College pressures essay
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
How Americaââ¬â¢s Social Structure Causes Deviance
Albeit numerous individuals realize that deviancy is obvious in American culture, few understand that it is society itself that causes deviancy. Our social structure applies various weights among individuals in our general public to take part in non-adjusting and degenerate conduct to accomplish the American dream. American culture does this by underscoring certain achievement objectives, and not stressing the right way to accomplish these objectives. Also, deviancy is strengthened in various components of American social structure through socially characterized objectives, organized methods, cultural responses, and different types of approvals. Further, American culture has a solid accentuation on riches and an irrational interest for progress. Thusly, Americans are lead to types of development, deviancy, and live in a condition of anomie. To begin with, we should look at the meanings of abnormality and standards. Henry characterizes aberrance as an individual who conflicts with the guidelines, desires, and standards of their general public (address). Further, deviancy is thought of as an individual trait or conduct that outcomes in social objection from others, or conduct that defies the guidelines and standards for that society(Social Deviance 5). Standards are rules of lead, and every standard is an announcement of attractive or unwanted conduct. Instances of attractive and unwanted conditions are messages like ââ¬Å"donââ¬â¢t be too fatâ⬠and ââ¬Å"donââ¬â¢t be too thinâ⬠(Social Deviance 5). Moreover, standards are the common desires and assessments of conduct or being that most of societyââ¬â¢s individuals concur upon. Meier states that desires allude to how individuals will act or be, and assessments are the means by which individuals should act or be (Social Deviance 5). These desires and assessments further fortify the norms and desires for our general public. A few sociologists recently accepted that abnormality was brought about by science. Sociologists once accepted that freak individuals were ââ¬Å"born badâ⬠, and that heredity, qualities, and a people body science were all shared factors in degenerate individuals. Merton repudiates this hypothesis by taking note of that: With the later progression of sociology, this arrangement of originations has experienced essential adjustment. For a certain something, it no longer shows up so clear that man is set against society in a constant war between natural drive and social limitation. For another, sociological viewpoints have progressively gone into the examination of conduct veering off from recommended examples of direct. For whatever job the natural driving forces, there still remains the further inquiry of why it is that the recurrence of freak conduct fluctuates inside various social structure and how it happens that the deviations have various shapes and example in various social structures. (230) Now sociologists, for example, Robert K. Merton, have new knowledge into the hypothesis that deviancy is brought about by the general public wherein we live, not science or body science. This hypothesis of abnormality is likewise sponsored up by the conviction that American culture drives a person to need the American dream, however doesn't bear the cost of them with the way to accomplish them (Fanning). As individuals from a general public fixated on TV and media, we have pressures that fortify the prevalent view that material belongings and riches are critical in American culture. In this manner, it is sensible to accept that on the off chance that we can find certain gatherings subject to the weights of accomplishing the American dream, we ought to hope to discover high paces of deviancy in its individuals. What's more, some social classes don't have equivalent chance to accomplish objectives. Because of separation, individuals from lower classes, and certain racial and ethnic minorities, all experience the ill effects of blocked chances. The anxiety that outcomes from blocked open doors makes the individual inquiry the authenticity of customary and organized methods (Fanning). As a result, these citizenry start to consider other, frequently unlawful, approaches to succeed. Moreover, when this happens, regard for the generally acknowledged methods for accomplishing objectives disintegrate, standards debilitate, and society is not, at this point ready to manage the strategies its individuals use to get achievement. In this manner, horror among lower classes can be ascribed to the burdens brought about by American culture. On the off chance that an individual is naturally introduced to a poor family, they may be compelled to work while going to secondary school, and will be unable to concentrate on school work, as different cohorts. In this manner, because of life possibilities, they probably won't have the chance to set off for college because of terrible evaluations or exorbitance. While continually battling to make a decent living, they choose to perpetrate a wrongdoing to have the option to have material belongings, since they accept that they will always be unable to set aside to purchase anything through customary work. This new social hypothesis expresses that deviancy is individuals just reacting regularly to the social circumstance wherein they are in. Besides, Merton expresses that ââ¬Å"some social structures apply unequivocal weights upon specific people in the general public to participate in nonconforming, instead of accommodating conductâ⬠(230). What's more, abnormality changes culture to culture. What we consider to be freak is not quite the same as what different social orders think about degenerate. Degenerate definitions additionally change quickly. American culture used to feel that ladies who wore short skirts, or smoked cigarettes were degenerate. Presently, similar acts are not considered to even now be freak. Likewise, Merton takes note of that ââ¬Å"some social structures apply a distinct weight upon specific people in societyâ⬠(230). American culture is an ideal case of a general public that applies irrational weights, and along these lines drives a portion of its individuals to freak conduct. This social hypothesis is demonstrated further by Mertonââ¬â¢s hypothesis of social structure. In American culture, Merton accepts that there are two components of social structure; socially characterized objectives, and standardized methods. Socially characterized objectives are coordinated into society, including different degrees of significant worth and noteworthiness. Socially characterized objectives are what society figures its individuals ought to make progress toward, for example, monetary achievement. Organized methods are the guidelines and standards that are the adequate method of accomplishing the socially characterized objective (234). A case of a socially characterized objective is decent training, and a great job. Our general public gives a solid social response to the individuals who veer off its standards. Cultural responses grasp the manners by which society reacts to the people, their demonstrations, or suspected aberrance. Types of cultural responses are authorizations and formal assents. Authorizations are ââ¬Å"punishments typically intended to control suspect or genuine devianceâ⬠(Social Deviance 5). Formal assents are the disciplines controlled by the state or other type of lawful position. Instances of formal authorization are fines or detainment. Regularly these proper approvals have a negative disgrace appended to them. Besides, sanctions are a definitive estimating bar for recognizing deviancy and freak acts. A model would be an individual given the proper authorization of a jail sentence being marked a ââ¬Å"ex-conâ⬠. Casual authorizations are sanctions from less official sources, for example, family, companions and companions. Instances of casual approvals are deride, peer dissatisfaction, and analysis (Social Deviance 5). The following point to talk about is the regular sorts of abnormality that outcome from the weights that American culture puts on its individuals. Merton says that individuals from American culture are now and then compelled to enhance to arrive at the objectives society recommends for them. To begin with, objectives are disguised and thought of as significant, for example, needing a decent vehicle, cash, and a home. These individuals fit in with the desires society gives them, and in this manner attempt to accomplish the objectives. The individual who needs a vehicle to be acknowledged in the public arena, so they adjust by attending a university to find a decent line of work, to have the option to purchase the vehicle. The issue happens when individuals need these things, yet might not approach them. Accordingly, this leads people to need to improve to accomplish these objectives (Merton 233). A trend-setter might be an individual who can't or reluctant to set off for college to find a divine being line of work, so they burglarize a bank to have the option to purchase the home and vehicle, and consequently can fit in to social orders material requests. Deviancy is likewise brought about by the various logical inconsistencies and varieties American culture has on what roads are thought of as worthy methods of accomplishing the objectives. What's more, our general public additionally has many twofold norms about what is viewed as adequate. Some cheat the framework, however might be thought of as being sly, or keen. Then again, some similarly exploitative acts have disciplines, and are looked downward on by individuals from our general public. A case of this is the point at which an entrepreneur cost fixes. Indeed, even idea the entrepreneur is being exploitative, he is thought of as a business virtuoso, and astute. Individuals who undermine their assessments, or get paid under the table are deceptive and utilizing ethically incorrect methods of accomplishing cash. Be that as it may, these crooks are not censured, looked downward on, or thought of as lawbreakers. A case of this twofold standard is the point at which we locate an unlawful demonstration with the nonappearance of social dissatisfaction. Without social objection, an unlawful demonstration isn't viewed as really degenerate (Fanning). An ordinary event of this error is the point at which somebody is discovered speeding. The demonstration of speeding is unlawful and rebuffed with formal authorizations, for example, fines, tickets, or permit suspension, however is acknowledged in our general public. We have cops that are paid to manage the parkways, however no negative disgrace connected to the demonstration of speeding, or the discipline given by lawful position. The interest for accomplishment in American culture is overpowering. Achievement has become built as ââ¬Å"winning the gameâ⬠instead of ââ¬Å"winning
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Budgeting Slack Kills All Benefits Of Budgeting Accounting Essay
Planning Slack Kills All Benefits Of Budgeting Accounting Essay In an association when an administrator is answerable for arranging salaries and costs for the a future time frame, they can design salary extremely low and costs exceptionally high so this sums gets endorsed by senior administration. The Manager essentially does this thing to make certain of meeting the financial plan with a low salary objective, the director ought to have the option to accomplish it and go over it. With a high cost Budget the administrator ought to have the option to effectively keep genuine costs inside the Budget. On the off chance that this happens the directors execution in the coming year will look excellent, as it doesnt truly give the board any thought of what the coming year will really resemble in light of the fact that its not practical. What's more, it doesnt show the genuine assessment of the directors execution. So this is known as the Budgetary Slack. As it were the overflow that emerges when chiefs setting up a Budget overestimates expenses or belittles incomes. Most associations would need to kill spending slack however a few administrators might be propelled to make it to improve their presentation assessments. In the wake of understanding the significance and idea of budgetary leeway then it brings up the key inquiries like why, for what and so on for the event of this idea. As a matter of first importance going to the rude awakening of why this wonders is occurring, it is apparent that it occurs because of the extortion activity of the concerned director, that is deception of the statistical data points in the budgetary report. With a budgetary leeway the supervisor is able enough to accomplish if its indicating an exceptionally low pay target and by overstating a high cost spending he can conceal the genuine cost inside the financial plan. in this manner despite the fact that a directors execution in the coming year may look great, the fact of the matter is the spending plan isn't indicating the first gauges whereupon significant choices ought to be taken. For the most part organizations significant choices and systems depend on their financial plans, all things considered, even factors like firms growth,development,etc. Reasons for Budgetary Slack :- Budgetary Participation :- Office hypothesis had been utilized to clarify budgetary support. Magee (1980) clarified that the foreseen result to principals was expanded with access to data held by specialists before setting up the financial plan. By partaking in the spending planning process, the specialist offers the principals a chance to get to data which permits operator to impart or uncover a portion of their private data that might be fused into the measures or financial plans, against which their exhibition would be assessed (Magee, 1980;Baiman, 1982; Baiman Evans, 1983).The specialists some of the time doesn,t uncover all the data which would prompt spending plans with consolidated. Budgetary support was the methods by which subordinate supervisors impact plans and offer in the dynamic procedure with their bosses on issues that influence their zones of duty (Milani, 1975;Brownell, 1982a, 1982b). Spending Emphasis :- As Managers are feeling the squeeze to accomplish there planned objectives ,for this situation there is an opportunity they would make planning slack. This weight, applied from administrators was spending accentuation. At the point when the accomplishments of planned objectives were underscored, the typical inclination was to consolidate slack into the organizations spending plans. The primary explanation behind subordinate chiefs endeavors to fabricate slack in their spending plans was to build their result possibilities. In the event that subordinate chiefs saw their prizes as reliant on spending fulfillment, they would will in general incorporate leeway with their financial plans through the interest procedure. Along these lines, spending accentuation in execution assessment may empower budgetary leeway. Data Asymmetry :- Another factor that impacts the budgetary leeway building conduct r is the level of data asymmetry. Data asymmetry emerges when the subordinate chiefs have private data in regards to divisions efficiency, exertion level, and asset necessities that isn't accessible to the focal administration. This private data can be utilized by the subordinates to augment their personal circumstance particularly when the focal administration can't watch the subordinate activities. Subordinates have motivating forces to distort their private data so as to set simple to accomplish spending targets . NEGATIVE SIDE OF BUDGETARY SLACK :- Despite the fact that there are positives and negatives for budgetary leeway, the negative impacts exceed beneficial outcomes .Some of the negative impacts are the accompanying:- 1)During great years directors will in general rely upon budgetary leeway and at terrible years these administrators will in general proselyte budgetary leeway to benefit. That is if a director behind the benefit for the year, the chief will depend on the budgetary leeway incorporated with the spending plan to make the benefit objective at any rate. In any case, on the off chance that administrator is in front of benefit for the year, at that point the chief will go through the extra cash left in the spending plan in view of the budgetary leeway incorporated with toward the start of the year. In this way the directors will once in a while, if at any time surpass the objectives in spite of the fact that they will quite often meet their objectives however the gathering of the objectives won't be genuine since the objectives are not genuine because of budgetary leeway. 2) A purposely downplayed deals spending plan may have genuine outcomes in arranging different exercises. For example, creation may be excessively low; the publicizing project and appropriation cost spending plans might be arranged erroneously; the income plans may be incorrect. Approaches TO PREVENT BUDGETARY SLACK:- Assessment framework:- Associations can decrease budgetary leeway when they quit utilizing financial plan as a negative evaluative instrument. For example, rather than condemning subordinates each time a planned objective isn't accomplished, if the subordinates are permitted some caution to surpass costs when unavoidable, there will be a lesser propensity to make budgetary leeway (Smith et al, 2008, p. 460). Truth-inciting pay plot:- An issue happens in participative planning when a subordinate has private data about elements that impact their exhibition and the compensation plot is spending plan or standard-based. The worker has a favorable position to fend off this data from bosses with the goal that a moderately simple standard is set, subsequently making slack. To dispense with this issue, investigate proposes a fact inciting pay plan to propel subordinates to precisely convey private data and augment execution, in this way diminishing budgetary leeway (Waller, 2002). Budgetary Participation :- Is a perfect budgetary procedure. Most organizations go astray from this perfect budgetary procedure. Ordinarily top chiefs start the spending procedure by giving expansive rules regarding by and large objective benefits or deals. Lower level administrators are wanted to get ready financial plans that meet those objectives. The trouble is that the objective set by top administrators might be ridiculously high or may permit an excess of slack. On the off chance that the spending plans are excessively high and representatives realize they are ridiculous, inspiration will endure. On the off chance that the objectives permit an excess of slack, waste will happen. What's more, shockingly top administration is regularly not in a situation to know whether the objectives they have set are fitting. In fact, nonetheless, an unadulterated deliberate planning framework isn't without restrictions. It might need adequate key bearing and lower level administrators might be enticed to incorporate with their spending plans a lot of budgetary leeway. In any case, in view of the persuasive focal points of purposeful spending plans, top directors ought to be wary about setting rigid financial plans. Zero-Based Budgeting:- The issue of budgetary leeway is especially intense when the earlier years financial plan is utilized as the beginning stage for setting up the current budget.â This is called steady planning. It is assumed that built up levels from past spending plans are a worthy benchmark, and changes are made dependent on new information.â This generally implies planned sums are gradually increased.â The option in contrast to steady planning is called zero-based planning. With zero-based planning, every consumption charges and fees.â This offers ascend to extensive dissatisfaction in attempting to control spending.â Some legislative pioneers push for zero-based planning ideas trying to channel vital administrations from those that just develop under the gradual planning process. End:- Now and again the leeway creation increments if a limited spending plan is applied and the chief is relied upon to acquire spending overwhelms .In othercase in the event that directors are allowed to take an interest effectively in the planning procedure, at that point the odds of slack is to diminish in further stages. Truth initiating plans additionally assume a significant job in decreasing budgetary leeway. People are thought to be propelled by their personal circumstance; accordingly, supervisors won't generally act to the greatest advantage of the administration. Since the activities that may profit the administration probably won't be gainful for troughs personal responsibility. The primary issue here is the means by which to adjust the administrators enthusiasm with the administrations interests. A few activities that the administration can take for this situation are, initially to pay the chief a fixed compensation on the off chance that he makes the correct move and force a punishment in the event that he contradicts. Another progression could be to instigate a pay plan that joins pay with the troughs execution. These activities are required to give subordinate/directors with an impetus to impart honestly, subsequently diminish budgetary leeway.
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
My Dream House Essay Sample
My Dream House Essay Sample Every person wants to have a place that he or she will call home. I want to have such place too. Most of the people think that home is not an apartment or house, but people who live there. I completely agree with this statement, but I still think that everyone deserves the dream house. From the early childhood, I dreamed of my own place. I imagined every little detail starting from the color of roof and finishing with the shape of the chandelier in the bedroom. With time my ideas were changing but I still have a picture of my dream house in my head. I know that it will be a problem to design all of the rooms like I want because it will not be a house for me but for my future family too. For this reason, I decided to design by myself only a few rooms: kitchen, bedroom, and at least one bathroom. Yet, I also hope that my future husband will take into consideration other my ideas. I always wanted to live in a quiet area in the suburb that is placed not far from the big city. The streets should be green with the beautiful houses. My dream house isnât very big. It has two floors. There are 4 rooms on the first floor: kitchen, dining room, living room, and bathroom. The second floor has 5 rooms: 3 bedrooms, office, and bathroom. I want to have so many bedrooms because I dream about a big family. Apart from this, I want to have a large terrace attached to the house. Behind the house, I wish to have a nice garden with different fruit trees. I want to have a bright and light kitchen. For this reason, there should be a big window in the wall. The interior of this room should contain bright colors. I imagine a green or yellow kitchen. These colors make me happy and inspired, so I think that this is a good idea to use them for this room. To cook with the inspiration is great. Apart from this, I very like different modern things. For instance, I would like to have a bar counter in my kitchen. I think it can be a great detail of the interior. I know that bedroom isnât a place where I can decide everything by myself because my future partner will live there too. For this reason, I donât want to have any bright and girly colors and staff. As for me, the best color for the bedroom is grey. However, to make it not too boring and depressing, I want to have some bright details inside the room, like a blue vase, pillows, picture, and curtains. I think it will be enough to make the room interesting. I also want to have a light bedroom, so it is necessary to have a couple of big windows. The bathroom is also a room that I want to design by myself. I want to have there a brown and beige tile. Such things as a toilet, bath, and washstand should be white. I want to have a bath but not a shower because I very like to take a bath with bubbles. I think that this room is a place to relax, so I want to make it very comfortable and cozy. I know that most of my ideas are too general, but I understand that in a few years that can be completely different. Actually, it does not really matter what color the walls or floor will be. The most important thing for me is to create a nice place where I will feel comfort and peace. I hope that my dream to have a nice house will come true one day.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Drawbacks of Solitary Confinement - 1716 Words
Not too many people know what Solitary confinement is or what it can do to a human being. Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment. The prisoner is confined in a small windowless unit completely isolated from any human contact. It is a form of punishment for behavior modification beyond incarceration for a prisoner and is used as an additional measure of protection from the inmate. The issue of solitary confinement is extremely controversial and is a complicated subject to decide on. Some consider the extreme isolation to be torture, others feel it is necessary. Different states and prisons define their conditions differently, but one thing is for certain, the psychological impacts on the prisoners due to this long-term isolation are inevitable. Solitary confinement is cruel and ineffective. Why is this considered torture? Because different people have different capacities for resilience. What really happens to people who are deprived of social contact for months or even years? Could the mental stability of the prisoner ever recover after the psychological disorders caused by this extreme disciplinary act of isolation are impacted? We need to be looking for other ways to keep our prisons safe. Solitary Confinement is torture and should be banned due to violations of our basic human rights. Torture is defined as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether it is mentally or physically, is intentionally inflicted on a person for information, punishment,Show MoreRelatedSolitary Confinement Is A Form Of Punishment918 Words à |à 4 PagesSolitary confinement is a separate housing unit where housing is for the worst of the worst and any criminal who cannot be left in general population. Supermax prisons is a form of tool where the wardens and security guards can manage any disobedient prisoners. 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This course of action, while noble and humanitarian, refuses to address the multiple drawbacks resulting from this course of action. From the undercutting of the wages of the average American person to reaping the benefits of American social programs, such as health care and welfare, without even having the capability to pay into them, theseRead MoreThe Issue Of Health Informatics And Will Be Focused On Electronic Health Records2518 Words à |à 11 Pagesinformation replication as there is one and only modifiable document, which implies the record is continually exceptional when seen at a later date and dispenses with the issue of lost structures or printed material. Due to all of the data being in a solitary record, it makes it substantially more compelling when extricating therapeutic information for the examination of conceivable patterns and long haul changes in the patient. Itââ¬â¢s essential to note that an EHR is produced and kept up inside anRead MoreThe Prison Policy Initiative From Bureau Of Justice Statistics1790 Words à |à 8 Pagesstarted in 2010 when Browder was accused for stealing a backpack, his parents couldn t afford the 10,000 dollar bail cost so he was compelled to sojourn in jail for three years (Starr). While he was in jail he was held 400 days ,over a year, in solitary confinement ,beaten by the police and jail guards, and abused by other people inside the jail (Starr). Racism within the criminal justice system affects the person being charged ,but it also affects the families of the person and people of the same raceRead MoreDarkness at Noon Essay2227 Words à |à 9 Pagesthat was yet another attempt by Stalin to silence his critics. In the novel, Koestler expounds upon Marxism, and the reason why a movement that had as its aim the ââ¬Å"regeneration of mankind, should issue in its enslavementâ⬠and how, in spite of its drawbacks, it still held an appeal for intellectuals. It i s for this reason that Koestler may have attempted ââ¬Å"not to solve but to exposeâ⬠the shortcomings of this political system and by doing so reiterated once more the sanctity of individual freedom over
Saturday, May 9, 2020
The Secrets of Good Topics to Write an Argumentative Essay Revealed
The Secrets of Good Topics to Write an Argumentative Essay Revealed The reader needs to be impressed by the manner in which you defend your ideas. Bear in mind that a really great essay about life is going to have a good deal of your own thinking and experience. By way of example, in college, you might be requested to compose a paper from the opposing standpoint. A conclusion is, undoubtedly, the most crucial portion of the argumentative essay because you can either support the excellent impression or destroy it entirely. You should have your reasons, and our principal concern is that you find yourself getting an excellent grade. What You Don't Know About Good Topics to Write an Argumentative Essay Moral argumentative essay topics are a few of the simplest to get carried away with. It will be simple to go through the entire essay when you've made from the beginning. An argumentative essay is a certain kind of academic writing. Regardless of the popular myth, a decent argumentative essay is more than simply attempting to show your point with a couple arguments. Plus, do not forget that you're writing an argumentative essay, which usually means you need to mention what you stand for in the very first area of the introduction. Now the reader will be aware of what to anticipate from the essay and are going to have superior comprehension of the principal points of the argument. Tell the reader why you feel how you do and give a concise review of what was discussed in the duration of your essay. Ultimately, you ideally need to select a topic which is going to be interesting for your readers. Recent argumentative essay topics that are related to society is going to do. While informal essays don't need specific understanding of particular topics, we suggest that you look at the info you use while writing. 1 last point, argumentative essays do not have to be boring. All argumentative essays should have a thesis statement close to the start of the essay, where the writer succinctly outlines their argument in a couple of sentences. You may continue to keep your argumentative essays for your upcoming job portfolio in case they're highly graded. Our crew of essay writers works with any sorts of academic papers for many decades. To compose a strong argumentative essay, students should start by familiarizing themselves with a number of the common, and frequently conflicting, positions on the research topic so they can write an educated paper. They often find that most of their work on these essays is done before they even start writing. Weave in your perspective to earn your essay unique. It's possible to easily write your persuasive essay if you adhere to these steps. An argumentative essay requires you to choose a topic and have a position on it. Professional customized essay writers for hire to make your essay from scratch. On-line writing is a really terrific medium, only recently offered. Alcohol usage ought to be controlled. It is not important to us, whether you're too busy on the job concentrating on a passion undertaking, or simply tired of a seemingly infinite stream of assignments. Possessing excellent research abilities and selecting an excellent topic is important. Pick an activity or skill you're capable of completing to compose an instructional speech. If you make an order on our site, you obtain all extra guarantees. Some political topics include things like pending legislative accounts, the budget or employment development. Our customer support will gladly tell you whether there are any special offers at the present time, and make sure you are getting the very best service our company may deliver.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Thesis story Free Essays
Being smart on handling oneââ¬â¢s money is one of the fundamental ways how to become rich. The fact that money, no matter how much it is, can flee from our hands even in just mere seconds is a thing to keep in mind. So we should learn how to save and invest our money in a trust-worthy institution with good facility with a service admirable in regards to its quality. We will write a custom essay sample on Thesis story or any similar topic only for you Order Now Banking is indispensable in the modern world as it connects savers and borrowers. If you are a ââ¬Å"saverâ⬠, where would you save your treasures efficiently? Saving it on a chest or a vault is bold stupidity. Banks pay you interest because they loan your money to those who have ideas to use it. This is where ââ¬Å"borrowersâ⬠enter. Banks do charge them interest but they will have money for innovative business ideas, providing jobs for people, and stimulating the economy. If you are a consumer, you can use banknotes as a medium of exchange. Remember, without banks, there would be no money for The Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) is a bank as well who produces money for the nation. Banks areà financial institutionà and aà financial intermediaryà that acceptsà depositsà and channels those deposits intoà lendingà activities, either directly by loaning or indirectly throughà capital markets. A bank is the connection between customers that have capital deficits and customers with capital surpluses. In other words, it is the middleman to those who are in need and to those who can give. There are two forms of banking institutions. A banking institution can either be a Government or Private banking Institution. The difference between the two is A Government bank is a bank where the Government has a minimum 51% or more stakes in that bank. A Private bank is a bank where the Government does not have any stake. But, both types of banks have to follow the same laws applicable to them. In either way, a bank no matter what form it is, will always make sure that our savings earn interests and make the money they have in their hands rotate on the economy to provide financial growth. Statement of the Problem This study aims to assess the pproduactivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction of selected banking institution in Metro Manila. Specifically, it answered the following questions: 1. 0 What is the profile of the participants in terms of the following variable; 2. 1 Name of the bank 2. 2 Campaign Advertisement 2. 3 Vision 2. 4 Mission 2. 5 Foundation 2. 6 Number of Branches 2. 7 Subsidiaries and Affiliates 2. 8 Number of Employees 2. 0 What are the things involve in the production of each respondents in terms of: 2. 1 Organizational Chart 2. 2 Management Plans and Principles 2. 3 Product and Services 3. 0 What is the status of the respondents with regards to the profitability of the institution under two conditions: 3. 1 Financial Statement Prior Year . 2 Financial Statement Current Year 4. 0 What is the standing of satisfaction of customers in the respondentsââ¬â¢ way of production in terms of: 4. 1 Security of the customersââ¬â¢ deposits 4. 2 Interest return offered 4. 3 Effectiveness of respondentsââ¬â¢ products and services 4. 4 Service Comfortability 4. 5 Affordability of Interest payable in loans 5. 0 Is there any significant relationship between profitability, pproduactivity, and customer satisfaction when the respondents are group according to their profile? Hypothesis Thereââ¬â¢s not much of any difference between the operations of a government and a privately owned bank. The factors that affect the iinvestors to choose are the offers, location, and services. Significance of the Study The purpose of this study is to provide information and answer the stated problems to help those who are in need if they will be investing. Through this study the future readers may find out what are the factors to consider when putting their investment in the line. This study conducted can be help in any of the readers: Iinvestors / Potential Iinvestors ââ¬â To identify and be aware how to invest their money and feel safe and lessen the risk about the decisions they will make. Job Seekers ââ¬â be able to know where to file their application and put their talents and skills in full potential. Future Seekers ââ¬â This study will serve as guide for future researchers who will conduct a study with about this topic. Further research should be made regarding this topic. Scope and Limitation of the Study This study was conducted to know the status of pproduactivity, profitability and customer satisfaction of selected banking institution in Metro Manila. The researchers focused on three banking institution which are MetroBank of Metropolitan Bank, Bank of the Philippine Islands and Landbank of the Philippines. How to cite Thesis story, Papers
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Nigerias Public Service Reform Process Human Resource Issues Essay Example
Nigerias Public Service Reform Process: Human Resource Issues Essay That Nigeria is going through a phase of rapid transition is beyond doubt. Variability in any case, is a constant feature of human societies. There was a time not too far in the past when the Nigerian economy was based on agriculture. Then for a few fleeting years, petroleum resources transformed the outward appearance of the economy. In recent years, oil wealth has proved to be so fickle and elusive a partner in development that frantic efforts have been, and are being, made to search for alternative sources of wealth. Looking at the vicissitudes in the life of a nation, as we have just done in the case of Nigeria, it is tempting then to suggest that the single determinant of a nationââ¬â¢s growth is the quantum of resources it possesses. To put it in another language, a nation waxes or wanes depending on its natural resource endowment. If this hypothesis is not totally false, it is also not exactly true. The experience of the last forty or so years has demonstrated that one factor that has proved decisive in Africaââ¬â¢s development effort is the caliber of the available human resource. It is this factor, rather than any other, that has pushed the continent farther on the path of dependence, recession and economic decay. We will write a custom essay sample on Nigerias Public Service Reform Process: Human Resource Issues specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Nigerias Public Service Reform Process: Human Resource Issues specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Nigerias Public Service Reform Process: Human Resource Issues specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is the only energy source that has the potential of igniting the engine of recovery and growth. If we are keen on a serious debate, we may even advance the proposition that of all the variables crucial to an understanding of the development process, the human resource stands out as an independent variable. It is the variable that operates on, and transforms, other variables to produce a given development scenario. If the human resource is presumed to be so important, what then is its true nature, and in what ways can we support its development and growth? As argued in this paper, human resource is more than the complements of staff required to implement a specific policy or programme. It is even more than the ââ¬Å"trainingâ⬠and ââ¬Å"developmentâ⬠of manpower. We are getting close to the true character of human resource when, in addition to the preceding components, we look at the morale and motivation of the work force, the tactics and strategies adopted in deploying the workforce on agreed assignments, as well as the internal (management) and the external (socio-cultural) influences operating on the behaviour of employees. Much as one would like to be ââ¬Å"practicalâ⬠and down-to-earth, the preceding attempt to define the scope of human resource management raises a serious but unavoidable conceptual problem. We began with the a priori assumption that the human resource is strategic. We even went to argue that the sub-optimal behaviour of this strategic resource is the fortes et origo of Africaââ¬â¢s troubles. It is 3 on the basis of its importance that we classified it as an independent variable. But then, the definition of the variable leads us to believe that its behaviour is also subject to the behaviour of other variables ââ¬â notably, the methods and policies affecting the recruitment, training, motivation, deployment and utilization of personnel. Thus, within the twinkle of an eye, an independent variable has become very much dependent. This raises the question, how come? The failure to solve the conceptual puzzle in human resource management is, in fact, the bane of previous efforts at devising practical and reliable strategies aimed at deriving optimum benefits from the allocation of this vital resource. To be specific, our failure to distinguish the point in time when human resource is considered strategic enough to ââ¬Å"stand by itselfâ⬠from that when it is so devalued that it becomes a ââ¬Å"captiveâ⬠of other variables (administrative, political, cultural, etc. ) explains the inconsistency and the double-talk on the importance of human resources in national development efforts. If we are able to establish the strategic nature of the human resource and, at the same time, identify the factors that militate against its optimum allocation, what policy measures can we propose to rectify any perceived anomalies? In specific terms, what actions can we urge employing authorities to take to derive maximum benefits from the monies and efforts which they invest on recruitment, training and manpower development as well as on the ââ¬Å"sanitizationâ⬠of the management environment against possible outbreaks of productivity-resisting diseases (notably, corrupt practices, mismanagement of diversity, sagging morale, bad time-keeping, willful elongation of procedures, and brain-drain). In proposing a radical review of human resource development and utilization policy in Nigeria, this paper begins by discussing the role of human resources in the development process. It then proceeds to examine factors within the formal organization, and in the external environment, which determine the effective allocation of this vital resource. The third part of the paper focuses on short- and medium-term policy measures, while the fourth outlines a long-term plan aimed at countering the negative effects of he external environment. 2. Human Resources and National Development The development of any nation depends to a very large extent on the caliber, organization and motivation of its human resources. In the specific case of Nigeria where diversity exerts tremendous influence on politics and administration, the capacity to increase the benefits and reduce the costs of this diversity constitutes a human resource management challenge of epic proportion. 4 During the colonial period, Nigeriaââ¬â¢s economy was based on primary production ââ¬â more specifically, on the production of primary commodities and raw materials for the export market. Although the population was relatively small, the countryââ¬â¢s contribution to world trade in specific commodities was impressive. For example, in 1938, Nigeriaââ¬â¢s population was less than 30 million, and even up to 1955 the figure could not have been higher than 35 million. Yet, within this period, 1938-55, when there were no more than 35 million Nigerians, the country recorded constant increases in the production of palm kernel, palm-oil and groundnuts, and was a major force to reckon with in the international exchange of the commodities. Tables 1, 2 and 3 depict Nigeriaââ¬â¢s share of the world trade in palm kernels, palm-oil, and groundnuts, between 1938 and 1955. Table 1: NIGERIAââ¬â¢S PALM-KERNELS EXPORT AS % OF WORLD TOTAL, 1938 ââ¬â 1955 1938 Tons exported (ââ¬Ë000) Value (? illion) % of total world export of palm-kernel 312. 0 2. 2 46. 0 1947 316. 0 6. 2 58. 0 1949 397. 0 12. 3 52. 0 1955 433. 0 19. 2 56. 0 Source: K. M. Buchanan and J. C. Pugh, Land and People in Nigeria, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1955 Table 2: NIGERIAââ¬â¢S PALM-OIL EXPORT AS % OF WORLD TOTAL, 1938-1955 1938 Tons exported (ââ¬Ë000) Value (? million) % of total world trade in palm-oil Source: Buchanan and Pugh 110. 0 1. 0 22. 0 1947 121. 0 3. 2 43. 0 1949 159. 0 7. 2 34. 0 1955 182. 0 13. 2 33. 0 5 Table 3: NIGERIAââ¬â¢S GROUNDNUT EXPORTS AS % OF WORLD TOTAL, 1938-1955 1938 Tons exported (ââ¬Ë000) 180. 0 Value (? million) 1. % of total world trade in groundnuts 9. 0 Source: Buchanan and Pugh 1947 250. 0 6. 3 38. 0 1949 355. 0 12. 0 40. 0 1955 528. 0 23. 1 In explaining the vast contributions of a thinly populated Nigeria to world trade in primary commodities, we cannot but acknowledge natureââ¬â¢s bounty in the form of fertile soil, favourable weather and constantly good harvests. But over and above these natural advantages, the colonial administrators consciously applied the then rare skill of managing people and ensuring that they (the mass of the people) produced the goods and services required for the sustenance of the colonial economy. Indeed, the palm trees could have yielded the kernels without being cultivated, but the seeds and the oil would have gone to waste if plans had not been made to collect them for further processing. Groundnut cakes and oil would have gone to waste if plans had not been made to collect them for further processing. Groundnut cakes would not materialize unless the seeds were planted, the farms properly tended, and the crops harvested at the right time and transported to the collection depots or oil mills. In realization of the Biblical warning that after his transgression in Heaven, Adam would have to toil and sweat before he could have his daily bread, the colonial authorities devised an ingenious plan of extracting as much work as possible from the colonized people. First, they instituted the system of labour contract ââ¬â a system which no less a personality than Lugard regarded as more efficient than slavery. Secondly, the colonial power introduced the system of direct taxation, and insisted that the tax must be paid in a recognized and legally sanctioned currency. Since the African could not resort to trade by barter in discharging his tax obligations, he now had two options ââ¬â to look for wage labour (e. g. in the coal mines or in construction projects) or to produce more cash crops (cotton, cocoa, groundnuts, hides and skins). Thirdly, to encourage increased agricultural production and facilitate the movement of commodities, the colonial regime (particularly between 1906 and 1936) gave priority to the development of infrastructural facilities such as roads, railway, ports and harbours, and internal communication services. In case the facilities proved inadequate as an incentive to production, the colonial administration encouraged the importation of European 6 manufactured goods that had to be paid for with income generated from formal or informal employment. It was in fact this craving for prestigious European goods (ranging from the Raleigh bicycle to the Ford Motor Car) which served as the most powerful inducement to work. As we are likely to discover later, it was this same craving for imported manufactured items which proved detrimental to the development of self-reliance, and for that reason, of indigenous technical knowhow. In any case, the strategy adopted by the colonial regime did achieve its basic objective ââ¬â i. e. the deployment of local human resources in such a way that primary commodities and essential raw materials were produced as and when required. The same strategy made possible the construction of infrastructural facilities and the extraction and exploitation of mineral resources such as coal and tin ore. At the very least, therefore, the colonial administrationââ¬â¢s deployment of human resources did produce operatives, if not managers. After the attainment of independence, and, particularly, towards the latter part of the 1960s, crude oil steadily emerged as a vital economic asset. Although the civil war (1967-70) prevented a full-scale exploitation of Nigeriaââ¬â¢s petroleum resources, the cessation of hostilities in 1970 witnessed a sharp increase in oil revenue. This had the effect of transforming the shape and size of the economy. In contrast to the 1960s when the growth rate seldom exceeded 4 per cent per annum, the period 1970 to 1977 saw the economy grow at the rate of between 9. and 30. 6 per cent. While the external appearance of the economy conveyed an impression of growth, decay was gradually creeping in. in fact, a number of danger signals could be detected even at the height of the oil boom. First, what passed for growth was nothing more than the beguiling influence of what was essentially a wasting asset. Whereas oil exports continued to rise in volume and value, traditional exports ââ¬â especi ally primary commodity exports either stagnated or declined. In other words, the economy ââ¬Å"grewâ⬠in the 1970s not because labour and other factor inputs were more productively deployed than before, but because nature was, in a manner of speaking, bestowing increasing resources on Nigeria. If we are looking for further proof of this statement, we may wish to compare the rate of population growth with per caput agricultural production. In the 1970s, the population grew at the rate of over 3 per cent per annum, while per capital agricultural production was lower than 2 per cent. Also, while the total population in the 70s approached 75 million, (more than twice what it was in 1955) Nigeria had by then lost the commanding lead which it possessed in the 1950s in the production and export of certain primary commodities. In a nutshell, 7 the more people there were, the less productive Nigeriaââ¬â¢s food and agriculture sector tended to become. If that is curious, then we need to look at another concurrent ââ¬Å"developmentâ⬠in the 1970s ââ¬â that is, the second danger signal which ought to have been promptly heeded. While the country earned an increasing amount of revenue from petroleum exports, the balance on the current account was apt to tilt towards the negative rather than the positive side. In 1970/71, current account deficit amounted to N500 million; in 1971/72, N229 million; in 1972/73, N315 million; and in 1976/77, N219. 9 million. Only in 1975/76 was a surplus of N172. 6 million recorded. The deficits are by themselves not disastrous for the economy ââ¬â especially, if the economy had an in-built mechanism for transforming the goods financed under the deficits into productive assets. In the case of Nigeria, the deficits simply reflected an uncontrollable propensity to import capital goods, raw materials, and consumer items, without a clear programme for the development of indigenous capacity in the areas. We need to make necessary allowance for the fact that the early 1970s was a period when Nigeria was faced with a huge challenge in the areas of national reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation. Government had no choice but to earmark large sums for these urgent tasks. We must also recall that the Government did make a serious attempt to promote self-reliance. As a matter of fact, a sizeable proportion of the oil revenue went into financing a comprehensive indigenous enterprises promotion (otherwise known as the ââ¬Å"indigenisationâ⬠) policy. The disappointing response of the new (indigenous)entrepreneurs was the problem. Instead of accepting the challenge by initiating new managerial and technical processes, some of the new ââ¬Å"ownersâ⬠of enterprises were either content to operate as fronts for aliens or continued to rely on the industrialized economies for leadership in management and technology. Even industrial raw materials had to be imported with the result that if foreign xchange became scarce the factories had to close down or to operate at reduced capacity. The third danger signal noticeable in the 1970s was the emerging culture of replacement and the abandonment of the repair and maintenance culture. While the replacement of unserviceable equipment or mechanically faulty motor vehicles saves the owner a lot of head ache, it is wasteful in terms of the additional financial outlays involved, and more especially, in terms of the loss of the training opportunity which repairs and maintenance would have offered. In effect, the replacement culture which evolved with the oil boom of the 1970s aggravated Nigeriaââ¬â¢s technological dependence situation and did an incalculable harm to the development and utilization of the nationââ¬â¢s stock of human resources. 8 There are reasons to believe that attitudes are changing. After the oil shock of 1982 and the series of belt-tightening measures which accompanied it, it became clear that even metal scraps and ââ¬Å"carcassesâ⬠of motor vehicles could be put to good use. At any rate, with the shortage of foreign exchange, it is becoming increasingly difficult to import new machinery and equipment or obtain spare parts for existing ones. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. In Nigeria, necessity has led mechanical workshops to experiment with the idea of ââ¬Å"cannibalisingâ⬠one equipment to ââ¬Å"saveâ⬠another. However, the earlier practice of waiting for, or merely reacting to, external leadership in science and technology has cost Nigeria very dearly. It resulted in financial resource leakage, and aborted whatever plans there might have been to promote indigenous technological development. It was like losing the chance of a life time. I must stress that by focusing on what might have been, I do not wish to create the impression that Nigeriaââ¬â¢s current socio-economic crisis arose out of the fact that within the period of oil boom, the Nigerians stopped working. If anything, the rush to make a quick Naira led many a Nigerian to sleep less and toil more. However, and from the point of view of optimum allocation of effort, we may argue that a disproportionate amount of time was spent on pursuits whose impact on the long-term health of the economy was questionable. And practically every Nigerian has a share of the blame. The political leaders did not map out a clear-cut policy on self-reliance and on indigenous technological development. The senior managers, administrators and professional personnel were either too impotent to influence policy in the direction of self-reliance, or they saw no need to tamper with what was essentially a neo-colonial (and dependent) socio-economic arrangement. Their subordinates in the executive and technical cadres could not be expected to think differently. Theirs, in any case, was to implement laid down policy, avoid ââ¬Å"mistakesâ⬠, and generally steer clear of trouble. The clerical and operational staff might be interested in change, but that change must have direct and immediate impact on their limited earnings. As all the classes have lately discovered, the wrong channeling of energies has reversed the gains of yester-years, and substituted economic decline for economic growth. The development strategy which evolved over the years, and the implementation of the strategy, has placed the economy in a situation of dependence. In such a situation, the human resource is merely a follower rather than an initiator of technology. The consequence is obvious. The leaders decide the fate of the followers. For instance, if factories in the industrialized economies turn back 9 Nigeriaââ¬â¢s cotton, cocoa and other commodities, the only option available to Nigeria (in the absence of alternative uses) is to step down the production of the commodities. In fact, during the second world war when the British diverted resources to the war effort, cocoa farmers (now knowing what to do with the harvest on their hands) set their plantations on fire! No doubt, therefore, human resources play a crucial role in national development. Yet, as the next section shows, policies governing the development and utilization of the resources might fail to grapple with the major problems in human resource management. 3. Problems in Human Resource Development and Utilization: a Review of Policies and Practices A umber of factors tend to influence the optimum allocation of human resources. Among them are the policies relating to recruitment, training, employment conditions, and the deployment of personnel. Equally important are the prevailing management environment, socio-economic conditions, and the traditional work culture. Let us take this one by one. Recruitment Policies and Practices The contribution of the human resource is likely to be determined largely by the caliber of people recruited into an organization. In most cases, employers focus on the qualifications and experience of candidates being considered for vacant positions. While this is prima facie useful, it does not necessarily follow that the credentials make the employee. Even when we discount the possibility of forgeries and certificate racketeering, academic training by itself might not adequately prepare a person for a job. The same thing applies in the case of experience which might neither be ââ¬Å"cognateâ⬠nor ââ¬Å"relevantâ⬠. In fact, instead of focusing mainly on educational qualifications and experience, recruiting bodies would need to go further and probe deep into the aptitudes, attitudes, personal character of candidates for certain jobs. Certainly, jobs in the security and law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, customs, immigration and the postal service would, in view of the public attention they have attracted, benefit from a professional approach to staff selection. The need for federal character in the recruitment of public personnel has generated a lot of controversy in recent years. There is nothing wrong with the principle. It is only the application that we have to watch. Federal character, as I once argued, mean looking far and wide for the best and the most competent. 10 However, in practice, the principle may be subverted, especially if it is interpreted as a crude form of ethnic balancing. In a diverse society like Nigeria, the public service cannot evade the issue of representation. When an agency is dominated by individuals from one ethnic group, the un-represented groups are likely to cry foul, and for good reasons too. It is only when the diversity of a nation is properly reflected (or mainstreamed) in decision-making structures that the fairness of decisions could be constantly tested. It goes without saying that the issue of diversity does not end with recruitment. It extends to the day-to-day management of inter-personal and inter-group relations in public agencies. It is therefore imperative that senior managers be exposed to the appropriate sensit ivity training so that the networks of relations would be properly and adequately managed. Training and Manpower Development Closely related to the problem of recruitment is, therefore, that of training and manpower development. Presumably, those to be recruited would first have to be trained. It was in realization of the importance of pre-entry training that priority was attached to the establishment of primary, secondary, vocational, and technical schools, and universities. In 1970, there were 3,515,820 primary, 310,054 secondary, vocational, and technical schools in Nigeria. By 1978, the number had increased to 11,410,360; 1,223,200 and 43,088 respectively. And while there were only 5 universities in 1962, Nigeria has no less than 21 today. Therefore, at least, in terms of the basic, pre-entry training, candidates for different classes of jobs seem to be well catered for. The problem again lies in the gap which exists between, on the one hand, the formal academic training offered by the schools and the universities, and, on the other, the practical requirements of the jobs. No where is this gap as wide as in the technical/vocational area. A secondary school graduate can, with little preparation, move straight to an office and carry out basic clerical or bookkeeping functions. With additional training, he/she would be ready to perform secretarial and ICT-related duties. However, for the tasks of electrical wiring, airconditioning and refrigeration, maintenance of electronic and mechanical equipment, even attendance at the technical and vocational schools may be considered an inadequate preparation. The reason for this is that the technical schools have concentrated on text-book solutions, and distanced themselves from the world of work. What was said earlier on about dependence on externally developed technology applies here. Unless and until the polytechnical institutions start to dismantle complicated equipment and fabricate spares, their contribution 11 to human resource development would remain minimal. As for the universities, they would need the support of the government and the private sector in aligning their academic research with the development needs of the country. We have so far focused on the pre-experience training institutions. The challenge facing the post-experience ones is equally daunting. The 1970ââ¬â¢s witnessed the establishment of a few of them, in addition to those which had existed before and immediately after independence. For example, the Centre for Management Development (CMD), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) came into being at about the same time (1972/73). NIPSS was established in 1978. I understand that plans for the establishment of a new Civil Service College are at advanced stage, although I am yet to come across a convincing argument for this latest proposal. Prior to the establishment of these institutions (in fact, as far back as 1956) an Institute of Administration had been set up in Zaria to organize training programmes for senior and intermediate level personnel of government and the native authorities in the North. When the universities of Ife, Lagos and Nigeria came into being in 1962 they too set up their own institutes or schools of administration. The first major problem then is that of ensuring that the postexperience institutionsââ¬â¢ activities are coordinated and that unnecessary overlapping or duplication of effort is avoided. The second problem is how to find the resources which the institutions undoubtedly require to fulfill their mandates. Then, there is the question of how to ensure the relevance of their activities, particularly during this period of economic emergency. Employment Policy and Conditions The third factor influencing the performance of the human resource is the employment policy, and particularly, the impact of the policy on employment conditions, and on morale and motivation of the employees. At an AAPAM Roundtable which took place in Kampala, Uganda in November 1988, Professor Gelase Mutahabe (the AAPAM Secretary-General) and my humble self argued that a possible explanation for the massive brain-drain in many African countries was the demotivating employment policies and practices. The assumption by the employer that the stock of human resources is limitless has led to the total disregard of the most elementary principle of motivation. The on-going socioeconomic crisis has worsened the situation by throwing many able-bodied persons out of their jobs. It goes without saying that an employment policy which is founded on the assumption that the supply of labour exceeds demand would not 12 seek out the best brains or make a serious effort to develop the employeesââ¬â¢ productive capacity. Management Environment The management environment may reinforce the negative tendencies in the employment policy. In the 1970s, a number of administrative review/reform commissions were established by African Governments principally to make the management environment conductive to efficient allocation of resources. At least one of them, the Ndegwa Commission (in Kenya), called attention to factors within the managerial environment that tended to hinder the productivity of human resources, viz. (a) reluctance by manager to delegate operational responsibilities, with the result that the managers neglected their policy and innovate responsibilities and focused on administrative routine (leaving subordinates with little or nothing to do); lack of communication within departments and between one department and another (resulting in duplication of effort, and lack of coordination); failure to specify targets or hold subordinates responsible for specific results areas (with the consequence that some junior officers misunderstood, or were ignorant of, the purpose of their jobs); centralization of authority at the ministry headquarters. b) (c) (d) In their own ways, the Udoji Commission (Nigeria) and the Wamalwa Commission (Swaziland) addressed the issue of the managerial environment. It was in fact in an attempt to install ââ¬Å"results-orientedâ⬠structures in place of the hierarchical, and status-oriented ones that the Commissions recommended the introduction of accountable management systems. Unfortunately, the aspects of the review Commissionsââ¬â¢ proposals relating to structural reform were either simply ââ¬Å"notedâ⬠or implemented in a half-hearted manner. In some ases, recommendations which subsequently proved harmful to the health of certain subsectors (particularly public enterprises, universities and research institutes) were implemented. An illustration is the concept of unified grading and salary system (UGSS) which transferred the hierarch ical attributes of the civil service to organizations that were in need of innovative approaches to problems. Supervisory Problems 13 Weak and/or bad supervision may also have adverse effects on human resource development and utilization. For example, when a superior officer consistently fails to monitor the performance of subordinates or leaves them to their own device, laxity and indifference may set in. If s/he neglects his responsibility to train or counsel newly recruited staff, s/he cannot assist his organization in integrating the theoretical training of the staff with the practical requirements of the job. But perhaps as damaging as (if not more damaging than) non-supervision is highhanded treatment of subordinates. A supervisor who victimizes his workforce or refuses to see any redeeming side of his close associates is a serious liability to his organization. Instead of rallying the staff behind the goals of the organization, he would tend to promote discord and bitterness. This is particularly significant in Nigeria where the typical public office brings together individuals from diverse cultural settings. External environmental factor I have alluded to the influence of the environment when I referred to Nigeriaââ¬â¢s diversity. Ethnic, religious, language, cultural, and gender differences exert influences on inter-personal and inter-group relations. It is therefore of utmost essence that the public manager be aware of how to handle and manage such differences. The projected reform of the public service should also incorporate diversity management strategies. Another important environmental issue that future reform efforts should address is that of corruption. In fact, this subject is so important to deserve separate, in-depth treatment. I am therefore attaching a copy (in page proof format) of a forthcoming article in vol. 5, no. 2 Spring 2003 issue of Public Integrity. Readers should kindly note that before returning the proof to the journal, I inserted in the final draft the Government of Nigeriaââ¬â¢s trong reservations on a Time magazine article written by Stephen Faris on Nigerian on 17 April 2002. 4. Human Resource Development and Utilization: Short- and Medium-Term Measures The short- and medium-term measures which are likely to facilitate the judicious allocation of human resources include the streamlining of employment policies, the improvement of the management environment, and the evaluation and redefinition of the role of tr aining institutions and manpower development agencies. 14 If the country is to derive maximum benefits from its investment on human resources, it should make a serious and sustained effort to motivate all categories of personnel. Motivation includes, but is by no means limited to, financial rewards and incentives for increased productivity. Government needs, as a matter of priority, to identify productive units and assign measurable targets to them, the attainment of which should attract specified rewards or benefits. The Republic of Tanzania experimented with this idea in its customs service, and the result exceeded all expectations. The parastatal bodies with economic or quasieconomic objectives (NITEL, NEPA, Nigeria Airways, etc. ) have nothing to lose, and probably a lot to gain, from a carefully designed programme of target-setting that is closely related to a motivation package. Even in the regular civil service, we are likely to find agencies or units offering services while at the same time operating in the market place. Any market-related operations should come under the new arrangement of target-setting and motivation. Material rewards are, however, not the only tools of motivation. The senior mangers and administrators in fact look for more. They expect to be appreciated for the contributions they are making to national survival and development. If they are not considered worthy of national honours or merit awards, they at least would not like to be prematurely retired or publicly disgraced. Motivation, as far as they are concerned, means not losing sleep over when the axe is going to fall. Equally important to the effective utilization of human resources is the reform of the management environment. Anything which constitutes a barrier to efficient resource allocation (be it hierarchy, grading of posts, systems and procedures, allocation of responsibilities, supervision styles, or civil service rules and regulations) should be closely reviewed and properly streamlined. As part of the short- and medium-term measures, steps should be taken to evaluate, rationalize, and coordinate the
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