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Change Management and Disruption: A Case Study of the Inland Revenue Department NZ

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Executive SummaryThe aim of this paper is to present a case of change management and disruption. It uses the The Inland Revenue Department (IRD), or Te Tari Taake, as a public department to base its argument. A successful change management is important for IRD to achieve their vision statement, as there is no empirical nor similar situation that the department are facing compared to other organizations. The IRD platform contributes to efficient collection of the country’s revenue which is redistributed inform of infrastructure development and other project developments in the country. Most of the aspects of the IRD model offer positive results and benefits to the society and the government in general. However, there are a few setbacks that come with the system including; the challenge of usage of the platform by the visually impaired group. In terms of change management, three models are discussed including the ADKAR change model, the engage and learn model, and the McKinsey 7S model. The three apply to the IRD’s current situation and can be implemented to manoeuvre the entire process of implementing change. As a result, IRD has a unique challenge in its attempt to implement and manage the change towards a better IT system. The proposed overhaul of the entire system may mean a change in the way the organization works, including a reshuffle of various structures as some processes are automated, restructuring of employee roles, and introduction of a different reporting pattern in line with the demands of a change of system. To combat resistance, the Kotter’s 8 step model is proposed to be the best model to anchor change at IRD.

Keywords: IRD, change, change management, ADKAR change model, the engage and learn model, and the McKinsey 7S model, Kotter’s 8 step model, Total quality management, six change model.

Table of Contents

TOC o “1-3” h z u Executive Summary PAGEREF _Toc84547435 h 2Introduction PAGEREF _Toc84547436 h 4IRD key roles PAGEREF _Toc84547437 h 41. Organization and Change Issues PAGEREF _Toc84547438 h 61.1 The triple bottom analysis PAGEREF _Toc84547439 h 61.1.1 Social Bottom Line PAGEREF _Toc84547440 h 71.1.2 Ecological Bottom Line PAGEREF _Toc84547441 h 71.1.3 Economic Bottom Line PAGEREF _Toc84547442 h 81.2 SWOT Analysis PAGEREF _Toc84547443 h 81.3 Main issues identified by the analysis tools PAGEREF _Toc84547444 h 92. Change management models PAGEREF _Toc84547445 h 92.1 ADKAR Model PAGEREF _Toc84547446 h 102.1.1 Model applied to the issues Transformation program in IRD PAGEREF _Toc84547447 h 112.2 Engage and Learn Model PAGEREF _Toc84547448 h 112.2.1 Model Application to the Issue of Automated System Update / IT System Update in IRD PAGEREF _Toc84547449 h 122.3 The McKinsey 7-S Change Model PAGEREF _Toc84547450 h 132.3.1 Model Application to the Issue of Automated System Update / IT System Update in IRD PAGEREF _Toc84547451 h 143. Change Management Strategies to Overcome Resistance PAGEREF _Toc84547452 h 153.1 Overcoming Resistance using the Kotter’s 8 Step Change Model PAGEREF _Toc84547453 h 153.2 Overcoming Resistance using Total Quality Management Approach PAGEREF _Toc84547454 h 163.3 Overcoming Resistance using Six Change Approach PAGEREF _Toc84547455 h 174. Recommendations and Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc84547456 h 18References PAGEREF _Toc84547457 h 19

IntroductionA successful change management is important for IRD to achieve their vision statement, as there is no empirical nor similar situation that the department are facing compared to other organization. Organizations need an integrated approach to drive systematic, effective change and conquer the resistance and obstacles to change, also, the consequences after making the change.

IRD key roles

Name Inland Revenue Department

Website https://www.ird.govt.nz/

Year Established 1878

Mission Contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of New Zealand by collecting and distributing revenue.

Vision A world-class revenue organization recognised for service and excellence.

Objectives ·Grow voluntary compliance by making it easier for people to get it right

·Reduce customer compliance costs

·Make government policy changes faster and more cost-effectively

Culture ·Customer-centric: practice with customer to make desirable outcomes

·Intelligence-led: through continuously research and analysis to make good decisions

·Agile: work with professional people to get work done neatly

Values ·Trust and integrity

·Valuing people

·Innovation

·Working together

Strategies focus

The Inland Revenue Department, or Te Tari Taake, as a public department, was established in 1878, following in 1892 by moving to its central office to Wellington. The department provides professional services for both individuals and organizations to fulfil their entitlement and obligations (Inland Revenue Department, 2021). It aims to grow voluntary compliance to revenue collection through making it easier for people, reducing the costs associated with customer compliance, and making government policy changes faster and more cost effective. Moreover, the significant responsibilities for IRD are to collect money and pay for other public services (Inland Revenue Department, 2021). The social support programs include Working for families, paid parental leave, child support, student loan debt, and KiwiSaver.

The Inland Revenue Department is a government organisation that is involved in the general collection of the crown’s revenue of New Zealand. The organisation is also responsible for collection and disbursing of payments for the social support programmes (Inland Revenue Department, 2021). This organization is involved in data collection during their revenue-related process. The data obtained provides information used to advice the government on tax policies and other tax related issues. This platform strives to ensure the taxation process is made easier amongst the citizens of New Zealand. This is done by provision of an easy-to-use interface on the online platform with explanations on every step and situation for the users to have an easy and understandable procedure in their tax payment procedures (Inland Revenue Department, 2021). The IRD main roles includes ensuring the revenue collection in New Zealand is able to meet the expectations of the government and that of the society, giving customers a simple platform for tax payment to prevent possible errors, prevention of tax evasion by some of the citizens, encouraging the public to pay tax and providing a professional, effective and efficient system.

1. Organization and Change Issues1.1 The triple bottom analysisThe triple bottom line analysis is a vital tool in looking the external position of an organization (Goel, 2010; Kucukvar & Tatari, 2013). The effect of the IRD platform on the environment is almost unnoticeable because the services of this platform are made online and the customers interact with the support team through online means. The impact the system has to the community is mostly positive with easy access to tax payment services, it also helps mitigate the tendency of tax evasion ensuring that all citizens equally contribute to the total country’s revenue (Hussain, Rigoni, & Orij, 2018). IRD provides an efficient system for the government to collect the country’s revenue. The platform has an ability to collect up to 80% of the total crown’s revenue of New Zealand.

Image 1: A graphical representation of the triple bottom line model (source: Hussain, Rigoni, & Orij, 2018)

1.1.1 Social Bottom LineIn the functionality of the platform is not affected directly by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and therefore continues to function during the pandemic. The organisation is also responsible for collection and disbursing of payments for the social support programmes. IRD system provides the customers with easy to use interface which is able to give specific direction and clarification of the rules involved in the tax payment process. The platform runs in accordance to the inland social policy in the country. People approved for payment for certain benefits offered by the government receive their payments efficiently and can participate in in the society without a problem

1.1.2 Ecological Bottom LineThe ecological bottom line looks at the interaction with the ecology (Onat, Kucukvar, & Tatari, 2014; Lock & Araujo, 2020). The IRD system operates in the online platform hence have no impact or interaction with the environment. The revenue collected through the platform is used in the development of major sectors of the economy which include the protection of the country’s environment and reclamation of already polluted areas.

1.1.3 Economic Bottom LineThe economic bottom line is one of the most important for companies (Jennifer Ho, & Taylor, 2007). The IRD platform contributes to efficient collection of the country’s revenue which is redistributed inform of infrastructure development and other project developments in the country. Collects and redistributes payments for social programmes in the country. It also gives advice to the government on the tax policies in the country. Revenue is available to fund the government through flexible payments from the citizens

1.2 SWOT AnalysisSTRENGTHS WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

Easy to use

Effective revenue collection method

Enhance payments of social programmes

Can be accessed from any part of the country (Karyono & Agustina, 2019)

Less physical contact with customers hence no pandemic restrictions

Instructions on usage

Government adviser.

Promotes tax compliance

Efficient and fast payment method to individuals Limited to the internet literate

Impractical to the visually impaired.

Can be used in financial data collection for future planning and prospecting.

Can be used as a measure of the economic situation in a country (Karyono & Agustina, 2019). Continuous development of new and more sophisticated systems that can replace the IRD system (Karyono & Agustina, 2019).

1.3 Main issues identified by the analysis toolsMost of the aspects of the IRD model offer positive results and benefits to the society and the government in general. However, there are a few setbacks that come with the system including; the challenge of usage of the platform by the visually impaired group. Since it is works on a self-service basis then the visually impaired are cut off from basic usage of the platform unless they are helped out by third parties. The platform is also limited in usage to the internet group only posing challenges to the group of people that lacks internet literacy. +Internet literacy isn’t a common thing a mong the elderly and this may result to hardships during usage of this platform.

2. Change management modelsA model of change management describes theories, concepts and methodologies used in a deep analysation of the organizational change processes (Janićijević, 2017; Kobylkin et al., 2020). They provide researched methods that are meant to facilitate the change of management in an organization, provide different expected behaviours from the employees and the methods to deal with these resultant behaviours therefore ensuring the changes introduced are accepted by the workforce in place and adopted as their new methods of carrying out business activities in the organization.

2.1 ADKAR Model

The ADKAR model was created by Jeffery Hiatt (founder of Prosci) as a change management model which uses five outcomes from an organization as the necessities needed to attain a successful change implementation process (Houben et al., 2020). The five outcomes are Awareness, desire, knowledge and reinforcement.

Image 2: A picture showing the outline of the ADKAR model of change management

Awareness in this model of change management takes the role of introducing the need of the organization or the company to bring in a change to the employees. This is meant to obtain an outcome of urge from the employee, which creates the desire for the change. Desire comes as the second outcome in this model. Desire is generated when the employees completely understands the essence of the change and its urgency and are therefore set to welcome the change. The third outcome is the knowledge, this is basically the know-how on how to adopt and implement the change (Ali et al., 2021). It involves communication of strategy from the management which presents details on how the change is supposed to take place. Ability to take up the change comes as the fourth outcome. This outcome stresses on the intellectual and physical capacity of the business together with its employees to be able to implement the proposed change. The last outcome for a successful change implementation is reinforcement. At this point the leader is expected to ensure they constantly assess and stress on adoption of the change by employees until the workforce fully incorporates the new system in their activities as the new norm to the workflow.

2.1.1 Model applied to the issues Transformation program in IRDADKAR model maybe applied in IRD to assess the transformational program introduced. This will be carried out by testing the employees of IRD in accordance to Hiatt’s five outcomes. The first step is checking out the level of awareness of the change to the employees (Jaaron, Hijazi, & Musleh, 2021). This involves determining the extent to which the employees can identify themselves with then change. This step is followed by testing willingness of the employees to continue with the change implemented. This rest reveals the desire and contentment of the employees with regard to the change. The knowledge about the change process is tested for assertiveness test followed by checking for IRD ability and that of its employees to receive and implement the change. The IRD management then takes the responsibility for reinforcement of the change among employees and the business.

2.2 Engage and Learn ModelAs far as change is concerned, the engage and learn model is a new enterprise that is effective in guiding complex changes. Engaging is an awareness routine (Worely & Mohrman, 2016), one that depends on competencies within the process of information gathering relating to the current as well as future environments, the business, organization, and its people. It also looks at the disruptive trends as well as organizational strategies that provide possible solutions and respond to threats. Continual transformations are key to organizational practices (Worely & Mohrman, 2016). Practitioners in organizational development have to deal with insufficient experiences and expertise in the process of managing change. In order to act and engage change, practitioners must first understand the strengths and successes of the organization, identify the problem, scan for solutions, and institute ways to provide help in the management of change.

Learning, in the model, motivates the awareness creation routine. Worely & Mohrman (2016) note that organizational development practitioners are required to reflect, challenge, and add intelligence in the overall understanding of the external environmental changes, shifts in business strategy, talent changes, and remain conversant with the dynamics of change relevant to an organization. Further, Suryani & Soedarso (2021) and Worely & Mohrman (2016) present that the objective of learning in the engage and learn model is to continually assimilate fresh awareness and be accommodative of changes to one’s practice. Therefore, the engage and learn model is a process that is simultaneously occurring in the organizational level where a company is required to shift from mere scanning of the of the external environment to absorptive capacity, acquiring and assimilating information, and exploiting it to facilitate change. For example, it is not enough for a company in New Zealand to understand the changing dynamics of interactions with consumers on social media. The organization must prepare itself, using this understanding, for disruptions by seeking change and implementing the same in the business model. The organization must learn new strategies that will help in incorporating awareness and solutions into the proposed changes in an organizational practice.

Combined, engaging and learning involves the understanding of the internal strengths and weaknesses of an organization and creating alternatives for considerations in the process of change. Every time an organization initiates an evaluation of its systems, structure, and operations, it is engaging in a change management initiative. According to Worely & Mohrman (2016), the extent of conceptualization required in the engage and learn model far outweighs any other traditional change management model. The engage and learn model focuses on an entire system, not just a singular subsystem or a piece of it, despite the occurrence of changes in multiple avenues within an organization. By observing the entire system as a whole, an organization is able to learn and engage with the changes that occur faster than in any other approach to change management.

2.2.1 Model Application to the Issue of Automated System Update / IT System Update in IRDThe engage and learn model looks at the organizational design, strategic awareness in the external environment, tailoring design elements, error detection and corrections, and developing new competencies. In IRD, the main issue requiring change is the problem with automated systems and a requirement for an IT system overhaul. Based on the engage and learn model, the main requirement is for IRD to first study the organization as a whole in order to establish a need for change, and to study it against the external environment in the industry and market in New Zealand. The engage and learn model avails a new approach to change management, driving a set of proposed solutions based on the organizational competencies and an evaluation of the external environment (Worely & Mohrman, 2016). The engage and learn model expresses that the pace and scale of change in the modern world can only be dealt with if change routines become a part of the organization, and that key roles of the organization include ensuring that the employees are active and vibrant in relation to change. In IRD, two motivators, engaging and learning, will drive the activities towards change routines including awareness of the need to update the IT system, designing a new system, tailoring it to the emerging issues, and monitoring it for successful implementation.

2.3 The McKinsey 7-S Change ModelMcKinsey 7S model developed by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman in the 80s is an effective tool for analysing and assessing changes in the in an organization’s internal situation. The model is based on 7 major elements that determine the success of a firm that should be aligned and interdependent in the production of synergistic outcomes (Salvarli & Kayiskan, 2018). The model applies widely in several situations especially when alignment is required. For example, it can be used to improve the performance of an organization, in the analysis and evaluation of the effects of changes in the future of an organization, and may also be used as a framework in situations where major changes are necessary in an organization to align business processes. The McKinsey 7S model offers a framework for recommending implementing strategic plans of action. Singh (2013) outlines the core elements of the model include: strategy, structure, systems, shared values, style, staff, and skills.

Image 3: The McKinsey 7S model depicting the hard and soft elements of the model (Source: Salvarli & Kayiskan, 2018)

Image 3 above shows the McKinsey 7S model with the elements divided into hard and soft elements. The hard elements include strategy, structure, and systems. Strategy, in the model, depicts a plan of action, a framework, or roadmap showing how an organization gains leadership edge or competitive advantage. The structure is the reporting pattern in the organization that provides a framework to ensure continuity (Paquibut, 2017). The systems include daily activities where employees involve themselves to ensure completion of assigned tasks. As depicted in image 3, the hard elements are in the direct control of the organization’s management and are easily identified and defined.

Shared values are the core values and the superordinate objectives that are reflected in the culture of the organization and influence the organization’s code of ethics (Alam, 2017). The style in the model places emphasis on leadership styles and its influence on the people, their motivation, organizational performance, and strategic decisions. The staff are representative of the capabilities and capacities of the employee. Skills define the core competencies and the key skills of employees and the vital role and position they hold in the definition of organizational success. These are the soft elements in the McKinsey 7S model and are not as tangible as the hard elements. They are more difficult to define and identify because they are governed by culture. As per the proponents of the model, Alam (2017) found that the soft elements are as important as the previously mentioned elements in the determination of the success of an organization as well as the industry growth.

2.3.1 Model Application to the Issue of Automated System Update / IT System Update in IRD

The model focuses on the interconnectedness of elements categorized as 7s. as per the said elements, there is a domino effect as far as changing one element so as to maintain a more effective balance. The model applies to all situations that need a company to be aligned to its processes, goals, objectives, and any other sphere of general wellbeing (Baishya, 2015). For IRD, the McKinsey 7S model applies in its change management proposal to automate its IT system and to align it to modern processes that would increase efficiency. The McKinsey 7S model best applies to the IRD case as it calls an inwards look of the organization’s internal mechanism to ensure that change is aligned to all other workings of the organization. The present wellbeing of the IRD would be analyzed in order to gauge the future success of the company in relation to the issue of automating its IT system to cater for the increasing needs of the users. As a revenue collection organization, the sensitivity of the IT system cannot be understated. The entire organization’s survival is hinged on effective revenue collection and therefore overhauling the IT system would be a positive step towards the attainment of current and future success. The McKinsey 7S model also applies in the management of the required changes towards the attainment of a successful transition from the old IT framework to a new and more versatile system. By looking at the 7 internal factors including strategy, structure, systems, shared values, style, staff, and skills, the IRD can better understand whether it has the capacity and the structural support to attain success in performing the required IT overhaul to address the issue of an automated system update.

3. Change Management Strategies to Overcome ResistanceIt is important to note that the IRD, just like every other modern workplace, is made up of a number of different generations and people who perceive changes and their management differently. For some employees, traditional values are deeply rooted in their perception of life (Rafferty & Jimmieson, 2017). Others value work ethics while others are a product of a hybrid amalgamation of both outlooks. For other employees, the technological revolution has deeply influenced their worldview and perceptions on change and its management. As a result, IRD has a unique challenge in its attempt to implement and manage the change towards a better IT system. The proposed overhaul of the entire system may mean a change in the way the organization works, including a reshuffle of various structures as some processes are automated, restructuring of employee roles, and introduction of a different reporting pattern in line with the demands of a change of system. The following strategies apply in ensuring that change management are employed while reducing or eliminating the chances of resistance from the employees.

3.1 Overcoming Resistance using the Kotter’s 8 Step Change ModelThe model calls for creating urgency, forming strong guiding coalitions, development of a vision and strategy/formula, communicating vision, eliminating obstacles and allowing employees to act, making short-term wins, combining gains, and solidifying change through anchoring changes to the culture (Laig & Abocejo, 2021). It is applicable in ensuring that employees adhere to proposed change sin an organization.

Image 4: Kotter’s 8 Step Change Model

As shown in image 3 above, the 8 steps will reduce resistance to change because the organization involves employees in every stage of change implementation. At IRD, involving employees and communicating the vision as well as factoring in their views and opinions will have a key role in ensuring that the resistance to change is minimal.

3.2 Overcoming Resistance using Total Quality Management ApproachTotal quality management is a model in management that is based on a belief that the organization is able to build long term success by involving every member from the lower-level employees to the high-ranking executives, and other major stakeholders, by focusing on improving quality and delivering overall customer satisfaction. TQM is based on continuous improvement (Cao and Clarke, 2000).

Image 5: A summary of the requirements of the TQM approach in reducing resistance

At IRD, TQM will be used to reduce the occurrence of resistance by ensuring that every employee knows their role and is made a part of the organization’s decision making structure. TQM requires the participation of every department and employee in order to execute the high demands of continuous improvement. In relation to overhauling the IT system and automating it, TQM will ensure reduced resistance as employees will view the proposed change as a method to become better in their job.

3.3 Overcoming Resistance using Six Change ApproachResistance to change is a phenomenon that is rather unavoidable, in line with the nature of change as a constantly occurring concept in any workplace. From this line of thought, Kotter and Schlesinger developed the six change approaches as a model to overcome resistance to change from employees (Kwak and Anbari, 2006).

Image 6: Six Change Approach model of overcoming resistance

In education and communication, the IRD team would undergo training regarding the proposed IT automation issue before it is implemented. This would help the employees to get the logic behind the change. Participation and involvement as a step applies in ensuring that vocal members of an organization advocating for resistance are brought on board when designing changes. Through participation in the process of designing changes, employees would feel appreciated and help to push acceptance amongst their peers and in their departments. Facilitation and support ensure that various tools such as training and education are offered to support employees in accepting change. Negotiation and agreement is availed to potential resistors, a strategy that IRD can apply to ensure that a maximum number of people join the movement to support change. Manipulation and co-optation are also available to IRD in terms of ensuring that the workforce supports change. For example, the management of IRD can use negative incentives such as demotions for managers opposed to the changes proposed. Lastly, explicit and implicit coercion can be used as a last result.

4. Recommendations and ConclusionThe Inland Revenue Department, or Te Tari Taake, as a public department, was established in 1878, following in 1892 by moving to its central office to Wellington. A successful change management is important for IRD to achieve their vision statement, as there is no empirical nor similar situation that the department are facing compared to other organizations. The IRD platform contributes to efficient collection of the country’s revenue which is redistributed inform of infrastructure development and other project developments in the country. Most of the aspects of the IRD model offer positive results and benefits to the society and the government in general. However, there are a few setbacks that come with the system including; the challenge of usage of the platform by the visually impaired group.

In terms of change management, the three models discussed include the ADKAR change model, the engage and learn model, and the McKinsey 7S model. The three apply to the IRD’s current situation and can be implemented to manoeuvre the entire process of implementing change. Despite their applicability, the McKinsey 7S model best applies to the IRD case as it calls an inwards look of the organization’s internal mechanism to ensure that change is aligned to all other workings of the organization. It is recommended that the McKinsey 7S model be used by the IRD to control and manage change and ensure that IT automation and all related changes are aligned to the workings of the organization. As a result, IRD has a unique challenge in its attempt to implement and manage the change towards a better IT system. The proposed overhaul of the entire system may mean a change in the way the organization works, including a reshuffle of various structures as some processes are automated, restructuring of employee roles, and introduction of a different reporting pattern in line with the demands of a change of system. To combat resistance, the Kotter’s 8 step model is proposed to be the best compared to the TQM approach and the 6-Change approach.

ReferencesAlam, P. A. (2017). Measuring Organizational Effectiveness through Performance Management

System and Mckinsey’s 7 S Model. Asian Journal of Management, 8(4), 1280-1286.

Ali, M. A., Mahmood, A., Zafar, U., & Nazim, M. (2021). The Power of ADKAR Change Model

in Innovative Technology Acceptance under the Moderating Effect of Culture and Open Innovation. LogForum 17 (4), 485-502.

Baishya, B. (2015). McKinsey 7S framework in corporate planning and policy. International

Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture (IJIRSSC), 1(1), 165-168.

Cao, G., Clarke, S., & Lehaney, B. (2000). A systemic view of organisational change and

TQM. The TQM magazine.

Goel, P. (2010). Triple Bottom Line Reporting: An Analytical Approach for Corporate

Sustainability. Journal of Finance, Accounting & Management, 1(1).

Houben, M. A. M., Caekebeke, N., van den Hoogen, A., Ringenier, M., Tobias, T. J., Jonquiere,

F. J., … & Postma, M. (2020). The ADKAR® change management model for farmer profiling with regard to antimicrobial stewardship in livestock production. Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift, 89(6), 309-314.

Hussain, N., Rigoni, U., & Orij, R. P. (2018). Corporate governance and susta

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Complex Career Development Model

Student’s Name;

Institution Affiliation;

Course Name and Code;

Professor’s Name;

Date;

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Complex Career Development Model

Career development refers to a lifetime developmental experiences process that focuses on looking for, obtaining, and processing knowledge about oneself, educational and occupational alternatives, role options, and life styles (Sue et al., 2022). The opportunities for career succession have proved to be either scanty or do not work at all. According to research by Sharf (2016), career professionals have found that people talk about their current and lack of career opportunities almost every time. With the Krumboltz model, we learn about the development trials to understand why people make their career choices. These decisions also have advantages and disadvantages, which influence views and ideas.

One of the main advantages of having a complex model is that one can match career goals and individual capabilities with opportunities. A well-built career development improves personal development, which develops one’s capability and potential, which later enhances the quality of life and results in achieving career goals and aspirations. Self-development helps one think about long-term goals. However, personal development may affect thoughts and actions, which limits understanding of other topics. The limitations narrow the thinking capacity because one is buried in personal development only. Therefore, they may not discover better and more efficient ways to attain their dreams.

Borrowing from Holland’s theory, it has been found that while developing career paths, people prefer jobs they can be around others which helps in the development of creativity (Zainudin et al.,.2020). They search for a workplace that will allow them to use their skills and abilities while expressing their attitudes and values. The advantage of such a working atmosphere is that people will help one another to be more experts and attain work experience. One significant problem is that it limits external intercession and the scope of advancement.

Reference

Sharf, R. S. (2016). Applying career development theory to counseling. Cengage Learning.

Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2022). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons.

Zainudin, Z. N., Rong, L. W., Nor, A. M., Yusop, Y. M., & Othman, W. N. W. (2020). The relationship of holland theory in career decision making: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(9), 884-892.

Movie and Cultural Review of the Last Samurai

Introduction

Beside Edward Zwick, no any other director is preoccupied with the intricacy of patriotism, driven to question the imperatives of an America that his protagonists both love and detest.” His movie “The Last Samurai” lies head-on into the realm of his previous bedeviled-hero movies, i.e. “Courage under Fire,” “The Siege” and “Glory.”

Cultural overview/heritage of main character/culture

The Last Samurai is a tale of a former soldier, Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a spirited American Calvary combatant burnt-out on pursuing Indians and wracked with guilt over a butcher ordered by his commanding soldier. After recruitment, he travels to Japan by one of his old friend, Sergeant Zebulon Gant with a mission of assisting the Japanese who then need western commanders to help modernize their army. Haunted by horrors he encountered in the US, Algren retreats into the bottle; however, the desire for quick cash, and avoid selling firearms, Algren decides to go east. He heads to Japan to help suppress an uprising of samurai led by Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), an enigmatic Samurai warlord. Unfortunately, the rebel captures Algren, from where he becomes physically and spiritual healed. Katsumoto is fighting against selfish political interests Omura. Katsumoto wishes to preserve the Japanese culture, lifestyle, and moreso; he wants to protect it from the Meiji emperor’s oblivious move to civilize their country in the western sense (Frederic & Brussat, 2012).

Communication

Much of the film is communicated in Japanese; we witness Algren having difficulties in communicating with people since in this country no one speak English. The dialogue between him and Katsumoto, who knows how to speak English, are simultaneously hilarious and emotive. There is also some use of vulgar language; making the film unsuitable for small children. This language includes use of s-words and gentler swear-words and even God’s name abused several times (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012) .Family roles and Organization

In Samurai, it is the duty men of men to fight and protect the village while women are responsible for performing household duties as well as raising children. When Algren is captured by Katsumoto, he finds himself kept in Taka’s house, the wife of the warrior he had killed. Previously, Taka refuses to nurse Algren and even offers her life, but Katsumoto orders her to do what she is told. The Samurai are firmly organized patriarchy, whereby peasants obey their masters and embrace the warrior values. They also value dignity, harmony and beauty; that is why they resist Omura’s greedy, self-centered intentions to westernize Japanese culture. Taka is also left to raise her two small sons after her husband died in the battlefield (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012) .Workforce Issues

Algren and Gant are hired to train Japanese army about modern firepower. To their disbelieve, colonel Bagley and Ujio send the half-trained troops into the battlefield against Samurai. While fighting, the premature soldiers disintegrated under the fierce attack by the Samurai, and among the butchered include Sergeant Grant. Although, Algren kills several soldiers, he is seized and taken to Samurai by Katsumoto(SoundtrackUniverses, 2012) .

Bio-cultural Issues

As Algren is brought into the samurai village, the villagers become curious and suspicious on seeing the Whiteman, Algren (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

High Risk BehaviorsCigarettes and cigars make several appearances throughout the film. To erase the memories of atrocities that happened during the civil wars and on innocent Indians, Algren decides to abuse alcohol. He was commanded by a senior officer to slaughter children, women and other innocent Indians. He is even fired because he came on stage staggering and straying from his speech, moaning about the atrocities he committed on Indians and firing perilously with the Winchester. While healing from his wounds, he begs for alcohol to soothe his body and mind. He; however stops to abuse alcohol when regained his inner-peace and strength with the help of Samurai.

Nutrition

All day long, the peasants work in paddies, where they communally cultivate food for the samurai. The warriors spend their time playing with arrows, bows, and writing poems. At a time, the peasants are interrupt while working, so as to bow, sign of respect, whenever the Samurai pass nearby. One can conclude that the village is a pastarol paradise with traditional Japanese farming (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

Pregnancy

While Algren lives with Taka, he develops a growing relationship with her and her family and eventually falls love with her. However, the pair is not seen making love; the play treats their growing affection with the decorum required by the Samurai culture. They briefly kiss, and a tender scene shows Taka romantically dressing Algren for battle. Away, at the emperor’s fortress there is a partially nude statue (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

Death Rituals

The Samurai villagers believes in death as the only way to gain perfection. Anyone convicted of “dishonor” is sentenced to suicide death. The wife to a fallen soldier is comforted, rising her two small boys alone that her husband died a “good death.” In his last fight, Katsumoto prefers to commit hara-kiri rather than to be seized since surrendering is not an option to the Samarians. It is an expression of “dishonor” (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

Spirituality

Honor is the most valuable component even more than life among the samurai warriors. The Bushido code of behavior and religious belief are clearly and loudly emphasized in Japanese military tradition. The subject about Karma, faith and destiny are seen, and there are pictures showing Japanese performing religious rituals. When Katsumoto commits hara-kiri, claims, with a dying breath, that he has achieved and experienced the perfection he wanted during his entire life. He claims the sword as his soul. The Japanese also the believes the emperor is a “living god.” Algren even confesses that, in his entire experience, in the battlefield, he had doubts with God, but he agrees that there exist something spiritual in Samurai village. Algren even commits himself to Buddhism and stops abusing alcohol. In other words, Algren finds solace in Buddhist religion as well as the Samurai codes; hence carrying himself in an honorable manner while on the battlefield (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

Health Care Practices

Algren recovers from the throes of delirium tremens after he was captured by Katsumoto, thanks to the Hiroto family. Initially, Algren’s recuperation becomes problematical due to culture shock and alcohol abstainance (Frederic & Brussat, 2012).

Health Care Practitioners

While, in samurai village, there are scenes showing Algren’s wounds being stitched by a lady. Hence, it is true to conclude that women are responsible for treating wounded and sick warriors through traditional Japanese medicines (SoundtrackUniverses, 2012).

The mixture of small, sweet, wild and terrible deaths make this film appear interesting to many movie fanatics.

Reference

Frederic & Brussat, M. N. (2012). Spirituality and practice: Film review. Retrieved from http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=6832.

SoundtrackUniverses (Uploaded). (2012, October 24). [HQ] Hans Zimmer – The Last Samurai Soundtrack – OST – Special Edi. (Video File). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfiAPPUdosg.

Change Management and Innovation: A Review of Qantas Airways Ltd.

Full Name

Student ID

AbstractThe aim of this report is to present the issue of change management and innovation at Qantas Airways Ltd. Qantas Airways is a flag carrier in Australia and the nation’s largest airline company by size of fleet, international destinations, and flights. It faces a challenge when it comes to management of change and innovation. John Kotter’s change management theory is a model that best fits the organizations to facilitate successful change and innovation in its efforts to stay relevant. The report recommends that Qantas Airways makes use of a change management model that pays attention to the changes, its effect on both external and internal stakeholders, the vision, the consequences in the market, and device ways to retain the momentum to ensure that change and innovation go hand in hand to ensure success. It is also recommended that the company adapts the eight stages including urgency creating as a way to alert and motivate employees, establishing need for innovation and change, building a change team, defining the vision, communicating with stakeholders, identification of roadblocks, establishment of goals, and retaining momentum to ensure change is managed.

Table of Contents

TOC o “1-3” h z u Abstract PAGEREF _Toc84158027 h 2Introduction PAGEREF _Toc84158028 h 4Literature Review PAGEREF _Toc84158029 h 4Discussion PAGEREF _Toc84158030 h 4Recommendations PAGEREF _Toc84158031 h 5Self-Reflection PAGEREF _Toc84158032 h 5Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc84158033 h 6Reference List PAGEREF _Toc84158034 h 7

Introduction 

Qantas Airways is a flag carrier in Australia and the nation’s largest airline company by size of fleet, international destinations, and flights. An important landmark for the company is its status in the world as the third oldest airline in operation having begun operations in 1920 (Qantas.com, 2021). In the year ending June 2020, Qantas Airways made an underlying profit of $124 million before tax, a 91% reduction from the previous period, and a statutory loss of $2.7 billion before tax including non-cash and aircraft write downs according to IBISWorld (2021). The ASX (2021) recorded its 2021 revenue to be $5,934 million, a 58.4% drop from June 2020. The current share price as per Market Index (2021) is at $5.71, a 0.71% increase from July 2021 where share prices averaged at $4.5. This report will present the issue of employee retention at the organization and provide recommendations for future engagement.

Literature Review

To ensure that changes are present in organizational processes, policies, and strategies, organizations must innovate constantly. Change management relates to implementation of different visions (Hao & Yazdanifard, 2015), while innovation detects and develops new areas in organizational objectives in regards to vision and strategy development (Michaelis, Stegmaier, & Sonntag, 2009). Innovations are disruptive changes that challenge the core capabilities and core rigidness of an organization (Hao & Yazdanifard, 2015). John Kotter’s change management theory is presented by Rajan and Ganesan (2017) as a model that can be used by organizations to facilitate successful change and innovation in organizations. It can be used by Qantas Airways to implement change as the organization intends to readjust and realign its business model to fit to the need to conduct its business more internally as opposed to having international flights. The market demands at the moment call for restructuring in an effort to occupy the domestic market that has grown due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

DiscussionThe issue of change management and innovation at Qantas Airways highlights the need for organizations to identify and develop strategies, policies, and new innovations that will enable them to stand out and lead in their respective markets and industries. The issue of change management and innovation at Qantas Airways highlights the need for organizations to identify and develop strategies to manage shifts in the market including reduced or increased demand. The Kotter’s change management theory presents several steps where urgency is created as a way to alert and motivate employees, establishing need for innovation and change, building a change team, defining the vision, communicating with stakeholders, identification of roadblocks, establishment of goals, and retaining momentum to ensure change is managed (Teixeira, Gregory, & Austin, 2017). Qantas Airways is going through changes to its business structure and business strategies, requiring change management theories to be applied in an effort to enable change. This means that management of change and innovation will have to bea conscious decision made by the organization to increase effectiveness.

RecommendationsWithout a doubt, the discussion points out to the important role that change management and innovation play in ensuring the success of an organization. In terms of change management and innovation, Qantas Airways must make use of a change management model that pays attention to the changes, its effect on both external and internal stakeholders, the vision, the consequences in the market, and device ways to retain the momentum to ensure that change and innovation go hand in hand to ensure success. As mentioned by Rajan and Ganesan (2017), the company must adapt the eight stages including urgency creating as a way to alert and motivate employees, establishing need for innovation and change, building a change team, defining the vision, communicating with stakeholders, identification of roadblocks, establishment of goals, and retaining momentum to ensure change is managed.

Self-ReflectionThe learning exercise required me to work as a consultant tackling real business issues for real companies. In the increasingly competitive business environment, it is important to stay aware of what is happening both internally and externally. This exercise has enabled me to appreciate this need for business to stay on top of issues and challenges and to constantly device means to combat these issues using evidence-based best practices in the industry and in theory.

In regard to change management and innovation, I have gained a lot of knowledge on how businesses go about identifying a need for change, then proceeding to innovate new ways to implement the change in line with organizational goals. I realized that there was a lot of gaps in my experience and knowledge relating to how organizations see and interpret change or innovation. I also realized that change and innovation are two independent yet intertwined concepts in business where one calls for the need to use the other and vice versa. I found out that realizing change requires the use of theoretical and as well as practical concepts that are aligned to the structure and needs of an organization.

Lastly, the change in perspective on management of innovation and change has enabled me to see the bigger picture in terms of organizational goals and objectives. I now realize that change is more than a singular event in an organization, but a complex process that has a lot of pieces that must fit for it to be effective in attaining its goal. The theoretical analysis performed has also changed the way I view successful organizations, especially companies like Qantas Airways that have operated since the 1920s. these companies have had to implement a lot of changes in a successful manner, creating a culture of adapting to their environment to stay relevant. I am more aware of the process of change management and innovation.

Conclusion

Change management and innovation are important elements of an organization. They allow a firm to develop and grow relative to the competition in the industry. Employing effective change management models would help an organization to effectively implement and manage change and disruptive strategies through innovation. Qantas Airways has a number of structural and business-related changes and innovation made relevant by a changing work environment. In order to ensure efficiency in implementing the said changes, Kotter’s change management model can be effectively applied to ensure success.

Reference ListASX (2021). Qantas Airways Limited and its Controlled Entities: Preliminary Final Report for FY Ended 30 June 2021. ASX. Available at https://investor.qantas.com/DownloadFile.axd?file=/Report/ComNews/20210826/02412248.pdfHao, M. J., & Yazdanifard, R. (2015). How effective leadership can facilitate change in organizations through improvement and innovation. Global journal of management and business research.

IBISWorld (2021). Qantas Airways Limited – Premium Company Report Australia. IBISWorld. Available at https://www.ibisworld.com/au/company/qantas-airways-limited/32/

Market Index. (20201). Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN). Available at https://www.marketindex.com.au/asx/qan?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=pmd_Zg5FJiTtwNfQ2GKR7ILuaGsOiykRMwLSOXxDcqYz9ds-1633250011-0-gqNtZGzNAvujcnBszQzR

Michaelis, B., Stegmaier, R., & Sonntag, K. (2009). Affective commitment to change and innovation implementation behavior: The role of charismatic leadership and employees’ trust in top management. Journal of Change Management, 9(4), 399-417.

Qantas.com (2021). About Us. Available at https://www.qantas.com/au/en/about-us.html

Rajan, R., & Ganesan, R. (2017). A critical analysis of John P. Kotter’s change management framework. Asian Journal of Research in Business Economics and Management, 7(7), 181-203.

Teixeira, B., Gregory, P. A., & Austin, Z. (2017). How are pharmacists in Ontario adapting to practice change? Results of a qualitative analysis using Kotter’s change management model. Canadian Pharmacists Journal/Revue des Pharmaciens du Canada, 150(3), 198-205.

Movie Critique: 13th Amendment

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Course

Date

African Americans have never been absolutely free even after the emancipation. The ratification of the 13th Amendment was a chance for slave owners and supporters to draft a law that had loopholes to keep African Americans in chains, literally and figuratively. It was a clause that shifted the definition of slavery from a ‘legitimate” business to a legal method of punishment for lawbreakers. African Americans are suffering from the legacy of slavery a century almost two centuries after 1867. The institutionalization of slavery and the wide racial and partisan disparities and the position of African Americans in American society has been nothing short of slavery. America boasts of these lofty ideals, but on the other hand, it has subjected Negroes to a second class status with the political elite selecting the nobility of their civic creed at the expense of social arrangements that have been in existence for many years.

The black race in America is subjected to extreme stereotyping, economic inequality, and stigmatization for their way of life and isolated by the society. Their purported criminality has resulted in racial profiling by law enforcement to the extent that black people are arrested, and many of their rights are violated in the process. There have been documented and undocumented cases of black people being physically beaten by the police during arrest and held at police stations beyond the requirements of the law.

The 13th is a documentary by Ava DuVernay, which focuses on the Thirteenth Amendment very significant legislation that resulted in mass incarceration in the United States. Besides covering this epic event in history, the film is gorgeous, reminiscent, and infuriating exploration powers, roots, and permanence. The film showcases the account of those wielded power and those made to kneel by this power, their roots, and their permanence. From history, the economy of the Southern state was decimated. The primary sources of income for the South, slaves, were no longer obliged up and serve as free labor for their fields. There was, however, an exception was made for criminals who, according to the law, were eligible for enlistment as slaves as part of their punishment. In the first restatement of a strategy by the South, hundreds of slaves who had started enjoying their freedom were enslaved again courtesy of trivial mistakes and minor charges. This informed the beginning of Duvernay’s examination of the evolving iterations.

The cycle was such that when one method of subservience-based injustice and terror subsided, another rose in its place. The list used by Duvernay in this documentary included the Jim Crow era, lynching if black people, Nixon’s race for the presidency, Reagans War on Drugs, President Clinton’s three strikes, and the compulsory sentencing rulings and the cash-for-prisoners in effect today. The cash for prisoners is a model that bail and incarceration firms use to generate millions of dollars.

The 13th, however, concentrates a bit more on the cash-for-prisoners model and even portrays the tally of the prisoners to go through the system on-screen. The use of context, in this case, is very important because although history still has significance, it is necessary to create awareness of the situation of black people today. The other does a perfect job to remind the world and black people that they are still not considered nothing more than just that, African Americans. America does not see beyond their color. The use of the 13th Amendment as the thesis for this film is appropriate and creates a path that allows the film director to exhaust the evolution of prejudice against black people over the years.

Bibliography

Harris-Perry, Melissa V. Sister citizen: Shame, stereotypes, and Black women in America. Yale University Press, 2011.

Luxe. “Thirteenth Amendment Documentary.” YouTube. Video file. October 16, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WU608Z2678.

Pope, James Gray. “Mass Incarceration, Convict Leasing, and the Thirteenth Amendment: A Revisionist Account.” New York University Law Review 94, no. 6 (2019): 1465-1554.

Critical Thinking Questions

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Professor

Course

Date

Critical Thinking Questions

Advantages and disadvantages of a computer ERIC and other databases, as compared to other search methods

ERIC (Education Resources Information Centre) is the world’s largest educational database used by researchers, educational professionals and policy makers around the world.

Due to the automated databases they are convenient and time saving. ERIC and other databases are comprehensive in nature in the sense that they allow comprehensive information gathering in all disciplines dealing with education because it contains many viewpoints which may not be contained in a single publication or one author’s perspective. ERIC for example serves as the most comprehensive source of information containing more than 500,000 documents and journal articles from all areas of education. Ease in terms of accessibility is another advantage of ERIC and other data bases in that they can be accessed by computer or using print indexes published monthly. It provides life-long resources that can be used as access materials to term papers, bibliographies and other research assignments. Career development can also be accomplished through comprehensive information on career development. Such information may include international education opportunities, staff development programs and innovative products and techniques. Despite the many advantages of ERIC and under databases there are shortcomings associated with their use in the sense that though researchers can access academic materials online for free, some costs is incurred through the use of databases to acquire information. Research conducted using ERIC and other databases can be compromising especially in the case where the secondary sources used contain information that has been incorrectly copied from the original source. Also not all disciplines are covered by online or CD-ROM databases not forgetting the picky nature of computers when it comes to spellings whereby ones search may not match exactly what is in the database.

The Importance of reading original articles or papers as opposed to relying on the information in the abstracts.

An abstract is an electronic database that indexes books, journals and other information. It is a short summary of the material indexed. Relying on abstracts as opposed to the original article or paper is of discouraged since they give little actual information. For example an abstract can have the sentence,” The relationship between academic performance and delinquency was determined” without telling what the relationship was.

The advantages, valuable traits and limitations of secondary sources of information

Secondary data is information collected for various reasons, the main one being the completion of a research project. It enlightens the researcher on the research problem. Acquisition of information from secondary data sources is fast thus saves time. The secondary research process can be fast since the data can be obtained quickly by a skilful analyst. All that is required of the researcher is identification of the data source after which extracting of information is done. According CITATION Emm08 l 1033 (Smith, 2008) secondary data allows researchers to access data in a scale they could not hope to replicate first hand. Compared to primary research secondary research is less expensive in that it does not employ the use of highly trained and expensive personnel. The founder of the information is the one who incurs the research expenses in secondary research. Nonetheless secondary sources have their own limitations. Secondary information that is related to the topic of study is sometimes not available or if available then it is in insufficient quantities. The reliability and accuracy of secondary data may be questionable since the information can be misleading not to mention that the data can be in different in terms of formatting which may be contrary to that needed by the researcher. Much of the secondary data may be old and thus doesn’t bring out the true picture of the current market trends.

Library holdings constituting primary sources of information

The library holds a considerable amount of unique materials consisting of primary and secondary sources of information. Primary sources that are included in library holdings include diaries, letters, journals, autobiographies, articles containing original research ,data or findings never shared ,Government and public documents and manuscripts both original and hand written.

Strategy for assessing large number of reports

There are many methods used in higher learning education for the purpose of report assessing. Choice is based on the method that best assesses the objective of the unit study. The strategy employed includes assessing and managing of information. This is achieved through researching, investigation, interpreting, organizing of information, reviewing and paraphrasing information, collecting data, searching and managing information sources and observing and interpreting of the report CITATION Nig96 l 1033 (Nightingale, 1996).

Importance of statistical knowledge and concepts in accurate report interpretation

Interpretation is inference drawing based on collected facts after an experimental or analytical study. Knowledge of statistical terms and concepts is of much help to research report interpretation since it enables the researcher to give sound explanations regarding the relations found. The researcher is able to make an interpretation of the lines of relationships based on the underlying processes and find out the sequence of uniformity that lies beneath the surface layer of the research. An understanding of the information collected is vital in interpreting the final results of the research study since it is a key factor to understanding the problem under consideration. Statistical knowledge also helps identify omissions and errors in logical documentation. This results in correct interpretation of research reports and ensures accuracy (Kothari, 2005).

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY C R Kothari, D. (2005). Research methodology : methods & techniques. New Delhi: New

Age International (P) Ltd.Print.

Nightingale, P. T. (1996). Assessing Learning in Universities Professional Development

Centre. University of New South Wales, Australia.Print.

Smith, E. (2008). Using secondary data in educational and social research. Maidenhead ;

New York, NY: Open University Press.Print.

Change Management and Innovation: A Review of Qantas Airways Ltd.

Full Name

Student ID

Hallo everyone and welcome to my presentation. In this presentation, I will look at the issue of change management and innovation at Qantas Airways Ltd.

First, I will present background information:

Qantas Airways is a flag carrier in Australia and the nation’s largest airline company by size of fleet, international destinations, and flights. An important landmark for the company is its status in the world as the third oldest airline in operation having begun operations in 1920 (Qantas.com, 2021). The current share price as per Market Index (2021) is at $5.71, a 0.71% increase from July 2021 where share prices averaged at $4.5.

Next, let us see what Change Management and Innovation is in the context of Qantas:

John Kotter’s change management theory is presented by Rajan and Ganesan (2017) as a model that can be used by organizations to facilitate successful change and innovation in organizations. It can be used by Qantas Airways to implement change as the organization intends to readjust and realign its business model to fit to the need to conduct its business more internally as opposed to having international flights.

To deeper understand change, we need to look at the issues at the organization:

The issue of change management and innovation at Qantas Airways highlights the need for organizations to identify and develop strategies to manage shifts in the market including reduced or increased demand. The Kotter’s change management theory presents several steps where urgency is created as a way to alert and motivate employees, establishing need for innovation and change, building a change team, defining the vision, communicating with stakeholders, identification of roadblocks, establishment of goals, and retaining momentum to ensure change is managed (Teixeira, Gregory, & Austin, 2017).

Based on the foregoing, the following are the recommendations:

In terms of change management and innovation, Qantas Airways must make use of a change management model that pays attention to the changes, its effect on both external and internal stakeholders, the vision, the consequences in the market, and device ways to retain the momentum to ensure that change and innovation go hand in hand to ensure success.

To conclude …

Change management and innovation are important elements of an organization. They allow a firm to develop and grow relative to the competition in the industry. Employing effective change management models would help an organization to effectively implement and manage change and disruptive strategies through innovation.

Thank you for your time and attentiveness. I will take any questions you may have.

Reference List

Market Index. (20201). Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN). Available at https://www.marketindex.com.au/asx/qan?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=pmd_Zg5FJiTtwNfQ2GKR7ILuaGsOiykRMwLSOXxDcqYz9ds-1633250011-0-gqNtZGzNAvujcnBszQzR

Qantas.com (2021). About Us. Available at https://www.qantas.com/au/en/about-us.html

Rajan, R., & Ganesan, R. (2017). A critical analysis of John P. Kotter’s change management framework. Asian Journal of Research in Business Economics and Management, 7(7), 181-203.

Teixeira, B., Gregory, P. A., & Austin, Z. (2017). How are pharmacists in Ontario adapting to practice change? Results of a qualitative analysis using Kotter’s change management model. Canadian Pharmacists Journal/Revue des Pharmaciens du Canada, 150(3), 198-205.

(Name)

(Instructors’ name)

(Course)

(Date)

‘Advanced’, ‘Writing’ and ‘Discipline’

This assignment requires all the students taking the advanced writing course to post something about the meanings of the words advanced writing and discipline. The post is supposed to include some definitions from the dictionary and then show how we understand the meaning of these three words. As it follows, I will first define the words as they are discussed in two different dictionaries, and then offer a definition that reflects my own understanding of the terms. In addition to this, I will also demonstrate some of my expectations of this particular course. I will also show what I expect to be covered or taught in the class and how we can our past knowledge and skills in communication and writing in advancing this course.

The Merriam- Webster dictionary has a number of definitions of the word advanced, a few of which only apply to this particular class. One of the most relevant definition of advanced in this dictionary is the one that describes advanced as being more than or being beyond introduction or elementary. Another essential definition describes advanced as much developed beyond or more than the initial stage. A third essential definition from this dictionary is the one that defines advanced as being further away from others when it comes to ideas or progress. One can, therefore, use this word in different circumstances. For instance, one can say advanced biology, chemistry or English class. One can also use the word to form a sentence like, advanced methods of science.

The online Dictionary.com also offers a number of definitions for the word advanced. One of the definitions offered in the dictionary defines advanced as being placed forward or ahead. Another crucial definition derived from this dictionary defines advanced as far or ahead or further along in complexity, progress, skill or even knowledge. Advanced is also shown or defined as embodying or pertaining to ideas, attitudes, and practices. In this case, the word advanced can be used to mean that one is taken or seen as being more liberal or enlightened when compared to the established, standardized or traditional. As it follows, these definitions can be used differently in sentences. One, for instance, can use the second definition of advanced in such sentences as, an advanced class in English, or taking a course in advanced Spanish. I understand the term advanced as any skills, knowledge, ideas, practices or attitudes that have developed more than the normal or usual stages. I understand that one has to learn more and acquire more skills and knowledge about a particular discipline to become advanced in that discipline.

The other word of interest in this post is writing. The term has numerous definitions according to Merriam- Webster dictionary. The dictionary defines writing as the process or act of one who writes or the art or act of forming characters or letter that are visible. The dictionary also defines writing as the practice or act of musical or literary composition. Writing can also be understood as the form or style of composition, or the profession or occupation of a writer. Dictionary.com defines writing as the act of a thing or person who writes. It also defines writing as putting or committing one’s ideas or thoughts into writing. I also have my own understanding of the term writing. I think that writing is not just the ability to put words together or the ability to draw characters or words that are presentable. To me, writing is the ability for one to put characters and syllables together so that they are able to make sense, communicate the intended message and show the level of expertise of that particular individual or writer. As it follows, I do not see someone who is able to take notes in class as a writer; neither can I take the notes the take down as writing. However, if that student is able to answer questions from the same class in the form of writing that show the understanding of the course material, and do it comprehensively and presentably, then I can take him as a writer, because he displays ideas, knowledge and skill.

Discipline is an extremely common word, and it has a number of meanings as presented by a number of dictionaries. The Merriam- Webster dictionary, for instance, offers a number for definitions for the term. It is essential to note that the word holds a number of meanings. For instance, it can be used to mean discipline, it can also be used to stand for a field of study, or training that molds, corrects or perfects moral character and mental faculties. The dictionary also describes discipline as the control obtained from enforcing order and obedience. Dictionary.com also has numerous definitions of the term. Some of these include training or molding to act according to rules. It is also defined as exercise, activity or a regimen that improves or develops a skill. It also defines discipline as punishment inflicted by way of training or correction. All these definitions are applicable in different cases. I understand discipline as a field of study that one chooses to specialize in above others.

These three words can be used together to come up with the term advanced writing discipline. This term can be used to mean a writing course in a certain discipline that is advanced. This writing course could have been covered in several other uncomplicated stages before one becomes qualified to undertake the advanced class. In such a course, it expected that the students would learn ideas; practices, knowledge and skills that will enable them become competent in writing or expressing their ideas through writing. It expected that by the end of the course, all students would have learned or refined their writing skills.

Name:

Lecturer:

Course:

Date of Submission:

Challenges Facing National Parks’ Management

Management of national parks and the areas related to them provide not only opportunities but also challenges. The opportunities that it presents are protecting the values of the national parks and provision of people’s enjoyment and appreciation. Challenges include ensuring these places are well protected and that the activities going on in the national parks benefit them and balancing them. National parks’ management also deals with controlling the capacity of visitors visiting the parks in a given time and the population of the wildlife in that given park (Manning, p1).Effective management of national parks is important for preservation and conservation of the wildlife. This essay will look at the various challenges facing the management of national parks and the approaches addressing the challenges.

National parks are tourist attraction sites. Tourists can’t be attracted by the national parks if there are no features of interest. It becomes a challenge to the management of the national parks to ensure the national parks have the necessary resources that would invite tourists to the park. The challenge is when it comes to making the decision on what to put up and what to improve in the national parks. The management is required to ensure that the improvements that they make are unique to the features of other tourist attraction sites. Approaches addressing this challenge have been raised such as providing luxury equipment and hotels within the parks. The approach ensures that tourists stay in the park and enjoy their stay as long as they would wish (Davis et al., p12)

The management looks forward to expanding the national parks to increase the volume of visitation as already discussed. The will to expand the national parks is met by one challenge that has troubled the management so much. People living around the national parks tend to encroach on the land holding the national park (James et al., p 162). Cultivation is the main purpose of this behavior of the people. Land encroachment makes it difficult for the management to expand the parks. It instead reduces the size of the land occupied by the park hence reducing the natural habitat. Appropriate measures have been taken to solve this problem. The management has pushed for fencing the area that should be occupied by the national park to avoid invasion by the residents.

National parks’ management aims at protecting the wildlife in the national parks. Protecting wildlife ensures that the national parks stay for as long as possible, and the benefits accrued to the existence of national parks are long term. Poaching has become a threat to this goal of the management. Wild animals such as elephants, leopards, buffaloes and many others are a main area of tourists’ attraction. Residents have made poaching an option to their living (James et al., p163). Elephants in national parks have become extinct due to their valuable tasks. Extinction of elephants and other animals would slowly fade the national parks. Approaches have been raised to address this matter. The wild services have increased the number of trained security to protect the wildlife. There are laws that have been passed to protect the wildlife. It means that if one is accused of poaching can face imprisonment or other charges. Villagers around the parks have also been offered well-defined hunting quotas. These quotas have reduced poaching since the villagers sell the quotas to companies or organizations (James et al., p168).

Training and education are an important aspect in that they install skills and knowledge to individuals. Lack or minimal skills in the management board of national parks has become a challenge lately (Decker et al., p13).Without the required training, it becomes difficult for one to determine certain variables in the national parks. A good example would be determining the wildlife population or evaluate the situation of a habitat (Decker et al., p13).Possession of skills, also helps the management board in making decisions on what should be done. Mostly, when a problem arises the level of skills possessed by the management determines how fast the situation will be handled. The government has offered training facilities and organized training programs to the management. The untrained personnel are taken through training to improve the level of skills in them.

Political pressure is another challenge that faces the management of national parks. As much as the management would like to expand the parks, there exists scarcity in development funds (James et al., p172).This problem is usually as a result of arguments in the political systems on the amount of money to be issued for the national park development. With this, the management and control functions of the park management cannot be met. It happens that the national income earned from tourism activities goes easily to the government. It becomes hard for the funds to be allocated back to the national parks for expansion, hence, delaying the expansion projects that the management has suggested. Pressure is mounted on the management sector instead. The solution to this problem is being worked on where the funding for the parks will be done in a way that it won’t be affected by politics. Through external fund and whenever the park’s wildlife capital has been restored. Park management activities would be financed by tourists and fees from safari hunting (James et al., 173).

Expansion of national parks has led to relocation of many people. It turns the population against the management of the parks. At times, there is a very high population living below living standards. These conditions and the anger in people about the relocation encourage people to practice poaching and at times attack the management directly. The people may also set up forest fires as a revenge mechanism. These extensive forest fires have led to environmental destruction (James et al., p174).Wildlife is destroyed where animals die, and vegetation burn down. Whenever it happens, the management tries as much as it can to put off these fires. It becomes a threat to the management. Extra cost that had not been budgeted for is required to finance for the extinguishing .The management has started an initiative where people are compensated after relocation to avoid this scenario (James et al., 174).

Wildlife damage has become a threat not only to the people around the national parks but also to the management. Wildlife damage is any act by the animals in the park that causes destruction to the property of the households living around the parks (Conover, p7).It happens due to poor protective boundaries between the national parks and the society living near the parks. When the animals break the walls, they cause damages to the crops, cause injuries to the people and some extent deaths. The management is hence faced with the challenge of compensating for the damages. Finances that had not been budgeted for are used. The management is also faced by the challenge of tracing the animals and taking them back to the parks. The activity of tracing the animals back to the park becomes very tiresome and sometimes dangerous. In order to avoid this, construction of strong electric fence round the national parks has been implemented.

In conclusion, the challenges facing the management of national parks are the same from one national park to the other. The management personnel across the national parks should hence, be skilled and with the ability to withstand the challenges. They should also have the ability to bring forward measurements that can address the challenges. Poaching has become the biggest threat to national parks’ management as discussed. It is facilitated by many factors, among them being poor management. In general, the management should enhance its relationship with those that border the parks. A good relationship between them improves the understanding between them, which would reduce such activities. For better handling of challenges to the management, the government considers employing skilled personnel. The management should also be corruption free to enable good utilization of the funds allocated to the national parks.

Works Cited

Manning, Robert. Parks and People: Managing Outdoor Recreation at Acadia National Park: University of Vermont Press, 2009.Print.

Davis E. Davis., Halvorson, Willian. Science and Ecosystem Management in the National Parks: University of Arizona Press, 1996.Print.

Anderson, Terry. James, Alexander. The Politics and Economics of Park Management: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, USA, 2001.Print.

Decker, Daniel. Riley, Shawn. Siemer, William. Human Dimension of Wildlife Management: JHU Press, 2012.Print.

Conover, Michael. The Science of Wildlife Damage Management: CRC Press LLC, USA, 2002.Print.

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‘Advanced’, ‘Writing’ and ‘Discipline’

This assignment requires all the students taking the advanced writing course to post something about the meanings of the words advanced writing and discipline. The post is supposed to include some definitions from the dictionary and then show how we understand the meaning of these three words. As it follows, I will first define the words as they are discussed in two different dictionaries, and then offer a definition that reflects my own understanding of the terms. In addition to this, I will also demonstrate some of my expectations of this particular course. I will also show what I expect to be covered or taught in the class and how we can our past knowledge and skills in communication and writing in advancing this course.

The Merriam- Webster dictionary has a number of definitions of the word advanced, a few of which only apply to this particular class. One of the most relevant definition of advanced in this dictionary is the one that describes advanced as being more than or being beyond introduction or elementary. Another essential definition describes advanced as much developed beyond or more than the initial stage. A third essential definition from this dictionary is the one that defines advanced as being further away from others when it comes to ideas or progress. One can, therefore, use this word in different circumstances. For instance, one can say advanced biology, chemistry or English class. One can also use the word to form a sentence like, advanced methods of science.

The online Dictionary.com also offers a number of definitions for the word advanced. One of the definitions offered in the dictionary defines advanced as being placed forward or ahead. Another crucial definition derived from this dictionary defines advanced as far or ahead or further along in complexity, progress, skill or even knowledge. Advanced is also shown or defined as embodying or pertaining to ideas, attitudes, and practices. In this case, the word advanced can be used to mean that one is taken or seen as being more liberal or enlightened when compared to the established, standardized or traditional. As it follows, these definitions can be used differently in sentences. One, for instance, can use the second definition of advanced in such sentences as, an advanced class in English, or taking a course in advanced Spanish. I understand the term advanced as any skills, knowledge, ideas, practices or attitudes that have developed more than the normal or usual stages. I understand that one has to learn more and acquire more skills and knowledge about a particular discipline to become advanced in that discipline.

The other word of interest in this post is writing. The term has numerous definitions according to Merriam- Webster dictionary. The dictionary defines writing as the process or act of one who writes or the art or act of forming characters or letter that are visible. The dictionary also defines writing as the practice or act of musical or literary composition. Writing can also be understood as the form or style of composition, or the profession or occupation of a writer. Dictionary.com defines writing as the act of a thing or person who writes. It also defines writing as putting or committing one’s ideas or thoughts into writing. I also have my own understanding of the term writing. I think that writing is not just the ability to put words together or the ability to draw characters or words that are presentable. To me, writing is the ability for one to put characters and syllables together so that they are able to make sense, communicate the intended message and show the level of expertise of that particular individual or writer. As it follows, I do not see someone who is able to take notes in class as a writer; neither can I take the notes the take down as writing. However, if that student is able to answer questions from the same class in the form of writing that show the understanding of the course material, and do it comprehensively and presentably, then I can take him as a writer, because he displays ideas, knowledge and skill.

Discipline is an extremely common word, and it has a number of meanings as presented by a number of dictionaries. The Merriam- Webster dictionary, for instance, offers a number for definitions for the term. It is essential to note that the word holds a number of meanings. For instance, it can be used to mean discipline, it can also be used to stand for a field of study, or training that molds, corrects or perfects moral character and mental faculties. The dictionary also describes discipline as the control obtained from enforcing order and obedience. Dictionary.com also has numerous definitions of the term. Some of these include training or molding to act according to rules. It is also defined as exercise, activity or a regimen that improves or develops a skill. It also defines discipline as punishment inflicted by way of training or correction. All these definitions are applicable in different cases. I understand discipline as a field of study that one chooses to specialize in above others.

These three words can be used together to come up with the term advanced writing discipline. This term can be used to mean a writing course in a certain discipline that is advanced. This writing course could have been covered in several other uncomplicated stages before one becomes qualified to undertake the advanced class. In such a course, it expected that the students would learn ideas; practices, knowledge and skills that will enable them become competent in writing or expressing their ideas through writing. It expected that by the end of the course, all students would have learned or refined their writing skills.