 2 Nisha thought that she may appear to Deb as a, ‘A prissy little good girl who carried far too may books around. Pretty enough, I suppose. But not special. ‘ [5]— page 2 From the beginning we become aware of Nisha's attraction for Deb who is also referred to as God by most of his college friends. Deb is the son of a communist and is also a communist himself, he often gets arrested while taking out Morchas. Nisha gets attracted to Deb because of his unusual personality.His appearance is shabby, wears days' old stubble, always scratches his ‘matted locks which were full of lice-nests,' smokes ‘beedies,' is a man of loose morals, ‘has had several girls by the time he reached college'. His attitude towards girls is also to – ‘use them and leave them. ‘ ‘ I learnt very quickly that I had to bury whatever little ego and pride I had if I wished to hang around God. His attitude towards girls was simple-use them and leave them†¦ As for me, I was plain moonstruck. And for once in my life I wasn't going to lose out by default. ‘ [6]— page 5Despite his shabby appearance, ‘God's hands and fingernails were surprisingly, neat and clean. ‘ He knows many languages such as German, French and Spanish. He had already read Chaucer and Karl Marx before leaving school. Deb fails to tolerate exploitation and hence revolts against injustice, tyranny and frivolities. In the beginning of the novel Deb asserts the importance of decent means and told Nisha that he was not interested in money as it is only ‘means to an end. ‘ Nisha is very impressed with his manners. Nisha is truly in love with Deb and tries hard to work their relationship.Deb however, is not very emotionally attached to Nisha or at least he pretends so. He mainly lives off Nisha's money. Nisha tells; ‘I loved buying things for God. It gave me a sense of belonging. Gifts were a bond-perhaps the only one. Gi fts-which he took entirely for granted. ‘ [7]— page 13 Nisha's parents disapproved of God as they felt that God is using their daughter for his own profit. But Nisha is totally smitten by Deb and tells them, ‘I'd like Deb to ruin my life. I want him to ruin it. I don't care if he wrecks it. I love him. [8]——– page 14 Nisha is very possessive about her mother and when Deb passes some nasty comments on her mother, Nisha screams at him in a fit of anger, ‘Oh, shut up! How dare you? ‘ I screamed, ‘You and your filthy mind. What would you know about the needs of ladies-you who have no background, no class, you filthy bastard. ‘ [9]– page 17 Nisha's father is a typical hypocrite husband. At home he had set rules for his wife and daughter to follow. He expected his wife to be dolled up in office parties according to his tastes. His wife had no choice.Nisha tells, ‘ My father's ideas of a well-dressed wife were pre tty fixed-she had to be draped in pastel-coloured chiffon worn with a sleeveless blouse†¦ Make-up, especially lipstick, was of vital importance since he firmly believed it was a sign of sophistication and no stylish woman should ever be seen without it. ‘ [10]— page 19 He expected his wife to look after the house and accompany him for occasional parties. She was never encouraged to do something worthwhile outside home. When Nisha's mother told her friends that she had no time for her personal interests her friend tells her; ‘That is your problem.But if I were in your place, I would just tell him that if he'd wanted to marry an ayah, he shouldn't have married you. We bring a lot of status to our husband and they should realize it. ‘ [11]—-page 24 Nisha's father did not approve of women going out of home for work. When Nisha's mother got an offer for work from her friend Pratimaben her husband denied it straightaway by saying; ‘In our company wives do not work†¦. They stay at home and organize dinner parties' [12]— page 147 For a large number of years after their marriage Nisha's mother use to give up without a fight with her husband.But when the artificial behavior of her husband started taking toll on her senses she told her husband in a fit of anger; ‘I have had enough of your bullying and hypocrisy. I have kept quiet for far too long. Go to hell with your corporate nonsense†¦. Why should you I? Why should I bother about you either? You can also go to hell with your pompous talk and empty boasts. I am sick, do you hear, sick of living this false life†¦ Well-it's my turn now. And you can listen to me for a change. I will go along with Pratimaben with anything I choose to do. She is my friend.She encourages me. She appreciates me†¦ Whether you like it or not, henceforth I will make the decisions about my life. And the first thing is that I'm taking a job. ‘ [13]——â⠂¬â€œ page 148 Shobha De satirizes the hypocritical couples who have extramarital relations and yet pretend to be faithful to each other. Deb broke the news to Nisha that her father is having an affair with a Sindhi woman. Even Nisha's mother confirms that her father has broken all ties with her. Inspite of their differences Nisha's parents throw an anniversary party for their friends.Nisha was tensed seeing all this and admits; ‘As for me, I was drwn into my mother's sad world, full of self-pity and doubt. I didn't know what to make of the bomb she ad dropped. My father continued to be ‘normal' and pretended nothing had happened. ‘ [14]——page 62 In this novel Shobha De throws light on the hollow life of film and modeling world. Deb gets no pocket money from his father, he does free lance reporting as well as proof-reading. After college Nisha joined an ad agency and she became a little busy in her life. Whenever she had time she met God and enjoyed h is company.As God became conscious of his creative powers, he started writing poems. Nisha felt delighted seeing God moving in the league of contemporary poets. God is also very proud of his poetic sensibilities. God started attending workshops in which amateur poets gathered and showcased their work. Shobha De gives a very realistic picture of this strata of upcoming talent. She refers to such workshops as; ‘The sessions were conducted I dingy halls where the organizers didn't have to pay any rent. Everybody sat around on uncomfortable folding chairs or on the floor†¦Others who were present regularly were a fairly motley lot of struggling writers, a Grande Dame of Verse, frustrated copy-writers and self-styled critics. ‘[15] – page 26 Nisha never felt at ease in the meetings of Anglo Indian Poets Association. There were some aspiring women members also in the group. Women like Chandni, Sujata, Pramila etc wanted to get name and fame in the field of journalis m. These women wanted to get away from the clutches of domesticity and wanted to breathe in the fresh air. One such character is that of Sujata. Sujata was also a member of God's poetry recitation group.She represents modern women who fulfills all her homely duties and also doesn't forget her own interests. Shobha writes; ‘All of them-her timid husband and four daughters, doted on her. However, she had made it plain that she had gone beyond them and that she'd stopped playing wife and mother long ago. ‘ After fulfilling her duties as a wife and mother, Sujata decided to live her life on her own terms. She told her family ; ‘ My duties are over. They are on their own now,' she would explain. ‘I have played the roles I was expected to at the appropriate times. Now†¦I'm on my own. And they are on their own. This is my life. I want to live it my way. ‘ [16]—- Page 31 God appreciated Sujata's behaviour, he tells Nisha; ‘What's wrong with h er behaviour? She is beautiful, man, just beautiful. She follows her instincts. She makes her own rules. She's not a coward. She cares two hoots for the so-called â€Å"society†. I admire her guts, yaar. ‘ [17]—page 31 Ultimately, God joined Plume magazine as sub-editor and felt delighted. The basic aim of Plume was to encourage young poets.Shobha de has very realistically portrayed women's protest against the prevalent system which limits the scope of a woman's life to mere day to day household chores. In this novel women like Sujata and Pratimaben do not accept their traditional roles in marriage. They detest being limited to the domestic chores. Extremely conscious of their changed role in family, they proclaim loudly, ‘We are not only housekeepers after all, ‘We are not mere housekeepers, after all. ‘ [18]—page 24 Some women are career conscious to the extent that they do not think in terms of a settled family.Manju, Vimla are the pro fessionals in marketing field and are career oriented females. They represent the ‘new age' females writes Shobha De; ‘ These were the no-nonsense women who had ‘take me seriously' written all over them†¦.. They took their jobs with an earnestness that was almost terrifying in its intensity. Even the married ones insisted on being addressed as ‘Ms' or stuck to their maiden names. Their male colleagues were not permitted to crack jokes or flirt lightly. ‘ She writes further, â€Å"Workaholism for women had become very fashionable. If men can pursue careers ruthlessly, so can we, women declared at seminars and workshops for senior managers†¦.. ‘ Postpone babies or ask your husband to share house work. ‘† [19]———–page 119 These characters in Sultry Days have an altogether different outlook towards family and social life. In this context, De's feminist concerns in her fiction come close to the ideas e xpressed by Veena Noble Dass, ‘Literature should show women in activities that are not traditionally ‘feminine' to speed the dissolution of rigid sex roles.It is not enough, however to simply place a female character in a new occupation, with no corresponding change in her personality and behaviour. ‘ [20] The modern woman aspire to exercise power and control the situation. Feroze and Kiki also fall in the category of the New Woman of the new era. Regarding Feroze Shobha De remarks; ‘Feroze was on her own in more ways than one. Enterprising manipulative and full of strange kind of charm, she got around to places most people only dreamt of†¦Feroze became a familiar and popular figure in filmdom in an incredibly short period†¦ She drove her own car-she smoked foreign cigarettes. She traveled by planes. ‘ [21]——page 150 Nisha met Anil Bhandari, a young marketing guy who'd just set up a hot-shop of his own after coming back from a l ong stint in America with one of the best marketing agencies. Anil was in his early thirties and mockingly referred to himself as a ‘first generation yuppie'. [22] —page 76 He was a fine example of a modern educated young man with refined international tastes.He smelt of Aramisor Drakkar and used Studio Line gel in his hair, wore Warren Beatty glasses. Soon Anil was going around with a supermodel model Shona. Shona and Anil perfectly complemented each other. Once they were engaged Anil emerged as a typical male from a hypocrite society. He told Nisha; ‘ In fact, I'm going to ask Shona to give up modelling once we're married. She won't need the money anyway. ‘ Nisha asked him; ‘Maybe there's more than money in it for her. Maybe she loves her career. She is right at the top now. Have you discussed it with her? ‘ ‘Not yet. I'm sure she'll agree. She's such an innocent docile girl. ‘ Anil said. What will she do with her time? ‘ Nish a asked him. Anil replied and asked Nisha; ‘What does any housewife do? There's so much to do around the house. ‘ [23] — page 109 As the novel progresses we see visible change in God's attitude. From a small time poem writer and proofreader Deb starts working for an art magazine Plume. Having tasted power and money during his association with Plume, God's sole interest is to acquire money and power. Although Nisha does not approve of God's new way of life. She explains her utter repulsiveness to God's new style of living which had begun sowing the seeds of discord and estrangement between them.She says; ‘No I didn't like what was happening to God at all. We were beginning to see less and less of each other now that he didn't need to touch me for cash that often†¦ God was behaving like a mortal, like all the other journalists in the town, a bum who shamelessly sold his pieces for a fews pegs of scotch and a five-star evening' [24] – page 100 Nisha always looked for a loyal partner in Deb which Deb ceased to be, not because of his alliance with other women but because of their varied interests. Deb and Nisha's relationship turned cold after the former starts caring less and less for his self-respect.He turned out to be a typical man from a male dominated society. Deb has moved to his own place and required somebody to cook for him and look after his house. Nisha suggested him to get a maid. Deb very casually told her; ‘These maids-shaids are a hassle, yaar. I need my own woman. If you want, I don't mind a shaadi-waadi-I know that will make you feel better. Theek hai-we can be burgeois and go through with that marriage rubbish. You can cook, can't you?†¦ Can you fry puris without burning your fingers? Can you make rice that isn't sticky?†¦ Better to get all this straight from the start, hai na?No lafda later on†¦ Give me my daal-roti, a warm bed, twice-a-week maalish and a daily screw. That's all I expect. ‘ Nisha was too stunned to respond to what she heard; ‘One part of me was laughing. The other, feeling sorry for this man. He was obviously deranged-or the world's biggest egotist. He actually expected me to jump at this offer. He looked so comic. So vulnerable, standing in the lobby, trying to look nonchalant and heroic. ‘ [25]—- page 160 God's sole interest in life was reduced to acquire money and power. Contrary to his attitude Nisha wants everything in life through sheer labor.Nisha had never expected this change in God and she failed to convince him as to he did not need to work for a political broker, he needed to trust the power of his pen, but all her efforts went in vain. As ill luck would have it, Deb became proud of his power and joins Yashwantbhai, a don. God's new life style began to sow seeds of discord and estrangement between them. Nisha realizes that God was no longer the same person she had fallen in love with. Nisha tried her best to refr ain Deb from associating with a criminal like Yashwantbhai but Deb had gone too far to come back.Nisha started exposing Yashwantbhai and his underworld connections in her write-ups. Nisha's bold action is supported by her mother and also by a social activist Pratimaben who unravels and brings to public notice Yashwantbahi's atrocities on his former mistress, Pramila. Pramila is a fine example of a new age woman. Pramila is a Nagpur woman, her husband is in a well paid job, they have three children. Pramila is a talented poetry writer and to pursue her career in writing she leaves her family and moves to Mumbai. She shots to fame as soon as her poems are published in English.She administers a shock to her husband when she divorces him and leaves the house along with her two daughters. She eventually meets Yashwantbhai and becomes her mistress. She becomes avictim of his lust. She becomes pregnant with his child, Yashwantbhai forces her to get a sex check done for the unborn baby as h e did not want a girl child. Knowing that the child is a girl Yashwantbhai abuses her and then it is God who helps her in going underground. Nisha, her mother, Pratimaben with Pramila's help expose Yashwant bhai.Ultimately, Deb has to pay for his association with Yashwant bhai, he is shot by Yashwantbhai's goons and God collapses after struggling for a couple of days in hospital. When Dev is shot and admitted in the hospital, Nisha analyzes the life of ignorant and uneducated women of Bombay who never think of higher issues of life such as- What are the fundamental rights of a citizen? What is the interpretation of women liberation movement? What is secularism? Will women be free from the drudgery of the kitchen? What is the meaning of democratic socialism? Is socialism going to help women in any way?What is the importance of L. I. C in the life of a family? Nisha thinks very realistically that these ignorant and simple-hearted women are not shot dead as they don't raise their voice against the underworld Dons. No threats are given to them as they don't interfere with the working of politicians. But the women in Shobha De's novels are strong and confident. These women know what they want from life and how to achieve it. Nisha's mother followed her husband's instructions through out her life but finally she raised her voice against his hypocrite nature and emerged a winner.Women in Sultry Days assert their free and autonomous existence, they struggle and fight against the established social order that threatens their existence. Bhaskar A Shukla observes; ‘It may be partly on account of her experience as a journalist that she is able to tell things interestingly and with a courage of conviction in a language uniquely her own. ‘ [26] Women in Sultry Days represent a modern, self-sufficient and financial independent woman. These women do not expect their male partners to provide them financial security.In fact, it is Nisha grants monetary favors to her boyfriend Deb for a long time. Sujata, Pramila, Pratimaben are women who do not wish to be enclosed in their homes, they wish to be free from the clutches of male dominated society. They show the courage to leave their houses and pursue their dreams and make a mark of their own. Binod Mishra remarks; ‘In De's novels women's desperate struggle for existence unfolds in their unconventional behaviour, their sexual escapades and their dream for a life free from male domination. ‘ [27] BIBLIOGRAPHY Sonia Ningthoujam, Image of the New Woman in the Novels of Shobha De. 2Shobha De, Selective Memory:Stories From My Life, page 336 3Shobha De, Selective Memory:Stories From My Life, page 336 4Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 2 5Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 2 6Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 5 7Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 13 8Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 14 9Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 17 10Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 19 11Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 24 12Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 1 47 13Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 148 14Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 62 5Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 26 16Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 31 17Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 31 18Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 24 19Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 119 20Veena Noble Dass, ed. , â€Å"Feminism and Literature†, Feminism and Literature (Delhi : Prestige Books, 1995), page 10 21 Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 150 22 Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 76 23 Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 109 24 Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 100 25 Shobha De, Sultry Days, page 160 26Bhaskar A Shukla, Shobha de : The Writer and Feminism, page 114 27 Binod Mishra, Critical Responses to Feminism

The Do This, Get That Guide On Expository Essay Samples for High School

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The Management Of Pressure Ulcers In Elderly Patients - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2358 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Medicine Essay Type Essay any type Level High school Did you like this example? Pressure ulcers are an injury that damages skin and the layer(s) of tissue beneath, which have been exposed to pressure (NHS, 2014). They can occur in patients of varied ages; however, the most vulnerable age group who are at risk of developing pressure ulcers are patients aged 75 and above (Hope, 2014). Elderly patients tend to have co-morbidities due to the ageing process, which can sometimes leave them with limited mobility or bedridden and this then can put them at further risk of developing pressure ulcers (Jaul, 2010). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Management Of Pressure Ulcers In Elderly Patients" essay for you Create order Due to having a growing elderly population, it is extremely important to address the risks of pressure ulcers. There is no particular environment in which pressure ulcers occur, as they are a concern in all settings where social care is being provided, medical treatments are carried out including private homes. This paper will review the evidence regarding the risks and management of pressure ulcers. The focus of this paper will be elderly patients and the following topics will be discussed; risk assessment, patient assessment, pressure recognition and removal, non-surgical treatments/advice, complications of pressure ulcers and surgery. On recognition of a pressure ulcer or the possibility of one developing on a patient, a suitably trained health or medical professional should do a documented risk assessment (NICE, 2014). This risk assessment should cover two interlinking areas, risk factors and signs/symptoms. It is important to assess an elderly patients current health status and not just the status of their health as documented previously on records or on admittance to see a professional, as a variety of factors can affect the development of a pressure ulcer some factors more rapidly than others. Questioning into previous medical history and also looking at previous medical notes is often very informative and usually allows the professional to know of any co-morbidity which could present a further risk or act as an indirect cause of the development of a pressure ulcer. Diabetes and musculoskeletal disorders are often flagged up on assessments as a factor which can impact a pressure ulcer (Benbow, 2012). Sometimes due to the elderly patient suffering from a type of dementia, their ability to communicate or remember life events deteriorates and therefore they cannot provide the professional assessing the ulcer with key medical information. Also, some patients may be in trauma or are not conscious; this, again, makes the information gathering stage of the patients current health status difficult for the assessing professional. In such complex cases, the patients wider network such as relations or the multi-disciplinary team of health and social care professionals who have previously supported the patient may have more knowledge on the patients life history. Nursing home staff are required by the Care Quality Commission to keep records of their residents care plans and more specialist homes have routine logs written about their residents; these often can act as a good indicator of physical, mental and behavioural status and changes which have occurred with the elderly patient (CQC, 2015). Determining any other condition which an elderly patient may suffer from is important, because this needs to be considered in the patients care plan and management of the Pressure ulcer as it could have direct impact on the healing of a pressure ulcer. For example, if the elderly patient has diabetes, their wound healing process maybe prolonged ( Leik, 2013). Furthermore, as elderly individuals have thinner skin; this already puts them at greater risk of skin damage due to pressure. Musculoskeletal disease such as osteoarthritis is usually diagnosed in elderly individuals and it can limit the mobility of the patient or their ability to do specific activities (NHS, 2014). This may result in patients being in the same position for long periods of time, which may then put pressure on that area of the body, putting them at greater risk of developing a pressure ulcer. Also, elderly individuals who are less mobile are more likely to have poor circulation, which can impact on the time taken for a pressure ulcer to heal. Therefore, blood flow should also be taken into consideration when doing the risk assessment. Above are some examples of how the management of Pressure ulcers can become complex; there are more diseases such as terminal diseases and other medical conditions that need to be taken into consideration when planning the care or prevention of a pressure ulcer. Often both the lack of nutritional intake and loss of weight are two interrelated common concerns in elderly patients, unless the cause is due to a different factor such as underlying pathology of disease. Therefore, in addition to including these factors in the risk assessment, health education to encourage the patient to eat needs to be provided to the patient, their relations and health and social care staff supporting the patient. Health advice/education/guidance is important because an underweight elderly individual is more likely to have less tissue around their bones and possibly poorer blood vessel quality, hence making them more at risk of damage from pressure and also poorer healing (MNT, 2014). Also, a lack of protein in an elderly patients diet, which supports tissue growth and repair, can also cause greater damage to their skin from pressure. Low nutritional intake can also cause fatigue and frailty in elderly individuals and t his can impact an elderly individuals engagement and ability to do daily activities (Morelli and Sidani, 2011), hence impacting their psycho-social status, which may disengage them from supporting their own health, whether it be by following the guidance of a medical practitioner or by being active in their healthcare decisions generally (Morelli and Sidani, 2011). This then can make patient centred care difficult for those providing care for the elderly patient, as patient choice/preference is compromised and indication of pain, which is usually expressed verbally via description or recommended pain scales such as Braden or Waterlow, may not also be provided by the patient (Nice, 2014 and Benbow, 2012). Therefore, the patients involvement in managing the pressure ulcer is vital. Pain management is difficult in Pressure ulcer management if the elderly individual has an altered perception of pain due to a spinal cord injury or other related nerve damage injuries. This may prevent the patient from recognizing that they have an ulcer developing, hence delaying the treatment of the ulcer (MNT, 2014). Therefore, it is good practice if the elderly individual is a patient in hospital to routinely ask the patient if they have seen any abnormalities on their skin and also recommend them to change positions regularly. Alongside the detailed risk assessment, a pressure ulcer assessment/skin assessment should be done on recognition of a pressure ulcer developing. This is not only to manage the Pressure ulcer but also to be aware of those individuals who may have difficulty, as mentioned above, in detecting changes in their skin or possibly even possess a disability. Complaints of pain from the patient should be considered in the skin assessment, followed by a categorization of the ulcer as a stage 1,2,3 or 4 Pressure ulcer (NICE, 2014). This will include assessing discolouration, variations in heat, firmness and skin moisture. The categorization of the Pressure ulce r is extremely important because it allows suitable preventative measures to be put within the individuals care planning, to try to maintain the skins integrity and to support healing (NHS, 2014). The overall patient assessment will directly impact decisions on the frequency of positioning for the patient and the suitability of the support surface on which the patient is sitting or lying (Benbow, 2012). These changes are vital to pressure removal and hence, managing the development of the Pressure ulcer better because they will be included in a repositioning timetable that health and social care professionals will work to as part of the care plan. The frequency of positioning varies based on the risk, patients physical ability/state and also their acceptance to be regularly repositioned; for example, a patient in a wheelchair may need to be repositioned every 15 minutes due to the pressure of sitting in the same position for long periods of time. Elderly patients who are bedridde n should be repositioned every couple of hours, depending on the need determined in the risk assessment (NICE, 2014). A physiotherapist can often advise on repositioning that will be safe and that will also allow pressure release. Equipment can also support pressure removal. Cushions on wheelchairs not only provide comfort but they can also lessen the pressure on the hip and upper leg area of the body. However, some specialists advise that air, water or foam filled support devices are better than traditional cushions (Benbow, 2012). Small pillows/foam pads can also support areas of the body from touching each other, such as between the knees or ankles. These can also be used for comfort and support when laying in different angled positions; for example, when a patient is lying on their side, their legs may need further support (Benbow, 2012). Reclining chairs/automated chairs can also be set at different positions to support pressure removal. Patients, relatives and supporting profe ssionals need to ensure that the skin of the patient is regularly checked, as repositioning regularly can also cause skin damage due to the skin of an elderly individual being thinner. Specialised mattresses can also reduce pressure in comparison to standard mattresses. Furthermore, some specialist mattresses can be connected to an air flow system which can automatically regulate the pressure, hence making the care and management of pressure ulcers in bedridden patients easier for health professionals or carers/relatives. This may be a change that medical/health professionals recommend to elderly patients at home or even for patients in long term care/rehabilitation; however, research is still lacking on how much contribution mattress change actually has on directly lessening the risk of pressure ulcer development (Vanderwee et al, 2008 and UCSF, 2011) in comparison to other cost effective changes. Depending on the wound of the ulcer and the skin damage, often dressings and oi ntments are used to manage the pressure ulcer and to manage infection. Antibiotics may be prescribed, but not often, as usually antiseptic creams can be applied directly on the wound to prevent the spread of infection to connecting tissues. Ointments and creams may also be used to prevent or treat skin damage such as incontinence-associated dermatitis. The skin assessment should be able to identify those at risk of developing such dermatitis, as these patients often have one or more of the following conditions: incontinence, oedema or dry skin (NICE, 2014). Dressings which have been specially designed to promote wound healing and cell regrowth should be used on a pressure ulcer wound. Examples of suitable dressings include hydrocolloid dressings and aliginate dressings (NHS, 2014). These dressings also can support the regulation of skin moisture, which is important to manage the Pressure ulcer. Research and development into wound repair technology is advancing and specially designed dressings give less trauma to the patient upon removal. Therefore, the correct dressing is vital as unsuitable dressings may cause further skin breakdown. As briefly mentioned earlier in this paper, the patients diet may need altering to ensure that the elderly patient is taking nutrients which will support wound healing. Hydration is also important to maintain skin moisture and avoid flaky skin (Convatec, 2012). Hydrotherapy can also be used to keep skin clean, with possible natural removal of dead cells. In some cases, the wound healing process may be compromised due to necrotic tissue and this dead tissue will need to be removed via a debridement method. Debridement methods vary depending on the clinical situation. Larvae therapy can be used as an alternative method to debridement; this therapy consists of putting maggots on the wound for a few days via a dressing and gauze. Maggots can also promote healing due to the release of a substance that kills bacteria. Sometimes when grade 3 or 4 Pressure Ulcer wounds do not heal or they become complicated cases, surgery is needed. This is usually either surgery which directly closes the wound or flap reconstruction. To conclude, this paper has attempted to cover the overall management of pressure ulcers in elderly patients. Despite, the treatments and clinical practice carried out by medical/health professionals being similar to younger patients, the risks of pressure ulcer development and healing due to the ageing process are different. Also, co-morbidity is more identifiable in elderly patients and skin structure/composition differs due to the thinning of the skin. There are clear guidelines on managing pressure ulcers by NICE; however, further research needs to be done to optimize the management of pressure ulcers in elderly patients (Cullum, 2013). Bibliography Benbow, M. (2012) Management of Pressure ulcers. [Online] Available from: https://www.nursinginpractice.com/article/management-pressure-ulcers Care Quality Commission. (2015) Regulation 17 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" good governance. [Online] Available from: https://www.cqc.org.uk/content/regulation-17-good-governance Convatec. (2012) The Role of Modern Wound Dressings in Stage I Pressure Ulcers and Patients at Risk of Pressure Ulcer Formation. [Online] Available from: https://www.convatec.co.uk/media/9572137/aquacel-foam-dressing-shown-to-protect-against-ski-11546.pdf Cullum, N. (2013) Study reveals pressure ulcer research uncertainties. [Online] Available from: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/article/?id=10016 Jaul, E. (2010) Assessment and management of pressure ulcers in the elderly: current strategies. Journal of Drugs and Aging. 27 (4). p. 311-325. Leik, M.T.C. (2013) Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review: Fast Facts and Practice Questions. 2nd ed. Springer Publishing Company: New York. Medical News Today. (2014) What are bedsores (pressure ulcers)? What causes bed sores? [Online] Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173972.php Morelli, V and Sidani, M. (2011) Fatigue and Chronic Fatigue in the Elderly: Definitions, Diagnoses, and treatments. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. 27 (4). p. 673 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 686. National Health Institute. (2014) Osteoarthritis. [Online] Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/osteoarthritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx National Health Service. (2014) Pressure ulcers à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Treatment. [Online] Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pressure-ulcers/Pages/Treatment.aspx National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2014) Pressure ulcers: prevention and management of pressure ulcers. [Online] Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg179/resources/guidance-pressure-ulcers-prevention-and-management-of-pressure -ulcers-pdf University of California at San Francisco. (2011) A critical analysis of Patient Safety Practices à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" evidence report no.43. [Online] Available from: https://archive.ahrq.gov/clinic/ptsafety Vanderwee, K, Grypdonck, M, Defloor, T. (2008) Alternating pressure air mattresses as prevention for pressure ulcers: A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 45 (5). p. 784-801