General Electric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

General Electric - Essay Example Understanding Groups Group is a collection of 2 or more individuals, who interact regularly, exert mutual influence and work in collusion with each other to achieve a common goal (Griffin & Moorehead, 2008). Purpose of a group forms its background and the process through which this is achieved makes it operational. Team is structured, requires coordinated interaction to reach the set goal and all the members stand responsible for its activities. A congregation of individuals qualifies to be called a group based on Kurt Lewin’s parameters, which specify that the members should interact, are interdependent, influence each other, the members feel belongingness, have a structure, work towards a common goal and are recognised as a group by others. Task and relationship-based interactions develop in groups, through which people connect and affect each other. Group Development Bruce Tuckman suggested 4 stages of group development, which consist of forming, storming, norming and perfo rming. Adjourning has been appended later (Griffin & Moorehead, 2008). a. Forming During this phase, individuals mingle with each other and communicate, in an attempt to arrive at their purpose of association. They assess their respective comfort zones. Leaders play a vital role in facilitating this understanding and walking them towards the next stage (Griffin & Moorehead, 2008). In this phase, as we have come from different departments and educational backgrounds, we questioned each other on the relevant details. We have also discussed the past work experience and project records of each of the members. This has helped us in gaining an understanding on the capabilities of every individual of the teams. As a leader, I saw that the team discussions at this phase are directed towards exploring each other, being polite, keeping the communication alive and coordinating them. These conversations created an idea on what would be the ideal roles for each of them within the team and we dec ided on them towards the end of the formation meeting. b. Storming Here, the members share their views, assemble with others sharing similar thoughts and socialise. Leader persuades them to open up and streamlines their ideas, differences etc towards the group goals (Griffin & Moorehead, 2008). This phase has been the challenging one, as the group members started to interact, the differences started to surface. The resource sharing and competition led to substantial friction. However, as a trained and experienced leader, I created the clarity on the jobs and responsibilities; the scope of every person in the team is highlighted. Thus, the importance of every member and his role is clearly understood even by the others and thus, the decision making powers and necessity of the resources to each of them is discussed. Further, the common goals of the team and the focus on productivity of the team, which is only possible through the concerted efforts of all the teammates is stressed. I h ad to support the views of some of the members of the team during such communication, which has planted a doubt in them that I am favoring those members, which was cleared in the due course as the actual work proved my support right. As the team members appreciate the roles and responsibili

Re-evaluation before the Development of Technology Essay

Re-evaluation before the Development of Technology - Essay Example Man required various tools for use in hunting, gathering fruits and tubers used as food, as well as weaponry for protection against the attack by animals. This led to the use of stone tools, which were shaped appropriately, then, to the wooden and later to the metallic tools, which required further systems of shaping and designing them for appropriate application (Berkman, 1962). With the need to shape the metallic tools, technological need arose, which would melt the metal and then shape them into various tools. Secondly, the need for locomotion started with forging rafters to be used for moving across streams, paving way for the development of masts to harness the wind and use it to propel the boats, and later the development of steam-powered engines. All these were steps in the technological development. b. Near past The controversy in the Near Past phase of technological development is the environmental degradation, the negative effects of the GMO food on human health and the une mployment caused by the replacement of the human workers by machines in industries and various business firms. The near past technological development counts for the period between the 20th and the 21st century, where technological advancement emerged in the form of development of road transport and the automotive industry, office work technologies, manufacturing and other business operational technologies, as well as advancement in air industry (Swaminatha, 2011). Further alternative sources of energy such as nuclear were exploited, while great strides were made in the agricultural sector with the development of the genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as well as various agricultural production technologies. Further advancements were made in the field of medicine and public health with organ transplants technologies evolving, as well as many other life-saving technologies. The communication technology further advanced with the arrival of mobile phones and other communication devi ces. c. Currently i. Current status of the issue The controversy in the current phase of technological development is the threat posed by the internet and cybercrimes on the welfare of the people, as well as the threat of the nuclear weaponry development, which is posing the threat of a third World War, which may have worst consequences, than any other war that has been experienced in the world. The current phase of technological development is marred with computer technology, internet technology and the nuclear weapon technology, all of which have made the fear of the worst war ever occurring. Through the internet and the computer technology, the threats of terrorism in the world have increased immensely, while the online frauds and financial scams have posed a great threat to the online business operations (Swaminatha, 2011). ii. Division in attitude towards the claim There are major supporters of the technological development due to the advantages it has brought to the modern wor ld such as the ease of communication through the mobile devices as well as the internet platforms such as social media, the ease of buying and selling commodities through online marketing platforms and the improved knowledge creation and sharing through the internet